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

5. She’s a total nerd for Moby-Dick

In truth, the definition of “nerd” varies from person to person and context to context. But I think we can all agree that anyone who has a family in-joke that centers on Herman Melville’s 1851 epic novel Moby-Dick is a bona fide nerd.

It’s not just that Scully and her dad have created a kind of family lore around the book, though that’s plenty adorable. Scully’s nickname is “Starbuck,” while her father is naturally given the title of “Ahab.” Rather, it was a young Dana Scully’s favorite book.

I defy you to read the original, unabridged novel and then decide to make it your favorite book. There’s plenty of adventure and rich metaphor, but there are also chapters where Melville really, desperately wants to make sure that you understand how whalers harvested spermaceti to make candles. Also, don’t worry—even Melville couldn’t help but make jokes about “spermaceti” and sperm whales.

The Moby-Dick connections don’t stop there, however. She adopts a Pomeranian and names it Queequeg. During “Quagmire” (season 3, episode 22), she sadly loses Queequeg. This leads to her waxing poetic on the meaning of Moby-Dick while she and Mulder are stranded on a rock in the middle of a lake. The pair is investigating a possible lake monster in the area. Mulder is, naturally, compared to Captain Ahab.