Many fans have noticed glaring inconsistencies in their beloved TV series, moments that clash with the established narratives and character traits. These discrepancies can undermine the audience’s investment and trust in a show, creating a disconnect between the characters and the viewers. David Duchovny, the talented actor renowned for his role as Fox Mulder in The X-Files, took his responsibility seriously, often challenging the showrunners whenever he believed they strayed from the true essence of Mulder’s character. Duchovny’s dedication to authenticity exemplifies how actors can be guardians of their roles, ensuring continuity and depth in storytelling.

During an episode of his insightful podcast, Fail Better (as reported by EW), David Duchovny expressed his frustration with these inconsistencies, asserting that they present a significant challenge in storytelling. He stated, “It was a bit of a pet peeve of mine when I was doing X-Files — not so much the other shows that I’ve done — but, as with Bones, it’s episodic, but every episode is pretty high drama. It can be life and death.” His observations highlight the importance of character consistency, especially in high-stakes narratives where the audience’s emotional investment is paramount.

Even though The X-Files delves into the realms of science fiction and the supernatural, Duchovny firmly believed that this did not grant the writers a free pass to abandon logical character development. He recalled instances where directors, excited by a compelling script, would present a version of Mulder that felt inconsistent with his established persona. Duchovny shared, “Sometimes the directors would come on and they’d know they had a great script and [since] this was on the X-Files, this could happen, you know? Like, ‘Holy sh*t this is a great script,’ and they really wanted to kill it. Those guys were dangerous. So often they would say, ‘We’ve never seen Mulder like this before,’ and I’d say, ‘Yeah, like 10 other times we’ve seen Mulder like this before.’” His commitment to maintaining Mulder’s integrity shows the crucial role of actors in shaping character dynamics.

One notable instance of a narrative misstep within The X-Files occurred in the iconic “Monster of the Week” episode titled “Fire,” from the first season. Duchovny, who considers actors to be the custodians of their characters, remembered a critical aspect of Mulder’s character that contradicted the script: Mulder’s supposed phobia of fire. He recounted, “I think I went up to Chris Carter — who wrote that episode I believe — and I said, ‘Didn’t Mulder and Scully watch a building burn down in the pilot? I think Mulder was fairly cool with it, you know, it didn’t bother him.” This anecdote illustrates how attention to character history can enhance narrative coherence and enrich viewer engagement.

The multitude of inconsistencies throughout The X-Files must have kept David Duchovny extremely occupied, as he navigated through the complex web of plotlines and character arcs, all while contending with the show’s supernatural elements, like the intriguing black oil storyline. Such challenges underscore the importance of collaboration between actors and writers in achieving a cohesive storytelling experience.

Do you have a particular TV show inconsistency that continues to frustrate you? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments section below, as we explore the impact of character fidelity in television storytelling!