Editing The X-Files (section)

== Critical reception ==

=== Overall ===
''The X-Files'' received positive reviews from television critics, with many calling it one of the best series that aired on American television in the 1990s. Ian Burrell from the British newspaper ''[[The Independent]]'' called the show "one of the greatest cult shows in modern television".<ref>{{cite news |author=Burrell, Ian |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/exfiles-no-longer-partners-once-more-457708.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228030328/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/exfiles-no-longer-partners-once-more-457708.html |title=Ex-Files No Longer: Partners Once More |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=July 17, 2007 |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |access-date=August 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |location=London}}</ref> [[Richard Corliss]] from ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine called the show the "cultural [[Touchstone (metaphor)|touchstone]] of" the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |author=Corliss, Richard |author-link=Richard Corliss |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,986144,00.html |title=A Star Trek into the X-Files |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=April 7, 1997 |access-date=August 17, 2009}}</ref> Hal Boedeker from the ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' said in 1996 that the series had grown from a [[Cult following|cult favorite]] to a television "classic".<ref>Boedeker, Hal (May 17, 1996). "Having Grown From a Cult Favorite to a Classic, 'The X-Files' Wraps Up Its 3rd Season". ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' ([[Tribune Company]]). Retrieved August 18, 2009.</ref> The ''[[Evening Herald]]'' said the show had "overwhelming influence" on television, in front of such shows as ''[[The Simpsons]]''.<ref>{{cite news |author=McManus, Darragh |url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/film-cinema/x-hits-the-spot-1441514.html |title=X Hits the Spot |publisher=[[Independent News & Media]] |newspaper=[[Evening Herald]] |date=July 26, 2008 |access-date=August 17, 2009}}</ref> In 2012, ''Entertainment Weekly'' listed the show at #4 in the "25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years", describing it as "a paean to oddballs, sci-fi fans, conspiracy theorists and Area 51 pilgrims everywhere. Ratings improved every year for the first five seasons, while Mulder and Scully's believer-versus-skeptic dynamic created a TV template that's still in heavy use today."<ref>{{cite news |title=25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years |newspaper=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=August 3, 2012 |pages=37{{en dash}}38}}</ref>

In 2004 and 2007, ''The X-Files'' ranked #2 on ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'}}s "Top Cult Shows Ever".<ref name="top cult">{{cite web |title=TV Guide Names the Top Cult Shows Ever |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/top-cult-shows-40239.aspx |work=[[TV Guide]] |access-date=June 29, 2007 |date=July 27, 1998}}</ref> In 2002, the show ranked as [[TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time|the 37th best television show of all time]].<ref>{{cite web |title=TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tv-guide-names-top-50-shows/ |work=[[CBS News]] |publisher=[[CBS Corporation]] |date=April 26, 2002 |access-date=July 29, 2009}}</ref> In 1997, the episodes "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" and "Small Potatoes" respectively ranked #10 and #72 on "[[TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |year=1997 |title=Special Collector's Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time |magazine=[[TV Guide]] |issue=June 28 {{en dash}} July 4 }}</ref> In 2013, ''TV Guide'' included it in its list of the "60 Greatest Dramas of All Time"<ref>Roush, Matt (February 25, 2013). "Showstoppers: The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time". ''[[TV Guide]]''. pp. 16{{en dash}}17.</ref> and ranked it as the #4 science fiction show<ref>{{citation|title=TV Guide|date=September 16–22, 2013}}</ref> and the #25 best series of all time.<ref>{{cite web |title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |first1=Bruce |last1=Fretts |first2=Matt |last2=Roush |access-date=October 19, 2015 |date=December 23, 2013}}</ref> In 2007, ''Time'' included it on a list of the "100 Best TV Shows of All Time".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Best TV Shows of All-TIME |url=http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-all-time/slide/the-x-files/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022130310/http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-all-time/slide/the-x-files/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 22, 2011 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=July 27, 2009 |date=September 6, 2007}}</ref> In 2008, ''Entertainment Weekly'' named it the fourth-best piece of science fiction media,<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Pastorek, Whitney |title=The Sci-Fi 25: The Genre's Best Since 1982 |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036782_20037403_20037541_22,00.html |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |year=2003 |access-date=July 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211212050/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20037541_22%2C00.html |archive-date=December 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the fourth best TV show in the last 25 years<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The New Classics: TV |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/03/20/article-99/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424115846/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20207076_20207387_20207339,00.html |archive-date=April 24, 2012 |year=2008 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=July 27, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2009, named it the fourth-best in their list of the "20 Greatest Sci-fi TV Shows" in history.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=20 Greatest Sci-fi TV Shows |url=https://www.ew.com/gallery/20-greatest-sci-fi-tv-shows/368759 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=September 30, 2009 |access-date=October 4, 2009 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152357/http://www.ew.com/gallery/20-greatest-sci-fi-tv-shows/368759 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine ranked ''The X-Files'' ninth best TV show in history, further claiming that the best episode was the third season entry "[[Jose Chung's From Outer Space]]".<ref>{{cite news |title=The X-Files: 1993{{en dash}}2002 | url=https://www.empireonline.com/50greatesttv/default.asp?tv=9 | work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|publisher=[[Bauer Consumer Media]] | access-date=August 17, 2009}}</ref> In 2013, the [[Writers Guild of America]] ranked ''The X-Files'' #26 on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-best-written-tv-series/list|title=101 Best Written TV Series|website=Writers Guild of America West|date=June 2, 2013}}</ref> In 2015, on ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'''s entertainment-industry ranked TV list "Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows", ''The X-Files'' appeared at #3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-ever-top-819499|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919022923/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-ever-top-819499|title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group ([[Valence Media]])|date=September 16, 2015|archive-date=September 19, 2015|access-date=March 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''[[The Guardian]]'', MediaDNA research discovered that ''The X-Files'' was on top of the list of the most innovative TV brands.<ref>{{cite news |title=What the MediaDNA Research Found |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/mar/13/advertising.pressandpublishing |date=March 13, 2003 |access-date=July 23, 2009 |location=London}}</ref> In 2009, it was announced that the show's catchphrase "The Truth Is Out There" was among Britain's top 60 best-known slogans and quotes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Forsyth's Winning Words |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/204699.stm |work=BBC |date=October 30, 1998 |access-date=August 17, 2009}}</ref>

