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Giving The X-Files Some Credit


gipzoe4

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Hey everyone I'm new to this site and thought it would be appropriate to mention The X-Files for my first post, considering its welcome return to the air.

I haven't heard anyone else say this, but I think Mulder and Scully had the best relationship ever portrayed on TV, mainly because no sex was involved (well, at least not until the end of the show's run...). They cared deeply for each other, and were every bit as emotionally intimate as any other TV couple, but they just never let sex get in the way. I remember the creator saying in an interview that if Mulder and Scully's relationship was a sexual one, the show wouldn't have lasted more than a few episodes. Considering this, why did he decide to mess up the relationship at the end of the series? He should have left well enough alone.

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asexualpirate

Wait, I just realized that and the X-Files is my favorite show!! Ah, that just made my day!

Thank you for pointing it out.

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I agree, he should have. Mulder & Scully’s dynamic was one of a kind, especially back when it first aired. And the thing is the relationship is so incredibly close! There’s such familiarity, trust and playfulness there. I never read it as sexual, even in the most intimate moments and it was perfect as it was. I wish there were more of these relationships in movies and TV. Still real excited to watch the new series :D

Oh and may I wish you a very warm welcome to AVEN ^_^
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Welcome! I've never seen the X-Files, but it's great that they showed that a nonsexual relationship can still be emotionally close and fulfilling, and for so long! It's so rare to see one portrayed so positively on TV, so it's sad to hear that became undone at the end.

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Welcome to AVEN!

I LOVE THE X-FILES! :cake::cake::cake: In fact, I'm watching the second episode of the new revival miniseries right now as I write this. :) It's been one of my favorite shows since I was a little kid. I used to stay up super late with my mom and watch it, even though it always scared me. Once I was old enough that it didn't terrify me, though, I got really into the story lines and the characterization and watched it all the time when I would get home from school. I definitely agree with you about the relationship between Mulder and Scully in the earlier seasons; It was super well-written, and their emotional intimacy was amazing. I wasn't super impressed by what they did to their relationship at the very end, but it wasn't enough to deter me from still loving the show.

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Welcome to AVEN. I haven't really watched the X-files but I hear good things about it.

I'm sending your thread over to Welcome Lounge. You've been welcomed here really well but I think this thread fits better there (and I'm pretty sure the regulars there would kill me if I didn't give them the chance to stuff you with cake). You'll be in good hands, I promise

Kisa the Cat, Administrator

Edit: I can't read, I moved it back but I'm still bringing the cake brigade in

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Hi and welcome to AVEN! Glad you made your way here and I hope you enjoy being part of the community. The members are friendly and supportive, so don't hesitate to join in the conversations! :)

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X-Files is awesome!

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Welcome to AVEN! :cake: Thank you for joining! I'm glad that you made your way here. : ) It's cool that they've brought back the X-Files. I didn't watch much of the original, though I sure remember the theme song! I hope that you enjoy being a member here~

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MelodyPond713

As a demisexual, Mulder and Scully's relationship spoke to me in a way no other really has. I've only recently become a fan of the show and I owe it for forcing me to confront some issues I was avoiding (like the fact that I am attracted to females as well as males.) But my entire life I have been a person who fell in love with and became attracted to, people I'd been friends with first, people who engaged my interest on a deeply emotional level and while I can't say that it has ever worked out for me in the end I still strive for the moment that someone else has the same feeling as me. Scully explains in the one episode that its like one day a switch flips in your brain and suddenly they are so much more. I related to that so strongly and I still do because that is how it has always been. I always enjoyed the person first as a friend and then all of a sudden it was so much more... I applaud The X-Files for this and I take issue with the fact that it all fell apart in the end.

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beautifulglider

Wow, I love The X-Files and I never actually realized this before! I mean, Mulder and Scully's relationship is very important to me--so much so that whenever they display any sign of their caring for each other, I tend to get teary-eyed--but I've never thought about it in relation to asexuality/demisexuality. For me, it's just been like, "They love each other, in whatever way, and that's all that matters." I admit, I'm only on season 4 right now (though I have read general spoilers for the rest of the seasons so I can watch the revival as it airs), but the fact that in the early seasons theirs was such a great example of an emotionally intimate relationship without sex? That's super cool! I am really excited to think about this more. :)

Also, welcome to AVEN! :cake:

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  • 1 year later...

