The X-Files 20th Anniversary @ 2013 SDCC

Video of the X-Files 20th Anniversary panel at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con.

[@mulderscully100]

Gillian just cracks me up! She and David have the most incredible chemistry I have ever seen. Amaziing!

[@SuperGemini17]

"well something happened, because we have a child" love gillian

[@westofthetracks]

Yet The X-Files, unlike The Wire, whose seeming realism is ultimately a deeply retrograde sociological statement that we are definitively locked into the grip of the "devil" (despite Simon's liberalism, even conservative politicians adore his show for its negative view of human nature and attacks on unions and the Democratic Party) and all of us are corrupt, the end, greatest show ever, etc.. The X-Files is more complex and more radical. Even when it deconstructs its own myth, it is not cynical.

[@Krista2882]

David and Gillian at 13:41 ^-^

[@BryonLape]

Gillian looks better now than she did back then.

[@supa11203]

+Bryon Lape ……i liked her young and hot

[@teff1024]

♥ 40:07

[@thedarkknightofsteel]

One of the greatest television shows of all time. It will be great for them to have a third film. For other fans out there the x-files season 10 comic is actually pretty good.

[@dovestones]

Trust no one.

[@westofthetracks]

The X-Files still has more to say about humanity at this crossroads of wanting to believe in something larger than ourselves but no longer trusting any of the romantic, religious, military, social and economic systems we live in, and in particular the idea of the United States of America, than any number of more "realistic" (less truthful and artistic) shows ever will. Duane Barry, Home, Beyond the Sea, Never Again, Clyde Bruckman's, Jose Chung's, Small Potatoes, Anasazi, & Musings last forever.

[@westofthetracks]

Even cable is subject to all kinds of censorship we never see. Censorship of the overall ideas, not the specific content. The kind of censorship that ensures wealthy white hipsters are given a TV series about their personal lives and other, apparently less interesting human beings are not. But aside from such issues, the art form itself, TV, or (in The X-Files' case it's deserving of the title) cinema, even without censorship, cannot express raw reality. Cinema is light, sound... not even story.

[@westofthetracks]

All of which makes it rather irrelevant that The X-Files never examined the footage of that gas station next to the Pentagon, or the way the owner of WTC 7 said to "pull" it, or even that the series never once mentioned names like Pinochet or Suharto. It never talked about how capitalism dehumanizes us. But... alien abduction. Today's TV has forgotten the power of metaphor. It attempts to represent reality, thinking cable standards of violence and sex and language can do it. But it's not enough.

[@avatriceforever]

fucking awesome panel. all the fucking legends. the things i would've done to be in that room. ..gillian & david's banter steals the show as always when they're together. :)

[@prophetybn971]

yeah i've seen parts of that lone gunmen episode, but can you imagine mulder investiagting 9/11? but look scully no plane hit the penatgon it was obviously hit by a missle, you were there scully did you see a plane? and on and on it goes, enough for an entire season i think

[@westofthetracks]

What was cut out?... X-Philes will be ever suspicious about that sort of thing... also, is there any censorship of audience questions or is it just first come first served. Like just out of curiosity if someone in attendance wanted to ask Chris, "Why did you decide to cut Gillian's sex scene from Never Again and was this a misogynist double standard," or if someone else was a Truther nut and wanted to rant about how The X-Files handled 9/11, would that sort of question be excluded automatically?

[@westofthetracks]

The Morgan/Wong episode Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man has a series of unlikely events (it's in many ways a satire- nobody in their right mind suggests the exact same man killed both JFK and MLK) but it makes a deeper point, about how power works. The quote that begins the episode, "For nothing can seem foul to those that win," from Shakespeare, expresses how history is manipulated by its "winners." It was extremely radical to say this on TV in the apparently peaceful (to N. Americans) '90s.

[@westofthetracks]

Those who limit the X-Files to being a show about "conspiracy theories" are really selling it short. Although I think all of us across the ideological spectrum (that is, left to right, and ignoring the corporate media's "centrism") are sympathetic with someone like Snowden, and see how X-Files-like our reality is right now, the series is about the pursuit of justice in a deeper sense than just these kinds of surface controversies. It deals with the legacy of the Vietnam War, the death of MLK....

