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As we all know, without Mulder & Scully, there's no "The X-Files", and if
Chris Carter ever decides to kill one of them [*gasp*, NO!], the show will
exist no more. But all those wonderful and also those hateful characters
the duo chases, are not to be forgotten.
We are gathered here today, to pay some respect to those characters in the form of 2 lists:
Love 'em -
My favourites.
Hate 'em -
My least favourites.
The characters in each list are not organized in any particular
order.
Oh, one final note:
 means - Character
deceased...
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My Most Favourite Side Characters
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Mrs. Scully is one of the warmest characters The X-Files has to offer.
She cares deeply about her daughter and her daughter's life. We usually
see Mrs. Scully worrying about Dana, or sitting at her bed-side.
In "Wetwired", the minute she hears Mulder's
voice, she asks him what's happened, she knows he wouldn't have called
her otherwise. Did I mention
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she's a bit psychic? Plenty of evidence for that in
"Ascension". Oh, also, she's the
only one, besides his mother and Samantha, Mulder allows to call him Fox.
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Oooooh, chills go up and down my spine as I recall the squeaks of the screws
Eugene Tooms loosened in Mulder's apartment ("Tooms").
Nahhh, I'm all goose bumps recalling both
"Squeeze" and "Tooms".
Eugene Victor Tooms, the human mutant who ripped the livers off his victims in
order to live. And live and live. Yes, he is a killer, but I liked him. Such a
nice guy; working as an animal control officer (so he can lick his fingers
after touching dead
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animals... brrrr), living with an elderly couple
("I'm sure you can squeeze in"). Too bad he
had to end up being squashed by the escalator in 66 Exeter st, that means he
won't be back...
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Mr. Nutt was my favourite person-of-
-short-stature-with-a-degree-in-hotel-
-management. He's very politically correct, making sure no one puts him down
for his height. His grumpiness throughout the episode (well, till he dies,
anyway), was so
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hilarious, I was constantly smiling during his scenes.
Mr. Nutt: I've taken in your
all-American features, your dour demeanour, your
unimaginative necktie design, and concluded you work for the
government. An FBI agent. But do you see the tragedy here? I have
mistakenly reduced you to a stereotype. A caricature. Instead of
regarding you as a specific, unique individual.
Mulder: But I am an FBI agent.
Mr. Nutt: *grunt*
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First of all, let me just say that Frohike is my favourite side character,
so I may be a bit biased, writing about him.
He's the least poker-faced of The Lone Gunmen, as hugging Mulder after his
return in
"Paper Clip" showed, and I certainly cannot
forget the miserable little man with the bow tie, waiting impatiently
outside of Scully's hospital room in "One Breath".
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Frohike's been enamoured with Scully ever since the first time he met her.
He knows he doesn't have a chance with his love
object, but he still keeps trying.
Frohike: So, Mulder, where's your little partner?
Mulder: She wouldn't come. She's afraid of her love
for you.
Frohike: She's tasty.
Mulder: You know, Frohike, it's men like you that give
perversion a bad name.
(From "Blood").
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I'm afraid I don't have much to say about her, only that I think she was
a very moving character.
Throughout the episode "3", we can see her
torn between her will to live forever and the will to be saved. I was
particularly touched by the scene in the end, when she burns herself.
She was so tormented and aching, I could feel it through the glass
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screen. Combine this with Mulder's pain about his missing partner,
and you walk out of this episode having a serious case of the blues.
The seducing scenes in Club Tepes (great name, by the way) and in the
bathroom with the razor were excellent.
I liked Kristen. Apparently, so did Mulder.
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Clyde Bruckman is, in my opinion, one of the most empathy arousing side
characters ever to appear on The X-Files (hehe, maybe because most of
the side characters are mutants/serial killers/vampires of all sorts
etc...). Clyde Bruckman is the sweet, kind insurance salesman, who had
been cursed with a talent for foreseeing people's deaths. And let's face
it, who wouldn't wanna know how he/she dies?
