'The X-Files’ Most Ambitious Episode Broke Its Most Frustrating 6-Year Trend

TV fans today complaining about slow burns must have missed out on The X-Filescraze of the 1990s and early-2000s. The series was infamous for teasing a romance between its two protagonists — Agent Fox Moulder (David Duchovny) and Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) — without ever defining their relationship. In fairness, the agents had other things to worry about. In fact, they were right in the middle of the show's biggest serialized storyline when the producers finally allowed them to share a kiss on screen. This should have been a relief to fans, but many found it maddening. For one thing, the kiss came without much fanfare or commentary, and for another, it happened at the end of the show's most ambitious installment to date.