''The X-Files'' has been criticized for being unscientific and privileging [[paranormal]] and [[supernatural]] ideas (e.g. the hypotheses made by Mulder). For instance, in 1998, [[Richard Dawkins]] wrote that "''The X-Files'' systematically purveys an anti-rational view of the world which, by virtue of its recurrent persistence, is insidious."<ref>{{cite book |last=Dawkins |first=Richard |title=Unweaving the Rainbow |year=1998 |isbn=9780618056736 |page=28|publisher=Houghton Mifflin }}</ref>

=== First seven seasons ===
The [[Pilot (The X-Files)|pilot episode]] was generally well received by fans and critics. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' criticized the episode for "using reworked concepts", but praised the production and noted its potential. Of the acting, ''Variety'' said "Duchovny's delineation of a serious scientist with a sense of humor should win him partisans and Anderson's wavering doubter connects well. They're a solid team..." ''Variety'' praised the writing and direction: "Mandel's cool direction of Carter's ingenious script and the artful presentation itself give TV sci-fi a boost." The magazine concluded, "Carter's dialogue is fresh without being self-conscious and the characters are involving. Series kicks off with drive and imagination, both innovative in recent TV."<ref name="variety">{{cite news |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117901226 |title=The X-Files Fri. |work=Variety |date=September 9, 1993 |access-date=July 27, 2009 |first=Tony |last=Scott}}</ref> ''Entertainment Weekly'' said that Scully "was set up as a scoffing skeptic" in the pilot but progressed toward belief throughout the season.<ref name="alien">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,300862,00.html |title='X' Marks What's Hot: With a Quirky Sense of Humor and a Generous Helping of the Paranormal, Fox's 'X-Files' Slyly Alters the Time-Tested Recipe for Mystery-Solving |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=January 21, 1994 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=September 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924120954/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,300862,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the airing of four episodes, the magazine called ''The X-Files'' "the most paranoid, subversive show on TV", noting the "marvelous tension between Anderson—who is dubious about these events—and Duchovny, who has the haunted, imploring look of a true believer".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,308321,00.html |title=Alien Nation: FBI Agents battle unearthly Boogeymen in 'The X-Files' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Ken |last=Tucker |date=October 8, 1993 |access-date=July 27, 2009 |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425205155/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,308321,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Virgin Media]]'' said the most memorable "Monster-of-the-Week" was Eugene Tooms from "[[Squeeze (The X-Files)|Squeeze]]" and "[[Tooms]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/film-cinema/x-hits-the-spot-1441514.html |title=Lifting the lid on the X-Files |website=The Herald |date=January 30, 2007 |access-date=August 18, 2009}}</ref>