Even Scully gives in to her curiosity;
"Alright, so how *do* I die?".
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But he also knows how he, himself, is gonna end up, which makes this
knack of his even more tragic, and also gives us one of The X-Files' more
touching ending scenes ever, as Scully's holding Clyde's hand ever so
gently - his prophecy came true in the most unpredictable of ways.
Throughout all of "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose",
Clyde's got this agonised look on his face, but he also maintains his
sense of humour (after all, this *is* a Darin Morgan episode...), like
telling us Mulder's gonna find his end by auto-erotic asphyxiation, of
all ways. In my opinion, the funniest line by Clyde Bruckman is to Mulder,
after the latter showed him his badge:
"You expect me to believe that's a real name?"...
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I'd have to assume that Pendrell's first name is Agent, because he was
not given one. Even Scully didn't know his first name, and apparently,
from "Max", he wasn't just another lab-guy
for her. She wasn't just another FBI agent for Agent Pendrell either,
that's for sure. I just loved to see his eyes wear that
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dreamy look, as they're following Scully's figure, walking out of the
lab. I wonder, was Scully even aware of Pendrell's adoring her? Because
Mulder sure was, as seen in "Teliko"
Pendrell: Shouldn't we wait for agent Scully?
Mulder: She can't come. She's got a date...
Pendrell [ever so disappointed]
Mulder: ...with a dead guy.
Every time Scully went into the lab, Perndrell's eyes lit, and he was
so goofily excited to have her there, even if it's only to ask him to
check or do something for her - something that, no doubt, he would do.
In "Tempus Fugit", he was so adorable, as
the drunken Pendrell dares to ask agent Scully for a drink, and when
seeing she's with someone, he also buys her 'date' a drink! But killing
him in "Max" was cruel, and Scully was
feeling rather guilty for it, as Pendrell took the bullet instead of
her. Not only guilt, but also gratitude, and appreciation, for the little
man, who will not be commemorated, but is important none-the-less.
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Pusher was one of the cruellest villains presented on The X-Files, in my
opinion. But this vicious mind-controller really got to me, and that is why
I've included him in this list and not the other. He'd found the best
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way to commit the perfect murder, and not even be there. True, he had to be
seriously ill to be able to do that, but I didn't see him complaining. On
the contrary. He looked quite pleased and smug,
saying: "Bet you 5 bucks I get off". If I were
Mulder, I'd smack Modell right then and there. Pusher was so calm and he
spoke quietly his enchanting words, even Mulder, the worthy opponent - had
failed. Well, almost.
A lot has been said about the excellent scene in the hospital, the mind-battle,
in which Mulder won [Or maybe I should say - Scully], so I won't write about
that.
In the end, I came out feeling sorry for Modell, not hating him. I can't say
that I liked this villain, but I sure was enchanted by him.
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Yet another member of the infamous consortium, with a three-word-name. It's
OK, we're used to it (must be a standard regulation, in order to become a
member).
Although the WMM is one of the bad guys, I like him.
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He's distinguished, he looks very pleasant to me. I'd also give him credit
for 3 things:
It seems to me he doesn't like CancerMan very much.
He even reprimanded him in front of all his other dark consortium
pals for being late
(in "Apocrypha").
He did try to warn Scully in "The Blessing Way".
In the movie "Fight The Future", the Well-Manicured
Man has proved to be what I thought he was ever since the beginning. He helped
Mulder out and told him Scully's location. I was taken aback by the car's
explosion, as I hadn't foreseen THAT happen, and I am sorry for this man,
because ever since the 4th season, he seemed to be going somewhat against the
big conspiracy.
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Oh, Deep Throat, Deep Throat. Why did you have to die?
When I first saw this character, I don't know, I wasn't really taken by him.
