I was less then complimentary about the first two installments in this series, but thankfully I stuck with it, as this third part was worth the wait. It felt as if the show had gone back to grass roots, investigating strange, but intriguing goings on, without just getting lost in layers upon layers of conspiracy theories. Anderson was as good as always, Duchovney seemed way more engaged and interested. Karin Konoval was brilliant as Judy, creepy and sinister, best guest performance thus far of this season. Very much back on track, this was excellent.
20 Reviews
Plus One
bobcobb30128 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is easily the best of the season so far. It featured a one-off premise, but a good one here that made me the sci-fan in me love it. The idea of split personalities or an evil side of us taking control and making us do crazy things would certainly keep me up at night.
Like most episodes it went off the rails near the end, but we certainly hope this season has more hours like this.
Like most episodes it went off the rails near the end, but we certainly hope this season has more hours like this.
"Anyone up for a game of hangman?"
classicsoncall4 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Ah yes, this is the kind of X-Files episode I like, a good dose of humor mixed in with the paranormal. I didn't realize it until I saw the cast credits list, but it was a single actress who portrayed both 'Little Judy' Poundstone and her brother Chucky! I thought the Chucky character was a hoot and a half, calling out Mulder with all manner of sarcasm and derision. If this had been the first episode, Mulder would have pounded him/her into the pavement.
After all this time, I keep wondering how Chris Carter and the writers keep coming up with original concepts for the weird and bizarre. They did it again here with a dopplelanger story in which victims see their own double just before they die. It all hinged on the telepathic link between Judy and her twin brother Chuck, but if you think about how they did it, there was a bit of artifice in the way the siblings played the hangman game. If you noticed, with victims Arkie Seavers (Jared Ager-Foster) and attorney Dean Cavalier (Ben Wilkinson), it was the spelling of their first names that they employed. Whereas with Scully and Mulder, the Poundstones were focused on their last names. You could explain it away with the idea that it was the way the characters normally referred to themselves, so I guess it wasn't much of a stretch to make it work here. The argument that ensued between Judy and Chuck over a single letter 'L' and no 'D' in what would have been Scully's name brought to light the fact that each sibling wanted a different FBI agent dead. I thought that was pretty clever.
In keeping with the times, Mulder managed to take a shot at President Trump going after the FBI, but that only reinforced a thought I had about the way the series opens each episode. It seems a little anachronistic to me that the producers still use the original graphics with quarter century old photographs of Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny and Mitch Pilleggi on their FBI ID tags. You would think the Bureau would update those pics every couple of years. I kept forgetting to mention it in prior reviews, but as time goes by, it becomes more and more blatant with each passing episode.
After all this time, I keep wondering how Chris Carter and the writers keep coming up with original concepts for the weird and bizarre. They did it again here with a dopplelanger story in which victims see their own double just before they die. It all hinged on the telepathic link between Judy and her twin brother Chuck, but if you think about how they did it, there was a bit of artifice in the way the siblings played the hangman game. If you noticed, with victims Arkie Seavers (Jared Ager-Foster) and attorney Dean Cavalier (Ben Wilkinson), it was the spelling of their first names that they employed. Whereas with Scully and Mulder, the Poundstones were focused on their last names. You could explain it away with the idea that it was the way the characters normally referred to themselves, so I guess it wasn't much of a stretch to make it work here. The argument that ensued between Judy and Chuck over a single letter 'L' and no 'D' in what would have been Scully's name brought to light the fact that each sibling wanted a different FBI agent dead. I thought that was pretty clever.
In keeping with the times, Mulder managed to take a shot at President Trump going after the FBI, but that only reinforced a thought I had about the way the series opens each episode. It seems a little anachronistic to me that the producers still use the original graphics with quarter century old photographs of Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny and Mitch Pilleggi on their FBI ID tags. You would think the Bureau would update those pics every couple of years. I kept forgetting to mention it in prior reviews, but as time goes by, it becomes more and more blatant with each passing episode.
Ignore the Haters--This Felt Fresh AND Retro
eyetaliangirl18 January 2018
The best writing Chris Carter has done in ages. A great stand-alone episode that echoes many of the early seasons, but has a nice melancholic emotional core centered around Scully's uncertainties about aging and loss. Sharp direction by Kevin Hooks and a PHENOMENAL performance by Karin Konoval in four roles.
