Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story. Today, Christine describes her forays into fandom instagram and her initial fears of the renowned theme song.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

Christine

Pronouns

She/her

Age

36

How do you identify or self-describe?

White cis woman who's just trying her best.

When did you start watching The X-Files?

I originally watched up to somewhere in season 2 but dropped it when life got busy. I only recently watched it from start to finish, however, and it has since consumed my life.

What were your first impressions of the show?

My mom used to rush me to bed when it was on so she could watch it, so my first impression was hearing the theme song playing in the living room. It used to terrify me. I remember getting in bed and blocking my ears so I didn't have to hear it and have nightmares.

Do you have a favorite character?

Scully for being probably one of the smartest, coolest, hottest character to ever grace our TV screens.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

Seasons 3 - 5 are peak for me. Episode-wise, I love the funny or boundary-pushing ones the best like Bad Blood or Triangle. Memento Mori is my fave "serious" one.

Do you rewatch the show?

I've rewatched the entire series one time but will occasionally pick a fave episode to put on. I'm a new fan who likes to put some time between rewatches. I'll probably start another one soon, though, and just watch it all the way through with a few skips.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

I have a bit of an obsessive personality and I tend to hyperfixate on things so when I'm in X-Files mode it's really all I do or think about. Probably not healthy, but hey.

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

I've recently started following a lot of X-Files-related Instagrams and fan accounts so, yes, I feel like a part of something bigger but don't really interact with anyone. I'd love to make friends though so please follow @softrockstarr if you wanna chat X-Files!

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

I definitely feel like a part of the fandom now. I love jumping into fandom for old shows because there are so many memes, fanfics, forum posts etc to find and engage with!

Do you have any favorite memes, images, fanart, etc. related to the show?

There are hopecore edits of Scully's bagel rant from Bad Blood and Gillian's super long "rain and mud" blooper from the pilot on Tiktok that kill me.

anything you’d like to plug while we’re here?

Follow @softrockstarr on Insta for occasional wildly unhinged X-Files story posts (or just to be my friend lol).

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you to Christine for sharing her story.

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

Happy Pride Month! Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story. Today, ava shares her story. They are a fellow biracial lesbian, which will always delight me. ava discusses her love for "Never Again” (s4e13), and even gave a shout out to Mr. X!

Submit your X-Files story

Name

ava

Pronouns

she/they

Age

21

How do you identify or self-describe?

black/white, lesbian, woman, leftist!!

When did you start watching The X-Files?

summer 2025

What were your first impressions of the show?

I was absolutely hooked. I've never really seen a dynamic like what mulder and scully have, it was captivating for me. Also the way that all of the characters are portrayed is just super unique!

Do you have a favorite character?

Mulder and Scully of course, but more so dana scully. They’re such well written characters i just love and relate to them so much!

Scully is this super stubborn woman working in a male dominated field, and she doesn’t put up with anyone’s bs!! Not to mention she went to medical school and is a super genius on top of being an fbi agent. She’s such a complex character i love her <3

Mulder is just so hopeless and mentally ill that poor guy 😭 i usually have a hard time liking male characters but mulder is just so male-wife coded it’s crazy. (he’s a lesbian in my world i’m sorry).

Super random characters but I also absolutely love Deep Throat, and even more Mr. X…i wish they had stayed in the show :/

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

Seasons 1-6, but mostly the earlier seasons. (i try not to think about seasons 8-11…it’ll hurt my brain)

My favorite episodes are definitely all of the comedic relief ones, and memento mori of course!! But my all time favorite episode has to be “never again,” controversial i know :/. It’s such an overly hated episode honestly, i mean THE jodie foster is in it. We also get to see scully be super impulsive and sexual for like the first time ever hello??? Women have feelings and stuff too!!

Do you rewatch the show?

Yeah!! I’m currently on my second rewatch but i rewatch my favorite episodes quite often.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

Sure, I think that since i’m from the PNW, watching the earlier seasons brings me an immense amount of comfort. My mom used to watch it when i was a kid too so it feels like home honestly. I also have always been super obsessive over a lot of other media like this, like twin peaks, hannibal, alien, the silence of the lambs, the list could go on!! (i’m convinced that 1 in every 10 lesbian is also interested in at least one of these).1

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

Hm…not necessarily. I’m a pretty anxious person so i don’t really engage with people much but i definitely enjoy watching from a far!!

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

Definitely! if i wasn't able to read my gay little fanfics or watch dana scully edits at 3am i’m not sure what i’d do… I’m hesitant to call myself an x-phile but the amount of time i spend engaging with xfiles media, i think i’d be considered one! I’ve also managed to start a physical media collection so that’s how you know this is serious for me.

Do you have any favorite memes, images, fanart, etc. related to the show?

the iconic twitter post

Do you have a special memory with the show you’d like to share?

A few years ago I told this girl that i lowkey had a crush on at the time that my favorite show was twin peaks and she told me to watch the x files. It took me a while to start it but i’m glad i did!!

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you to ava for sharing their story.

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

I cried for a good portion of today, and everything is okay. Tragically, though, it has left me feeling guilty. Guilt perpetually courses through my blood, and it’s always hungry.

I’ve invited vampires into my life again. I finished Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab after putting it down for at least a month. I haven’t read a novel that’s broken my heart so frequently in a long time. Each character sparkles, sizzles, and fizzles out, but vampires don’t live by the rules of an average human life. They can live centuries in the night as long as they avoid graveyard soil.

Schwab describes the characters’ hunger as bottomless. Blood only fills the void for mere minutes before the ache reappears. Charlotte, known as Lottie, Alice, and Sabine handle these hungers differently, with the latter finding power in the hunt. Charlotte and Alice refuse to trade their remaining humanity for the endless hedonism of draining innocents’ blood.

Read more

Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story.

Before I dive into today’s submission, I want to address seasons eight and nine. Often, the first thing many fans discuss on forums, fan pages, and at events is the elephant in the writer’s room. With the half-exit of David Duchovny following season seven, many philes were frustrated with Scully’s new partner, John Doggett. His background is classically cop, and he is even more skeptical than Scully is, fundamentally changing the dynamic of the show.

In season nine, writers introduced Monica Reyes, another controversial character. She is further toward a new age occult belief system than Mulder’s paranormal government conspiracy angle. To many, including myself, Reyes is an underdeveloped character whose motivations are placed to the wayside in favor of a clumsy “will they/won’t they” with Doggett.

Agent Reyes enters into the show with a clear admiration for Scully. As true Scully/Reyes shippers know, their back and forth holds romantic tension that’s much more captivating than Reyes and Doggett’s lackluster chemistry. Reyes is quirky and sincere, and she refuses to be dismissed for her unorthodox ideas. She’s a true numerologist and whale sound enthusiast, and I wish we could know more about her.

While I was disappointed in my first watch of seasons eight and nine, I’ve grown more fond toward them as I’ve let go of Mulder’s absence. Scully’s beautifully unhinged behavior increases as she manages an unexpected pregnancy alongside Mulder’s disappearance. She shines through as the main draw of the show, debating what she really believes without her usual counterpoint.

