Mirror Image - Twilight-Tober Zone

"Mirror Image" has become a favorite of many Twilight Zone fans, but with the concept of the evil doppelganger being done quite a bit since this episode aired, does it still hold up? Find out if you dare by stepping into the Twilight-Tober Zone.
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"Mirror Image" is episode 21 of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It originally aired on February 26, 1960.
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[@francisfatta]

Honestly, if a doppelgänger tried to take over my life, it can have it. Mine ain’t going so well

[@TheWrongHands18]

One of my jokes: "I was a victim of Identity Theft. He's doing better than I am."

[@nochillwill4667]

I'm trying to get into my dopplegangers life. One of us gotta be living the better life.

[@MelStaub]

I'll drink to that.

[@pundertalefan4391]

Dang. I'm sorry.

[@cdorman11]

Can't be bad. You're watching this.

[@anubusx]

"When not in use turn off the juice." I'm so using that now when turning off switches.

[@georger64]

I grew up with that phrase. Even though electricity was dirt cheap back then.

[@UrSammich]

I'm gonna use that now too X D

[@thoughtfuldevil6069]

This isn't the darkest, scariest or most thought-provoking Twilight Zone episode, but you can make the argument that it is, in fact, the Twilight Zone-iest.

[@dougfredricks2017]

It creeped out as a child...

[@feathero3]

What if this was a prequel to "The 4 of us Are Dying" and this is just the face shifting man using his powers to screw with people?

[@moniquesalazar1678]

I like how the doubles have different personalities. Millicent's double seems more, "My ego is glad to have beaten you and witness your entertaining reactions," while Paul's seems more, "Yes! I won!" I can imagine the doubles working together, knowing how the native versions would act in the situation to play into their hands. Probably not intended by creators, but still a cool idea.

[@popculturewatch8689]

The last moment with the doppelganger running and the actual mirror shot always gives me chills. One of the best episodes. Don't care what anyone says.

[@michaeldebellis4202]

I agree. It creeped me out as a kid and I rewatched it before watching this video and that last shot still gave me goosebumps. Something so creepy about just the smile as he looks back.

[@popculturewatch8689]

@@michaeldebellis4202 I think it's the way it's shot too. It's makes it look so surreal. It also bugged me that it seems like these doppelgangers don't have any real motives. They just like fucking with people. How far are they going to go? A more serious version of this was done in the 80s version of the zone. The first episode shatter day starting bruce willis. There is a reason why the doppelganger exists. Haunting ending too.

[@johnhaladay5541]

If you don't care about what anyone says, then why would you share your opinion?

[@popculturewatch8689]

@@johnhaladay5541 what are you talking about? Independent of what anyone else says is all that statement meant. I don't know what you are going on about. I respect Walters opinion or anyone who doesn't like it but I feel differently. It works and is definitely creepy imo. It's not perfect but I think it comes together well.

[@ThreadBomb]

@@popculturewatch8689 No, what you said was weird. It may be just a figure of speech, but it makes you seem paranoid and defensive.

[@jessicahill6207]

if the mirror dimension is real, I think we're on the wrong side....

[@tylerreed7796]

lol. too true

[@wintersoldier164]

you think mirror world found a cure for the covid?

[@jessicahill6207]

@@wintersoldier164 I don't think mirror world HAD covid

[@0816M3RC]

Well they say the grass is always greener on the other side... If the mirror world does exist, things could be the same or even worse. I mean things must be pretty bad in their world if they are trying to get into ours.

[@ROBOTPETER101]

We're the doubles trying to break into the other world.

[@claytonrios1]

The evil doppelganger is certainly a popular idea for an antagonist but there's a lot you can do with an evil version of the main character so I'm glad the trend was set in a good way in this episode.

[@wjzav1971]

I don't know but those doppelgängers in this episode never do anything than smile smugly. Like sorry, but the lady's doppelgänger never tries to harm or kill her and just drives away in a bus, so where does the threat come from? What makes them evil?

[@Darkheart68]

@@wjzav1971 well the guy's doppelganger did steal his luggage. You can say that they're trying to takeover their lives.

