The X-Files

Answer: The polygraph machine only works on those with a perceptible change in body physiology while they lie. It really only measures what we consider nervous reactions associated with lying. Psychopaths and sociopaths such as Tooms are extremely difficult to measure with this machine since they do not feel remorse for their actions, and as such typically do not get nervous when lying.

BaconIsMyBFF

Answer: Judging by the color, it could be lycopodium powder. When sprinkled liberally on latex gloves it helps keep liquids from adhering.

Grumpy Scot

Pilot - S1-E1

Question: Does anyone know the actual events that this episode was based on?

Answer: The title screen on the pilot episode actually said "based on documented accounts" not "actual events" which is kind of true - there are many claims of alien abduction - so technically the caption isn't false, but the episode was entirely fictional and not based on any real occurence.

Sierra1

Show generally

Question: I remember watching two particular episodes when younger, and are curious to know what the titles of the episodes were called. One was about a doll that came alive and the other about the trees coming alive, and the tree roots etc. killing people. What are the episode titles of those two?

Hamster

Chosen answer: The tree root episode is season five, episode nine and is called Schizogeny. And the doll one sounds like it could be the very next episode (season five, episode 10) called Chinga.

wolfchild

Hollywood A.D. - S7-E19

Question: Is the "Sixteen Months Later" in with the current timeline (2000) and the "Sixteen Months Earlier" sometime in 1999? Because if "Sixteen Months Earlier" was sometime in 2000, then "Sixteen Months Later" would be in 2001. If you're a true X-Files fan, you'll know that in 2001, Mulder was missing and Scully was pregnant. So that would be a MAJOR plot hole.

Answer: As it says in the season seven mistakes, it would be a plot hole either way.

Pilot - S1-E1

Question: When they're flying on the plane, Scully starts breathing deeply and looks like she's afraid of flying. Has this ever been explained later? In all the later episodes, they never say she was afraid of flying.

Answer: She's afraid in this scene because the plane has encountered turbulace and is diving down. No fear of flying has ever been mentioned.

Chosen answer: The hybrids kept prisoner in it were digging an escape tunnel. They were gassed before they could finish it. Mulder was able to finish digging out.

Grumpy Scot

Small Potatoes - S4-E20

Question: We know that the chameleon Eddie Van Blundht can manipulate his unique extra layer of muscles to mimic male faces and physiques, thus hijacking their identities. However, Eddie can't mimic clothing, so he must hastily seek new clothing to go with each new identity. But when Eddie is on the run from Mulder and Scully, he abruptly mimics Fox Mulder and is seen wearing exactly the same tailored suit and tie that Fox Mulder is wearing on the same day. In fact, they even cross paths in the hospital while they are wearing identical tailored suits and ties. Question: where and when could Eddie possibly acquire an exact tailored suit and tie to match Fox Mulder's on such short notice?

Charles Austin Miller

Chosen answer: It might be a plot hole, but a possible explanation is that Eddie had previously met Mulder and seemed keen on getting him out of the picture so he could get closer to Scully. He may have carefully studied Mulder's clothing and obtained a suit of his own off-screen.

Phaneron

Answer: When Eddie enters the home of one of the couples whose baby he fathered and hides in the bathroom, he emerges looking like Mulder, fooling them. Later, they call Mulder asking if they can use their bathroom again and why Mulder needed to take the man's charcoal suit, which tells us that Eddie took the suit on the pretext of needing it for the investigation, but obviously wanted it to wear to better impersonate Mulder.

Purple_Girl

Rain King - S6-E8

Question: I didn't understand why Darryl's rain business had been working (before the agents arrived). If Holt was the one who had been changing the weather, and he didn't like Darryl, why was he creating rain and allowing Darryl's business to be successful?

Answer: The rain were Holt's tears, not his happiness. Whenever Darryl did his rain dance, Shelia was in his corner, like a cheerleader, praising him. He caused a tornado, when she confessed her attraction to Agent Mulder.

Answer: Because Darryl's success makes Sheila happy. Holt loves Sheila and is happy when she is happy. Ergo, Holt makes Darryl successful.

Grumpy Scot

Je Souhaite - S7-E21

Question: The genie complains about people being selfish and shallow, but what about Leslie wishing to have his brother back? Why was she displeased with that wish?

Answer: It was because of the brothers' attitudes. If the genie had brought Anson completely back to life, the brothers would have continued being lazy, inconsiderate, obnoxious people. They were not learning anything from the opportunity to have wishes granted. The genie tried to hint at them using a wish to heal Leslie's legs, and neither brother could imagine using a wish for that.

Answer: Because he wasn't specific about his wish. He came back as a living corpse, not healthy and alive before his accident.

