15 times The X-Files’ Dana Scully was the best character on TV

10. When she’s insightful about human nature

Though Scully is well known for her medical skill, she has also proven, time and again, that she’s a precise judge of character. That same logical, methodical nature that lends itself to thorough autopsy reports and some seriously advanced skepticism also helps her understand the frailties of human nature. That’s a vital skill when you’re a field agent who must interact with many different kinds of people.

This skill is perhaps best highlighted in “Jose Chung’s From Outer Space”, a stand-alone “monster of the week” episode from season 3. She’s recounting the events of one case to the titular Jose Chung, a well-known author who is writing a book about alien abductions.

Mr. Chung wants to focus on the events of a particular night in Klass County, Washington. Two teenagers were returning from a date when they were allegedly abducted by aliens. Scully, in recounting her interactions with the teens, notes that they were both deeply confused and traumatized. She also notices the intricate ways in which the adults around them shape and reinforce the kids’ narratives.

When it becomes apparent that the Air Force may be involved in the small town’s UFO experience, Scully’s insight becomes even more useful. They encounter a weird loner who thinks Scully and Mulder are “men in black,” a missing Air Force pilot, and a power company lineman who claims that he was visited by menacing government agents disguised as Jesse Ventura and Alex Trebek. Though “Jose Chung’s From Outer Space” never quite makes perfect sense, Scully’s understanding of the human mind is vital in keeping us from losing the story entirely.