The X-Files may have been a cultural phenomenon, but the iconic TV show has run its course and a twelfth season would not be a good idea. It tapped into 90s UFO paranoia and government conspiracy so well that it spawned eleven seasons, two films, several novels and a comic book series. The legacy of The X-Files is so ingrained into the cultural zeitgeist that any media representation of aliens, UFOs or shady government agencies immediately draws comparisons with the 90s hit. However, while The X-Files shouldn’t be brought back for a twelfth season, it may actually be time for the entire show to be rebooted instead.
The X-Files and its titular FBI agents have been around since 1992 and is currently the longest-running science fiction show in US television history. The premise is simple, two FBI agents investigating the paranormal and the great American UFO conspiracy. It became a cultural phenomenon and the theme tune is instantly recognizable, even to this day. The show made stars of Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as FBI agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder. Each episode often stood on its own and audiences tuned in regularly to catch the "Monster of the Week" episodes, but it was the central plot, hinted at in season 1, that got people talking. There was a single mystery running through the first six seasons regarding a government conspiracy to work with an alien race. The original "mytharc" set internet forums ablaze, with fan theories and adoration.
While The X-Files keeps coming back, its plotlines have been squeezed dry. The show’s original mytharc concluded after season 6, episode 12 “One Son” when a group of alien rebels destroyed The X-Files big-bad, the Syndicate. Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully spent several seasons investigating the show’s central mystery: Are aliens real? This culminated in the reveal of an alien masterplan in the film The X-Files: Fight the Future and seasons 5 and 6. With the main story unveiled, but the show continuing to be popular, the showrunners had to devise new mysteries and have kept doing so ever since. The subsequent story arcs have never been as strong, having lost a lot of the original mystery of the show and trying to force conspiracy when all the cards have been dealt. Despite this, each new season continues to generate hype and it’s impossible to ignore how influential the show has been. The combination of this enduring influence, coupled with the tired, repetitive feel of recent series means that The X-Files is the perfect candidate for a reboot, beginning the search for answers again.
Why The X-Files Shouldn't Return
Dana Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) pregnancy. This creative direction was criticized by Anderson herself, who said during the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association press tour: “That didn’t feel like the right way to end it.” The more convoluted the show gets, the less mysterious its central premise and it runs the risk of turning The X-Files into a farce, with faux-mystery for the sake of it. As a result, the show needs fresh eyes and a new take on a rich and popular property.
Why The X-Files Should Be Rebooted
The underlying vibe of the show remains as steadfast as ever. The genre still has legs, as is clear from the building hype for Jordan Peele’s next film, Nope. People love government conspiracy and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The search for aliens continues to be one of life’s greatest mysteries and there’s fun in delving into the world of shady government agents, Area 51 and the exploration of the unknown. With a new director, fresh cast and a clean slate for a new story, The X-Files has the potential to be as big as it was in the 90s.
Who Should Star In The X-Files Reboot
If the show were to be rebooted, it would need to retain one important feature, an iconic and interesting leading pair. A show about FBI agents needs two partners, investigating cases together. It’s a staple of the genre. Mulder and Scully have cemented their place in pop culture and have left massive shoes to fill. Looking to another sci-fi phenomenon, Black Panther, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to cast her as the new Scully.
Who Can Return For The X-Files Reboot
Whoever else is cast, it's certain that season 9, episode 20 “The Truth” and surviving a helicopter rocket strike. He could once again reclaim his spot as one of the greatest main villains on TV.
The X-Files is an iconic piece of americana and it would be a shame to see it completely disappear or peter out with weaker and weaker subsequent seasons. The show needs a strong, new, central mystery and to the best way to do this would not to be to bring it back for another season or film, but to reboot it entirely. With a new director, writer and cast. Not only that, but the original show, while a classic, is now old enough to seem dated on re-watch and there’s a whole new generation of TV consumers ready for Mulder and Scully and the ever-watchable credits. The truth is still out there, it might just need some fresh eyes to find it.