I know some X-Files fans urge viewers to skip the last two seasons of the original run, but despite their many flaws, there’s something worthwhile in the seasons’ little moments. Scully has heartbreaking realizations that Mulder is her anchor. Doggett is fiercely loyal and takes on a big brother role with Scully. Reyes and the Lone Gunmen help Scully navigate motherhood. Burt Reynolds even has a goofy guest starring role.

Now, let’s get back to today’s submission, which is from Liz. She grew up watching season 9 on cable in the U.K. and loves Reyes. It’s exciting to hear her perspective on the show, which is partially impacted by her Christian faith.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

Liz

Pronouns

She/her

Age

35

How do you identify or self-describe?

White cis bisexual/queer

When did you start watching The X-Files?

I recall catching glimpses of it as a kid when my dad watched it, but I started properly watching around the age of 12 when season nine was airing in the UK, although I mostly watched reruns on cable so didn’t get to see it in order until my early twenties when I finally could buy the DVD box set.

What were your first impressions of the show?

I was drawn to Mulder and Scully’s relationship initially, but had always had an interest in mysteries and the paranormal so easily got sucked into the world and stories.

Do you have a favorite character?

Honestly I love Reyes (but not what CC did to her story!!) Her backstory with Doggett really intrigues me and I would have loved to get to know her character more.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

The more explicitly comedic episodes like Bad Blood and Triangle are great, and season one will always be special as the beginning of Mulder and Scully’s relationship. Controversially, I also loved season nine and getting to know new characters, especially Audrey Pauley and 4-D. Also any episodes with the Lone Gunmen!

Do you rewatch the show?

Yes, I just have a constant rewatch going in chronological order although sometimes there is a break depending on life stuff and I pick back up where I left of.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

Being someone who discovered their sexuality in their early thirties (identified as straight until then) I feel I now look at the show through a different lens not assuming all the characters are straight (sapphic Scully/Reyes yes please!!) I also come from a strong faith background (Christian) so find that element, particularly Scully’s faith, has impacted me.

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

Not particularly, although liking the show and generally strange/paranormal things wasn’t considered “cool” by my peers when I was in school so finding online communities has helped me feel less alone in that.

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

Yes, I follow a lot of social media accounts and still have a fan Tumblr account. I do consider myself a quiet part of the fandom as I am shy and don’t always directly comment on things or form connections, but it is nice to know others appreciate the show as much as I do.

Do you have a special memory with the show you’d like to share?

I wrote my university dissertation on faith in The X-Files!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Just how much I love the show and appreciate the fandom and the amazing things they create in honour of it.

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you to Liz for sharing her story. Incredibly cool to hear about her dissertation, which I genuinely want to know more about!

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story. Today, Fox Stokes discusses his love for John Byers and ritual of rewatching the show each year.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

Fox Stokes

Pronouns

he/they

Age

30

How do you identify or self-describe?

white bisexual trans man with a penchant for tall grays

When did you start watching The X-Files?

As a kid, far too soon for Toomes [sic] to be imprinted on my fragile child psyche

What were your first impressions of the show?

tbh it made me feel patriotic, lol. I thought all FBI/government agents were out there trying to protect us from horrific monsters and aliens

Do you have a favorite character?

John Byers is a current favorite of mine. The entire trio of strange bachelors are awesome, but John has such a sensitive side...reminds me of Mulder if he ever let his walls down

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

“Bad Blood” from season 5, honestly a top tier season for goofs. I can never get over the “AND IT WASNT EVEN REAL CREAM CHEESE IT WAS LIGHT CREAM CHEESE”

Do you rewatch the show?

I watch it slowly throughout the year, just when I’m crafting or writing. Always in order WITH the movies.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

As a trans person named Fox...yes, the show had quite an impact on me

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

Not necessarily in person, but it’s helped me feel less alone online! I love the forums and art groups online dedicated to this fantastically weird show.

Do you have a special memory with the show you’d like to share?

I’ve been in a long term relationship with my partner Gus🩵 for 6 years now and we’ve been watching together for a while, it’s been SO fun watching it for the first time through their eyes

anything you’d like to plug while we’re here?

@thanksforthewings is my partners IG page where they do commissioned art, x files or otherwise 🩵

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you to Fox for sharing his story. Don’t forget to check out their partner’s art account, @thanksforthewings!

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story. Today, Max shares her favorite episodes and how their aroace identity impacts how they watch the show. Max also offers a refreshing critique on episodes like “El Mundo Gira” from his perspective as a Mexican person.

Submit your X-Files story

Editor note: I use brackets ([ ]) to show my additions for further clarity, including episode season and number.

Name

Max

Pronouns

any! (they/she/he/it)

Age

23 years old

How do you identify or self-describe?

Mexican aroace queer

When did you start watching The X-Files?

Approximately a year ago (second to third week of December 2024).

What were your first impressions of the show?

I watched my first episode on a long ride on a bus, the conductor played “Ghost in the Machine” [s1e07]. It scared me a little!, I got chills; but I knew Mulder and Scully from a Tumblr blog I followed that posted about txf sometimes, and I liked them already, so I kept watching because I wanted to know them more.

The criticism of giving too much power to a machine felt relevant in these times, for me, so I wanted to see what other themes they addressed in the whole show and watched it whole. I think it gave me the impression of a show that played with the unnatural in a rational perspective, so even though it gave me chills, it was interesting enough for me to keep watching.

Do you have a favorite character?

Scully! I loved her from the beginning because she’s serious and smart. I was a very serious girl when I was little, and I didn’t like it when others made me think that I had to be always smiling, or when they got mad that I didn’t laugh at their jokes, so seeing her as an adult who is collected and still respected makes my child self very happy.

I also like her because she’s a scientist and is the one to tell all the science stuff that explains paranormal phenomena, which I understand because I studied Biology; I just really like it when she goes into scientific terminology <3. Lastly, I was a very scaredy kid growing up, so I could have never watched The X-Files then, yet I feel Scully’s character would have been the one to save me from all my fears because she explains the paranormal with logic, and I needed that to stop being scared. I’m glad I got to know this character even though I’m not scared anymore.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

notes: I swapped commas for a bulleted list here for clarity

Many episodes I consider my favorites! Some are:

• “Arcadia” [s6e15] (very funny to see them undercover as a couple)

• "Folie à Deux” [s5e19] (two characters sharing madness? I'm so here)

• “Ghost in the Machine” (my first episode, special place in my heart; also, I wouldn't say Scully being all dirty from flying through the vents was what made me watch the whole show, but it certainly did help)

• “Pusher” [s3e17] (very angsty, I like that!)

• And I really enjoy the ones where they go into the wilderness, as a biologist (“Darkness Falls” [s1e20], “Ice” [s1e8], “Firewalker” [s2e9], “Field Trip” [s6e21]).
  

  I would have to rewatch the show to pick a favorite season, though.

Do you rewatch the show?

