The 23 Best Mulder and Scully Moments

The X-Files, episode: “Je Souhaite;” screengrab via Fox.

#16: Je Souhaite

There is no doubt that by season 7, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully have successfully and (I imagine) jauntily skipped out of the friend-zone, whether or not they’re willing to admit it. I present this episode as exhibits A through at LEAST F.

This is a goofier plotline, but so much fun and a great reminder of the heart of the series as we watch Mulder and Scully spend nearly the entire hour figuring out the best way to deal with a genie whose wishes don’t always make things better. Actually, if we’re being real, they mostly just cause insane damage and ruin the lives of the wishers.

By the end, Mulder gets his hand at three wishes, because of course he does, and he tries desperately to concoct a wish that’ll make the world a better place. It is here Scully steps into her role as queen/mother/best friend/wife/guru to remind him that perhaps fixing the world with a simple sentence might just negate our purpose here on Earth: to work toward achieving happiness.

BUT that doesn’t stop Scully from making the world almost 100% perfect by agreeing to a movie night at Mulder’s and giving us a glimpse into their post-investigation ritual (they definitely do this every week, right??). As they sit on his couch, Mulder laments that he wasn’t able to make the world better, or bring about peace, or ensure the population’s happiness:

Mulder: “I don’t know if you noticed, but I never made the world a happier place.”

Scully: “Well, I’m fairly happy. That’s something.”

Same, Scully. Same.

Next: #15: E.B.E