A note about the Haters that love to populate the IMDB Review Boards. They're the reason the message boards got taken down. It's really amazing to see them come roaring out of the gate and just spew bile regardless of what was broadcast. If these morons had been around in Fall 1993, The X-Files woudn't have even been picked up for a full first season.
Episode 11.01 was wobbly and overly full. 11.02 was smoother (and actually held up better when I watched it a second time.) 11.03 was terrific. If they can come up with three or four more episodes of this caliber the show will truly exit in a mature, fun fashion.
A note about the Haters that love to populate the IMDB Review Boards. They're the reason the message boards got taken down. It's really amazing to see them come roaring out of the gate and just spew bile regardless of what was broadcast. If these morons had been around in Fall 1993, The X-Files woudn't have even been picked up for a full first season.
Episode 11.01 was wobbly and overly full. 11.02 was smoother (and actually held up better when I watched it a second time.) 11.03 was terrific. If they can come up with three or four more episodes of this caliber the show will truly exit in a mature, fun fashion.
This episode was classic X Files
realdr12321 January 2018
This episode felt much more like the something from the original series than the previous 2 episodes. A classic X Files story which had almost all the features of an original episode straight out of season 6 or 7. I'm looking forward to the upcoming episodes as Duchovny and Anderson seem to be getting more in tune with their X Files characters in this episode.
Great Job!
mkanderson121 January 2018
Each episode is getting better. This one was actually really good. Like in the old series, Mulder is always 2 steps ahead in terms of finding out what's really going on and Scully is the skeptic, always looking to disprove Mulder's theories even though Mulder usually turns out to be right 99% of the time. This could have easily been an original 90's X Files episode.
Great episode!
josua_daniele18 January 2018
Pure X Files!!
kimdaniele-1588318 January 2018
Great episode
luisdaniele18 January 2018
Scully has learnt anything after more than 20 years on the job
polymixa-850-96997424 January 2018
This is a classic episode of The X Files. I probably would have really enjoyed it if it was the first time I have seen The X Files. However, fortunately or unfortunately this was not the case. How could a FBI agent like Scully not have changed her altitude or views on these cases after having spent more than 20 years working on the X Files, having seen all the strangest phenomenas, and having experienced some of the most shocking moments herself. There is no character development here. No wonder Gillian Anderson is quiting the show. Chris Carter is stuck in 90's. He has created my favorite show but is killing it now.
great episode
mirkomicic19 January 2018
Back in business...
spooky_6423 January 2018
Death by hangman
XweAponX2 February 2018
I could not find that band that plays in the teaser, aka "Sore Point". Doesn't Exist. There was a Vancouver band in the late 70's called Sore Points, this is not them, unless they replaced all of the original members with Kids. but I did find a version of one of the songs played, performed by none other than David Duchovny, in iTunes.
Hell if I were in a band shown live in The X-Files, I'd milk it. Song wasn't too bad, and there was an accurate Mosh Pit shown. Minus the circular thrashing of course.
But in this episode, it appears that People are being killed by themselves. Another Alternate Reality? Nope. Did the Shape Changing Alien Bounty Hunter that looked like Brian Thompson (the first kid killed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator) come back to kidnap Mulder again? Nope, he was turned into green goop in "Without", S8E2. Was it an Alien Replacement? Uh-Uh.
Mulder and Skully visit a woman in an institution, and they find an odd array of "Hangman" games. Bingo. Maybe Skully can find something out, if she is not hit by airborne poo. Just follow A to B to C, Mulder. But watch out for Doppelgangers. Or, twins that have been holding a grudge against each other since birth. But you have to figure out who they are first.
This episode has the look and feel of the creepy Season 5 episodes: Kitgsunegari, Detour, Schizogeny. Maybe even a few S3 eps, War of the Roaches and Syzygy. Because unexplained crazy things are happening, and left unexplained until the last minute. This is a fine entry into the X-Files stable of great Monster of the Week episodes. And Chris Carter wrote it, even. But I've always liked Chris episodes.
Hell if I were in a band shown live in The X-Files, I'd milk it. Song wasn't too bad, and there was an accurate Mosh Pit shown. Minus the circular thrashing of course.
But in this episode, it appears that People are being killed by themselves. Another Alternate Reality? Nope. Did the Shape Changing Alien Bounty Hunter that looked like Brian Thompson (the first kid killed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator) come back to kidnap Mulder again? Nope, he was turned into green goop in "Without", S8E2. Was it an Alien Replacement? Uh-Uh.
