28 Years Ago Today, The X-Files Released Its First Real Christmas Episode (With Two Major Dana Scully Surprises)

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As a big fan of The X-Files, I always noticed something unique about the show – it rarely acknowledged major holidays. Most TV shows, even other genre shows like Buffy, always had their Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas episodes. But with The X-Files, especially with Mulder being such a mysterious character, it just didn’t really fit to have those typical holiday celebrations. It wasn’t that the show never touched on them over its 200+ episodes, but it was pretty uncommon. It felt right for the show’s tone, honestly – a little spooky, a little detached from everyday life.

While uncommon, The X-Files does have a handful of holiday episodes. In fact, the entire series only features two episodes specifically centered around Christmas. Surprisingly, it wasn’t until the fifth season – 28 years ago today – that The X-Files acknowledged the holiday with the episode “Christmas Carol.”

The X-Files Celebrates Christmas Like Only It Can

The beginning of “Christmas Carol” suggests this X-Files episode might surprise viewers. Dana Scully has joined her brother, Bill Jr., and his wife, Tara, who is expecting, for a Christmas celebration with their mother. Things seem to be going smoothly until a phone call interrupts the gathering. When Dana answers, the caller asks for her help, which would typically send her off on a case. However, this call is different—the voice sounds eerily like her deceased sister, Melissa.

Tracing a mysterious phone call, Scully finds a woman who has died by suicide, leaving behind a husband and daughter named Emily, who remarkably resembles Scully’s deceased sister. This discovery leads Scully down a strange path, as she becomes convinced Emily is actually her sister’s child. This investigation unfolds alongside Scully’s personal confession to her mother: her abduction years ago left her unable to have children. This past trauma explains her intense focus on Emily – she longs to reconnect with her sister and regain a sense of control in her life.

Scully’s investigation takes a dark turn when an autopsy reveals the woman’s suicide wasn’t what it seemed – she was likely murdered by her husband. But arresting him only deepens the mystery. A DNA test shockingly shows the victim and her sister, Melissa, shared identical genetic profiles, leading Scully to believe Melissa had a daughter she gave up for adoption. Scully becomes intensely focused on finding this little girl, even considering adopting her herself. This is a particularly demanding episode for Scully, as David Duchovny (Mulder) doesn’t appear at all, and Gillian Anderson carries almost the entire storyline.

The story ends with a major surprise: Emily isn’t Melissa’s daughter, but Scully’s biological child. The episode finishes with a rare moment for The X-Files – a “To Be Continued” card. The following week’s episode, “Emily,” continues the story. While Christmas Day happens at the end of that episode, the holiday setting feels secondary. Although “Emily” aired in December and only a week later, it doesn’t feel like a traditional Christmas episode like “Christmas Carol.” However, these two episodes are powerfully connected to the show’s overall mythology, making both essential viewing, even if they’re not brimming with holiday spirit.

The X-Files’ First Christmas Episode Uses the Holiday Correctly

At first glance, the Christmas setting in this episode of The X-Files might seem like simple decoration. However, the production team likely chose to include the holiday season in the plot knowing it would air during the holidays, offering fans a festive touch. Throughout the episode, we see the Scully family at various holiday parties filled with decorations and cheer, and even the hospital scenes are adorned with lights and trees.

The story of “A Christmas Carol” simply has to take place during the Christmas season – it’s integral to the plot. While the holidays can be a difficult time for some, that’s not the reason here. At its heart, the episode centers on a miraculous birth – both in Dana Scully accepting Emily as her sister’s daughter, and the surprising reveal that Emily is actually her own child. Either possibility would be hard for Scully to believe, but the idea of a child being born under impossible circumstances is precisely why this pivotal episode needed to be a Christmas story.

The X-Files Stays in the Family for Its Dana Scully Flashbacks

The first Christmas episode of The X-Files contains a subtle surprise related to Dana Scully. It’s a quick, easily missed detail woven into flashbacks showing key moments from her childhood and her relationships with her brother and sister. These flashbacks feature actors portraying young Dana, her brother, and her sister, and one of these actors is particularly noteworthy.

Okay, so there’s this really quick flashback in an episode, showing Dana and Melissa opening presents on Christmas. Inside are the golden crosses they’re known for. But here’s the crazy part: they didn’t use Gillian Anderson for young Dana! They cast her actual younger sister, Zoe Anderson, to play her! It was Zoe’s first and only acting gig, but it was a cool little surprise, and honestly, the resemblance is pretty uncanny. It definitely added something special to that scene!

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2025-12-07 18:19