The X-Files - Characters & Cast

To find his sister, Samantha, and to expose the government conspiracy concealing extraterrestrial existence.

Mulder begins as a driven, obsessive agent defined by his sister's abduction. Over the seasons, he moves from a naive crusader to a weary, disillusioned exile. He eventually finds that the specific truth of his sister is less important than the truth he finds in his connection with Scully. In the revival, he struggles with the realization that he may have been manipulated by the very conspiracies he fought.

To apply science and justice to the unexplained, and later, to protect Mulder and their son.

Scully starts as a rigid rationalist sent to debunk Mulder. Her journey is one of the most profound in TV history, transforming from a skeptic into a "reluctant believer" who has seen too much to deny. She endures abduction, cancer, and the miraculous birth of her son, William, eventually becoming the one who must push Mulder to keep believing when he falters.

To maintain order and integrity within the FBI while protecting his agents from the forces that want them dead.

Initially an antagonist representing FBI red tape, Skinner evolves into the agents' most loyal ally. He constantly balances his duty to the Bureau with his moral obligation to Mulder and Scully, often risking his career and life to protect them from the Syndicate.

To manage the survival of the human race (on his terms) by collaborating with the alien colonists.

The personification of the conspiracy. He evolves from a silent observer to a complex villain who believes his terrible actions are necessary to save humanity (or himself) from alien colonization. He is revealed to have deep personal ties to Mulder and later plays a pivotal role in the apocalypse narrative of the revival.