The Ex-Files
By Mary Matus

It's the end of an era. Sunday nights will never be the same again.

Of course. I'm referring to the end of "The X Files." For nine years, the show has had us wondering about government conspiracies.

For nine years, we have been cheering for Mulder and Scully.

For nine years, we have been intrigued with such memorable characters as the Cigarette Smoking Man and The Lone Gunmen.

For nine years, we have been wondering what truth is out there.

It didn't take long for "The X Files" to become a cultural phenomenon. I think the first time I realized that was when one of my TAs in college began to schedule our study groups around this show. (9:00?? Are you nuts?? I'll miss "X Files"!!)

I think that's when curiosity overcame me and I knew I had to watch this show. There, I've admitted it. I'm not one of those seen-every-episode-and-know-it-by-heart kind of fans. It took me about five years to discover this show, a little surprising considering my tastes in books and movies (Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Anne Rice and others often referred to by friends and family as "freaky"). Once I watched an episode, I completely got sucked into the show, and it wasn't long before I was the one scheduling stuff around the show.

"X Files" should be included on the list of classic science fiction shows including "Twilight Zone," "Outer Limits" and "Star Trek." There are several reasons why "X Files" should be on that list, including a talented cast, both contract and recurring, and wonderful, imaginative writing. It also survived a tough blow with the departure of the very popular David Duchoveny by bringing in first Robert Patrick and then Annabeth Gish.

But most of all, "X Files" is the epitome of what people look for in science fiction. Most of us have grown up torn by what we believe and what we want to believe. We are told that monsters and aliens don't exist. But most of us can't help wondering, what if? We look up in the sky and night and wonder what kind of life can possibly be out there.

These are the kind of questions science fiction such as "X Files" dealt with. For a least an hour a week, our imaginations were fueled, and we could fantasize about the life out there, even if it wasn't always the most optimist view.

Even the "X Files," though, could occasionally surprise us by showing us the capabilities of the human spirit. In the next to last episode, viewers met a psychokinetic who had amazing abilities. Of course, being the "X Files," he eventually had to stop using his powers, because it was slowly killing him.

This fall, many loyal fans of the show may feel the absence on Sunday nights. But just because the show ended, it doesn't mean people should stop wondering about what is out there.