Scully in Jeopardy
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| Synonyms: | Damsel in Distress |
| See also: | Angst, Mulder In Jeopardy, ScullyTorture, Hurt/Comfort |
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Definition
Scully in Jeopardy (abbreviated as SIJ[1]) is an popular X-Files fanfiction trope which is also canon. It describes stories where Scully is endangered for example by being abducted/kidnapped, stalked or by a serial killer or held hostage in order to cause MulderAngst or for Hurt/Comfort.
3. Partner in peril!
This is unfortunately a somewhat sexist trope, in the sense that it's almost always Scully in peril and Mulder going off the deep end trying to help her. It does generally work better that way - in part because it's inherent to the trope that Mulder go "off the deep end", where as Scully is not the type to go off the deep end. Plus, with Mulder, his inner monologues are all: "I have to find Scully because I love her with every fiber of my being, I can neither eat nor sleep nor think clearly without her, witness my devastated, desperate, yet improbably sexy angsting." Where as with Scully, her inner monologues are all: "I have to find Mulder, it is my duty to cover for him, and if I don't come to his aid he'll be killed, which is not something I'm going to think about." Basically meaning that when Mulder is taken it's not really all that tropey.
Usage in Fanfiction
Archives
There are quite some archives specialized in this kind of stories:
Notable Fanfiction
- Best Lies by Julie (archived version via wayback)
- Iolokus series by RivkaT and MustangSally
Meta
- I love the X-Files, but I hate that Scully is constantly made the "girl in the tower" - thoughts? on reddit
- ""Damsel in Distress" problem?".