The perfect Gift for an X-Files fan?

Ok, if you want to spend a LOT (but perhaps not that much relatively speaking, considering the high price of alternative collectibles, and the potential much higher future value of my recommendation if it ever needed to be re-sold), there are occasionally original shooting scripts for classic episodes that are autographed by the actors which will be found on eBay.

Some people (I'm one of them) don't give a shit about tie-in dolls and that kind of merch, but it's hard to imagine any XF fan not feeling something for a script of a beloved episode that was possibly used by the actors in filming. They are by far the most little known and underrated type of X-Files collectible, but also one of the most genuine and substantive ones, created by the show's own crew for artistic purposes, not by Fox for financial reasons.

Right now it just so happens that the script of One Breath, arguably the most universally loved episode of all time (and in its weird XF way, one of the more romantic episodes of the show with regard to Mulder/Scully) is being sold/auctioned.

You can "buy it now" (in case you're unfamiliar with ebay, that means no bidding necessary, just like any ordinary online purchase) for $320 US. And it may go lower in the auction. It started out priced at $1000 a few weeks ago and it's rapidly being reduced in price.

I personally have no interest/ability in paying the kind of amount an actor-signed script will go for, even if it goes a bit lower, but I get ebay email updates on X-Files scripts in general. I've bought a number of unsigned ones, which can go for anywhere from $5 to $70 depending on the rarity. That's also an option if you know your wife adores certain episodes or actually cares about the writing of the show. Scripts, regardless of whether they're signed, also offer a true rarity in this day and age: unique information about the show that sometimes can't be found on the Internet. Many scripts often contain scenes that were deleted, or never filmed at all, and even those that don't will contain descriptions and phrasing by the writers that give more insight into the characters' inner feelings than you can see on TV.

As another option, I remember there was an artist who painted some incredibly beautiful posters to represent a number of different episodes. Everyone has their own tastes in art and these weren't official merch, so I suppose it's a risk your wife might not be into the style, but virtually every fan loved them, not only on this sub, but elsewhere. Trouble is, I can't remember the artist's name or where I even saw these posters, and if it was even a thread on this sub, or possibly something mentioned on Kumail Nanjiani's podcast or some other place. Similar to the scripts, it would also help to know your wife's tastes, like which episodes she'd want a script or poster of.

One Breath is about as close as it gets to universally loved though, and it's a pivotal episode in the mythology as well. Even as a NON fan of most of the later mythology, who usually holds monster eps in higher regard, I still adore this one. And Mulder and Scully's psychic connection is so strong in that one, there would be something almost magical about having both the actors' names on the paper.

So if you can get the price down a little more or you actually want to pay the current price, that seems like a perfect gift tbh.

/r/XFiles Thread