I want to rewatch it whole, but currently I’m only rewatching the cancer arc to collect information for a creative project! I try to watch an episode every weekend.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

My queer identity? Yes! I want to write an essay to lay out all my thoughts, but I haven't had time. I'll try to explain shortly. As an aroace, I am tired of shows in which two people (whether it's a hetero, lesbian or gay couple) are determined to end up together, either by the writers themselves or as headcanoned by the fandom (which is easier to ignore, but is still prevalent); I am tired, but resignated [sic], really, you get used to it.

However, Mulder and Scully didn't exactly felt like that from the beginning, or maybe they did, but it felt natural, somehow. The main conversation in the fandom is their apparently very noticeable sexual tension, but, either because I'm ace, inexperienced, or I watched the show while I had lunch, I have to admit I never noticed it until later seasons lol. So, for me, the fact that these two were friends first, and trusted each other, respected each other, allowed themselves to rely in the other, made me actually be invested in their relationship, besides my nerd self being invested in the scientific explanations for paranormal phenomena.

My way of viewing the world as an aromantic and asexual person makes me see their relationship as something that probably derived from platonic into something not specifically romantic like a normative couple, but something that is weirder and very special. The fact that they found the "Truth" in each other is more special for me than any confirmation of them being stereotypically married or "together.”

My identity as a person too, I continued being serious, although I do smile more; also I think studying biological sciences is a factor for me to enjoy the series and follow or speculate explanations for the paranormal. As a Mexican, it's sometimes funny how the whole alien conspiracy circles around the US lol, but I like to wonder what kind of cases Mulder and Scully would have in my country, which has its bunch of unexplained phenomena engraved in its culture. I am critical of episodes like “El Mundo Gira” [s4e11] and “John Doe” [s0e7], but I understand shows that are products of their time, and also that the series is not perfect as a whole, not even with other cultures.

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

I’ve interacted with some people that have been nice to my fanart of them, but I don’t think it’s a community as a whole, at least not yet.

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

Technology definitely plays a role, I would have never watched it if it wasn't because of social media. And I watched the show on my computer via streaming.

I think you can be part of a fandom even just sharing posts or talking to other fans; I make fanart and have a Tumblr blog dedicated to TXF, where I share gifsets, other people's fanart and fanfics, but also memes and commentary on the show. I am part of the fandom, but a small one, since it's very old and big, it feels nice!

Do you have any favorite memes, images, fanart, etc. related to the show?

Text posts attached to screenshots from the show are one of my favorite things in the world, and there are so many I could hardly pick one, but I’ll try. As for fanart, I love Rosenkranz and aphrostiel’s takes on the characters, right now I’m thinking of the later’s drawings in which Mulder and Scully are drawn with Snoopy and Woodstock, I’ve never read Peanuts but I love the comparisons.

Also the “shut up and dance | the x files” video by selene on youtube makes me really happy, I watch it whenever I feel down; musical videos with scenes from shows tickle my brain in good ways, and if they’re x files related, better.

Do you have a special memory with the show you’d like to share?

I watched Fight the Future (1998) for my birthday this year, it was a very good conclusion to my day <3. Another one is when I started making fanart of the show, I hadn't uploaded it anywhere because I was a little shy about it, but I showed it to my best friend and they said it was very cute, even though they don't watch the show -they prefer animated series or videogames. But their impression encouraged me to start posting it, and other people have loved it too.

It's also the first show I arrange [sic] a playlist for, I love listening to it and thinking about the blorbos, and good memories of finding new songs to add to it are engraved in the manual work I was doing as I listened.

Also not a memory, but a recurring remark I have with my mom is that when one of us parks the car all twisted the other will just say "Scully", in reference to the crazy parking they made in early seasons hehe.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Only that my very first contact with the series was the intro song being used as a meme, which was around when I was approximately 12 years old (?), and when I use it on insta to post fanart I feel like the viewers will think of that meme first and be like "what is she drawing about?" lmao, but I'm really glad I got into the series and that the fandom is very alive and active, thank you for your page and your memes, I love them.

This was very fun to answer, too.

English is not my first language, so I apologize for any grammar mistakes.

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you to Max for kindly sharing their story. I certainly didn’t mind any grammar mistakes. I loved her in-depth answers and insight into fandom culture as a newer XF fan.

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

1. I created a thread in my chat early this month for people to introduce themselves. I did one as well. I’d love to learn more about y’all, so jump in if you’re interested!

2. I’m considering changing up some of the questions for my Interview With An X-Phile segment. Let me know if that sounds interesting, or if there are any questions you’d like to see!

I’ve been in love with Pixar’s Elio since I first saw its trailer. My only priority on my birthday, its release date, was to see it in theaters. My partner and I cried as grief and belonging took the forefront in a young boy’s story. I’ve watched it twice at home since, and I’ve wanted to write about it each time, but I haven’t.

Elio Solis, an 11-year-old boy with recently deceased parents, is in the care of his Aunt Olga, a major in the government space program. His grief, and subsequent loneliness, is encapsulated in his insistence on still using Elio-ese, a language he shared solely with his parents. His loss is so great on Earth that he’s certain he belongs somewhere else entirely.

After learning about extraterrestrials at a Voyager 1 museum exhibit, Elio impatiently awaits his alien abduction. He lies on a beach in his space cape, with a clear message in the sand around him: “Aliens abduct me!!!” Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” playing in the background.

This shot endeared me to the movie from the moment I saw it. Hearing “same as it ever was” repeat as Elio’s hope wavers points to the all too common outsider’s conflict. He could pack up his tinfoil hat, but he’d still be left with his untamed grief. Elio’s smile, lying there in the sand, belies his desperation to be accepted as-is.

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new wave and the misfit

In Are We Not New Wave?, Cateforis examines the tension between the Talking Heads and white middle-class institutions.1 David Byrne, the band’s front man, danced in nervous, awkward mannerisms on 80s stages that rejected norms in a new kind of punk: more contained but altogether outside of traditional masculinity. The band’s complex lyrics beckoned to young people frustrated with corporate expectations of neckties and competition, creating a group of intellectual misfits.

Cateforis makes the argument that new wave, and especially the musicians that pioneered it, is white. I would posit that its consistent presence as my Spotify Wrapped top genre is evidence that its appeal extends beyond white identity. The middle class modifier, however, matches my experience in suburbia.2

Class complicates all situations. My immigrant parents were fortunate enough for luck and connections to align with skill, and it led to firm academic expectations. Grades below As and skipping college weren’t options. I was so lucky to have the access privilege affords, but despite my natural ability to excel at the school system, I couldn’t quite fit in.

I was Black at majority-white schools. I was queer and repressed, had a traumatic childhood, and had co-occurring mentally illnesses. I had undiagnosed ADHD that only added to my “tense and nervous” inability to relax.3 Home was where I wanted to be, but I was already there.4 Talking Heads spoke to my overly introspective, angry, and hopeless early adulthood self.

