Mulder and Scully as Paul and Katt: parallels to All Quiet on the Western Front

Meta
Title:	Mulder and Scully as Paul and Katt: parallels to All Quiet on the Western Front
Creator:	Hobrock, LoneThinker and Zuffy
Date(s):	late 1990s
Medium:	online
Fandom:	X-Files
Topic:
External Links:	The Cave's X-Files Commentary Archives: MSR: Parallel to All Quiet on theWestern Front, Archived version
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Mulder and Scully as Paul and Katt: parallels to All Quiet on the Western Front (also called "New Thoughts on an MSR... or lack thereof") is an essay by Hobrock, LoneThinker and Zuffy.

It is one of many essays at The Cave's X-Files Commentary Archives.

Excerpts

I believe what we are really seeing is an as yet unnamed emotion. It is certainly unknown by the majority of the populous and many of the veterans were most likely unwilling to talk about it. What we have witnessed throughout The X-Files and All Quiet On The Western Front are emotions extracted from situations and shared history rather then personal decision. They are forced upon, or a consequence, of "the war". They are *not* from conscious choice or related to any other more easily categorized emotion. They have no deeper or ulterior meanings.

Categorizing the emotion is difficult though. There is no word for it. Love comes closest but is far to loose in interpretation. Trust is a common theme. You know your comrades have saved you numerous times and you them. It is in a sense a love of your own life extended to them. Understanding is also another portion of the equation. Fellow soldiers are the *only* ones who understand what you are feeling. They are the only ones who understand the horror and sacrifices you've made in the dark quest. The last discernable emotion involved is an 'us against the world' mentality. There is an amazing amount of unity even among the most diverse of groups when you face a common enemy. Rallying around a cause (i.e. Wag the Dog) has been a major unification force throughout history. It can bring a people incredibly close together.

The male/female aspects of The X-Files has slightly off balanced the relationship and sent it into rather strange directions (the HWS for instance) but love is not really the emotion they're feeling, but more of a unity. It would be very easy to confuse the two. Unfortunately, when the war ends there is going to be little reason to remain together. They will always be a part of you, the person or people who held you together in dark times but ultimately there is little beyond that.