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The X-Files Spin-Off That Flew Under Your Radar Still Holds Up 23 Years Later

written by Zoe Wallace
The X-Files Spin-Off That Flew Under Your Radar Still Holds Up 23 Years Later
Image credit: Fox

Did you even know that there was a spin-off of The X-Files at all?

In 1993, the pilot episode of a science fiction series that was predicted to last no more than one season debuted on television. The show lived for nine years, amassed a powerful fandom, and was forever ingrained in popular culture. It also spawned a worthy spin-off that was undeservedly canceled and forgotten.

Fans of The X-Files don't need to be told who The Lone Gunmen are. They are a group of journalists who investigate mystical events, expose government conspiracies, and watch over the mental health of ordinary citizens.

The Lone Gunmen Was a Show Ahead of Its Time

In its own way, The Lone Gunmen, released in 2001, was ahead of its time – in the early 2000s, audiences were not yet ready for spin-offs, and the original The X-Files was still quite successful on TV at the time; viewers simply opted for the more serious and predictable Mulder and Scully.

The X-Files Spin-Off That Flew Under Your Radar Still Holds Up 23 Years Later - image 1

The fans, however, deprived themselves of an extraordinary spectacle. For example, the creators of The Lone Gunmen predicted 9/11 in the very first episode, six months before the tragedy.

The Lone Gunmen’s Origins Are in The X-Files

The Lone Gunmen are introduced in the 17th episode of the first season of The X-Files, E.B.E., when Mulder asks his friends for help and introduces them to Scully. She later notes that they are even more paranoid than Mulder himself.

The X-Files Spin-Off That Flew Under Your Radar Still Holds Up 23 Years Later - image 2

The famous trio (John Byers, Ringo Langly and Melvin Frohike) are engaged in searching for and uncovering all kinds of conspiracies, mainly related to technology. For many years, they have been publishing the newspaper, in which they report on everything that they believe the government is trying to hide from the US citizens.

After The Lone Gunmen Show Failed, The Trio Was Killed Off in The Original Series

The Lone Gunmen sacrificed themselves to stop the spread of a deadly virus. As it later turned out, the creators of The X-Files were forced to get rid of the journalists because Fox was no longer interested in the characters.

The X-Files Spin-Off That Flew Under Your Radar Still Holds Up 23 Years Later - image 3

When the series dedicated to The Lone Gunmen failed to live up to expectations due to low ratings, the network's management turned away from the trio.

As a result, Vince Gilligan, John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz, who worked with Chris Carter on The X-Files episode Jump the Shark, had no choice but to end the story of The Lone Gunmen with their heroic defeat.

The Lone Gunmen is Still Worth-Watching More Than 20 Years Later

The Lone Gunmen remains one of the most underrated shows of the 2000s. It is worth watching for those who are ready to dive into the atmosphere of hilarious espionage, and it is a must-see for those who are revisiting the original series or just about to begin an exciting long journey with Mulder and Scully.