Mulder and Skully visit a woman in an institution, and they find an odd array of "Hangman" games. Bingo. Maybe Skully can find something out, if she is not hit by airborne poo. Just follow A to B to C, Mulder. But watch out for Doppelgangers. Or, twins that have been holding a grudge against each other since birth. But you have to figure out who they are first.
This episode has the look and feel of the creepy Season 5 episodes: Kitgsunegari, Detour, Schizogeny. Maybe even a few S3 eps, War of the Roaches and Syzygy. Because unexplained crazy things are happening, and left unexplained until the last minute. This is a fine entry into the X-Files stable of great Monster of the Week episodes. And Chris Carter wrote it, even. But I've always liked Chris episodes.
Excellent episode
NatashaJAmos201518 June 2020
A Classic X files just perfect !
nicofreezer4 March 2021
Nobody could ever replace Duchovny/Anderson as Mulder/Scully.
aarosedi18 February 2018
I mean, as long as Mr Duchovny and Ms Anderson doesn't get sick and tired of playing the characters plenty of people got to love and cared for, for years already, there will still be people out there who would want to see these people go thru the process of getting through the old age, I'm betting on that. I'm sure they would figure out what story lines they'd throw at the X-Files universe, they're good at what they do. Even though to tone of the series as a whole have changed, it has to do with the changing times, I guess, and that didn't bother me a bit.
I can remember the excitement of having watched the pilot and the rest of the episodes of the first season of what was by then, a very unique series, a televison drama that was a game-changer, there was no TV show that was anything like it way back then, the series is as old as the Internet itself, or a year older. Now that they're more mature and wiser, they still have what it takes. Six episodes a season is a reasonable amount given the numerous hours of entertainment they have provided for the series already.
I can't consider myself as one of X-Files' top-100,000 fans but I'd say I had watched a fair amount of episodes to say, and would quote a phrase Mulder used in describing the case they dealt with in this episode, this is one their "bread and butter", or is it meat and potatoes? I'm paraphrasing what he said. This has been the reason why the series had been massively successful during the '90s.
I wouldn't even bother saying what this episode is about (dive in), other than saying Ms. Karin Konoval did a splendid job of --REDACTED--. It's nice to see her back for another X-Files episode, having been in two of, what I would say, the MOST OUTSTANDING X-Files episode that Chris Carter and Co. have ever done! It would be nice for newbie viewers of the series to check out those and see the reason why lots of people love them for coming back and there are some who would find it hard for the series to end for good. As long as their heart is still in it, please, at least me, I don't mind them churning more episodes for us viewers.
My rating: A better-than-average episode. Very Good.
I can remember the excitement of having watched the pilot and the rest of the episodes of the first season of what was by then, a very unique series, a televison drama that was a game-changer, there was no TV show that was anything like it way back then, the series is as old as the Internet itself, or a year older. Now that they're more mature and wiser, they still have what it takes. Six episodes a season is a reasonable amount given the numerous hours of entertainment they have provided for the series already.
I can't consider myself as one of X-Files' top-100,000 fans but I'd say I had watched a fair amount of episodes to say, and would quote a phrase Mulder used in describing the case they dealt with in this episode, this is one their "bread and butter", or is it meat and potatoes? I'm paraphrasing what he said. This has been the reason why the series had been massively successful during the '90s.
I wouldn't even bother saying what this episode is about (dive in), other than saying Ms. Karin Konoval did a splendid job of --REDACTED--. It's nice to see her back for another X-Files episode, having been in two of, what I would say, the MOST OUTSTANDING X-Files episode that Chris Carter and Co. have ever done! It would be nice for newbie viewers of the series to check out those and see the reason why lots of people love them for coming back and there are some who would find it hard for the series to end for good. As long as their heart is still in it, please, at least me, I don't mind them churning more episodes for us viewers.
My rating: A better-than-average episode. Very Good.
A touch of nostalgia here
Kendich8920 January 2018
This episode was slightly charming, to some degree thanks to the goofy story, but mostly because if that feeling they gave it, you know, that '90s peculiar ambiance. I liked that. I liked the familiar tone of storytelling, the retro opening, and the score that tracked in the background. This could easily have fit between those old monster-of-the-week episodes and remained comfortably hidden among them, as if it never were...
