The Truth is Back Out There

If yesterday afternoon you heard a great, ear-piercing squeal from the nerd in your workplace/home/chair (that being you), then you probably already know that “The X-Files” is coming back for a six-episode limited run helmed by series mastermind Chris Carter and starring everyone’s favorite skeptic and believer duo Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. Admit it, you did a little geeked out dance of joy around your living room and immediately started humming the theme music. ADMIT IT.

If you weren’t an X-Files fan in the 90s I’m going to assume you were either a) too young, or b) kidnapped and being held underground in a doomsday cult à la Kimmy Schmidt. If it’s the latter I’m really sorry about that and perhaps you should start watching on Netflix now. Go on, we’ll wait. I’ll gauge your progress from here and assume by your screams of unending horror you’ve made it to the episode “Home.” You may want to take a little break after that, and that’s totally understandable. But, please, do persevere.

The show was so great for so many reasons and – while looking back at some of the fashions, hairstyles and shoulder pads may say otherwise – is in no way dated. In fact it pre-dated our rampant Internet culture and issued a stern warning against government surveillance and the erosion of privacy while touching on everything from whistle blowers to national security, scientific ethics and of course general paranoia about the world. Just think what the Lone Gunmen must think of us now. And it did it all with humor, scares and real chemistry. Sure, even I petered out watching at the end and, OK, maybe the movies were only OK. But, hell, this is still just the geekiest, greatest news.

The other great thing about this news, other than it is just really fucking great news, is that this seems to be the continuation of the Gillian Anderson Moment we’ve all been having for the past year and change. While at first it may have seemed that David was having the best post-Mulder career thanks to his Showtime series “Californication” (Jesus, didn’t that thing seem like it was on forever – like is it still on? I have no idea, nor did I watch), Gillian has come on beyond strong post-Scully of late.

Granted, those of you lucky to be across the pond in England had much more access to her post-special agent career as she has focused much of her work both on stage and screen there in the years since. But now, thanks to the sheer force of her luminous talent (and face, dear God, that face), audiences have fully rediscovering her stateside as well thanks to her undeniably great work in “Hannibal” and “The Fall.” Have I mentioned how excited I am that’s coming back for a third season? Because, sweet merciful Zeus, AM I EXCITED.

Anyway, where was I? Right, “The X-Files.” Congrats, fellow nerds. We believed hard enough and it’s happening. It’s really, really happening.

With that, please enjoy these videos celebrating everything and anything that makes Special Agent Dana Scully special.