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Fans react to ‘The X-Files’ Season 11 premiere

Tom Connick

The hit sci-fi show returned last night

The X-Files returned last night with the hit sci-fi show’s 11th season premiere, and fans aren’t too happy.

The show, which was originally broadcast back in 1993, follows the exploits of FBI agent Mulder and Scully, who investigate unexplained cases involving the supernatural or paranormal. After initially running for a nine season run, the show was shelved in 2002, before a 2016 revival series was aired. Last night (January 4), the show’s 11th season premiered on Fox.

  • Spoilers for The X-Files Season 11 Episode 1 ahead:

Fans on Twitter have been reacting negatively to the show’s return, with many slamming the confusing plot and insensitive handling of an unwanted impregnation, after the ‘cigarette smoking man’ character impregnates Scully against her will.

“I feel sick to my stomach and it’s just getting worse instead of better,” wrote one fan, while another noted: “Forgetting the fact that we know the Smoking Man is full of shit, that was too confusing to even enjoy. What just happened to me?”

“Impregnating someone without consent IS RAPE,” wrote one incensed fan. “And I am so fucking sick of victimization being used as an “interesting and emotional” plot point by tone deaf men. Our suffering is not your entertainment, Chris Carter. You just fucked over my favorite character AGAIN.”

Check out a bunch of fans’ reactions to The X-Files Season 11 Episode 1 below.

Back in December, Scully actress Gillian Anderson confirmed that she would be leaving the show after season 11. “I’ve said from the beginning this is it for me,” she told TV Insider. “I was a bit surprised by people’s [shocked] reaction to my announcement because my understanding was that this was a single season.”

Last year, Anderson expressed her disappointment at the news that the writing team for the X-Files would remain all-male.  In response to the news Anderson tweeted: “I look forward to the day when the numbers are different”, noting that only two of the show’s 207 episodes to date have been directed by women.

After her response was interpreted by some as “slamming” or “ripping” The X-Files, she tweeted: “Not ‘slam’, not ‘rip’, just stating truth. I believe we can do better.”