Pixar doesn’t address the muddying nature of class status, but Elio is confused by the world’s expectations. Elio is a Latino nerd with undertones of both neurodivergence and queerness. He channels his grief into a hyperfixation best compared to Fox Mulder, plastering his bedroom walls with images of UFOs and stars. Rather than forming an actual Ham Radio Club, he uses club flyers as an excuse to make off with a better radio, shrugging off two potential friends.

Similar to Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime,” Elio is unsure how he has found himself here. Byrne, who is open about his autism self-diagnosis, says he uses music to communicate with the world due to his difficulties socializing. Elio feels so isolated he needs a strong signal and extraterrestrial contact to connect.

leader of Earth

Elio finds his best chance at contact through a satellite signal at his aunt’s base. He sends a message that he is “super excited to join” them, ending with “Okay, bye. Love you!” It is not only unbearably sweet, but also effective.

Elio cheers as he is beamed to the stars. After his warm welcome to The Communiverse, the alien information exchange center that picked him up, Elio is ready to stay with the representatives from several planets across the universe. However, he soon learns they assume he is the leader of Earth.

Elio borrows from classic sci-fi as it navigates new developments. As Earth’s leader, The Communiverse creates an Elio clone to prevent chaos in his absence. Made from space clay, his clone looks and talks just like him but has self-healing benefits in case of injury. Elio advises his clone to be normal to a t, and clone Elio follows. He gives up his alien fixation to eerily trim the hedges, converse with neighbors, and discuss nutritious dinner recipes. However, he occasionally lops off a finger with the trimming shears.

queerness and the monster

I’ve had so much trouble writing about this movie, and Disney’s presence is the resounding answer. It has always been in my life, regardless of whether I love or hate it. My affinity toward The Little Mermaid as a child is quite the trade-off for its subsequent mission to own all media.

People wearing the term “Disney adult” as a badge of honor baffles me. I can’t imagine the difficulty of explaining it to others, but also I can’t understand the genuine goodwill they seem to have toward the entertainment conglomerate. It is a business that has spent an unparalleled amount of time using nostalgia as its main marketing strategy. Darker than that is its long history of claiming their films showcase diverse narratives while still pandering to conservative audiences.

Elio is yet another example of Disney concealing queer narratives. According to Pete Docter, chief creative director at Pixar, the original LGBTQ+ storyline for Elio was cut because they’re “making a movie, not hundreds of millions of dollars of therapy.”5 Docter frames LGBTQIA+ identity as a conversation parents aren’t ready to have with their children, as if a boy having a crush on another boy is dangerous to kids.

Hilariously enough, the movie struck my partner and I as queer immediately. It’s hard to avoid marginalized identity allegories when it comes to the monster. Aliens, which Elio represents in bright colors and a multitude of forms, often represent fears of an outside threat. Aliens represent tensions between the hegemonic Western society and immigrants, queer people, or other marginalized groups.

In navigating this tension, lots of LGBTQIA+ people turn toward, rather than away from, the monster. In “The Wolf Man’s Daughter,” Tosha R. Taylor explores her lesbian identity through watching sci-fi and horror with her father as kid. She found kinship in werewolves and Freddy Kreuger: “Monsters, not heroes, were my friends.”6

queer persistence

Following the decision both to axe Elio’s male romantic interest and overhaul the original production due to disappointing results in early screener testing, Adrian Molina, the original director, left the project for Coco 2. Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian, both talented story artists who spearheaded Turning Red, took over as directors.7 Under their direction, the project shifted course.

Sharafian said, “The biggest change we made, and everything rippled from there, was that Elio always wanted to be abducted by aliens, to find a place where he belongs.” Shi and Sharafian intentionally leaned into Elio as an outsider narrative. They relate to it themselves as weirdo kids who finally found community in animation school.

While likely unintentional, Elio’s relationship with his alien peer, Glordon, reads queerplatonic in nature. When Elio must negotiate with the warmongering Grigon to stay in The Communiverse, he stumbles upon his son, Glordon. They bond quickly in their shared oddities and end up giddily exploring The Communiverse together before having deeper conversations.

Elio reveals himself as a child who feels unwanted. He has lost his parents, and his aunt doesn’t quite understand him. He misinterprets Olga’s frustration as rejection. Glordon’s mother is away often, and he commiserates with his own emotional distance from his father.

Glordon admits to fearing his carapace, the hard metal shell his species dons as a coming-of-age ritual. By covering his soft body, Glordon would be entering into a destructive, warrior lifestyle that has never fit him. His rejection of defined gender norms allows them to share their frustration with conformity. Through their relationship, Elio and Glordon refuse to shrink themselves.

close connections

Critical reviews for Elio weren’t great, but perhaps their disappointment comes from a lack of understanding familiar to the title character. Manohla Dargis (New York Times) describes the movie as “drearily familiar,” expressing boredom at Pixar’s perceived storyline clichés.8 The movie, however, is a familiar plot told through an updated, beautifully rendered lens.

Drawing inspiration from films like Close Encounters, Shi and Sharafian wanted to create a family film out of a subgenre marked by hostile extraterrestrial encounters. The path of Elio is unexpected in its use of aliens as friends rather than foes. Elio learns about the interpersonal through the lens of The Communiverse. They bolster his confidence and accept him for the qualities he already has.

Dargis also bemoan Pixar’s inadequate handling of the characters’ feelings, but this critique is shortsighted. Elio does want to escape, but it is a reflection of grief rather than a distraction from it. He wants to avoid a world without his parents, but he must learn to accept it as irrevocably changed.

Olga is further removed from the main plot of the movie, but she has an emotional journey in her own right. Her career is limited by adopting her nephew, and she isn’t excelling at raising him either. Only his absence, replaced by a clone that is far too normal, allows her to understand Elio. Olga unravels on the beach where she searches for him in the sky, feeling confused and utterly alone, and it is only the real Elio who can comfort her.

Elio has the chance to remain in The Communiverse, far from where he’s spent the last eleven years. His other option is to return with his aunt, which initially felt so gapingly lonely. Carl Sagan’s voice plays at the beginning and end of the film, saying that the search for extraterrestrial life “touches the deepest of human concerns. Are we alone?” Elio’s journey convinces him that he might not have to be.

notes from the field report: things that have caught my eye recently

1. [Years of pelvic floor therapy] by Maria Gray CW: sexual assault

2. Finally read and enjoyed Braiding Identity: African Women, Hair Salons, and Identity in New York from The Vine

3. What is the purpose of fashion in hard times?

4. I read Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything by Alyson Stoner, and it was a heartbreaking and engaging look at childhood fame

5. beautiful scully illustrations from martingaleday on tumblr

6. Race, Fertility, and the Science of Slavery in Antebellum America from JSTOR Daily (3 min read)

7. more beautiful scully, this time in shots from “Roadrunners” (s8e04)

8. Dry Spell by Kacey Musgraves!!!! and also House Tour by Sabrina Carpenter

9. This is by far one of the coolest books I’ve ever read. It’s the role of tattooing and its place in contemporary fine arts.

