Mirror Image

Description: Season 1, Episode 21

Air Date: February 26, 1960

Plot Summary: While waiting at a bus station, a woman believes she is being tormented by a suspicious doppelganger.

Review: Surprisingly, this is one of those episodes that manages to take a simple premise and adds that TZ flavor to spice it up. Admittedly, not a whole lot happens, in regards to action, but it gets you thinking with a an unusual notion for that era. Anyway, we are introduced to a woman, named Millicent, who thinks she's Michael Jackson or something with that one glove, as she is growing impatient while waiting for a bus. She's hanging out at a bus depot of some sort and the rain appears to have delayed her ride. When Millicent inquires as to the bus' delay with the ticket guy, or whoever he is, he explains that Millicent keeps bothering him every couple minutes. Millie tries to explain that this is the first time she has said anything, but she is dazed by a lookalike luggage checked in with the station that resembles hers right down to a broken handle. This doesn't bother her too much until she notices her luggage is gone and that ticket guy claims the bag she initially saw was checked in by her personally. I should probably mention the banter between the ticket dude and Millicent is amusing with a lot of annoyed stares back and forth serving as unspoken dialogue. Beginning to suspect something is off, Millie goes to the bathroom just as a cleaning lady points out the fact that she's come into the bathroom a few times and must not be feeling well. Of course Millicent has to do the whole "this is the first time" shtick, but she is startled by a reflection of herself sitting in the station while she is in the bathroom.

Eventually, Millicent comes across another guy stuck at the station who probably hopes to kick it to our dear Millie. The guy tries to think up plausible explanations for the apparent doppelganger Millie claims to see; this does calm the girl for a time. When that bus finally shows up, the guy helps Millie with her luggage, but Millicent sees the doppelganger already aboard the bus peering out creepily. Like a total bitch, she runs back into the station and faints. My god lady, keep it together. Stuck holding her luggage, and probably still thinking he has a chance here, the guy stays with Millicent to look after her through the night. Waking back up, the two discuss the concept of doubles, parallel realities, and the notion that the evil doppelganger may be trying to get rid of the original in order to exist. Although Millicent claims she read this somewhere, it would appear she's pulling this story right out of her ass. Obviously the guy is like, "what have I got myself into," especially once Millie starts to stare blankly when he tries to talk to her. The guy claims he's going to call a friend, but actually calls the police. Now that's funny! I guess back in 1960 you could simply call the police and say, "hey we got a crazy lady here, come arrest her." You know, come to think of it, we should bring this practice back. Just when things appear to be all wrapped up, the guy notices his luggage is gone right when a shady character runs out of the station. Chasing after the shady character, the man realizes that it's his doppelganger who looks super flamboyant. Uhh, I guess running is not their forte.

Overall, this is a decent episode. It touches on a few cool ideas and presents an intriguing scenario despite such a boring setting. I like when TZ tries to get deep and proposes weird conclusions that characters can hardly comprehend--this was amusingly present here. Also, TZ tends to establish these ideas realistically with characters not always able to grapple with the concepts. Lastly, I should definitely address that the actress playing Millicent, Vera Miles, does an excellent job carrying the episode by herself; some may recognize her from "Psycho."