The following four seasons received similar praise. During the show's second season, ''Entertainment Weekly'' named ''The X-Files'' the "Program of the Year" for 1994, stating "no other show on television gives off the vibe that ''The X-Files'' does".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/12/30/best-and-worst-1994television/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140216205342/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C305104%2C00.html |title=The Best and Worst 1994/Television |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |author=Tucker, Ken |date=December 30, 1994 |archive-date=February 16, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The DVD Journal'' gave the second season four out of four stars, calling it a "memorable season". The review highlighted "[[The Host (The X-Files)|The Host]]", "[[Duane Barry]]" and "[[Ascension (The X-Files)|Ascension]]", the [[cliffhanger]] finale "[[Anasazi (The X-Files)|Anasazi]]", the "unforgettable" "[[Humbug (The X-Files)|Humbug]]" and meeting Mulder and Scully's families in "[[Colony (The X-Files)|Colony]]" and "[[One Breath (The X-Files)|One Breath]]".<ref>{{cite web |author=JJB |url=http://www.dvdjournal.com/quickreviews/x/xfiles.season2.q.shtml |title=The X-Files: The Complete Second Season |work=The DVD Journal |access-date=February 12, 2012}}</ref> [[IGN]] gave the season a rating of 9 out of 10, with the reviewer noting it was an improvement upon the first as it had "started to explore a little" and the "evolution of the characters makes the product shine even though the plotlines have begun to seem familiar".<ref>{{cite web |author=IGN Staff |url=http://dvd.ign.com/articles/037/037474p1.html |title=X-Files Season Two Gift Pack |work=[[IGN]] |date=December 7, 2000 |access-date=April 5, 2012}}</ref> Emily VanDerWerff of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' argued that the third season of ''The X-Files'' was the show's "best season and maybe one of the greatest TV seasons of all time", noting it was consistent and "[swung] from strength to strength" between mythology and stand-alone episodes.<ref>{{cite web |first=Emily |last=VanDerWerff |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-x-files-the-blessing-way-paper-clip-dpo-1798165404 |title=The Blessing Way/Paper Clip/DPO |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=July 4, 2010 |access-date=March 31, 2012}}</ref> Michael Sauter of ''Entertainment Weekly'' gave the fifth season an "A{{en dash}}", writing that it "proves the show was—even then—still at its creative peak (if only for another year or so) and full of surprises".<ref name=ewreview/> He praised the new additions to the series' mythology and concluded that "many stand-alone episodes now look like classics".<ref name=ewreview>{{cite magazine |first=Michael |last=Sauter |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/05/14/x-files-complete-fifth-season/ |title=The X-Files: The Complete Fifth Season |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=May 14, 2002 |access-date=January 29, 2012 |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607002129/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,237552,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Francis Dass, writing for the ''[[New Straits Times]]'', noted that the season was "very interesting" and included "truly inspiring and hilarious" episodes.<ref name=Dass>{{Cite news |last=Dass |first=Francis |title=A Late 'X-Files' Collection |work=[[New Straits Times]] |publisher=[[New Straits Times Press]] |date=April 20, 2000 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LdIVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3817,882603 |access-date=July 29, 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

After the 1998 film, the show began to receive increasingly critical reviews. Some longtime fans became alienated during the show's sixth season, due to the different tone taken by most stand-alone episodes after the move to Los Angeles.<ref name="alienated">{{cite news |author=Parks, Jo-Ann |url=http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/tv/ailing_xfiles_000120.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050901021930/http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/tv/ailing_xfiles_000120.html |title=What's Ailing The X-Files |work=[[Space.com]] |publisher=TechMediaNetwork |date=January 2000 |access-date=July 27, 2009 |archive-date=September 1, 2005}}</ref> Rather than adhering to the "Monsters-of-the-Week" style, they were often romantic or humorous or both, such as "[[Arcadia (The X-Files)|Arcadia]]" or "[[Terms of Endearment (The X-Files)|Terms of Endearment]]". Some fans felt there was no coherent plan to the main storyline and that Carter was "making it all up as he goes along".<ref name="alienated"/> As for the seventh season, ''The A.V. Club'' noted that while most of the first eight seasons of ''The X-Files'' were "good-to-great", the seventh season of the show was "flagging" and possessed "significant problems".<ref name=avclubbadapple>{{cite web |author=Adams, Sam |url=https://www.avclub.com/one-bad-apple-we-can-live-with-that-31-rotten-parts-o-1798231327 |title=One Bad Apple... We Can Live With That: 31 Rotten Parts of Otherwise Fantastic Wholes |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |publisher=[[The Onion]] |date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=May 19, 2012 |display-authors=etal |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525000838/http://www.avclub.com/articles/one-bad-apple-we-can-live-with-that-31-rotten-part%2C73536/2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this, seasons six and seven included several episodes that were lauded by critics, including the sixth season entries "Triangle" and "[[The Unnatural (The X-Files)|The Unnatural]]",<ref name=dvdtalk>{{cite web |last=Cressey |first=Earl |title=X-Files: Season Six |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/4819/x-files-season-six/ |publisher=[[Internet Brands]] |access-date=March 14, 2012 |date=November 5, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=9b11fe77-0be1-445f-ae1f-f06571fba743 |title=A Look Back on Some of the Best Stand-Alone Episodes From the X-Files Series |newspaper=[[Vancouver Sun]] |access-date=August 9, 2009 |date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118173322/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=9b11fe77-0be1-445f-ae1f-f06571fba743 |archive-date=January 18, 2012 }}</ref> as well as the seventh season installment "[[X-Cops (The X-Files)|X-Cops]]".<ref name=nydn>{{cite news |last=Mink |first=Eric |title='X Files' Boldy Goes Thru 7th Season |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/x-files-boldy-7th-season-article-1.858462 |access-date=December 7, 2011 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=February 12, 2000}}</ref>