10. alanna okun’s game about knitting in a handknit console for their graduate thesis

xf quote of the day:

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Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story. Today, we have Soph’s story. She’s a recent fan who has gotten into the show in a big way. They describe making phile friends, internet fandom, and writing fanfiction.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

Soph (spookysoph)

Pronouns

She/they

Age

33

How do you identify or self-describe?

White, intersex, bisexual woman(?)

When did you start watching The X-Files?

Fairly recently! Early 2024, I had just gotten off two months of following my favourite band on tour, and having just had possibly the most fun ever, I desperately needed something to distract me. I’m a child of the 90s, and a longtime tumblr lurker, so obviously I was always aware of the show.

I’m a big fan of sci fi and horror, so it was one I always intended to get to. And then that March, my TikTok algorithm had started randomly feeding me MSR fan edits. I took it as a sign and decided to dive in. By the time I got halfway through the pilot, I knew this was going to be something special.

What were your first impressions of the show?

I immediately fell in love with the spooky, early 90s vibe, the cinematography, and sci-fi/horror elements. But more than anything, I found myself absolutely captivated by Mulder and Scully. Their dynamic hooked me, right from the start.

Do you have a favorite character?

Fox Mulder. I was immediately drawn to him, his pain, his willingness to believe, the fact that, despite everything he’s lost (and continues to lose over the course of the series), he keeps trying to fight the good fight. I’ve always been a sucker for a damaged male protagonist with a haunted past. Give me a man with kicked puppy eyes and a lifetime of trauma and I’m lost.

Also, the way he loves Scully, the way he has little to no concern for his own life. I loved him from the start, but watching him dangle from that cable car in “Ascension” really solidified him as my man.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

I could probably list a bunch of eps but if I had to throw out one, right off the top of my head, I’d say “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas.” It’s funny, spooky, campy, and oddly heartfelt. It’s a great distillation of Mulder and Scully’s relationship at that point in the show and it makes me laugh every time. Plus they’re both *sigh* so attractive…

Do you rewatch the show?

I’m new here, but since first getting into the show in March ‘24, I’ve watched it all the way through twice (except season 9), am now doing a third full rewatch and have watched certain episodes many, many more times. I’ve also watched both movies roughly 6/7 times each. I’ve always been a binge watcher and someone who goes back to comfort shows again and again. I imagine the X Files will join my rotation of rewatch shows. I keep waiting to get tired of it, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

100%. I’ve always been fannish and obsessive, but no show in all my 33 years has had such a lasting and intense effect on me. In the brief time I’ve been a fan, I’ve covered my arm in a large Mulder & Scully tattoo, spent £100s meeting David and Gillian and meet and greets/concerts/Want events, began reading and writing fanfiction (something I’d never been interested in before) and began collecting show merch. My friends and family have been good sports, now immediately texting me whenever they see/hear anything remotely to do with the show or with David and Gillian.

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

Yes! I joined Reddit for the first time ever as a place to meet people and chat about the show before eventually getting to know a few regular commenters on the XF subreddit. I was then invited to join a few different Discords, as well as creating an XF tumblr blog.

Since then, I’ve met an entire community of XF fans and fanfic readers and writers, some of whom have become my very good friends (shoutout to the Poang Pals) ♥️🥹 A few of us have even met and hung out in real life, and though I couldn’t make the meet-up in the U.S. this past August (which a few Philes threw when we found out Philefest had been cancelled), there has been talk of hopefully doing another large meet up soon, possibly closer to home. I can’t wait! Though we’ve only been talking a short time, I consider some of the friends I’ve met through the fandom to be true friends and I hope we stay in each other’s lives for a very long time.

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

I absolutely do consider myself a part of the fandom, and without technology - specifically the internet/apps like tumblr, Reddit and Discord - I doubt my experience would have been as fulfilling as it has been.

Do you have any favorite memes, images, fanart, etc. related to the show?

anything you’d like to plug while we’re here?

I write fanfic! [Their handles are spookysoph on both AO3 and tumblr!]

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you to Soph for sharing their story, and I’m excited to get into her fanfics.

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story. Today, I’m sharing mars’ story. He got into the show with his best friend, nico, a previous IWAXP participant! mars also discusses their fandom twitter account and a sentimental yet unfortunate dead rat memory.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

mars

Pronouns

they/he/she

Age

21 (in two weeks…)

How do you identify or self-describe?

autistic genderfluid lesbian!

When did you start watching The X-Files?

this march with my best friend nico (who was on this substack!)

What were your first impressions of the show?

i was trying to catch up to where my bff was and admittedly … i wasn’t fully hooked … until the episode conduit. i LOVE mulder’s search for samantha and the ending is so heartbreaking but perfect… i want to believe ❤️

Do you have a favorite character?

MULDER!!! his audhd ways captivated me. i love how funny and silly he is while also being very caring and empathetic on cases.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

conduit has a special place in my heart cause it got me hooked but i also love triangle!! so fun. lone gunmen…. scully skinner kiss cause why not… split screen… scully mulder kiss prompted by scully punching mulder in the face … i love you… oh brother… ❤️

my favorite season is probably season 4 or 5. cancer arc 💔

Do you rewatch the show?

i just rewatch whichever episode i feel like … which would probably be conduit …. more than 15 times at this point …

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

absolutely! i’m autistic so this interest affects me in a way it doesn’t with allistics. this show can almost feel like my whole world sometimes.

the x-files has been my first new special interest since i got diagnosed autistic in september 2024! i feel a bit more free to talk about my interests now.

i headcanon both mulder and scully as autistic. there’s a lot of moments where i see myself in them and it makes me feel better about myself. i love them… and they are like me so… why not love myself too?

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

i got closer to my best friend! which they talked about as well. it’s so fun to both be so obsessed with something at the same time. we have inside jokes… we talk about favorite scenes or episodes or headcanons … we share art and silly images … it’s something i really treasure.

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

i got so into the show i made a new twitter account to tweet about it! it’s so nice to interact with friends and geek out together ❤️

Do you have any favorite memes, images, fanart, etc. related to the show?

Do you have a special memory with the show you’d like to share?

during the first week my friend nico and i were watching the show remotely… a mouse had died and was rotting in between the walls of my room and the hallway❤️ there was nothing we could do about the smell since we rent so i tried to mask the smell with candles and air fresheners. it didn’t really work. just created another layer of stink. but whenever i smell that specific candle or air freshener… i get so nostalgic.

anything you’d like to plug while we’re here?

i post about the x-files on @gremlinmulder on twitter! i have a couple edits and funny tweets.

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you to mars for sharing their story. Head to @gremlinmulder if you’d like to check out her twitter and/or strawpage with some Pee-wee Herman highlights.

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story. Today, I’m sharing Alissandra’s response. Not only is she an x-phile who spent time on early internet forums, but also, she’s a talented small artist.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

Alissandra

Pronouns

she/her

Age

38

How do you identify or self-describe?

queer female illustrator

When did you start watching The X-Files?

Season 4, in real time (so 1996-ish)

What were your first impressions of the show?