[@worldofdoom995]

Its done pretty well in Fringe and The Man in the High Castle.

[@vladalexeev8529]

Every Marvel movie is built on this scheme

[@jesterssketchbook]

coolcoolcool

[@bradcha5413]

when i first saw this episode, i never thought it was a doppelganger, i thought was a time loop

[@HououMinamino]

This was one of the spookier episodes for me, and one that actually scared me. There's something about being alone (or at least, feeling alone, since she's among total strangers) and something scary happening to you--similar to "The Hitchhiker." However, there are two that top it, "Twenty-Two" and "Eye of the Beholder," likely due to my medical trauma. Those are the two that, to this day, I cannot watch because I will be up all night.

[@jakeg5251]

I really like these Twilight tober zone episodes. I’ve been watching the episodes daily on my lunch break for the past few weeks

[@olsongc8422]

Out of context Michael Jackson Line "I'm looking at the man in the mirror!"

[@GenericProtagonist118]

I'm bein' strangled by the man in the mirror AAAGH!

[@Princess_Ruto]

Now I look in the mirror, and what do I see ? A lone wolf there staring back at me , Long in the tooth but harmless as can be . Lord, I guess he's doin' alright.

[@MrYTGuy1]

When i was a kid we had one room with these huge double wide sliding doors on the closet. Except they weren't wooden, the doors were just giant mirrors. Like 8 ft tall and 10ft wide if I had to guess. It was enormous, especially at that age. And it scared the absolute $#!+ out of me. And until got older I avoided that room and especially walking directly in front of the mirror. Maybe it was this episode or something else I saw that inspired it but I remember being convinced that is was actually a door to the mirror world. And you did not want to be in the mirror world. Im not sure why, but back then I had the idea that if you ever stepped through into mirror world it would actually turn out to be like hell or something. I don't know I was a kid. but man this episode's premise hit home pretty hard with me and caused all these long forgotten memories to come flooding back. I can honestly say that without someone specifically prompting a mirror world discussion I probably would've never thought of that mirror again lol

[@jeffneely5556]

I admit, the doppelganger's smile as he runs away always creeped me out.

[@baditude41]

First, I liked the episode's all around feel and atmosphere. Second, Heather, smiling to trapped Heather was perfectly executed.

[@Merit2397]

Damn creepy. That's what I think of "Mirror Image". Love the atmosphere and like so many other episodes of the show, it's great that it has gone on to inspire other writers to craft their own unique stories.

[@trillo3332]

Excellent mirror image of Mirror Image you've got there.

[@NyGeL_Derey]

Tell me I'm not the only one who tried to catch my reflection blinking

[@BugsyFoga]

I appreciate that you guys made your own twilight zone kind of segments.

[@trinaq]

Agreed, they are the highlight of the video, in my opinion! 🥰

[@Feralwolf444]

It looks like they are doing one for each member of the NC cast, with the exception of Walter himself. They already did Tamara, Jim, Doug, and now Heather. So, Malcolm, Rob, and Aiyanna are left.

[@nitorishogiplayer3465]

Agreed as well

[@spews1973]

Rod Serling would have been proud of the creepy end narration on this video.

[@wstine79]

At first, I thought this was the one where the dictator sees his followers attempt to murder him in the reflection.

[@princessroxas1]

the one with fidel castro is called the mirror, pretty creepy too

[@EndlessLaymon]

This is one of my favourites episodes. The atmosphere is creepy and the episode keeps you on the edge of the seat.

[@kurtwagner350]

This is by far my favorite episode of the series

[@ErzengelDesLichtes]

I keep expecting the Channel Awesome actors to react to the narrator. “They say she has a good head on her shoulders” **looks up** “Why thank you.”

[@ThreadBomb]

Thanks God they don't do this.

[@chrisazylum6624]

Remember watching this one when I was younger! Next time yet another iconic episode!

[@crowtsoff]

And thats how Monika took over Heather's life...