The point of Leslie's wish was to be with his brother. The genie complained about so many people making shallow and materialistic wishes, such as money, impressive bodies, etc. Therefore, it's strange that she would be displeased with Leslie for trying to reunite with a family member. Why "punish" him by bringing the living corpse version of Anson?

Jenn wasn't punishing Leslie. Leslie wished for his brother to live so she made it happen. As Jenn explained to Leslie, when someone makes a wish, they need to be very specific in their wishes. If Leslie gave more specifics i.e, the damage done to Anson's body removed, his vital organs functionally properly, to have his senses restored, Jenn would do it but, as Leslie only wished to have Anson live again and with no other details, Jenn could only reanimate Anson's corpse.

Tooms - S1-E21

Question: While following Tooms, Mulder specifically says that he can't find his Norwegian Elkhound named Heinrick, who he goes moose-hunting with. I know that he is lying about owning a dog, but why the odd details? Am I missing a joke?

Answer: Mulder is not supposed to be watching Tooms. He is making up details on the spur of the moment, so he can pretend that he has a legitimate reason for talking to a dog-catcher.

Answer: Mulder's embellished details reflect his personality and quirky humor. It was not meant to be taken so literally.

raywest

Answer: "This" happens to be used in computer programming language to refer to an entity that is part of a currently running code. But that is just a guess, or at least a starting point for a discussion.

Bishop73

Chinga - S5-E10

Question: Why does Mulder lie to Scully, on the phone, about construction workers outside his window? Why not tell her about the ball he was bouncing?

Answer: He didn't want her to know that he didn't have anything to do. No friends, girlfriends or places to visit. If she knew, she would have said, "Get a life."

I pretty much agree. I think at this point in the series, Mulder and Scully are realizing how close they are. Which might be awkward for both. Mulder is afraid to trust anyone too much, due to Samantha's abduction and his speculation of conspiracy theories. Scully is a strong woman, who also fears trusting. Not to mention the losses of her sister and Emily, her biological daughter. Later, the Cigarette-Smoking Man points out that Scully would die for Mulder, but is afraid to start loving him.

Avatar - S3-E21

Question: What happened to Sharon Skinner after this episode? She and A.D. Skinner don't go through with the divorce, but in a later episode - I believe it was "S.R. 819" - Mulder asks Skinner if he woke up alone, and Skinner firmly answers yes.

Answer: The show never actually reveals what happened to Sharon and in "Avatar" we never really know who or what the old lady is or what it means. So there's a lot of fan theories out there, including that Sharon died in the hospital and Skinner putting his ring back on at The End signifies they reconciled before her death. But in the real world, it's hard for TV shows to keep small side character stories going for various reasons, which is why a lot of times a new character is introduced for one or two episodes and never mentioned again. The "X-Files" writers might have even intended to bring Sharon back later and never found a story to bring her into, or the actor wasn't available, etc.

Bishop73

In addition to this answer, I want to point out that Skinner said *he* would not sign the papers. Sharon said, "Listen to me", but the episode does not reveal if she definitely agreed to reconcile. I believe that she either died, or she lived, but she wanted to remain separated. Maybe he finally gave her a divorce later on. Mitch Pileggi, the actor who plays Skinner, says that Skinner developed feelings for Agent Scully at some point, but knew that she was closer with Agent Mulder.

Answer: He knew he was fated to meet him. You can't change destiny.

But if Clyde never opened the door, Havez would have lived.

Answer: SPOILER ALERT: Hook up, yes. Married, no. Children, maybe. The rumors that Mulder and Scully were married started when David Duchovny (Mulder) called Scully "Mulder's wife" when discussing the return of "The X-Files" show. However, series creator Chris Carter said "they were together but never married." In the 2nd X-Files film, "I Want to Believe", they are in a romantic relationship. But by Season 10, they are broken up as Scully has left Mulder. It is revealed that Scully's son, William, is the son of The Smoking Man, who is Mulder's father as well. In Season 11, Mulder and Scully hook up again and in the last episode of Season 11, Scully tells Mulder she's pregnant with his child. As of now, there are no plans for a Season 12 and Gillian Anderson (Scully) has no intention of returning to her role in "The X-Files."

Bishop73

Paper Clip (3) - S3-E2

Visible crew/equipment: When Mulder and Scully enter the abandoned mine through a doorway, the viewer can see at right in the distance a number of people sitting on a wall, and one crouching in front of the wall with what looks like a dog. They are sitting still, but there is still movement there. (00:16:00)

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Trivia: The Cancer Man smokes Morley cigarettes, a fake brand that has appeared in a number of TV shows and movies since the '60s.

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