X-Files - Dana Scully

I took a fantastic class my spring 2009 semester at school called “Monsters A-X” taught by Cornell University French Literature Professor Kathleen Long.

It was one of the most interesting classes I had ever taken – we talked about how people from the past and present viewed moral monstrosity, “real” monsters such as Dracula and Frankenstein, physical deformities, you name it, we probably talked about it.

My favorite part of the class were the weekly “X-Files” episodes we would watch, episodes which related to the topic of discussion at the moment. They were entertaining and a real throwback to television from the ’90s.

After a while, I realized that the character Dana Scully, the yin to Fox Mulder’s yang, was someone I began to hold in very high regard. I admired her integrity, intelligence, strength, and beauty. I appreciated the fact that she was portrayed as a true equal to Mulder, her male partner, on primetime television.

She acted as the voice of reason in all their escapades, had an exceptionally bright mind, and could take punches and fight back just as well as Mulder.

Some examples:

Screenshot from Darkness Falls

*Darkness Falls: This is one of the episodes where Scully also has to deal with Mulder’s selfish decision that he makes for the group. Even though Scully calls Mulder out on it and he realizes his mistake, his annoyance when doing so reminded me of a mother at the end of her wits and her arrogant son. This emphasizes Mulder’s position as the male, risk-taking, impulsive one and Scully as the rational, reasonable “mother” figure.

Screenshot from Leonard Betts

*Leonard Betts: Scully really gets to kick some butt at the end of this episode! I’m always surprised and a little confused when Scully suddenly turns into some kind of action hero before realizing that every FBI agent has to receive martial arts training. But Scully morphed into super-woman not just because she was about to be attacked but also because she realized what Betts was insinuating about her health. Sudden fear at the loss of her life now and to a possible future cancer vamps up her adrenaline and spurs Scully to beat up Betts and throw a defibrillator at him in a very convincing action scene.

I honestly believe that because “The X-Files” was able to reach such a wide audience through FOX, Scully captured the attention of many young women (and men) who weren’t used to seeing such a strong female character on television. I can’t think of anyone better setting the standard for future female heroines.

So thank you, Dana Scully/Gillian Anderson. Thank you for showing women everyone that we could be smart, beautiful, and still kick ass.