I was simultaneously scared and enthralled - I was 9 years old watching this show at first because my older sister was watching it, and scenes from Unruhe, Never Again, and Teliko are permanently etched into my mind. After the first few episodes though, my love of the characters and their relationship propelled me into full-on obsession and luckily, syndication kicked in shortly thereafter so I watched reruns every day after school.

Do you have a favorite character?

Scully has played an essential role in my understanding of my sexuality (like so many others). I did a report on Gillian Anderson/her character in 6th grade (because of course I did), and I remember feeling like my love for her/the show was “weird” because I didn’t have any context or frame of reference for queer relationships in my life at that time.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

Oof - the same big 10 that so many fans love, like “Bad Blood,” “Post-Modern Prometheus,” “Detour,” “Clyde Bruckman,” etc. A few of my more esoteric favorites that never seem to make those “best of the best” lists include “The Goldberg Variation,” “all things,” “Syzygy,” “Paper Hearts,” “Grotesque,” “Field Trip,” and “Folie à Deux.”

Do you rewatch the show?

As a freelance illustrator who spends a lot of time in my studio, rewatches are an essential ingredient in how I get into the creative flow state. Since it’s so familiar, it perfectly occupies my brain to help me ignore other distractions so I can draw with focus.

I have watched the entire show through probably 20+ times by now (I always watch the whole thing - the good, the bad, the ugly, and both movies), though this habit began long before I became a full-time artist. As a kid, I even taped the episodes off the TV to facilitate my own rewatches before it was more easily accessible (and spent several Thanksgivings trying to justify watching the viewer’s choice marathon on FX).

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

The dawning age of internet chatrooms, fan sites, fanfic, etc was such a formative part of my upbringing - the internet was like the Wild West! While I primarily lurked in those spaces, I remember the transformative understanding that other people loved this show the same way I did, even if I didn't know any of them in real life. That realization was so important to me becoming comfortable with who I am.

Additionally, my curiosity and enthusiasm for the show fueled my own explorations into different technology: downloading Sims skin packs of TXF so I could make Mulder and Krycek make out, or my fierce desire to be able to make my own X-Files desktop wallpapers fueling my initial foray into learning Photoshop and digital art, which is now an essential part of my identity as an illustrator.

There was even a point at which I reprogrammed all of the sounds on my computer to X-files .wav files, so that for example, when a friend logged into AIM, the default door opening sound was instead "Hi, my name is Fox Mulder, we used to sit next to each other at the FBI."

Do you have any favorite memes, images, fanart, etc. related to the show?

This illustration is packed with 24 easter eggs/references in specific episodes in the series and is all entirely hand-lettered and illustrated by me.1 While I don't make a lot of fan art specifically for the show, my love of all things unexplained also manifested in a collection of cryptid greeting cards and stickers that feature mothman, nessie (or big blue), sasquatch, and more.

Do you have a special memory with the show you’d like to share?

This is so silly, but I went to a random night of bar trivia when I was visiting some friends in Seattle, and the final category just happened to be The X-Files. I obviously knew every answer, and we won the whole thing as a result because they just happened to have a ringer on their team 🤓

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Thanks for creating this space for fellow X-Philes to share their stories (and so many baller memes).

Anything you’d like to plug while we’re here?

If you’d like a copy of “I Want to Believe” illustration of Mulder’s office, it’s available in my shop: www.heyalissandra.com

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you to Alissandra for her kind words, and for sharing her story. If you’d like to check out her “I Want to Believe” print, as well as many other cute paper goods, head to their shop website.

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

Leave a comment

et are both calling to me.

Before diving in to this newsletter, let’s start with a piece of:

housekeeping

I’ve officially opened my chat threads to all subscribers. I try my best to pivot as the tide turns, and I hope that adding more people to my chat threads will create more of a comfortable place for chatting. I also realized I’ve never done an introductions thread on there, so I started one. I’d love to meet you virtually <3

meme-thology arc

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I’ve been having a strange couple of weeks, but I doubt it’s been that different from the life you’re living. It’s probably been easier than some of you and harder than some others. I handle strange times with The X-Files’ “Field Trip” (season 6, episode 21).

I call “Field Trip” the original Inception (2010) because it blends the dream world into the conscious one. Mulder and Scully explore the unexplained death of two hikers on Brown Mountain, leading to a warped reality that is uncannily familiar. In the light of day, patterns have a way of repeating themselves. Some scientists claim up to 95% of our thoughts are ones we’ve had before.1

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Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story. Today, we’re hearing Carson’s story. They discuss watching the show with their dad, as well as their positive engagement with the online fandom.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

Carson Moncini

Pronouns

They/Them

Age

22

How do you identify or self-describe?

White, queer, and disabled non-binary person

When did you start watching The X-Files?

I started watching the show in 2015.

What were your first impressions of the show?

When I first saw any of The X-Files, it was because I had walked into my dad’s room while he was watching it. He was watching season four, episode 21, “Zero Sum,” and I was terrified. I have a fear of most insects, especially in swarms, so the swarm of murderous bees freaked me out a lot as a kid. Then I instantly fell in love with Mulder when I saw him, and later on fell for Scully as I kept watching the show with my dad.

Do you have a favorite character?

It’s hard to say, but I think Mulder. I love Scully deeply, but I was introduced to Mulder first, and relate to him way more.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

Seasons 4,5, and 6, with season 6 being my top one. My favorite episode is probably either “Triangle” (6x3) or “Field Trip” (6x21).

Do you rewatch the show?

I have rewatched the show 11 times. I introduce the show to my friends and partners and watch it with them, and then watch the show whenever I need comfort, most of the time starting from the pilot and watching the entire show.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

I don’t think so. I started this show identifying as a white queer girl and I’ve evolved since then, but I still watch the show with the same love for it as I did when I started. If anything, I noticed I became more obsessive with it after realizing it was my special interest.

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

Yes! I met my very best friend through this show on Instagram. I have also been in the fandom for a few years, I have a fan page dedicated to it, and I’ve joined a discord server for the show and have met so many wonderful people.

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

Absolutely. I consider myself part of the fandom and I wouldn’t know half of the people I know from this fandom without technology. I use social media to keep up with the fandom and to read about the show when I’m not watching it. It keeps TXF close to me when I don’t have the ability to watch it as often as I’d like to.

Do you have a special memory with the show you’d like to share?

I’ll never forget my first time watching the show. But another special memory is watching the season 11 revival with my dad, who is also a fan of the show.

Anything you’d like to plug while we’re here?

Follow my Instagram @chris.carter_2.0

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you to Carson for their response, and don’t forget to check them out on instagram.

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

Share

I’m going to wax a bit poetic before today’s questionnaire response. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned on here how illuminating it is to read through and share the stories people have passed on to me. I love learning about people, and through these snapshots, I simultaneously get to witness someone through what they share, but also how they share. Each respondent processes the questions differently, using their own flair and language to answer them.

I also see throughlines of connection, identity, and passion in these responses that leave me reflecting on my own experiences. Across all ages, genders, sexual identities, racial backgrounds, etc., science fiction can create a home for those who feel unmoored. I think that’s a special function of both the genre as the whole and The X-Files specifically.