[@demanoth]

This content , is one of the best in the channel, hope to see a lot more

[@platypusbunneh327]

"The next time you into a mirror, pay close attention!" *me, looking at mirror next to self as I eat spaghetti*

[@wjzav1971]

with long stretches of noodles hanging out of your mouth? Because I just imagined that and I imagined long stretches of noodles hanging out of your mouth

[@platypusbunneh327]

@@wjzav1971 ... Maybe.

[@Awelbeckk]

@@wjzav1971 Funny, when I read this, I imagined the mirror self making a stupid mistake and eating lasagna.

[@majinsole8554]

Plot Twist: WE are the doppelgängers... ~_~

[@miroslavtomic7038]

This was the very first episode of TZ that I ever watched.

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

Walter and the crew are doing a great job with this series.

[@jaqjynx]

This! This episode is one of my absolute favourite episodes. I’ve been waiting for this video.

[@skyebonaventure]

One of my favorite episodes. But I never quite understood if there were one or two suitcases and why the double was moving them around. Also, it seems unlikely that in a small, sparsely-populated bus station, that no one, including Millicent, wouldn't realize there were two of them. I always assumed the double was going in and out of other-dimensional space around the terminal. And that's why the man's double moved his suitcase right in front of us without being seen. Maybe Millicent was the one who accidently crossed over, and her double was protecting herself.

[@MrBronx61]

"the double was going in and out of other-dimensional space around the terminal"💯💯💯💯 I'm watching this episode now on the SYFY's twilight Zone New Year's Eve marathon.😁

[@marquesjohnson6359]

This was definitely one of the creepiest epispodes in my opinion

[@brianfuller7691]

This was,a brilliant episode and one of my favourite episodes. This premise has been done multiple times but the writing here was brilliant. Vera Miles was a great actress as well.

[@JENDALL714]

I had this happen to me when i was in the Army, no joke! I reported for land navigation training and the Sgt. in charge started yelling me, "How come I was back so soon?" I said, "I just got here", he looked at my name tag and said, "Yeah, I just sent you out"! My last name is Japanese and isn't very common, in America or even Japan! Finally, he says, "Well, okay maybe just a coincidence, if you go fast, maybe you can catch up to him, this guy I just sent out looks exactly like you." I never did find the guy, that looked me with the same name, but even if this was supposedly a coincidence, shouldn't there have been two names on the list, there was only one, it super strange!

[@Unownshipper]

This has exactly what I wanted with the last two episodes: mystery. Does Millicent have a doppelgänger? Is she just insane? Has she gotten caught in a time loop? Is she in Purgatory? It isn't immediately clear what is going on. It's confounding, concerning, and captivating. My first guess was the time loop, I had to check the clock on the wall to see that time was actually moving forward. Is it perfect? No, but it was exactly what I'd want from a Twilight Zone episode.

[@thisismyname007]

This episode freaked me out when I saw it when it first aired. 😮😮😮

[@jeenkzk5919]

Something I’ve always wondered, if you saw your doppelgänger would you recognize it at first as having your face? Remember, we’ve never seen our own face outside a mirror or video/photograph.

[@philipportelli7700]

Vera Miles certainly looks better here than in PSYCHO (I just saw it recently). Identity theft is as prevalent in the TZ as identity loss!

[@Oppeldeldoc1]

She has a very different kind of role in the OUTER LIMITS episode "The Forms Of Things Unknown." That time as a "tough girl" character, as opposed to a demure one like in this story and PSYCHO.

[@lindaeasley5606]

I know it seems nitpicky but I did not like the hair and makeup job they did on her for Psycho . Looking back , Vera did have a complaint about her character's wardrobe .She thought it was too conservative , too dowdy

[@troperhghar9898]

I can't remember the name of the episode but the 80's reboot of twilight zone did a really good doppelganger episode where a man who dodged the draft for Vietnam meets an alternate version of himself who lost both his legs but instead of wanting to replace his other just wanted to see his own other life

[@popculturewatch8689]

Also Shatterday starring Bruce Willis from the 80s version. He accidentally calls home and the doppelganger is already there in his home and the episode just takes off from there.