He was too mysterious, too powerful. Only afterwards did I
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understand that *that* was the magic of this character. After he died,
Deep Throat made a few appearances in various episodes, in which we learned
some more about this somewhat puzzling character, that is also very human
and sad (mainly, that he's called "Ronald"). Scenes in
"Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man", and even
scenes from season 1 (he met Mulder at night in Washington DC, and someone
took a picture. Deep Throat was really edgy about that, even though it was
only a tourist - from ""E.B.E") made him much
more likable to me.
My Least Favourite Side Characters
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The fat-sucking human monster who preyed on the deepest insecurities
of lonely and large women. Incanto is one of my most despised creatures
to appear on The X-Files. He's so calm and I'd dare even say vampire-like,
as
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he's sucking the fat out of his victims' bodies. The horrible thing about
him is not even the actual sucking (which, in itself is not a pretty sight
at all), but Incanto's looking through the internet specifically for shy
women, with no self-esteem. Those women, whom I thought were presented
as pitiful and pathetic creatures, looking for Mr. Right in the Internet
Chat-Rooms, believed they're cyber-speaking to a gentle, caring guy.
Little did they know.
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The beautiful entomologist, whom Mulder became quite interested in. Alas,
she prefers older scientists who build bug-shaped robots, such as Dr.
Ivanov. Mulder even hung the
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phone on Scully for Dr. Bambi. Twice. Nope, I didn't like the 'smart is
sexy' Doctor. Too arrogant for yours truly. Besides, anyone who gets that
excited about bugs (cockroaches in particular), is not my cop of tea.
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If the casting people on the show had brought this actress to be as
annoying and irritating as possible, they've chosen the right person.
In both episodes, she |
portrays a mom, who's too sweet and nice, the sugar is spilled from
the screen, and personally, I couldn't wait for her to be murdered
(as viciously as possible). Too bad she wasn't in
"Irresistible". She's the kind of neighbour
one doesn't want, but always ends up living next door to.
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Cruel as it may, but I'm glad the thing was eaten by an alligator
(or maybe it was Big Blue?). I don't know why Scully took the little
monster in the first place. Ever since I saw him in Clyde Bruckman's
vision, munching on his previous owner, I knew it meant trouble. We
later see Queequeg in "War Of The Coprophages",
being washed by Scully, then running around, wet, in her living room.
In my humble opinion, turning Queequeg into alligator-food was one of
the smartest moves made. I'd like to include a quote by Dana Scully:
"Qheequeg! Quee... Que...".
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No. Mr. X is definitely not a likable character. First of all, he works
for CancerMan, which automatically writes him off my christmas cards
list. Second of all, when he did help Mulder, it was done in a way, that
only makes me wonder why Mulder even bothered... One thing he does well,
though, is fighting. What can I say? The man can punch. Mostly Mulder.
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Usually, when they fought, it was pretty easy to know who'll need that
ice-bag. And it's not Mr. X, let me tell you that. He should be given
some credit though. After all, he *did* save Mulder from that train in
"731". On the other hand, we've seen him
being so cruel ("Soft Light" comes to mind).
I don't like him, and neither does Mulder, apparently. After
"Soft Light", Mulder doesn't contact Mr. X
up until "Wetwired", when he was so desperate
to find Scully.
* Addendum #1 - I take it back. It's not nice to
talk of the dead in such a way... But (in a very little voice) I sure
am glad he bit the dust. Mulder'll just have to find someone else to
smack.
* Addendum #2 - Apparently Mulder has found someone
else to smack. Check out "Tunguska" for some
Krycek-punching. And speaking of which --
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Krycek wasn't nicknamed Ratboy by experienced X-Philes for nothing,
you know. This 2-faced-back-stabbing agent did everything in his power
to make the viewers detest him, and he deserves whatever the burning
minds of The X-Files' writing staff destine for him.
I received an e-mail from Catherine, a loyal Ratnick, whose words had
made me look closer at Krycek, and... ARGHHHHHHH... Alright!! I take
some things back!!
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Alright, I did feel a bit sorry for him in "Apocrypha"),
as the alien was oozing out of him. Yes, that scene is one of the more
horrific ones in the show's history.