[@westofthetracks]

The X-Files (and I mean, early on, before the mytharc jumped the shark into pure escapism) has much to say about today's world, but it says it metaphorically not directly. In fact it was actually commenting on things that were going on throughout the world (disappearances of thousands or millions of civilians in Latin American and Southeast Asian US-supported holocausts, for example) which, though usually ignored/distorted by corporate media, actually did happen, not just in conspiracy theories.

[@westofthetracks]

There is a moment in the Duane Barry episode when Mulder has alerted the FBI to Duane's presence and they begin to cut through the walls with a spiralling saw. This shot was preceded by a flashback of what Duane is telling Mulder- when he was abducted by "them!" his teeth were drilled. The relentless laser of the "alien" drill merges with the spiral of the saw opening the hostage room. Both are invasions. Mulder is guilty of abetting the second- image tells us what words can't- he betrayed Duane

[@westofthetracks]

XF embraces the fundamental nature of cinema, as no TV show (other than Twin Peaks, which was actually created by a one of the major avant garde filmmakers of our times, and thus is in a case of its own) has ever done. Its refusal to limit itself to realism is necessitated by its genre content- extreme possibilities, or, as the French title of the show called it, "at the frontier of the real." The show's plot and characterization work with its aesthetics. Every image and sound expresses an idea.

[@westofthetracks]

Mulder and Scully really never win- for long. Their "quest" can never end in a summer blockbuster movie in a Michael Bay style (unfortunately for those fans who still want one). It's always two steps forward, three steps back. Do you really think it would only take two or three hours for M/S to defeat an alien invasion? But they make life worth living by fighting, together. This is what makes it romantic, even as it's so desolate. In XF, injustice is eternal, but so is resistance. And yes, love.

[@westofthetracks]

The X-Files was the first series to deal with the post-Cold War era seriously in a an ideological/philosophical sense. Shows like The Wire with their much hyped distrust of institutions, private and governmental, owe a huge debt to X-Files- the first show whose "heroes" were never free to rebel, no matter how evil their institutions were- they were fully stuck in them- an earlier era would've seen Mulder/Scully as sellouts. But no illusion of individual moral purity was tenable in this new world

[@Saartje05]

I met CC and he's a very VERY nice guy. It's just you thinking he doesn't want to be there. CC loves his fans and shows that constantly. I don't know why FS isn't there, maybe he others things to do he's working on and he couldn't come over.

[@annakl2013]

For instance the fragment in which Gillian talks about her projects. But it's not worth suspicions. The full, 57-minute version, titled "The X-Files 20th anniversary reunion panel at San Diego Comic" was uploaded by InsideTheMagic:

[@westofthetracks]

Of course, in Duane Barry, there are many things to discuss- the character's status as a "double" for Mulder, an FBI agent who went off the deep end, and also his connection to Mulder's sister, as a fellow abductee. Most of all perhaps, the way Mulder's betrayal of Duane ironically sets up his loss of Scully, who is abducted because Mulder betrayed Duane. This single moment is a microcosm for the series' complexity of characterization and ideology. But that single shot of a few seconds, also is.

[@n.k.6457]

after david has explained why he cannot imagine him and gillian in a sex scene (remember the conversation was about her having a guest role at californication) watch at exact 41:15 when david sectretly strokes her leg! and gillian looks down in a hint of a second! pretending to the audience nothing has happend - David is smiling. I thought that was sooo sweet of him! She was clearly disappointed after his comment.

[@Krista2882]

Nicole Köhler aww, the look on her face when he strokes her leg! And right before that I think she was rubbing his lower back- at about 40:53 it looks like she puts her hand on his back.

[@MrRevroy84]

Maybe its my connection, or the fact that so many people are trying to watch it the same time I am, but this WILL NOT load. Makes me sad!

[@westofthetracks]

I've just been looking around some old boards like alt.tv.xfiles and I kept seeing TPTB, and finally realized what it meant, and then I see it here again! That one never became quite as popular as "shipper" but still, X-Philes invented so much of today's English language, just as the show invented today's TV.

[@westofthetracks]

And thanks for your comment, btw. I should not have written that much here but hey, I only got into The X-Files in its first Sunday nights season, so it's good to waste part of a Friday night on some contemporary developments in the series for once in my life.

