The X-Files
The X-Files mistake picture

Anasazi (1) - S2-E25

Continuity mistake: When the military man approaches the Cancer Man we can see at the background the helicopter's left-hand side. When they move towards the helicopter, now closer to them, we see its right-hand side. (00:40:14)

The Blessing Way (2) - S3-E1

Continuity mistake: When Mulder experiences his near-death trance state his body is lying, apparently lifeless, in a star spangled sky. As the camera tracks in on him the toes on his right foot twitch, just after Deep Throat begins to speak. The foliage covering his chest also changes position between shots. In the wide shot he is covered up to the armpits. But the first close up shows his chest is exposed. Then in later close ups it is covered again. (00:14:25)

Paper Clip (3) - S3-E2

Continuity mistake: In the mine with the medical records we see Samantha's file. In the season 1 episode "Conduit" we see the X-File Mulder opened on her. In the previous episode she is listed as Samantha T. Mulder and her birth date is 1/22/64. Here we see her name as Samantha Ann Mulder and her birth date as 11/21/65. (00:20:40)

D.P.O. - S3-E3

Continuity mistake: The car where the guy is killed is a 1970 Ford LTD convertible in front but a 1969 Ford LTD from the rear.

The X-Files mistake picture

Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose - S3-E4

Continuity mistake: Clyde Bruckman commits suicide by placing a plastic bag over his head until he asphyxiates. However, when Mulder and Scully first discover him you can see in the shot just before Scully holds his hands that there is no plastic bag around his head (may only be visible in widescreen format). (00:42:55)

Phaneron

The List - S3-E5

Continuity mistake: Later in the episode a man bangs on an air conditioner to try and stop it from making noise. In the first scene you can tell air is moving because the streamers are moving. After he bangs on the unit the streamers stop moving. The air conditioner is still on. (00:32:30)

manthabeat

2Shy - S3-E6

Continuity mistake: The drawing image of the killer loads twice on the computer. You can see it start to load in the first shot which is closer. In the very next shot it loads from nothing again.

manthabeat

2Shy - S3-E6

Continuity mistake: When the prostitute, Holly MacClaine, is first murdered, we see her face up. The next morning, when the police are at the crime scene, we see her face down.

Vimsen

The Walk - S3-E7

Continuity mistake: General Callahan tells Mulder that the man he saw in his office said his name, but all he said was, "Your time has come, killer". (00:13:10 - 00:17:25)

The Walk - S3-E7

Continuity mistake: General Callahan, who is referred to as General Callahan throughout the episode by Mulder, gets called "Lieutenant" Callahan in the last scenes in the steam-room, while lying on the floor.

Nisei (1) - S3-E9

Continuity mistake: When Senator Richard Matheson tells Mulder about the four Japanese Nationals had been murdered, he says that the murders had occurred several weeks ago. But when Mulder brings Scully up to speed a scene or two later, he tells her that someone must have been able to identify the four doctors who were performing the autopsy because they were murdered YESTERDAY. (00:30:05 - 00:33:10)

Revelations - S3-E11

Continuity mistake: When filmed from the inside of the basket, the openings in the basket structure are big enough to put a finger into it, while in the outside shot the structure is compact and dense. (00:21:00)

Chop Luftmysza

Revelations - S3-E11

Continuity mistake: Kevin's mother uses her car to hit the 'devil' and shatters the bottom right of the windscreen. The following shots, including the crash into the ditch, show the car with the windscreen undamaged. (00:28:59 - 00:29:22)

Bad Blood - S5-E12

Visible crew/equipment: I don't know if this is visible in all formats, but on the newest UK release on DVD, watching in widescreen, it's amazingly obvious. When Mulder recovers from the vampire attack, he gets up from the floor and breaks up a chair to make a stake. There is a shot of his feet as he smashes the legs off and bends to pick up a piece. In the bottom left hand corner of the screen, you can see a crew member's hand carefully and quickly placing a piece of wood on top of the pile for Mulder to pick up.

More mistakes in The X-Files
More quotes from The X-Files

Trivia: Scully's father, Scully's older brother, and the man Mulder thought was his biological father were both named William. (The father who raised Mulder went by "Bill, " as did Scully's brother.) Mulder's actual biological father, Cancer Man, was played by William B Davis (who also goes by "Bill"). Scully and Mulder's son was also named William (before being adopted and having his name changed to Jackson).

More trivia for The X-Files

Trust No 1 - S9-E6

Question: After blowing up the car, when the NSA guy answers Scully's question, "How the hell do you know my size?" he says, "I know the name of your college boyfriend, your true hair colour, your ATM PIN number." This strongly suggests that red is not her true colour. Therefore, my question is: What is the true colour of Scully's hair?

Chop Luftmysza

Answer: He was being facetious. He doesn't specifically know that information, he was merely giving examples of the types of information he has access to.

I think so too.

lionhead

Answer: Actress Gillian Anderson's natural hair color is strawberry blonde, which she dyed fiery red. (Although in the revival of the show she wears a wig).

The question does not concern Gillian Anderson's true hair colour-it concerns Agent Dana Scully's true hair colour.

Chop Luftmysza

More questions & answers from The X-Files

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.