More a thriller series than sci fi, it is a compelling story of the inner works of an FBI department specialized in the investigation of paranormal phenomenon. The plot exposes a conspiracy of an alien race to infiltrate humanity by creating a hybrid race between the aliens and humans, and eventually take over the planet. Some annoying episodes that have nothing to do with the main story. Otherwise, a very good series and well produced.

Fun, but not as good without Maulder.

Today is September 10. On this day in history, in 1993, X-Files premiered on Fox for a nine year run.

I missed the first few years and I bought the series on DVD after it ended to catch up. I liked the series, but it definitely jumped the shark after the Syndicate was wiped out in the warehouse.

Love the show, rank it all time behind only Quantum Leap. Could have used less conspreacy and more alienns and unexplained phenominon

The X-Files not only helped to build a television network (in this case Fox) but also became its own institution. For the uninitiated, the concept of the series is two FBI agents who are assigned to investigate odd criminal cases and events that cannot be explained by conventional investigative and forensic methods. The partners are diametric opposites from a philosophical viewpoint, as Fox Mulder (played by David Duchovny) believes in UFOs and the paranormal while Dana Scully (played by Gillian Anderson) is grounded in hard science. The series was so effective and successful due to its dark cinematography which added to the mystic themes, the cerebral humor that was used as an undercurrent but never as a crutch, and the episodes shifting from being either closed (ie a story that was not associated with any ongoing conspiracy) or open (ie a continuation of the alien/government conspiracy). Nevertheless, the series had its flaws. The aforementioned conspiracy became so complex and convoluted that it became impossible to reconcile all the stories and tie up all the loose ends. Moreover, the producers should have ended the series when Duchovny left the show. The X-Files was originally broadcast from 1993 to 2002.