MovieChat Forums > The X Files (1993) Discussion > Overused phrases/devices in TXF

Overused phrases/devices in TXF

posted 7 years ago by jezfernandez
15 replies | jump to latest

For the record, I love this show and I'm currently rewatching the whole series on Prime.

That said, I've noticed several phrases (all spoken by Scully) which show her role as expositor.

1. Mulder will postulate something which is clearly as much as he knows in that moment. Nonetheless, Scully will seek more clarification, even though it's obvious he won't be able to answer.
EXAMPLE:

Mulder: Kyle Boondock's been taken...
Scully: Taken to where?
Mulder: I don't know...

2. Mulder will ask Scully to stay/go and carry out something relatively routine. Scully will then seek clarification as to where Mulder is going and what he'll be up to.
EXAMPLE:

Mulder: I want you to go with Dr McGuffin and re-examine the body.
Scully: Where are you going?
Mulder: Back to the school. I'm going to figure out why Kyle Boondock disappeared in plain sight of fifty-eight students...

3. Scully feigns acceptance of a supernatural theory, only to push it further with scientific rigour. I call this "Even if that were true..."
EXAMPLE:

Scully: You think Kyle Boondock turned himself into a water fountain?
Mulder: Why not Scully? What if he's a freak of evolution, a contemporary chameleon who can adapt to his surroundings when needed?
Scully: Mulder, even if that were true, it would require a complex and rapid - even instantaneous - evolution of new information. Steel, pipework, drainage...

There's probably more, but these seem to be the regulars. Any others come to mind?

[–] alan_hanley2003 7 years ago

They have an awkward way of ending phone conversations with one another mid discussion.

They rarely end with plans to meet again, 'ok, see you later' or 'bye'.

Eg 'mulder, what if Kyle boondock is masquerading as a fountain in central park right now?'
'scully you're right, this kid could be anywhere'
<Hangs up, boards plane>

[–] mattiasflgrtll6 7 years ago

That's a cliché which pretty much goes for any movie. But yeah, it's a pretty stupid one! 

[–] usersince03 7 years ago

The phrase 'you son of a bitch'

[–] darthkirk97 7 years ago

Especially to the Smoking Man usually with some reference to smoking before it.
i.e. "You chain smoking son of a bitch" "You black lunged son of a bitch"

[–] 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Vividism 7 years ago

"She's the key to everything." - Mulder about Sveta in "My Struggle"

"The key to everything in the X-Files." - Mulder about Gibson Praise in "The End"

"She's the key to everything." - Dr. Openshaw about Cassandra Spender in "Two Fathers"

"It holds everything." - Mulder about the alien artifact in "Biogenesis"

"The key to everything, to life itself." - Dr. Barnes about the alien craft in "The Sixth Extinction"

"She's the key to everything." - Agent Doggett about Shannon McMahon in "Nothing Important Happened Today II"

Honorable Mentions, although not specifically referred to as the keys to everything:

- William
- Anasazi tape
- Dr. Secare

[–] jezfernandez 7 years ago

Haha! Great observation!

I think TXF set the gold standard for high level conspiracies, which others reproduced in order to fill out a series that was really only worth one season. Prison Break, Revenge, The Blacklist - all great (or bad?) examples of "This goes higher than you can possibly imagine". Chuck that line in and you can carry on a story forever. Until you get to the devil himself - I guess you'd have to stop there...

[–] Prelude-in-C-maj 7 years ago

Mulder, it's me." 

[–] usersince03 7 years ago

You had some kind of seizure

[–] YippeeKiYay_MF 7 years ago

Love the X Files, but every time the show would sort of imply one of them (Mulder or Scully) to be in grave danger, I was like: "who are they trying to fool? they can't kill them!"

I'll be good I swear... I'll never see a movie ever again.

[–] mgreen9715 7 years ago

I really have none to add because it's been awhils since I've watched Xfiles all the way through and just started a re-watch, that said:

I think most normal long-running TV series have this problem though with repeated dialogue and occasional tropes.

[–] foxyrabbit 7 years ago

scully: *snaps gloves*

[–] Disneyfan (23) 5 years ago

Smoking Man talking about being the most powerful man in the later series

[–] bobbydallas (8054) 3 years ago

Scully being all like "cmon man aliens don't exist" around season freaking six AFTER all the shit that she has seen FIRST HAND !!

lmao