[@Saartje05]

They talked about a sex scene. Gillian said ´we shot it, it´s some where´ and David looks at her with a face like ´we did??" I guess he forgot but GA didn't, LOL

[@annakl2013]

Nothing. Oh, well, they planned to milk the franchise (by selling more DVDs), rathet tham investing in a new movie, apparently.

[@MorleysaurusBlogspotLostPhile]

Gillian is freakin' hysterical. :) I can't believe Frank Spotnitz wasn't there. Him and Chris are adorable together. And Chris loves his fans to bits. I've met both him and Frank before and they were absolutely wonderful and so overwhelmed at all the love shown for them at the premier of IWTB in London. I was lucky enough to be there, walk the red carpet and then have Chris, Frank, David and Gillian introduce the film. Easily the most wonderful experience of my life.

[@emmybm15]

I just got into The X-Files this week! I can definitely see what I've been missing! I however was 2 young 2 watch this whiles it was airing I wasn't even born when the first 2 seasons was on air! I must say I want a third X-Flies film because I actually liked the second one! (Might have been because if it has Mulder and Scully in it I'm going to like it!) I have both the comics hoping it will be a long run because I am loving it so far! Reason I got into X-Files was I found out they where @SDCC

[@comtal10]

Is it just me or David touches Gillian's leg in 41.15???!! After he drinks water, look at his arm's movement and how Gillian looks down for a second, sooooo cute! And I think before that she touches his back, but that is just speculation and my dirty mind....Gotta love these two.

[@annakl2013]

Great comments, westofthetracks. There is a richness and integrity to the series that I could never find in other shows. On a shallow note, Gillian's presence made this panel a riot. Great comedic talent! :)

[@homecmng1]

I'm pissed. I missed the excitement of the show when it aired. I was in 1st grade when it came out. My best friend always talked about it but I was a wimpy kid and thought it would be too scary. I didn't start frequently watching it till I think all that was on was syndication. Now it's one of my fav shows.

[@Saartje05]

And where are the Lone Gunmen? I know Dean Haglund (Langly) is there for sure. Why aren't they up there?

[@pommepot]

yeah he does :) he was assuring her about her joke, which i think was a bit meanish to David really but he takes everything with class as always :)

[@westofthetracks]

So good to see the best writers Vince Gilligan, Darin Morgan and especially Morgan and Wong (who once had a major fight with Carter in the '90s) participating in the panel after many years when Carter would just invite Spotnitz to speak for him on X Files

[@Saartje05]

DD said something that he said before, but what he said I can't understand, but GA gets the giggles, so it must be smut, lol

[@Philliford1]

It may of been a big ask, but who didn't want to see Gillian come out wearing those ridiculous shoulderpads we all wish we could forget. 90's Fashion

[@cacecil]

Wait! Wait! I can't hear what they are so giggly over at 9:26! What did David say to Gillian after she said "We shot it"?

[@vampirica89]

This was so amazing, I wish I could visit comic-con at least for their 30th anniversary, I'd probably save up the money until then, provided that I finish University and find a decent enough job... I'd so love to go. X Files is my favourite series of all time.

[@prophetybn971]

why dont they just make a made for TV sunday night movie ??? or make another apperance on the simpsons???

[@emmybm15]

Also thank you so much for uploading this! I definitely appreciate it I am a huge Comic Con fan but have never been to one (That is how living in the UK feels like!) and this was a panel I hoped I would not miss seeing one way or another! :D

[@medi176]

thanks so much for uploading! i was watching with a smile/grin on my face the whole time! that was so great! just when i thought david looks like he wants to say something to gillian, he leans over and whispers. i should pick up lip reading!

[@Rosangela2024]

Everyone look good but David Duchovny ages well like the best vintage. I loved see all the gang together. I miss Skinner.

[@Spike1885]

Oh my god, I littearly thought John's son really does look like a combination of Gillian and David , no jokes he is adorable as all anything .

[@thedaganmall]

hah i think the gunmen rest their merry souls already got that covered 3 months in advance. #TooSoon?

[@olajot9022]

Gillian still looks so gorgeous, i can't really believe that the x-files celebrates 20th anniversary

[@JimiScoundrel]

I think it's quite clear that Chris Carter isn't keen on doing another X-files film anytime soon

[@Mariexcer]

I wish "John Dogget" was there too... Liking or not he was a very important character in The X Files too.

