Case 04, File 18: Max

AKA: He's The Man Who's Name You'd Love To Touch

Each individual X-Files episode is, ultimately, futile in the grand scheme of things. Mulder and Scully can't prove the existence of aliens, capture a supernatural being or otherwise accomplish their goals, or else the series would be over, or at least the dynamic would change a lot. It's part of the contract with the audience, and how well we agree to take that futility depends on how well the episode presents it.

Case 04, File 17: Tempus Fugit

AKA: The Return of Max

The X-Files is simultaneously a continuity heavy and continuity light show. It has its building plotlines yes, but they are fluid and often getting changed or retconned on the fly and there tend to be long gaps between plot movements because of the monster of the week episodes. As such as plot that, in a more plot focused show like Battlestar Galactica might take a season and a half, takes 5 seasons to play out. And as a result, I think it's awfully presumptuous for The X-Files to expect it's audience to remember a character who appeared in one episode, nearly 4 years ago.

Case 04, File 16: Unrequited

AKA: America Has A Blind Spot For Veterans, Oh Yeah, Send Tweet

When I think about The X-Files and political issues, I tend to think of silly things like the belief that the government is hiding aliens or things that make me wince in hindsight, like when I see stuff similar to what inspired the anti-vaxxer movement. But The X-Files is political, and not just because all media is political. Its a show about government coverups and conspiracies attempts to cover political issues are going to worm their way into the show.