Photo via Flickr user Televisione Streaming
Disciples of The X-Files idolize the show's dual protagonists—those handsome federal agents fighting for the truth—Dana Scully and Fox Mulder. The series is seemingly immortal. It originally ran for 9 seasons between 1993 and 2002 and was born again 14 years later when, last winter, season 10 returned for a limited run. Hardcore fans have fed their fandom desires with memorabilia; X-Files posters hang on their walls beside Mulder and Scully Barbie dolls—but now devotees can get one step closer to the truth that is out there by bidding to own the real clothing their beloved characters wore on the show.Ebay user vipfanclub told Broadly via email that they "partner with the entertainment studios to bring items that were created for a show or movie to the fans worldwide." The seller's official auctions operate weekly; they are currently selling 108 pieces of "screen-used" X-Files history. Everything for auction in their shop was used on-camera during Season 10 of the X-Files. You can get your hands on anything from the "Weremonster Incident Report" to an "Alien Autopsy & Medical Journal Set." But the bestsellers are two of the most iconic pieces from the series: Dana Scully's gold cross necklace, which represents the skeptic's faith in something preternatural despite her adherence to hard science ("Agent Scully is beloved character which makes her items very desirable for a fan's collection," vipfanclub says), and Fox Mulder's famous poster of a UFO, flying above some trees, that reads "I Want to Believe." Scully's necklace is selling for more than $1,200 at present, and Mulder's poster is nearing $1,000. Seeing how much these pieces are going for, we had to ask ourselves: who would spend such hefty sums on costumes and props?
Rebecca D'Silva is a self-described "old school X-Phile." She told me that, if she could afford it, she would happily purchase all 108 pieces of X-Files history that are currently up for auction. "I think that the price that some of the props and wardrobe are going for is representative of how important/iconic people believe the show to be," she said. D'Silva says she first saw the show in the 90's and was part of an active online forum fandom that discussed the series as it aired. She is interested in the way the X-Files explores the human condition and paranormal activity,but she is also fascinated by her heroes Mulder and Scully, who risk their lives against a tyrannical shadow government intent on suppressing knowledge of the existence of extraterrestrial life. "The idea of alien life is interesting," D'Silva said, "but I'm not sure if I believe in aliens. I guess you could say I want to believe."Unsurprisingly, D'Silva's favorite character is Scully, who inspires her because she is both smart and strong, and she grows over the course of the series. It would be nice, D'Silva said, if she owned Scully's super-expensive necklace. But, when asked where she'd wear it, or other pieces from Scully's wardrobe, D'Silva quickly corrected me: "I wouldn't; I would treat them like museum pieces," she said"I think that, to some extent, all of the old-school X-Philes have wanted to live in the X-Files universe," D'Silva told me, casually explaining that she'd rather live in an alternate reality. "That's why fan fiction exists." In essence, fan fiction is a way for followers to experience the world they cannot live in. But that doesn't mean that the X-Files cannot enter this world, too. D'Silva's devotion to the X-Files permeates fandom, the series has reached beyond the confines of TV: "I have based my personal philosophy on relationships on something that Scully said," D'Silva told me, before reciting the quote that changed her life:"'Well, it seems to me that the best relationships—the ones that last—are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is… suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with.'"
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