Imitators soon spawned, most focusing on the series's alien aspect ( Surface, Threshold, Dark Skies, Roswell) though few were successful. The X-Files was not only a success but a pop-culture phenomenon of a kind that would not recur until Lost ( 2004-2010), and it launched a cultural fascination with Aliens and conspiracy theories that dominated mainstream American culture for the better part of the 1990s. It appealed to both genre enthusiasts and newcomers, both of whom were attracted to the combination of sophisticated writing, strong standalone stories, an intriguing overarching plot, and Duchovny and Anderson's undeniable chemistry. Alongside its willingness to penetrate a very long way indeed into the over-the-top and the bizarre (almost to the verge of black farce), the show had a mature tone, elevated by Duchovny's and Anderson's strong performances (both were nominated for Emmys several times and Anderson won once), that was virtually unknown within genre television-making. Though it was not uncommon for genre series to set their scene in the present day or revolve around police investigators, The X-Files's high production values and well-written scripts were unprecedented. As the series draws on it is revealed that there is a vast government-based conspiracy – a classic focus of Paranoia – to conceal the existence of Aliens and enable their experiments on Earth, which include the creation of alien-human hybrids. A common thread running through the show is Mulder's belief in UFOs and alien abductions, which he holds responsible for his sister's disappearance as a child. Though many standalone episodes of The X-Files could best be described as belonging to the fantasy, Gothic or Horror genres, featuring stories about ghostly manifestations, Reincarnation, and demonic possession, there is often a veneer of sf rationalization (though events pass too quickly for most viewers to subject these rationalizations to real scrutiny). The programme owes a debt to Twin Peaks ( 1990-1991), a cult television success of the early 1990s and not itself sf other genre sources, such as the film The Thing ( 1951), were regularly echoed a further antecedent was Project UFO ( 1978-1979). The phenomena investigated cover the full gamut of tabloid weirdness and Urban Legend in the area of "the unexplained", ranging from abductions of humans by Aliens in UFOs – a recurrent theme, of which more below – through tales of Telepathy, projection of nightmares, Vampires, Werewolves, Alien lifeforms found frozen in the Arctic, unusual longevity (see Immortality), Shapeshifters, Monsters, DNA-spliced hybrids, and so on almost indefinitely. It is the tiny fiefdom of the eccentric, sardonic Fox Mulder, joined in the series pilot by Dana Scully (see Frank Scully), a cool, logical, sceptical Scientist and pathologist who is assigned to debunk his work but ends up sharing it. Inspired by Kolchak: The Night Stalker ( 1974-1975), to which creator Carter was devoted as a child, the title refers to an FBI department devoted to strange, inexplicable and apparently paranormal cases (Kolchak star McGavin makes guest appearances as the department's founder). One of the first genre series to gain widespread mainstream acceptance and critical acclaim, The X-Files presented a compelling alternative to the Star Trek paradigm, and presaged the dominance of present-set, mimetic science fiction television. Cast includes David Duchovny as Agent Fox Mulder (seasons 1-7, 10-11), Gillian Anderson as Agent Dana Scully, Mitch Pileggi as Assistant Director Walter Skinner (season 9-11), Robert Patrick as Agent John Doggett (seasons 8-9), and Annabeth Gish as Agent Monica Reyes (season 9). Writers include Carter, Spotnitz, Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, Glen Morgan, Darin Morgan, Howard Gordon, and James Wong. Directors include Carter, Manners, Bowman, and David Nutter. Producers include Carter, Kim Manners, Frank Spotnitz, and Rob Bowman. Ten Thirteen Productions in association with 20th Century Television.
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