The X-Files

A smart and strange pop-culture phenomenon that had a remarkable nine-season run, The X-Files ranks as one of the absolute best shows ever to grace the small screen. Inspired by the imaginative supernatural programs of his youth, including The Twilight Zone and Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Chris Carter created an intriguing hybrid—a series that drew upon horror, thriller, sci-fi, and mystery elements with equal skill and enthusiasm. Whether investigating an onimous "monster of the week" scenario or uncovering a conspiracy involving alien invasion, FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), with their respective roles as the believer and skeptic, were always captivating to watch, developing into two of television's most finely drawn characters over the course of the show's first five seasons. Although the series began to decline somewhat after branching out into an underrated feature film in 1998, it still produced exceptional episodes on and off for its remaining TV tenure, soldiering on even after extended absences by Duchovny and the introduction of lukewarmly received new agents. At its peak, The X-Files operated on dark, witty, and suspenseful levels rarely seen on television, and it holds up as a show that can be revisited time and time again, with subtle revelations apparent upon each viewing, always heralded by that eerie, unforgettable opening theme song.