September, 1993 to May, 2002. Nine years. Beginning to end.

I started my X-Files addiction somewhere mid-season two and have spent nearly a third of my life entranced by Mulder, Scully and their quests. When I read that Chris Carter had decided to pull the plug (so to speak) and end the show after this, it's ninth, season, I was shocked but not surprised. Saddened but excited. I'm sure I'm not alone. Whether you're enjoying the "next generation" of The X-Files (like me) or you'd rather watch your old tapes and your new DVDs, the decision to end the show is an obvious one and a right one.

The ratings are down. Yes. But just because ratings are low doesn't mean the quality is low. In fact, I think they've done some of their best work this year and last. But it's clear that an X-Files without Mulder and Scully isn't what the majority wants. Personally, I disagree. I adore Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish and I see them as wonderful talents, interesting people and professional actors caught in a no win situation. If the show continues, more insults - professional and personal - will be flung their way by the most hysteric of fans and the ratings will continue to fall. With the show cancelled, they're made out to be the cause of it all when in fact they're just people doing their jobs the best they know how.

Chris Carter can tell the press and the public that his decision was not based on the performances of Robert and Annabeth and I, for one, believe him. However, others will not, no matter which roof he shouts it from or how loud he yells. They are the scapegoats - plain and simple. And for that I am sad.

I am sad that my Sunday nights will forever be changed. There are other shows I can watch, sure... Sopranos comes to mind. But as is the case for many of us, The X-Files is a part of my life... a part of my routine. Cutting that out will leave a big hole. A huge hole. The selfish part of me wants to see it go on forever so that I won't be without new and exciting adventures. But the reasonable part of me (and granted... it's a small part) realizes that now's the time to stop. If they stop now, they leave with some modicum of dignity and the chances of us being graced with another big screen feature are enhanced three-fold. That's the golden cup, my friends. A new movie. With Mulder *and* Scully. Bigger effects. Bigger story. Bigger everything. Should the show be allowed to continue and the ratings allowed to bottom out, a movie would most certainly be a no-go. So I'll concede season ten, covet my tapes and my DVDs and eagerly await the second movie. D'you think it's too early to stand in line?

In the mean time, we're faced with four months of anticipation for the big finale, rumoured to be two parts, starting with a "clip fest" and ending with a wee bit of a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger?? Wha...??? At least that's the usual reaction. I'm not in the least surprised. Fans are calling for all of the loose ends to be tied up. The conspiracy revealed completely. William's origins and purpose to be fully explained. Mulder and Scully reunited and sent off into the sunset for a life of happily ever afters. I ask: "Are you watching the same show I've been for the last eight or nine years?" 1013 is a huge fan of cliffhangers. Every season has ended with more questions asked than answered. With the prospect of a second movie on the horizon, I implore folks not to get their hopes up that all will be revealed in the series finale. We all know Chris Carter doesn't work that way.

I have my own predictions. David Duchovny will return. Mulder and Scully will spend a couple of hours trying to find eachother, with many near misses. The end will be a sappy reunion, faded to black. Some answers will be given. Mulder's absence will be fully explained (as fully as 1013 gets, anyway) and his reappearance will be justified. Little William's origins will be discussed but left open for interpretation. There will be no alien invasion but there will be a power struggle between invaders and the resistance - I just haven't figured out who the invaders are and who the resistance is. Doggett and Reyes will be alive and well come the series' end. Kersh will be revealed to be a pretty good guy. Skinner will either be killed or revealed to be a pretty bad guy. Cancer Man will come back and save the world - and William. And we'll find out that Pendrell never really died and he's been behind the whole thing from the beginning.

Okay... I'm reaching a bit with that last one. And frankly, when it comes to the conspiracy, it's anyone's guess how much will actually be explained. You're assuming 1013 understands the mythology when you ask that all the loose ends be tied up. I'm not convinced that's true. But the fans will get what they've been clamouring for since This Is Not Happening... a Mulder and Scully reunion - heartfelt, gut wrenching and, dare I say, romantic. I don't think Carter, Spotnitz and friends would be silly enough to deny the fans at least that. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot and missing the boat.

This all hinges on the return of David Duchovny, of course. Like I said, he will return. Of this, I have no doubt. It's only a matter of time before terms and conditions are worked out and an announcement is made. As trying as his relationship with TPTB at 1013 has been the last few years, I am convinced he still cares about the show. He cares about Mulder. And he cares about the fans. He'll be back. Count on it.

So while I'm sad to see the show close, I'm excited too. The finale can only be huge. The movies are just around the corner, I hope. And there will be less fighting at home between me and my husband over who gets to watch their favourite show Sundays at nine. And I have five more seasons of DVDs to eat up my hard earned cash. What more could I ask for?