With all that said, let’s get into today’s story.

Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story. Today, I share Phil Gasper’s response. He started watching the show close to its debut, and through it has learned about his own sexuality. They also address the heavily 90s nature of the show soundtracks and how The X-Files has inspired his own creative work.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

Phil Gasper

Pronouns

he/him/they/them/his/theirs

Age

40

How do you identify or self-describe?

White cis queer man.

When did you start watching The X-Files?

1993 or 1994.

What were your first impressions of the show?

Early memories are of being absolutely terrified by the trailers. I think it was probably Flukeman in the promos that got me. The music alone absolutely spooked me, at a time when I was incredibly vulnerable to being stirred emotionally by music.

Do you have a favorite character?

It is impossible to decide between the two leads so I’ll say Krycek or The Lone Gunmen.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

It is impossible for me to pick, but one of my favorite moments is Scully interacting with her father in the afterlife.

Do you rewatch the show?

Yes - this time through, the third in full I think - I am writing a Substack about each episode (inspired by your Instagram account). It is slow-going. I initially intended to watch an episode a week but life happened and I needed it to be more free-form.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

Yes. Puberty would not have been what it was for me without Gillian Anderson. In that sense, there is a part of my sexual identity connected to the show because of how enamored I was with her as a pubescent kid. Anderson’s sense of self - along with the characters - showed me a type of woman that I had not met yet but believed any one of my young female friends could grow up to be. That seems important! Upon rewatches, I realized the subconscious homosexual desire of my childhood may have been ignited by Mulder, Skinner, Krycek.

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

Yes, in general, it is an easy way to connect with people, with the popularity seemingly only growing over the last decade or so. It is also a point of queer solidarity with friends I have that I already knew before we all grew up to be obsessed with TXF.

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

Yes, in terms of my subscription to this Substack and following Sculder and Mully. Along with writing my own. I also followed Kumail Nanjiani’s X-Files Files before it ended.

Do you have a special memory with the show you’d like to share?

I have a lot of little memories of listening to the soundtracks for both the show and Fight the Future. Both are a funny snapshot of 90s music with almost no common thread except a vague weirdness to all the artists.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I love your work and am inspired by it.

anything you’d like to plug while we’re here?

Just my own Substack, The Pork Chop Express. The X-Files section is “Plenty of Theories.”

Also my movie podcast, Field of Screens - on Substack, Spotify, and Apple.

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you, Phil, for sharing your story with us. I also greatly appreciate your comments on my work! If you want to see more from Phil, check out the links above. I know I’m excited to read their X-Files episode essays.

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

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Also, I’ve been behind in my longer essay for February, but I’m expecting to post it tomorrow (fingers crossed), so I’ll share my notes from the field reports there.

Welcome to my second installment of the new, revamped x-tra files. Before we start, I have a bit of…

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a quick moment to let you know to stay tuned for a new essay from me later this week. i’m excited to share with you all about a certain alien movie. Now, back to the x-philes.

Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story via questionnaire. Today, I share Elonzo’s response. Elonzo talks about loving Skinner and the power of a digital intenna.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

Elonzo

Age

36

How do you identify or self-describe?

Krycek cis, ally AF1, emotionally intelligent due to sapphic paranormal hauntings and thrifted lesbian enchantment. And a Scorpio.

When did you start watching The X-Files?

1996 but fell off in 2000s, picked back up 3 years ago and it’s on every night from 8-12 on comet.

What were your first impressions of the show?

Spooky, scary a bit but interesting, the science element from Scully with Mulder’s (let’s face it, Duchovny’s swagger) persona gave me excitement beyond the main arc. Didn’t really pick up on the main arc until the most recent rewatch 3 years ago.

Do you have a favorite character?

AD Skinner aka Skinman. He’s just the most badass guy’s guy there could be and he does it with professionalism and respect to everyone around him. If he’s telling you FAFO2, it’s because he’s your first and best line of defense against either the CSM or The Syndicate or even a kangaroo court.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

Die Hand Die Verletzt, and Season 4

Do you rewatch the show?

Yes, daily on comet TV.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

It’s helped me understand why I’m so obsessed with fact-based evidence while also clinging to my faith as a Catholic. I always saw Scully and myself the same in that regard and look up to her for being faithful to her friend but while also being intrepid in her profession.

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

It’s definitely helped, I get to connect with people in spaces I otherwise wouldn’t know what to say beyond what we could immediately observe. It’s also helped me understand the subtle observers in the room, recognize them and see them beyond another person in the room but as a possible fellow fan!

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

Not really, digital antenna and the occasional DVD of the movie (😢 🐝) but I wouldn’t consider myself part of the fandom beyond that.

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! Thank you to Elonzo for participating thoughtfully.

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

Share

Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of an X-Files fan’s story. Today, I share part of Wyn’s history with the show. He has a similar trajectory of watching the show as I do, down to both our close ages and a particular love of seasons 1 and 3. You’ll also wanna check out their personal favorite memes they shared with us for a good laugh.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

wyn

Pronouns

he/they

Age

27

How do you identify or self-describe?

white stone butch

When did you start watching The X-Files?

17-18

What were your first impressions of the show?

i was overwhelmed by the beauty of the camerawork, of the main duo, of the lighting, and the monster-of-the-week format perfect for me as a Doctor Who fan.

Do you have a favorite character?

tips back and forth between mulder and scully - scully because i love her logical yet compassionate demeanor, mulder for his wild belief/faith. i have to shout out jodie foster as a vengeful and jealous pin-up tattoo as well.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

syzygy, ice, the pilot, eve, bad blood and never again are my favourites, i’d say seasons 1 and 3 are my top seasons

Do you rewatch the show?

i do when i get a craving for the feeling of comfort and joy the show gives me. at some point i hope to start a rewatch at autumn and continue through the festive season to new year.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

very much so. i definitely learned what ‘syzygy’ is if nothing else! but my identity has been impacted for sure, i have cosplayed a butch scully for halloween before, bonded with friends and lovers over the show and it’s one of my special interests - i now collect the x-files comics and magazines as a little hobby, and i’m lucky to own a pack of the trading cards and behind-the-scenes prints, plus books about the making of the show.

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

absolutely! the fandom is very kind, in my experience, but i wouldn’t say i’m that deep into it currently.

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

yes, i engage with fandom primarily on my phone/devices, since that’s how i watch the show too.

Do you have any favorite memes, images, fanart, etc. related to the show?

[note from nikita: i can’t stop laughing at the “he fell :(“ meme]

Do you have a special memory with the show you’d like to share?

i used to watch the show with my partners when we were living further apart than we do now (an hour train journey), and i treasure those memories particularly. also my trips to old bookshops and comic stands in markets, looking for x-files comics :)

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

great lil form, loved thinking about this show i love so much more thanks to these great questions!

anything you’d like to plug while we’re here?

i do draw and have drawn mulder and scully in screen cap redraws and as buzzfeed unsolved memes over on @wyndraws on instagram!

