Dana Scully FBI Agent & Doctor – Honorary Oakley

It’s a whole new year (January 2005 when written), so why not start off with an Honorary Oakley we’d previously overlooked, but someone who definitely deserves her place amongst the other strong female characters featured in this section. Our latest Honorary Oakley is Dr Dana Scully, skeptic, sidekick (or was Mulder her sidekick?) and all round ass kicking FBI agent. Dana Scully became a cult hero who girls and women alike looked up to. So for this reason she’s our first Honorary Oakley for 2005. [Note: This is Dana Scully the character, not Gillian Anderson the actress].

Let’s take a closer look at Dana Scully herself…..

Dana Scully – A quick bio:

Name: Dana Katherine Scully
Badge number: JTT0331613
Height: 5’3″
Birthdate: February 23, 1964
Address: Apt. 35, 1419 unknown street, Georgtown, DC
Phone no. Cellular: (202)555-0166, Home: (202) 555-3564
E-Mail: D_Scully@FBI.gov, queequeg0925@hotmail.com

Agent Dana Scully was first assigned to the X-files to debunk Agent Mulder’s work which was looked upon with rather dubious eyes from those in charge. After joining the X-Files Dana Scully became Agent Mulder’s trusted and loyal partner despite her own skeptical beliefs. Agent Scully has a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Maryland which she received in 1986, she also holds a medical degree and has completed a residency in forensic pathology. Her father, a high ranking naval officer wished her to become a doctor but Scully decided to join the FBI believing she could make more of a difference in this field. Scullys relationship with family, particularly that of her father and sister Melissa played a large role in Dana’s life during her time at the X-Files.

It’s TV Mulder but not as we know it…
When the X-files burst onto TV screens way back in 1993 with its strange mix of the paranormal and UFO phenomena audiences lapped it up, but it was the relationship between its two lead characters that was of true interest to viewers, the on screen tension mixed with the will they wont they, is she isn’t she factor kept viewers guessing and more importantly viewing. The chemistry was brilliant with Fox Mulder’s insane beliefs and Dana Scully’s intelligent Skepticism keeping people guessing.. at least for the first few seasons.

Aww what?! He’s right again?….
Yes sadly for the many of the episodes Scully remained irritatingly wrong despite her well thought out explanations usually being far more plausible than that of her partner, but this was the X-Files so we forgive it this because despite being wrong much of the time Mulder would not have been able to survive without his petite partner. She brought emotional depth to an otherwise monotone moaner and she gave unconditional love and care whilst remaining true and strong. This coupled with the fact she was one of the first female leads who was centered on intelligence based characteristics meant that Scully endeared herself to both the male and female audiences in a different way to previous female TV leads.

But Scully isn’t JUST eye candy…
As mentioned Dana Scully was different to a lot of TV female sidekicks, because despite her obvious good looks (which became more pronounced and glamorized as the seasons wore on) she was smart, witty, strong willed and a lot of the time way smarter than her partner Fox Mulder, which is strange given that 9 times out of 10 he’d STILL be right regardless of the rather bizarre logic he’d come up with… well.. it was the X-Files after all. In the first season of the X-Files Scully’s appearance would probably be best described as bookishly cute and it was here that her loyal fans were first hooked, so regardless of the glamorization that later followed Scully as a character was never ‘based’ on this.

Girls in Glasses… Intelligence is Sexy rowrr!…
Although there had been a few smart female characters gracing our screens prior to Scully’s debut, but she was quite possibly one of the first female leads in a TV show that didn’t lean on the beauty bar and instead was lusted after for her brains and her non physical characteristics. Dr Scully was a sex symbol for very different reasons, yes she was attractive, but it was her smarts and depth of character that truly won over audiences both male and female. Dana Scully became a role model and inspiration for many young girls the world over who finally could see brains could win out over breasts or model like build (given her rather petite frame of around 5 feet).

Over and Out…
Sadly the X-files, like many shows before and after it had overstayed its welcome. After many brilliant early seasons and even a fairly good big screen film, the X-Files carried on even after Mulder left. Although the show survived a few seasons without Mulder it was the overall length of time and lack of story that was the shows undoing (given that many would argue the show had died whilst Mulder was still well and truly around) and little to do with the character of Dana Scully herself. Many fans of the show believed it should have ended numerous seasons before it eventually did (in 2002) but none would disagree that Dana and yes even monotone Mulder would be missed. Though shows since have tried to recapture the magic of the X-files few have and we have reverted to the good looking female lead for the most part (Alias, Dark Angel etc). Will we ever see another Dana Scully styled lead? We hope so.

So there we have it, another entrant into the Honorary Oakley Hall of Fame and we once again hope it was for all the reasons the Honorary Oakley stands for. Dana Scully, smart, witty, strong and ass kicking woman… We Salute You!!

Scully – I’m not going to ask you if you just said what I think you’ve said because I know it’s what you said.

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