=== Eighth and ninth seasons ===
The show's eighth season received mixed to positive reviews from critics. ''The A.V. Club'' noted that the eighth season was "revitalized by the new 'search for Mulder' story-arc".<ref name=avclubbadapple/> Amy H. Sturgis commended the eighth season, praising Anderson's performance as Scully as "excellence" and positively wrote that Doggett was "non-Mulderish".<ref name=RevolutionSF>{{cite web |author=H. Sturgis, Amy |url=http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.php?id=123 |title=The X-Files—Season 8 |work=Revolution Science Fiction |access-date=July 5, 2009}}</ref> Collin Polonowonski from ''DVD Times'' said that the season included "more hits than misses overall" but offered a negative word about the [[Mythology of The X-Files|mythology episodes]], claiming that they were the "weakest" episodes in the season.<ref name=DVDTimes>{{cite web |author=Polonowonski, Collin |url=http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/10925/the-x-files-season-8.html |title=The X-Files: Season 8 |work=DVD Times |date=March 25, 2004 |access-date=July 5, 2009 |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503104816/http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/10925/the-x-files-season-8.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Jesse Hassenger from ''[[PopMatters]]'', however, criticized the new season, claiming that Patrick was miscast and calling Duchovny's appearances as Mulder shallow.<ref name=PopMatters>{{cite web |author=Hassenger, Jesse |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/xfiles-season-8-dvd |title=The X-Files: The Complete Eight Season |work=[[PopMatters]] |date=November 4, 2003 |access-date=July 5, 2009}}</ref>

The ninth season received mixed to negative reviews by critics, and garnered negative reaction from many long-time fans and viewers. Sabadino Parker from ''PopMatters'', called the show "a pale reflection of the show it once was".<ref>{{cite news |author=Parker, Sabadino |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/x-files4 |title=I Don't Believe It |work=[[PopMatters]] |date=May 15, 2002 |access-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> Elizabeth Weinbloom from ''[[The New York Times]]'' concluded, "shoddy writing notwithstanding, it was this halfhearted culmination of what was once a beautifully complicated friendship", between Mulder and Scully that ended remaining interest in what was a "waning phenomenon".<ref name=botched/> Another ''The New York Times'' review stated, "The most imaginative show on television has finally reached the limits of its imagination."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/10/1034061299444.html |title=The Nearly Ex Files |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 10, 2002 |access-date=August 17, 2009}}</ref> ''The A.V. Club'' listed the ninth season and the 2008 film ''The X-Files: I Want to Believe'' as the "bad apple" of ''The X-Files'' franchise, describing the ninth season as "clumsy mish-mash of stuff that had once worked and new serialized storylines about so-called 'super soldiers'".<ref name=avclubbadapple/> Brian Linder from ''IGN'', on the other hand, was more positive toward the ninth season, saying that the series could still have aired if the writers created a new storyline for Patrick and Gish's characters.<ref>{{cite news |author=Linder, Brian |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/317/317568p1.html |title=''X-Files'' Exits After 9 Seasons |work=[[IGN]] |date=January 18, 2001 |access-date=August 17, 2009}}</ref>

