The X-Files Mulder and Scully First Kiss in Millennium Episode The X-Files first on-screen kiss between Mulder and Scully occurred in the season 7 episode Millennium, which aired on November 28, 1999, but left fans confused. The X-Files fans who today complain about slow-burn romances may have forgotten the frustration of the 1990s and early 2000s, when the hit Fox series infamously teased a relationship between its two protagonists, Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), without ever defining it. The first on-screen kiss between Mulder and Scully finally happened in Season 7, Episode 4, titled Millennium, which first aired on November 28, 1999. The moment should have been a relief to fans, but many found it maddening because it came without fanfare or commentary and occurred at the end of the show's most ambitious installment to date. Background of the Mulder and Scully RomanceThe chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson made it inevitable that fans would interpret Mulder and Scully as a romantic pairing, and The X-Files writers definitely encouraged that over the years. Still, by Season 7, many were beginning to doubt that the show would ever take a romantic turn and make their relationship canonical. Millennium was the 143rd episode of the series overall, and it seemed like too great a change to introduce at this point.The timing was also unexpected, as a long-awaited kiss would most likely come in a season premiere or finale, or even in a movie, since the series had just gone to the big screen for the first time. On top of that, Millennium was an episode where Mulder and Scully had to share their screen time with former FBI agent Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) for a crossover with the series Millennium.Details of the Millennium Episode CrossoverThe X-Files and Millennium were both created and executive produced by Chris Carter, and both aired on Fox. Millennium was canceled abruptly in 1999, so Carter intended to use this X-Files episode to wrap up the show after the fact. All in all, the episode was regarded as a failure by fans of both shows. It didn't do much to tidy up the ending of Millennium, and Henriksen himself later admitted he was disappointed in it.It also pulled The X-Files off of its serialized story arc for a monster-of-the-week style episode, which felt like an interruption. To top it off, the Mulder-Scully kiss caught fans completely off-guard. It happened in a hospital in the aftermath of their adventure, with Millennium characters and other FBI agents all around them.The story took place on New Year's Eve, and the two were watching the ball drop on TV in silence when they leaned in for a kiss. Mulder remarked that the world didn't end, a reference to the episode and the Y2K panic. The kiss was not chaste or unromantic by any means, yet the lack of commentary here made some fans furious.They could no longer say that Mulder and Scully had never kissed, but this could also be dismissed as a New Year's Eve moment with no real meaning. For those that wanted the show to resolve this relationship into a true on-screen romance, this was worse than nothing.Ongoing Mystery of Mulder and Scully's RelationshipThe fans who felt let down by this episode had a lot more heartache coming. Later in this same season, the episode All Things opened on Mulder and Scully in bed, having apparently spent the night together. Even worse, once again the hook-up went uncommented-upon, indicating this wasn't their first dalliance.Their relationship continued in this manner through the rest of the series and the revival as well. The series matter-of-factly showed us where Mulder and Scully were at from moment to moment, without ever lingering on their relationship or stopping to talk about it very much.Love it or hate it, this phenomenon likely has a lot to do with the behind-the-scenes drama impacting the show in Season 7. The X-Files was a massive hit at this time, and its cast commanded massive influence. Starting in Season 6, the production moved from British Columbia, Canada to Los Angeles at Duchovny's request.The actor wanted to stay closer to his home and his wife during the filming season, and he also wanted the chance to pursue other work when timing permitted. Anderson and others on the cast and crew agreed with him, but Carter opposed the move. It turned out that there was bad blood brewing between Duchovny and Carter in Season 7.