'The X-Files': Fan Comments Inspired Frank Spotnitz To Write An Episode Of The Sci-Fi Series

Frank Spotnitz has revealed that fan comments once inspired him to write an episode of "The X-Files."

Spotnitz, who has written 44 episodes of the Fox sci-fi series, recently admitted that he wrote the episode addressing the death of Melissa Scully (Melinda McGraw) -- Dana Scully's (Gillian Anderson) sister --  after he found out online that some fans were upset that the show didn't immediately explore the consequences brought by the character's death.

"This is reaching back a long way, if you ever saw The X-Files, Agent Scully's sister got killed at the beginning of one season. I was reading the comments and this is three months' later: 'Agent Scully's sister got killed and they never did anything about it.' And I said [to myself]: 'They're absolutely right,'" Spotnitz said (via Express.co.uk) during a press conference for his new Amazon Video series titled "The Man in the High Castle."

He continued, "I was boarding a plane but on that flight I outlined an entire episode that was dealing with the death of Scully's sister. So that's the one instance that I can think of that by reading the message boards I corrected that mistake."

Spotnitz said that he still reads comments about his works. However, he said that he would take what he read with skepticism. 

"'X-Files' really grew up on the internet, so even then 20 years ago -- the baby internet back then -- I would go in the chatrooms and message boards because I feel that as a writer you're trying to communicate with your audience and I want to see how the communication has been received," he explained.

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"But I don't look at it as gospel, I look at it as information, a tool I can use," he added. "I would never write to those people, who were commenting, but I take into account what they're saying and sometimes it's useful and sometimes it's not."

"The X-Files" creator Chris Carter confirmed to TVLine that he asked Spotnitz to be on board with the much anticipated revival of the series, but he's "unavailable" due to his commitment as executive producer for both "The Man in the High Castle" and "Crossing Lines."

"I talk with Chris every week," Spotnitz told Den of Geek at San Diego Comic-Con last July. "But I'm not involved [in 'The X-Files' revival]. It's very bittersweet because I never stopped wanting this to happen and supported the fans."

Though Spotnitz is not part of the limited run, he said that he will be happy to watch it as a fan. "I came on 'The X-Files' in season 2, and I watched season 1 as a fan. Now I feel like I'm back at the beginning watching this as a fan. I'm enjoying that part of it."

"The X-Files" revival premieres with a special two-night event starting on Sunday, Jan. 24 following the NFC Championship Game. It then moves to Monday nights starting on Jan. 25.

"The Man in the High Castle" episode 3 returns on Friday, Nov. 20.