=== Tenth and eleventh seasons ===
The 2016 revival of the show was met with mixed reviews; the first and last episodes were met with lukewarm to negative reviews from critics, whereas episodes two through five were generally well received.<ref name="rottentomatoes" /> The third episode in particular, named "[[Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster]]", was praised by critics, with Alex McCown of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' calling it an "instant classic".<ref name="avclubcombo">{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/meet-new-x-files-same-old-x-files-230759 |title=Meet the New ''X-Files'', Same as the Old ''X-Files'' |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=January 18, 2016 |access-date=January 18, 2016 |author=McCown, Alex}}</ref> Overall, the [[review aggregator]] [[Metacritic]] gave the season a score of 60 out of 100 based on 35 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=The X-Files: Season 10 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-x-files/season-10 |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=January 23, 2016}}</ref> Likewise, [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gave the revival a 64% approval rating with an average score of 6.5 out of 10 based on 180 reviews. The site's consensus reads: "Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny's chemistry remains intact, but overall, ''The X-Files'' revival lacks the creative spark necessary to sustain the initial rush of nostalgia."<ref name="rottentomatoes">{{cite web |title=The X-Files: Season 10 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-x-files/s10/ |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=January 23, 2016}}</ref>

The eleventh season received positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator [[Metacritic]] gave the season a score of 67 out of 100 based on 18 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-x-files/season-11|title=The X-Files: Season 11|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=March 25, 2019}}</ref> [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gave the season a rating of 77%, with an average score of 6.65 out of 10 based on 170 reviews. The site's consensus reads: "Although it may not make many new believers, ''The X-Files'' return to business as usual is a refreshing upgrade from the show's underwhelming previous outing."<ref name="rottentomatoes11">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_x_files/s11|title=The X-Files: Season 11|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=March 25, 2019}}</ref> Episodes "[[The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat]]", "[[Ghouli]]", "[[Rm9sbG93ZXJz]]", and "[[Nothing Lasts Forever (The X-Files)|Nothing Lasts Forever]]" received a 100% approval rating on the website.<ref name="rottentomatoes11"/>

=== Accolades ===
{{Main|List of accolades received by The X-Files}}

''The X-Files'' received prestigious awards over its nine-year run, totaling 62 Emmy nominations and 16 awards.<ref name=emmys/>{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}} Capping its successful first season, ''The X-Files'' crew members James Castle, Bruce Bryant and Carol Johnsen won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Main Title Design|Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences]] in 1994.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}} In 1995, the show was nominated for seven Emmy Awards with one win. The following year, the show won five Emmys out of eight nominations, including [[Darin Morgan]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]]. In 1997, ''The X-Files'' won three awards out of twelve, including [[Gillian Anderson]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]]. In 1998, the show won one of fifteen. In 1999, it won one out of eight in the category for Outstanding Makeup for a Series. Season seven won three Emmys from six nominations. The following season would not be as successful, catching only two nominations and winning again in the Makeup category for "Deadalive". The ninth season received one nomination in Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore).<ref name=emmys>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/x-files |title=The X-Files |access-date=February 4, 2016 |work=Emmys.com |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}}

The show was nominated for 12 [[Golden Globe Awards]] overall, winning five.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}}<ref name=goldenglobes/> The first nomination came in 1994, when the show won Best Series {{en dash}} Drama.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}} The following year, Anderson and Duchovny were nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Leading Role, respectively.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}}<ref name=goldenglobes/> In 1996, the series won three awards; Anderson and Duchovny for Best Actress and Actor and for Best Series {{en dash}} Drama.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}} In 1997 and 1998, the show received the same three nominations. In 1997, however, the series won Best Series {{en dash}} Drama".{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}}<ref name=goldenglobes/> In 1998, the series won no award and received no nominations thereafter.<ref name=goldenglobes>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/x-files |title=X-Files, The |work=GoldenGlobes.com |publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] |access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref>

The show was nominated for 14 [[Screen Actors Guild Award|SAG Awards]] overall, winning twice. In 1996 and 1997, Anderson won for [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series#1990s|Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series]]. In 1996, the show won a [[Peabody Award]] for being able "to convey ideas that are both entertaining and thought-provoking".<ref>{{cite web |title=The X-Files |url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-x-files |publisher=[[Peabody Awards]] |access-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> The show has also been nominated for two [[American Cinema Editors]] awards, three [[Directors Guild of America#DGA Awards|Directors Guild of America Awards]], nine [[TCA Awards|Television Critics Association Awards]] and two [[Writers Guild of America Award|Writers Guild of American Awards]]. ''The X-Files'' was nominated for nine [[Satellite Award]]s, winning two, and two [[Young Artist Award]]s, winning one.<ref name=awardnoms>For information regarding show award nominations and wins, see:
* {{harvnb|Lowry|1995|p=257}}
* {{harvnb|Lowry|1996|pp=253{{en dash}}57}}
* {{harvnb|Meisler|1998|p=296}}
* {{harvnb|Meisler|1999|p=282}}
* {{harvnb|Meisler|2000|p=292}}
* {{harvnb|Shapiro|2001|p=280}}</ref>