Was it an instant hit, or did it take a while for folks to get into the whole mix of conspiracy theories, paranormal stuff, and government cover-ups? How did people react to Mulder and Scully’s dynamic, and what did they think of the ongoing mythology versus the "monster of the week" episodes?

If you were around when the show originally aired, what was the general vibe? Were there any big controversies or wild fan theories that popped up? And do you think a show like The X-Files could become as big of a phenomenon today? If not, why do you think that is?