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! I greatly appreciate Wyn for sharing about their experience with the show and for his kind words about how it felt to answer the submission form. Make sure you check out their art on instagram !

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

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notes from the field report: things that have caught my eye recently

1. can’t stop thinking about this hilarious tweet from mbadtk86 on twitter

2. did i already mention that i listened to Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito and loved it? if you’re a fan of dark comedy horror (with gore), i’d highly recommend it. the writing is so witty and captivating.

3. i was in denver recently, and i went to Petals & Pages, a queer woman-owned bookstore and community space. they had a lot of cool events for those living in the area, but also you can support them on bookshop.org

4. denver also has an absurdly beautiful Botanic Gardens. i took the photos below while shocked that such flowers and structures could exist.

5. i was really intrigued by Japan Is What Late-Stage Capitalist Decline Looks Like from

I’m listening to Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour album as I write this. I rewatched “Detour” (season 5, episode 4) last night, but I mainly used it as background noise. My brain hums with activity lately, and I think it’s been making it harder for me to sleep, which only increases the ADHD buzz. A cycle that repeats without transformation, the anti-ouroboros.

I took a short trip to Denver over the weekend, which was about an 8 hour drive from my home. I spent a lot of time in my partner and I’s shared car since Denver is a car city. Sprawl is a stark contrast to the bed and breakfast we stayed in, which included warm conversation each morning with people from all over the country. What is now a connective experience is one I would have hated a few years ago.

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Welcome to the another installment of Interview With An X-Phile, a segment of sculder and mully where I share a snippet of the story of an X-Files fan. Today, horror author Elizabeth Broadbent joins us to discuss a bisexual love for Dana Scully, autism memes, and the joy of sharing Lord Kinbote jokes with friends.

Submit your X-Files story

Name

Elizabeth Broadbent

Pronouns

she/her

Age

God 44 do I have to 🤣

How do you identify or self-describe?

Bisexual feral swamp witch and Richmond tea party goth

When did you start watching The X-Files?

When I was 14, in 1995

What were your first impressions of the show?

It was September or October of my freshman year, and I went to my friend Laura’s house for the first time. She said she really loved this show and we had to watch it—so we sat down and watched the first airing of Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose.

I was blown away (and it’s still one of my favorite episodes). This FBI guy really wanted to believe in something beyond the stark bounds of the known physical world. That just snatched me up and rocked my world. Stories are so powerful. They tell us about ourselves and make it possible to become something different. When we see ourselves reflected in them, there’s this gasped shock of recognition—this moment of revelation. There’s nothing like it. That’s how I felt when I saw Mulder.

Oh, and I had an unstoppable crush on Scully, but I grew up super Catholic and didn’t know it for like two decades.

Do you have a favorite character?

In Mulder, I see that desperation to believe in something more than the world around you, and to create a kind of order out of the chaos of life. Like if you just fit the pieces together, the pattern will emerge.

Scully’s a badass. She’s an icon for so many Millennial women for a reason. We never got to see a woman be tough and strong and independent while still showing vulnerability.

And Krycek’s hot as hell, y’all.

Do you have a favorite episode or season?

That’s like asking me to pick my favorite child or my favorite novel, Christ. Clyde Bruckman. Duane Barry/Ascension. Anasazi/Paperclip/The Blessing Way. Too many of them.

Do you rewatch the show?

I rewatch when the mood strikes me. The show was so formative for me that even though I have a memory like a sieve, I never forget it.

Do you think your identity has impacted why and/or how you watch The X-Files?

When I realized I was bi, my love of Dana Scully made so much more sense.

Has The X-Files helped you find community?

I’m a horror writer—I do Southern Gothic (and there’s a whole tangent there about the gothic nature of the X-Files and how the past always resurfaces). Recently, I was at a con with some friends, driving in a car. And I made a [Lord Kinbote] joke. Everyone laughed. And I realized oh my God, I don’t have to explain it—there’s an expectation that of course they know who [Lord Kinbote] is; that of course if I make a joke about Mulder being Ahab or whatever everyone’s going to get it.

And there’s a certain magic there. Increased cultural fragmentation has left us with fewer shared pop culture experiences, at least with that depth and breadth. Shared delight is so important. Shared touchstones are so important. Maybe more now than ever. So I treasure that. I love having friends who know [Lord Kinbote].

Does technology play a role in your engagement with the show? Do you consider yourself a part of the fandom?

Maybe? I mean, I love the memes. But not seriously into the fandom, no.

Do you have any favorite memes, images, fanart, etc. related to the show?

God, yours are so damn funny. She/her but like a boat. Anything about autism. ANYTHING about autism. I grew up on Mulder and Scully and thought they were normal. No wonder I didn’t realize I had autism til I was forty-something.

Do you have a special memory with the show you’d like to share?

My kid watches the show now. I love that. Watching it with him sometimes is probably the best. But I mean, I rewatched the whole series while I was pregnant with him. I watched it with my best friends in college. All these kids piled into bunk beds on a Sunday night.

And this is an odd one, but: since I was fourteen when I first saw it, my bestie and I got pretty ridiculous about it, like fourteen-year-olds do. We’d write notes back and forth with X-Files quotes and other just absolutely surreal weirdness. We’d write our own fanfic.

And that space and freedom to write with her and to her — she had a brilliant [sense] of ironic surrealism even when we were that young — it gave me an avenue for writing and made me stretch as a writer in so many ways. I don’t think I’d be the writer I am now without it.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Grateful to your memes!

anything you’d like to plug while we’re here?

I have three books out now, but fans here will probably like my novel Ninety-Eight Sabers best—Southern Gothic, reality TV, UFOs, Skinwalker Ranch vibes. Trying to find the truth about your father.

You can find me @eabroadbent on Insta and Threads.

I hope you enjoyed this installment of Interview With An X-Phile! A huge thanks to Elizabeth for sharing her longtime love of The X-Files with us all, as well as a personal thanks for her kind words about my memes. I’m looking forward to checking out her writing, and I encourage you to as well.

If you’d like to share your own X-Files story, you can submit here. If you enjoyed, relate to, or have any thoughts on what you read, feel free to like, share this post, and/or leave a comment.

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notes from the field report: things that have caught my eye recently

1. ISAIAH is a “statewide multiracial group of faith communities, Black barbershops, childcare centers, and more fighting for racial and economic justice in Minnesota” that has been on the frontlines providing aid and protesting during the ICE takeover of Minneapolis. You can support them here.

2. One Art by Elizabeth Bishop

3. A history of the first Black bookstore in the U.S., as well as other important tidbits

   Prisons, Prose & Protest

   Prisons, Prose & Protest - #35

   I love February because it’s Black History Month. I always learn something new and find new rabbit holes to fall down…

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   5 months ago · 91 likes · 5 comments · Prisonculture

4. I listened to the audiobook for Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne recently, and I learned a lot about a widely misunderstood mental illness. Gagne’s witty and decisive in her writing, blending memoir with her own psychological research of sociopathy.