10 TV Shows That Should Have Quit When They Were Ahead

3. The X-Files

The X-Files was a phenomenal television show, with a style and attitude which defined the ‘90s. Along with fellow entry here The Simpsons, it was one of the first benefactors of the second Golden Age Of Television.

That said, it definitely ran on just a bit too long. Season 7 could have been the most compelling ending of all time, with Mulder abducted by aliens. It would have caused a huge stir but would’ve been the ideal ending for his arc and the show in general.

In the end though, the abduction was simply a device to get David Duchovny on a shorter contract so they could pay him less. Robert Patrick and in time Annabeth Gish do a competent job beefing up the cast, but ultimately it isn’t The X-Files without Mulder.

It also felt like the show was scrambling from here on out; monster of the week episodes are decent but the overarching story falls apart. That’s before you even get to the fact The X-Files throws two episodes away to give finales to showrunner Chris Carter’s other shows, The Lone Gunmen and Millenium.

It didn’t need those two extra seasons, or the second movie, or the two revival seasons.