Did The X-Files Lead To Copycat TV Shows?

The X-Files Syndrome

Tripwire’s contributing writer Paul N Neal recently said he thinks he has spotted a pattern in American television programmes. He calls it The X-Files syndrome.

2024 marks the 30^th Anniversary of the UK broadcast of the pilot episode of The X-Files. It was first broadcast on 26 January 1994 on Sky 1. The pilot eventually reached terrestrial television channels nine months later on BBC2.

Is there an ongoing legacy to the show? Let’s look at the facts and the figures. He says that after the X-Files there were a lot of shows that starred a quirky male lead and a sceptic female partner that was often an FBI agent. Is that true? We shall look at the numbers. Did the X-Files cause this pattern?…

The X-Files

Duration: 1994 -2002. Eleven seasons and 210 episodes
Quirky Male: Fox Mulder (David Duchovny.)
Quirky Trait: Believes in aliens and all things weird.
Female Partner: Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson.)
Female Character: FBI Agent and MD.
Thoughts: Absolute classic

Perception

Duration: 2012 -2015. Three seasons and 39 episodes
Quirky Male: Dr Daniel Pierce (Eric McCormack)
Quirky Trait: Schizophrenia and hallucinations
Female Partner: Kate Moretti. (Rachael Leigh Cook)
Female Character: FBI Agent.
Thoughts: So, no pattern yet?

Forever

Duration: 2013 -2014. One seasons and 22 episodes
Quirky Male: Dr Henry Morgan (Ioan Gruffudd)
Quirky Trait: Immortal. Medical examiner.
Female Partner: Detective Jo Martinez. (Alana de la Garza)
Female Character: NYPD Detective.
Thoughts: hmm… is there a pattern yet?

Castle

Duration: 2009 – 2016. Eight seasons and 173 episodes
Quirky Male: Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion)
Quirky Trait: Bestselling mystery writer.
Female Partner: Katherine “Kate” Beckett. (Stana Katic)
Female Character: NYPD homicide Detective.
Thoughts: There might be a pattern here now.

LUCIFER

Duration: 2016 – 2021. Eight seasons and 93 episodes
Quirky Male: Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis)
Quirky Trait: Literally the Devil.
Female Partner: Detective Chloe Decker. (Lauren German)
Female Character: LAPD homicide detective.
Thoughts: There might be a pattern here now.

Sleepy Hollow

Duration: 2013 – 2017. Four seasons and 62 episodes.
Quirky Male: Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison)
Quirky Trait: Time-travelling detective.
Female Partner: Abbie Mills. (Nicole Beharie)
Female Character: FBI Agent.
Thoughts: Certainly, a pattern here now?

Elementary

Duration: 2012 – 2019. Seven seasons and 154 episodes.
Quirky Male: Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller)
Quirky Trait: The world’s greatest living detective.
Female Partner: Dr Joan Watson. (Lucy Liu)
Female Character: Sober companion and ex-surgeon.
Thoughts: There might be a pattern here now?

MONK

Duration: 2002 – 2009. Seven seasons and 154 episodes.
Quirky Male: Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub)
Quirky Trait: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and multiple phobias.
Female Partner: Sharona Fleming. (Bitty Schram)
Female Character: Nurse and crime solving assistant.
Thoughts: Makes a change from being an FBI agent or a homicide detective.

FRINGE

Duration: 2008 – 2013. Five seasons and 100 episodes.
Quirky Male: Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson.)
Quirky Trait: The son of his own father from an alternative universe.
Female Partner: Olivia Dunham. (Anna Torv.)
Female Character: FBI agent.
Thoughts: Another FBI agent!

The Mentalist

Duration: 2008 – 2015. Seven seasons and 151 episodes.
Quirky Male: Patrick Jane (Simon Baker)
Quirky Trait: Fake psychic medium and magician.
Female Partner: Teresa Lisbon. (Robin Tunney)
Female Character: FBI agent.
Thoughts: Another FBI agent!

CHUCK

Duration: 2007 – 2012. Five seasons and 91 episodes.
Quirky Male: Charles Irving “Chuck” Bartowski (Zachary Levi)
Quirky Trait: Downloads the entire CIA and NSA database into his brain.
Female Partner: Sarah Walker. (Yvonne Strahovski)
Female Character: CIA agent.
Thoughts: Not an FBI agent.

Limitless

Duration: 2015 – 2016. One season and 22 episodes.
Quirky Male: Brian Finch (Jake McDorman)
Quirky Trait: Downloads the entire CIA and NSA database into his brain.
Female Partner: Rebecca Harris. (Jennifer Carpenter)
Female Character: FBI agent.
Thoughts: Another FBI agent.

The Blacklist

Duration: 2013 – 2023. Ten seasons and 218 episodes.
Quirky Male: Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader)
Quirky Trait: Master Criminal.
Female Partner: Elizabeth Keen. (Megan Boone)
Female Character: FBI agent.
Thoughts: Another FBI agent.

 The Dresden Files

Duration: 2007. One seasons and 12 episodes.
Quirky Male: Harry Dresden (Paul Blackthorne)
Quirky Trait: Professional Wizard.
Female Partner: Lt Connie Murphy. (Valerie Cruz.)
Female Character: Chicago police officer.
Thoughts: Not an FBI agent this time.

Conclusion
Has Tripwire spotted a pattern? There may even be televisions shows that fit the pattern that have not been mentioned? We suspect we are onto something.
As ever, comments are actively encouraged and very welcome.