The X-Filesstar David Duchovny needed to call out a massive Mulder plot hole inThe X-Filesseason 1. The mystery series, created by Chris Carter, has developed a loyal following since debuting. Originally airing for nine seasons and releasing multiple feature films,The X-Fileswas revived from 2016 to 2018.
The show is centered on FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully (portrayed by Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, respectively) who investigate various supernatural phenomena and investigations. Along with Duchovny and Anderson,The X-Filescastincludes Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis, Tom Braidwood, and more.
During an episode ofFail Betterwith David Duchovny(viaEntertainment Weekly),the actor discussed one plot hole he had to call out onThe X-Files.There is a season 1 episode where Mulder admits to being afraid of fire. However,Duchovny recalled that Mulder experienced a large fire earlier in the show,and realized that it might not make sense for his character. Check out his comments below:
I remember like in the middle of the episode, I had this thought. I think I went up to [director] Chris Carter — who wrote that episode I believe — and I said, “Didn’t Mulder and Scully watch a building burn down in the pilot? I think Mulder was fairly cool with it, you know, it didn’t bother him.” It’s like this kind of stuff, you know where you’re going, you’re kind of the curator of the character and sometimes you have to go, “I can’t actually do that.”
What This Mulder Plot Hole Means For The X-Files
This Moment Made It Into The Show
InThe X-Filesseason 1, episode 12, the lead duo investigates a mysterious arsonist possessing pyrokinetic abilities.While Duchovny may have called out the contradiction surrounding Mulder, his character still confesses to dreading firein the episode. As he reveals to Scully, the home of his childhood friend was completely caught ablaze, embedding in him a persistent fear.
Yet when a fire happensin theX-Filespremiere, Mulder does not seem haunted or emotionally affected.Instead, he appears more upset about potential evidence being damaged, as his case findings were in the burning structure.
Because of that moment, it is interesting that the later Mulder plot hole made it intoThe X-Files, and within the same season. Though that first fire could have been smaller in scale, the explanation from Mulder in season 1, episode 12, indicates that any combustion would be enough to scare him.
Our Take On The Mulder Plot Hole
It Was Perceptive Of Duchovny To Point Out
It makes sense for Duchovny to have pointed out the Mulder plot hole,demonstrating how well he knew his character, and from how early on. It is worth wondering whether more possible contradictions regardingMulder and Scullywere caught asThe X-Filesprogressed, having aired for as long as it did.
Given how popularThe X-Fileshas become, any plot hole might have been noted by fans, if not when episodes premiered, then in retrospect. That makes it all the more interesting to discover the problems with Mulder’s anxiety surrounding fire.
The X-Files
Cast
The X-files takes the police procedural formula and applies it to sci-fi mysteries. Conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder and skeptic Dana Scully team up to solve cases surrounding alien invasions and other unexplained, paranormal phenomena.
