The X-Files season 11 episode 3 preview: Plus One

Doppelgangers cause some serious psychic trouble for Mulder and Scully on The X-Files, with episode “Plus One” airing this Wednesday.

Right off, you should know that doppelgängers are some seriously creepy supernatural visions. Sometimes, they are harbingers of ill fortune, which is bad enough. A doppelgänger might appear to someone who is about to experience serious illness or even their imminent death. In other cases, this eerie double has reportedly appeared to a friend or loved one, essentially announcing their twin’s doom. In other stories, however, doppelgängers are outright evil. That certainly appears to be the case on the latest episode of The X-Files, “Plus One.” Mulder and Scully investigate a number of cases where people are tormented by their phantom twins. At least a few individuals are even killed by a doppelgänger.

Mulder and Scully trace it all back to a pair of actual twins who are playing “a dangerous game”. Could this be some sort of call back to “Syzygy,” the third season episode featuring a pair of teenage girls who wreak psychic havoc on their town?

Certainly, The X-Files has produced a fair number of episodes wherein someone knowingly or unknowingly causes trouble with their superpowered mind. These include “Beyond the Sea” (with a great performance from Brad Dourif as a Hannibal Lecter clone) and the evil doll-infested “Chinga”.

Of course, I’d never forgive myself if I forgot to mention “Fight Club.” That’s the season 7 episode wherein Kathy Griffin doesn’t merely encounter her doppelgänger and go on her merry way. Instead, she fights her newfound twin in order to win the heart of Tex Cobb (the menacing bounty hunter from Raising Arizona).

But what does the bear have to do with it?

Something about the promos leads us to believe that we’re not in for the broadly silly antics of “Fight Club,” however. For one, there looks to be at least one scene in some sort of hospital or mental health ward.

Also, there may or may not be a bear involved. Seriously.

How are the twins at the heart of the matter working? Is this another psychic episode? What kind of “game” are they playing, anyway? Are we safe in assuming that Scully does not end up as an ursine snack?

Oh, and one has to wonder why Mulder and Scully are cuddling in what appears to be a hotel bed. Now, they are supposedly “just friends” despite their past relationship and the whole business of conceiving a child together. And it might be possible that they remain as such and are just very close. I mean, wouldn’t you be after encountering years of aliens and creepy monsters together?

Next: The X-Files season 11: What do digital donuts taste like, anyway?

But you can’t really be part of The X-Files fandom without speculating on romance (or lack thereof) between the show’s central duo. It remains to be seen whether “Plus One” director Kevin Hooks and writer Chris Carter are moving that relationship forward or just faking us out.

With all of the psychic intrigue, however, it could be that “Plus One” is something else entirely. Hopefully, the episode won’t be entirely bogged down by the ongoing and mysterious extinction event possibly on the horizon. Yes, that’s important. That said, it would be awfully nice to take a break from conspiracy theories for a week.

“Plus One” airs Wednesday on FOX, at 8:00 p.m. ET.