Professor discovers good TV: the X-Files

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Feb 25, 2002

If, like this columnist, you turned your TV set off in disgust 10 years ago and haven't turned it on again except to monitor national emergencies, you actually might have missed something -- namely, The X-Files. According to Richard Aquila, a history professor and popular-culture expert at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., the science-fiction show was the best adult drama on television in prime time. "It was extremely well-written, had terrific story lines and excellent character development," Aquila said of the series featuring a pair of FBI agents battling paranormal opponents.

Aquila says that though the show is going off the air due to declining ratings, X-Files movies will be successful because fans care. The creator of the series, Chris Carter, has said he plans a sequel to the first X-Files feature film done in 1998. The TV series will end in May after a nine-season run -- an incredibly long time for a TV show, noted Aquila.