Chris Carter created the American science fiction drama series The X-Files. The series centers on Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully, Federal Bureau of Investigation special agents who investigate X-Files cases involving paranormal phenomena. From September 1993 to May 2002, the original television series aired on Fox. It aired for nine seasons and had 202 episodes. From January 2016 to February 2016, a tenth season, consisting of six episodes, aired. The X-Files relaunched for a tenth season, consisting of ten episodes. It ran from January 2016 to March 2018. This was in response to the revival's ratings success. Two feature films were released along with the TV series: The 1998 film The X-Files, which was part of the TV series continuity, as well as the standalone film The X-Files, I Want to Believe, which was released in 2008, six year after its original television run.
Mulder believes in aliens and paranormal at the beginning of their investigations. Scully, a doctor and skeptic is given the task of scientifically analyzing Mulder's findings, suggesting alternative rational theories, and returning him to the mainstream. Both agents are made to feel like pawns in larger conflicts and begin to trust each other, as well as a select few people. They also uncover a government plot to hide the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. The two develop a close friendship that evolves into a romantic relationship. The series-spanning story arc and "monster of week" episodes make up roughly two-thirds all episodes.