'The Botox is out there': X Files fans claim the biggest mystery of the new series is how Mulder and Scully haven't aged a day

X-Files fans were no doubt expecting alien abductions and government conspiracies to hide the truth when they tuned into the first episode of the revamped series, which aired on Channel 5 last night.

But as the show returned after a 14-year hiatus, viewers took to social media to declare the biggest mystery was how FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully didn't appear to have aged a day.

The seemingly ageless appearance of Gillian Anderson, 47, and 55-year-old David Duchovny's characters even prompted fans to question if the show was 'sponsored by Botox'. 

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As The X-Files show returned to TV last night after a 14-year hiatus, fans took to social media to declare the biggest mystery was how FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully didn't appear to have aged a day

Twitter user Will Goldstein commented: 'The biggest mystery of the new X-Files series: Why all the Botox?'

Alicia Day agreed, saying: 'Biggest mystery of all is how the cast of The X-Files has not aged. Aliens? You decide.'

CelioCyl suggested that alien interference might also be behind the actors' youthful appearances. 

'Love X-Files is back,' he tweeted. 'New, but with the old feel to it. Scully hasn't aged much - probbaly all the Botox inflicted by aliens.'

Lindsay_K23 expressed the same sentiment, saying: 'The aliens clearly implanted a LOT of Botox in Scully's face.'

Fans were critical of Gillian Anderson's appearance, joking that aliens appeared to have implanted her face with Botox

David Duchovny's youthful appearance was also questions by viewers with one saying that only the actors' eyes and lips were moving 

A photo from 1998 shows the pair in their younger years and fans questioned why they didn't appear to have aged significantly in almost two decades

Meanwhile, The_Obald turned the show's famous catchphrase 'The Truth Is Out There' on its head, summing up his thoughts on the episode with: 'The X-Files: The Botox is out there.'

Johnny Boy said that it was strange that he had aged 20 years since the show began, 'but they look the same'.

The X-Files first hit TV screen in 1993 with Gillian Anderson playing doctor and forensic pathologist Dana Scully.

Her character, said to be born in 1964, is now supposedly 52 years old while Fox Mulder is meant to be 55.

Some fans said the biggest mystery involved in the show was that the cast hadn't aged while others seemed certain they could explain it 

Gillian first assumed the role as a fresh-faced 25-year-old but some viewers were not impressed by her current appearance. 

'It's so hard to watch this empty Botox stare that was once Dana Scully,' Frosch03 tweeted. 

Joshtitley91 added: 'All that Botox has made Scully the most alien looking thing in The X-Files', while FidiShadesOfBlue said Scully was 'held together with copious amounts of Botox'. 

Orange Jammies asked: 'What has Gillian Anderson done to her face? That face-lift and Botox make her look like the aliens she's after.'

Unfortunately he wasn't the only one to make the alien comparison with MsSticky commenting: 'Enjoying the new X-Files revival. But Scully's overuse of Botox is making her look somehwat alien.'

 

Fans claimed that Scully looked as if she'd gone to far with the wrinkle freezing treatment, with SLeimbach saying it was 'too distracting' and  MsSticky claiming she looked 'somewhat alien'

Alan MacMinion said that Scully looked 'so shiny' and that it was time to open 'The Botox Files', while S Leimbach said her face was 'way too distracting'. 

Troobs said that the actress was 'gorgeous back in the day', but claimed that she'd had 'way too much Botox'. 

Aloha was even more scathing in his criticism, saying: 'Alright, what is going on with the natural beauty that was Gillian Anderson? She looks to be just a few procedures away from Jacko.'

Nadinelaugh commented that both actors looked to be ageless, saying: 'Is The X-Files sponsored by Botox? Seriously Mulder and Scully #cantmakefacemove #mybotoxisbetterthanyours.'

When speculating about the characters' appearance one fan said perhaps the aliens were to blame, while  the_obald joked that the show's famous tagline should be changed from 'The truth is out there' to 'The Botox is out there.'

Venetia B added: 'Well X-Files is back in business. Mulder looks no older. Good job Scully knows surgeons. Loved that they kept the titles the same.'

Karen Gray claimed that Scully had 'NO FACIAL expressions,' while X claimed that only the actors' eyes and lips were moving. Jamesj_96 alleged that Scully 'literally can't move her face'.

Scott added: 'It's too bad Gillian Anderson has been a Botox addict since the X-Files was on a 10+ year hiatus because her face displays zero emotions now.' 

Wafflycat didn't let it put him off though, saying: 'I suspect there is much use of Botox in the new X-Files. Still enjoying the silliness.'

David Duchovny, 55, has reprised the role of Fox Mulder (left) - a character he first played in his early 30s. The Fall star Gillian Anderson, 47, plays doctor Dana Scully (right) who is supposedly 52

Fans on social media said that Scully's face looked 'too shiny', while others reminisced about Gillian Anderson's natural beauty

Roopee was also impressed by the new series, commenting: Literally the only thing that isn't perfect about the new X-Files is Scully's Botox situation.' 

Gillian Anderson has previously admitted that plastic surgery has crossed her mind. In an interview with The Telegraph she explained that there was a period of time where she wondered if there was anything she could do about ageing without having to be 'cut into', before realising there wasn't.

‘I’m very aware the women I admire in the public eye don’t do anything,' she said, citing Judi Dench, and Charlotte Rampling as women who are ageing gracefully. 

'The fact is you can always tell when something’s been done,' she said. 'I’d like to get to the point where I would look in the mirror and not feel bad but celebrate the natural process, rather than give the impression that something’s wrong.’

The new series of The X-Files kicks off with the former special agents being summoned to Washington by their old boss Walter Skinner to meet right-wing internet TV show host Tad O Malley, who introduces them to alien abductee Sveta who tells them she's been impregnated by extra terrestrials on several occasions.

Not everyone was put off by the controversy with Wafflycat saying that he was still 'enjoying the silliness' of the show's plotline

But Sveta later reveals that she believes that she wasn't abducted by and experimented on by aliens at all, but by humans.

This leads Mulder to develop a new theory that the government are using the premise of alien abductions to carry out experiments on people and control them. 

But he has a hard time convincing Scully of his theories, echoing the central theme of past series in which she was always the skeptic. 

There was also reference to the child they had together, and part of the upcoming plot is set to focus on their son, whom they gave up for adoption.

The rebooted show initially received dismal early reviews from critics  when it aired in America last month, 

However it received a more positive response as the series progressed.

The original X-Files was one of the most popular and longest running TV series of all time, attracting around 20 million viewers at the peak of its popularity.