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

383551 04: Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in ‘The X-Files – The Movie.’ (Photo by FOX/Liaison via Getty Images)

8. When she proves that logic and emotion aren’t mutually exclusive

Weaker shows might make the mistake of pigeonholing Scully as an uncompromising, emotionless skeptic. You know, the kind of human robot that you often come across in lesser science fiction and geeky type shows. But Scully defies easy definitions.

While she’s able to keep an admirably cool head, as evidenced by her actions in “War of the Coprophages,” that’s not the only part of her personality. Take a close look at Scully’s outfits during many episodes of The X-Files.

Specifically, take a close look at her jewelry and you’ll notice a small cross necklace. It’s nothing huge and certainly, Scully doesn’t take every opportunity to wax poetic about her faith. Still, it’s persistently there, quietly undermining the stereotype of an emotionless, one-dimensional scientist.

She frequently displays all sorts of sentiments, from fear to anger, to joy, even (to the delight of some fans) romantic love. In the best Scully moments, writers allowed her to be both an intellectual powerhouse and a thinking, feeling human being.

While Mulder was more likely to be the skeptic when it came to religion, Scully’s Catholic upbringing made her more reluctant to do away with the mysteries of belief. It’s a fascinating contradiction. Moreover, it adds real depth and emotion to her character.