[@lilwhit32]

At 9:29 I believe Gillian says: "I bet you saw that before" and David goes "No no...." Love those guys :') so cute

[@Spike1885]

yeah, poor Kim manners, :( he was so sweet it seemed i read an interview with him once, and how much also duchovny loved him so.

[@HeathsHarleyQuinn]

She literally spends the last five minutes rubbing his back. They are adorable.

[@Gamer46205]

wow GILLIAN"SCULLY"ANDERSON looks absolutely gorgeous!!!! or should I say "ENIGMATIC" ,that's for us fans!!!! ;)

[@77Clea]

I'm dying here .... I can watch this video million times!! God they are beautiful together, please take this novel!

[@Sssvvvgggwww]

is it me or Gillian looks INCREDIBLY hot and sexy here? like.. better than ever!

[@EGlVM]

They totally used cell phones throughout the series. I remember they used them in Fire.

[@MagdalenaMichowska]

thank you for sharing!!!! been checking for it for the last few hours. much appreciated!!

[@MyRomeojuliet]

Thank you so much for posting this!! David and Gillian look fantastic. Loved how they entered on stage with flashlights. Gah, I miss the X-files so freaking much!!!

[@annakl2013]

You're welcome. This series was certainly worth getting into from the very start.

[@CountingDownFrom730]

Thank you so much for posting. It's just so exciting and special to see them back together again. I really hope we get XF3.

[@GISAN666]

the flashlights entrance was ahkkdgthdhfgdhdkkhdss, AWESOME!

[@MrSucka5]

My favorite part is where Gillian starts pretending she is stroking it.

[@BtVSP3]

What is the thing 20th Century Fox had planned for the anniversary?!

[@angeleyespp]

thanks for sharing! OMG I love them. I want a 3rd movie! We need it Chris!!

[@EnvoyOfDestinyZ]

07:55 she repeats it and he moves his lips correctly :D look at it

[@whatktdoes_now]

What did they say at 9:26-ish?? Summat smutty I assume (hope) xxx

[@haleywen4537]

WEEEEEEEEEEE I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH THIS!!! A MILLION THANKS TO YOU FRIENDS

[@Inurantchan]

So happy someone uploaded this!! I was so sad nobody streamed it, thanks!

[@OneCrazySadSap]

Thank you very much. What I've been waiting for. Thank you again.

[@beebeebrady3943]

Love that David and Gillians chemistry is still so amazing 20 years later

[@Unfamousl]

July 18, 2013. Day one of the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con.

[@trustno1mel]

25:30ish Gillian's abrupt change of subject made me lol so hard!

[@TheHekateris]

I am actually screaming along as each panel member is introduced!

[@tamalou86]

I think you have a very dirty mind ... But I LOVE it !! LOL !!

[@donsharma6136]

i met Gillian at the Calgary comic con soooo beautiful!

[@annakl2013]

There are quite a few moments cut from the video.

[@melissalibertad]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this!!!!

[@juanfco76]

Nothing about the seaon 1 on blu ray edition?

[@Penscreen]

I'm copying it before TPTB do take it down! :)

[@watchxfiles]

thank you, you are loved by us all for this video

[@nimsayalebara]

Im like OMG so excited!!! I need this 3rd movie!

[@Crixa]

Can we get this third movie made? PLEASE!?

[@Teletran35]

My god Gillian looks fantastic

[@rayalou5212]

Oh I was so waiting for this, thanks a million!

[@exlydefalta]

They were awesome!!!!!! thanks a lot,

[@mysourcessay]

Is something cut out at 18:05????

[@mittROMNEY666]

Where is assistant director skinner?

[@Homocliphorror]

If only Kim Manners could be there

[@SweetPSRR]

YAY!!! Thank you for uploading this!!!

[@juanfco76]

Thank for upload, greating from Chile

[@maribelanaya2831]

que alegria y muchas gracias, es un regalo perfecto =)

[@whatktdoes_now]

16:05 - Awwwwwww, it's baby William! xxx

[@Saartje05]

DD is Always so embarrased, lol

[@iconocast]

my god gillian is getting hotter

[@Marianto86]

THANK YOU THANK YOU GRAZIE!!!!!!!

[@Anderscja123]

Thank you for uploading this video!

[@Scarlle1]

thank you so much!

[@_tammy_29]

Thank u so much 4 the video!!!