According to the showrunner, “Space” was a story that “took a lot of research on my part,” and while we hate to call Carter out, that seems hard to believe when the whole thing was based on an easily debunked conspiracy.
However, considering how much Agent Mulder is based on X-Files creator Chris Carter, it’s only fitting that the show’s worst Season 1 episode was based on earnest belief in a crazy conspiracy. Like Mulder, Carter is primarily guilty of one thing: he wants to believe.