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

3. Every time she runs in heels

Seriously, how does she do that? Maybe it’s because I’m more of a sneakers kind of person. Still, the fact that Scully went through 10 seasons and two movies of chasing after people without breaking an ankle astounds me. Yes, those are some low, sensible heels. It’s also true that this is a silly, one-note kind of thing. But it still astounds me.

I suppose the ’90s were a different time when it comes to equality in professional wear. After all, no one expected Mulder to stalk around poorly lit alleyways and blacks ops buildings in heels. Nor did anyone seem concerned about the state of his perpetually rumpled suit and often equally disheveled hair. Scully, meanwhile, seemed to be operating under an unspoken but powerful edict: you’d better look good while you’re doing this.

Of course, much of this has to do with making a television show and tenacious attitudes about women and how they must dress. Women on television and in film have long been expected to be just as personable as the guys, while also showcasing perfect makeup and ankle-twisting shoes.

Remember the old adage (well, from 1982, anyway) about Ginger Rogers doing everything Fred Astaire did, only backward and in heels? In that vein, Scully must also fight monsters, evade aliens and outsmart government agents, while also showcasing her medical skills, perfect hair, and gendered footwear.