3. The Villain
A few weeks ago I heard Barenaked Ladies' hit 'One Week' on the radio, a song I hadn't heard in at least a couple of years and forgot many of the lyrics to. There's one part where Steven Page sings "Watchin' X-Files with no lights on, We're dans la maison, I hope the Smoking Man's in this one" and I nodded my head in agreement because I completely understood what he meant. Cigarette Smoking Man, Smoking Man, Cancer Man, whatever you want to call him (personally I like Cancer Man the best), this guy was clouded in mystery as well as smoke. Whenever I watched an episode, whether it was on television or years later on DVD, I always hoped he would be in it. Aside from Mulder and Scully, he's the only other X-Files character to appear in the series pilot and finale. Cancer Man was an evil man, but was also one who largely believed everything he did was for the greater good. This never stopped him from being a smug (insert whatever you wish) though. Cancer Man usually remained confident and always on top of the game. One of the things I always found so appealing about him was how he seemed to be a dark reflection of Mulder. Mulder was always after the truth, but Cancer Man knew the truth of nearly everything and had nothing to show for it aside from being a vile, lonely, bitter and evil man. Who's to say Mulder wouldn't have become Cancer Man in another life, let alone if he knew the full truth? It would also be a crime not to mention William B. Davis' performance, largely the reason Cancer Man is so endearing to many of the fans.