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Top Ten The X-Files Characters

The X-Files as a show benefits from two of the most iconic protagonists in the history of television, but it doesn’t have the best-developed supporting characters in its roster. In spite of its huge episode count, the show rarely bothered to give more breathing room to the smaller characters. Still, there are numerous personalities here that are worthy of mentioning, so here are ten best characters in The X-Files.

10. Tooms

A genetic mutant serial killer who is capable of squeezing his body to enter into tight spaces, Tooms is one of the show’s biggest and most important killers and he even got a couple of episodes unlike his many one-off counterparts. He was menacing and memorable.

9. Pfaster

A death fetishist, Pfaster is the best serial killer character of the show and a hugely underrated character that deserves more appreciation. The actor’s performance is masterful and the character is both disturbing and realistic. His interactions with Scully in his latest appearance were particularly intense.

8. Reyes

I never quite came to care for Monica Reyes. She arrived later in the show’s run, effectively becoming the third most important character in the later seasons, but for me she could never compete not just with Mulder and Scully, but also with some other supporting characters, which is why she only gets the eighth spot despite being so prominent in those seasons.

7. X

X is this very cool, mysterious figure within the show’s mythology who actually drove the plot forward in crucial moments during those earlier seasons. Unfortunately, the franchise never quite made great promise of this interesting character, but whenever he was there, he was quite intriguing, which is why he gets the seventh spot.

6. Doggett

Robert Patrick was brought in to replace David Duchovny in the eighth season, and at first I wasn’t cool with that, but eventually I kind of came to appreciate the guy. He was great in this role and quite charismatic. While not getting enough strong arcs, Doggett was ultimately a very likable and memorable agent and his dynamic with Scully was quite fun.

5. Cigarette Smoking Man

As is the case with most X-Files characters frustratingly so, this villain also ultimately never went anywhere with his story as he failed to get a proper conclusion. However, Cigarette Smoking Man remains the quintessential villain of the show and its biggest as he is both menacing and influential in terms of plot progression. He even got a strong backstory and his interactions with the main characters were quite complex.

4. Krycek

I still contend that Krycek was mistreated by the creators as, even though he got a lot to do, he should have been given even more. He was that great as the villain. Though obviously not the biggest baddie, he is the most interesting one as his rivalry of sorts with Mulder was so much fun to follow throughout the seasons. Every episode that featured this guy was bound to be thrilling.

3. Skinner

Skinner was absent in the later seasons unfortunately, but he got to shine in those earlier seasons. As this seemingly austere, but deeply caring boss of our main characters, Skinner was the heart of the show in a way. He was beautifully performed, very well written and again a great showcase of the show’s biggest problem, which is the very small attention it gave to its supporting players, who all had so much more potential.

2. Mulder

Fox Mulder gets the second spot on this list due to his extremely egotistical and plain unlikable personality at times. With that being said, he is still an immensely strong television creation as  he is not only fully-fledged out as a character, but he also received terrific backstories, strong interactions with other characters and a complex inner turmoil brewing beneath him. His quest to save his sister was his most moving arc while his developing romance with Scully was endlessly endearing.

1. Scully

No X-Files character ranking would be right if Scully wasn’t number one, so here it is on my own list as well. Gillian Anderson’s brilliant acting aside, what makes Scully tick is the superb writing of her character. She actually changed throughout the seasons, and much more so than her male counterpart. Her grappling with mortality and spirituality was quite powerful as was her methodical and scientific, yet deeply caring personality. Her dynamic with Mulder was wonderful and she even made him a better person when he was with her. Undoubtedly, Scully is the the show’s most defining characteristic and its beating heart.