He's changed a lot from the early days of season 2, in which he was a
green, eager to please agent. It doesn't seem that he reports to anyone
these days. Maybe to some Russian group he's apparently in touch with
since his joyful days in "Tunguska" and
"Terma". Apparently he had some sort of an
affair with Marita Covarrubias, but that's long gone now - if it was up
to her, she'd leave him in Tunisia to rot. I guess she finds the Smoking
Man worse than Kryceck, cause she quickly teams up with Ratboy to kill
the old man. Oh well, I never liked Marita much either..
Back to Krycek.
Mulder can't even look at him without having some sort of an allergic
reaction - it manifests itself in the form of violence, of course.. -
but somehow Krycek seems to always get his way. Come to think of it,
he's connected to many of the damage that was done to Mulder and his
surroundings (directly or indirectly), so there's no wonder why Mulder's
experiencing that reaction. Heck, Krycek makes me feel pretty much the
same...
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What can I say? Mrs. Mulder is not one of my favourites. Since I can detect some brow-raising, I'll explain. First of all, we know she and CancerMan were more than just acquaintances. It seems she can't stand to be near him any longer ("Talitha Cumi") and I'll give her credit for that, but that's not enough. Since I, as a viewer, sympathise with the main characters, like her son, I resent her for willing
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to give him up to the Consortium. True, her life wasn't easy at all, but
she's so cold and emotionless and detached ("Demons"), it makes it
even harder for me to relate to her.
Even though she killed herself in "Sein und Zeit", she still haunted her son afterwards. She left without an explanation as to why she did it, and even called "Fox" a few days before. It's heart-breaking to see him listening to her last message on his machine. I don't think she wanted her son to be left wondering forever what had happened (although that ridiculous answer they gave us in "Closure" seems to stop his wondering...), but that doesn't make her more likeable.
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I debated with myself which category I should add this guy to, and decided that it's one of my most hated
villains. The reason is that Tom Noonan played Roche so cold-bloodedly, it made my own blood chill.
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Roche, the child kidnapper and molester is presented as a cool, quiet,
highly intelligent man. You'd
hardly think this self-controlled human being is such a monster. He toys with Mulder's emotions in a
cruel and harsh way, and hits where it hurts him the most: Samantha. In the interrogation scene, when
Roche says he's looking forward to seeing Mulder's face, as he sees his sister's buried body, Roche
reveals the gleam of evil and wickedness in his eye, and only Scully's intervention breaks the horrible
spell of the moment. It didn't help much, though, cause Mulder, as in so many other occasions, took
action without giving much thought to the consequences.
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Ach! This character is so contemptible!
Even though in "One Son" he tries to do the right thing, he
still comes out simply as a worm. I felt Spender was really dispensable ever since he first
appeared in "Patient X".
There was a strange alliance between him and Kryceck during Spender's last days, but unlike
Spender, I will give Kryceck the credit of being SMART!! Which is not something I can say about
the worm. The only thing he's got going for him is being Cancerman's son. Besides that
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"insulting [Mulder] when [he]
should be taking notes".
Still, I felt for Spender when Cancerman coldly said that he pales to Fox Mulder. What
a painful thing to hear from your father.
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I knew that given the time and opportunity, Diana Fowley will stab Mulder in the back
in full force. Oh, that and some significant side-glances. Actually, I liked
what she brought to the story. As opposed to Spender, she's smart, and she knows how to manipulate
things (especially gullible Mulder) for her own benefit. Poor Scully.
That scene in "The End", where she sees them in the
hospital hallway and walks away unnoticed is just sad to watch.
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I wonder how come she had such influence over Mulder, but that wasn't enough,
even with all the seductiveness of "One Son" and especially of
"The Sixth Extinction: Amor Fati".
Still, she tried to redeem herself at the end, anonymously sending Scully the book and the
key to where Mulder was held.
Nah, that's not enough.
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