Plus One ran out of steam pretty quickly. Mulder and Scully quickly got wind of what's going on and who was responsible for that. The usual arguments were present here, theories exchanged, but it seemed as if none of them was too eager to take a stance. That passion and wonder in their eyes and voice is gone, replaced by apathy and let's-get-it-over-with attitude. Mulder's theory, of course, is the unconventional one. Scully, however is not surprised or even a bit curious about that. She still sticks firmly to her cut and dry scientific extrapolations, reciting the same ole stuff mechanically. They do question each other's opinions, though, but to such a degree as to pass time, not facilitate a resolution. I strongly believe that every episode of this season should work towards the much needed closure of the epic story, wrapping things up in a meaningful way, and bringing a dignified end to it. No such luck so far, though. The show's become a self parody, pointing out its incoherence and meaningless circular reasoning.
The lead actors didn't help much either. Their meek and tired expressions convey a sense of boredom and tediousness, underlying the burden of the show's ceaseless reinventions and ridiculous layers of plot piling on top of each other for decades.
Plus One ran out of steam pretty quickly. Mulder and Scully quickly got wind of what's going on and who was responsible for that. The usual arguments were present here, theories exchanged, but it seemed as if none of them was too eager to take a stance. That passion and wonder in their eyes and voice is gone, replaced by apathy and let's-get-it-over-with attitude. Mulder's theory, of course, is the unconventional one. Scully, however is not surprised or even a bit curious about that. She still sticks firmly to her cut and dry scientific extrapolations, reciting the same ole stuff mechanically. They do question each other's opinions, though, but to such a degree as to pass time, not facilitate a resolution. I strongly believe that every episode of this season should work towards the much needed closure of the epic story, wrapping things up in a meaningful way, and bringing a dignified end to it. No such luck so far, though. The show's become a self parody, pointing out its incoherence and meaningless circular reasoning.
The lead actors didn't help much either. Their meek and tired expressions convey a sense of boredom and tediousness, underlying the burden of the show's ceaseless reinventions and ridiculous layers of plot piling on top of each other for decades.
Scully: You're saying you believe him. Mulder: No, I'm just saying I think the kid's too stupid to make it up.
bombersflyup23 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Plus One is about Mulder and Scully investigating a case where victims have reported seeing their doppelgangers.
This episode they go back to their bread and butter as Mulder said, with a monster of the week. A decent plot, like those of old. After a good opening scene, it's evident when our two great characters hit the screen, that they're the problem. They're completely lifeless, it's like the episode "Dod Kalm" in season two and rapid aging has struck. Maybe it wasn't all them, as Mulder just happens to look into the next room at the mental hospital and finds one of the culprits. While the plot of the twins telepathically playing hang man creating doppelgangers is decent, the twins themselves are not.
This episode they go back to their bread and butter as Mulder said, with a monster of the week. A decent plot, like those of old. After a good opening scene, it's evident when our two great characters hit the screen, that they're the problem. They're completely lifeless, it's like the episode "Dod Kalm" in season two and rapid aging has struck. Maybe it wasn't all them, as Mulder just happens to look into the next room at the mental hospital and finds one of the culprits. While the plot of the twins telepathically playing hang man creating doppelgangers is decent, the twins themselves are not.
Not even watchable. Just pathetic.
stunt-797-7566518 January 2018
I've been an avid fan of X-files since first episode. Watched all of them.
Now this one... boring & stupid. Badly copied plot of doubles/twin sisters plus usual hospital scenes (where I' ve always puked) and sentimentality of being old... not enough! "I need your magic" as someone had said. No magic here just forced trying of resurrecting Scully/Mulder tension but it fails all the way. So stupid story is rarely present in the series, but since 9th 10th season all goes south and stays there oddly deeply. I watched on a ceiling watching this. Scenes were long and dull. No mistery, no thrill, no ending. Second star for absence of shaky camera & dull music and superheroes features. Yes, Scully, you are old hag, you can't even act, you're OLD. What's wrong with your voice?! Blase, drunkard's, of boredom.. mumbling. Shame on you. Glad you said you're out! This season is 2nd filthy nail (after 10th) to X-files final coffin. Don't ressurect it. Ever! Hear that Carter?
It's getting worst.
jaz-1555229 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The producers of the X-Files should stop after this season as the episodes are getting worst and worst. The characters are worn out and the actors do't believe in themselves anymore. It's completely unbelievable that after so many seasons Scully still questions the odd things that happen and don't believe them. Apparently she learned nothing, and that makes it weird. I'll think they should have stopped after season 10, this is becoming a joke.
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