Thanks for posting this. I think The X-Files is what I had before I had asexuality. Words like "ace-spectrum", "aromantic", and "queerplatonic" didn't exist back in the '90s. And yet here were two characters who had very little interest in sex or romance but shared a deep, committed love relationship! They set a standard for me of what platonic friendship could look like, and even after all that happened they're still my quintessential opposite-sex platonic couple.

 

I've actually just started re-watching the series for the first time since it ended, and I've already made two decisions about it: 1) I'm going to stop after Season 5, so as to have my experience of it unsullied by the later seasons. And 2) I'm actively thinking of the characters as ace-spectrum people in a queerplatonic relationship. In a way, I always did. But now I have a vocabulary to justify it!

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The X-Files would also be a good model for a mixed orientation relationship. Metaphorically speaking you have a skeptic and a believer (or want to believer) together.  Scully is someone we perceive as being asexual, but I've always seen Mulder as being very much sexual. 

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@Copal_0, I really like that interpretation, both metaphorically and literally. The great thing about Mulder and Scully's relationship was that they might not understand each other, but they always liked and respected each other.

 

I think that Mulder had some ace-spec characteristics as well, but he definitely wasn't as far down the spectrum as Scully. I like to think that he recognised (implicitly or explicitly) Scully's aceness, and accepted it right from the beginning. You could even argue that Seasons 6 and 7 are about them figuring out how to be a mixed romantic couple, although I preferred them when they were platonic.

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4 hours ago, Blue Ice-Tea said:

@Copal_0, I really like that interpretation, both metaphorically and literally. The great thing about Mulder and Scully's relationship was that they might not understand each other, but they always liked and respected each other.

 

I think that Mulder had some ace-spec characteristics as well, but he definitely wasn't as far down the spectrum as Scully. I like to think that he recognised (implicitly or explicitly) Scully's aceness, and accepted it right from the beginning. You could even argue that Seasons 6 and 7 are about them figuring out how to be a mixed romantic couple, although I preferred them when they were platonic.

I can see Mulder’s ace-spec characteristics, but on the other hand he did watch a ton of porn (I know I know).

 

Remember the Dreamland episode where Michael Mckean’s character actually tried to get with Scully? I think they liked their relationship to be platonic too! 

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Yeah, Mulder definitely had a libido. It just didn't often translate into sexual interactions with actual people. It's like the porn allowed him to satisfy his own sex drive, and he didn't need anyone else.

 

@Copal_0, yeah, Scully pointing a gun at Morris Fletcher and saying, "Baby me and you'll be peeing through a catheter," was definitely one of the highlights of Season 6!  :D

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dreamscatcher

I've been a massive X files fan for over 20 years and Mulder and Scully's relationship remains my ideal. I love the idea of them being together and I think it took me so long to recognise my own orientation/identity because of how much I shipped the two of them. The strength of their friendship and the absolute trust they have in each other is wonderful. I'm trying to stay spoiler free for the new season and however much I adore the show I hope they end it after these new eps before they ruin it even more. There's 150+ brilliant eps (the majority of the last three seasons don't exist in my world) plus two movies of the strongest, tenderest and most equal partnership on TV. They are perfect opposites and will remain my true loves for at least another 20 years.

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  • 9 months later...

FYI, I recently started a blog for reviewing The X-Files from an asexual perspective, with a particular focus on the relationship between the main characters.  My central thesis is that, for the first five seasons of the show, Mulder and Scully can best be described as queerplatonic life partners.  If you're interested, the blog is here:

 

https://realmofasexualpossibility.wordpress.com/

 

Happy 10/13!

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I always liked the X Files, and I'm glad Mulder & Scully's relationship was not sexual, because that is a cliche that is just so overdone done to freakin' death.  To have a show where two characters do not have sex is refreshing and new for a change.

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I loved the X-files to and that it show a man and women working together without the usual issues. Its also the reason I love the show Elementary, Joan Watson and Sherlock have this wonderful QPR. Never is there any romantic or sexual tension between the two of them, just two people who have a loving friendship and work and live together.

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