In a show as episodic and alien-of-the-week as The X-Files was, The Smoking Man was the closest thing it had to a proper, consistent villain. He's a living representation of Machiavelli's writings that the ends justify the means, as he is just as devoted to concealing the truth as Mulder is to exposing it. And he's willing to go to some dark places to accomplish his goals, committing monstrous acts to protect the secrecy of the Syndicate. Although his effectiveness as a character waned in later years, he was at his best when he maintained a mysterious, lurksome presence with no clear motivations. Say what you will about the Smoking Man, it's a testament to the show's commitment to his shadowy anonymity that he was on The X-Files for six and a half years before his name was actually revealed. To this day, he proves that the less you know about a villain, the scarier it can be.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
