All you need to know to qualify as 'X-Files' geekJune 24 (AZINS) Nine seasons, two movies, a spin-off series and a comic book series later, the cult sci-fi TV series X-Files is back to television with an all-new season. With an expansive directory of stories and so much that has already happened in the X-Files universe, it will be certainly difficult to catch up on all the progress so far. So, we have put together a list of things that you need to know already before you decide to deep-dive into the X-Files world!

What is the X-Files series about?

While being classified into a lot of genres, X-Files mainly comes under the ‘sci-fi horror’ category. The show follows the careers and personal lives of FBI special agents DanaScully and Fox Mulder. While Mulder is a talented profiler and a strong believer in the supernatural – extra-terrestrial beings, aliens, UFOs et al, Scully is a doctor and a skeptic.

X-Files follows their journey as they investigate unsolved, unexplained cases — the eponymous 'X-Files' — centred on paranormal and supernatural phenomena. Aliens, monsters, mutants, cryptids, and futuristic technology – they all prominently appear on the series to create exciting, edge-of-the-seat storylines.

The characters

The show is an epitome of reversed gender roles and this what makes the protagonists a complex and enthralling pair to watch.

Fox Mulder, on one hand, has witnessed his sister’s abduction by aliens when he was only 12 years old. This places him right in the middle of all the extra-terrestrial action, while he embarks on his search for the truth. This sparks all other aspects of the show such as government conspiracies, doomsday scenarios, cover-up operations, and a myriad of other intrigues that follow. His character-defining traits are his persistent drive to uncover the truth and his belief in the existence of extra-terrestrial life.

On the other handle, Dana Scully has been trained medically and this shapes her character of a detached, young skeptic which serves as the perfect foil to Mulder’s more emotional and complex persona. However, both characters are shown as flawed, complex, deep and constantly evolving.

Walter Skinner is a recurring important character throughout the run of the show; as the head of The X-Files office, he serves as Mulder and Scully’s supervisor. Throughoutmuch of the show, his motives are suspect, and it’s unclear whether or not he serves The Syndicate, an evil “shadow government” that serves as a major antagonist, thoughhe repeatedly saves Mulder and Scully’s lives.

Is there a villain?

Yes, there is. While there are many monsters and fiends, the main villain is the Cigarette Smoking Man, a shadowy figure who appears to serve as the face of The Syndicate, ashadow government group presiding over the cover-up of extra-terrestrial life. His ties to government conspiracies, assassinations, cover-ups, and other nefarious activitiesmake him a gripping antagonist. Also, he is always around when something goes wrong for Mulder and Scully.

Chris Carter created the show out of an intriguing idea

Chris Carter’s interest in the paranormal was piqued when he read Pulitzer Prize-winning writer/psychiatrist/Harvard Medical School Professor John E. Mack’s analysis ofa poll that stated at least 3.7 million Americans may have been abducted by aliens. When asked about his intentions in creating The X-Files, Chris Carter had once mentioned he questions all authority and mistrusts it and that his favourite movie of all time was All The President’s Men which also partly inspired him in creating The X-Files.

What to watch before the mini-series?

If you haven’t watched X-Files before, you will certainly not be able to binge-watch all episodes prior to the new series. So here’s a compiled list of some of the must-watchepisodes that will ease you into watching the new season and possibly even convert you in an X-Phile (that’s what fans of the X-Files call themselves)

    Squeeze Season 1, Episode 3
    Beyond the Sea Season 1, Episode 13
    Darkness Falls Season 1, Episode 20
    The Host Season 2, Episode 2
    Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose Season 3, Episode 4
    Home Season 4, Episode 2
    The Post-Modern Prometheus Season 5, Episode 5
    Bad Blood Season 5, Episode 12
    Triangle Season 6, Episode 3
    Roadrunners Season 8, Episode 4

You can catch The X-Files Revival on Monday to Friday at 9 PM on Star World & Star World HD in India