[@boriszakharin3189]

@@popculturewatch8689 Shatterday was the series premiere of the 80s show, and I feel it was a wonderful idea that went nowhere. It should have been a horror episode, but ended up not really going anywhere interesting.

[@popculturewatch8689]

@@boriszakharin3189 I would argue it did go somewhere. But, don't want to get into spoilers.

[@cobbetlprogrammer1344]

NOTE: Actually this is one of the Great Twilight Zone episodes when it come to "Dialog, Acting , Story telling, and Setting." Like it doesn't get better.

[@Renee5322]

The snarky ticket guy is my favorite too haha. Maple Street is tomorrow! YES!

[@david12278]

This is the one episode I remember watching

[@FOREVERALONE303]

This is why I love this channel and all the people involved; we've seen these shows and movies a million damn times now all we have to do is review them

[@mst3KGf]

The main inspiration for "Us" and thus one of the most paranoia inducing episodes of the series.

[@shainewhite2781]

Exactly what I was thinking, this setting off the new Twilight Zone series by Jordan Peele.

[@clintbrew]

@@shainewhite2781 i binge watched the Jordan peele's twilight zone it pretty good

[@trinaq]

I love the skits, they really add to the eerie theme of the episode. Plus, can't believe that it may have inspired "Us!" 💕

[@Nicole-em9yo]

This and the mannequin episode stuck with me from childhood

[@julieporter7805]

They're the twins that helped with the Full House review aren't they?😉 Walter admit it, you created the Twilight-Tober Zone to create situations to scare the crap out of your friends didn't you? 😉😆 I hope my doppelganger is happier and more successful, so I can live her life. I wonder if the Bus Depot is their gateway to the double world like the Fun House is in US. Vera Miles is really good playing a nervous terrified woman and I love theories about parallel universes.

[@hayleybartek8643]

I think that what makes mirrors creepy is that it's your reflection, but also inverted. If you raise your left hand, your reflection's right hand rises. You, but not you.

[@Galantski]

This is a classic, one of the episodes that is most "Twilight Zoney", in that it is heavy on the idea of other dimensions and very atmospheric. As such, I think it's one of the ones to show to potential Zonies to get them invested in the series, because if they like this one, there are many similar entries that they also should like.

[@Fauxmadd]

Love this series keep it up!

[@fabes63]

That music they used at the end/run scene was very eerie and very unforgettable.

[@Zorro3k6]

I almost expected the twist to be that the version of Barns we've been following through the episode was actually the reflection. But the episode is still really good and I'm enjoying this series this month. Keep 'em coming.

[@RWAC685]

One Of The Greatest Episodes Of All Time.

[@armandwilliamgreenjr.8949]

1960s version of 2022 = "Identity Theft".

[@phantomdriver2010]

I love Heather's Defenders shirt

[@purplekitkat]

Yay! It’s time for my favorite episode!

[@varimkadas6068]

It's all good until your mirror image winks at you ...

[@RyanRoemer8624]

This episode was the main inspiration for Jordan Peele's Us

[@billking1751]

Indeed

[@imlaughing2death]

Dr.Cortex (Past): "Help! We have an evil Doppelganger situation!" Dr.Cortex (Present) : "I'm not a doppelganger, I'm...oh nevermind."

[@jlev1028]

Is that a reference to Crash Bandicoot: It's About Time?

[@buddylove346]

This episode scared the crap out of me as a kid, I'm not afraid of a double replacing me but it reminds me of how we have two sides to us one is good and wants to do good and the other is bad and wants to do bad things, I strive to do and be good! As an adult I now can look back at this episode with all the supporting actors with favor: the ticket man played roles on the Andy Griffith show, the restroom attendant was on a Kolchak the night stalker episode and we all know Martin from Adam 12.

[@lianasoares8052]

I think the woman was seeing things. Hallucinating. When she told the man (the 1 that looked around her age for I don’t believe his name was mentioned) about seeing her doppelgänger, he was so intrigued by it that the hallucinations came to him to the point where HE began to hallucinate just like she did. The only sane person was the elderly man at the desk.

[@jabbarmuhammad7529]

Good episode I like the evil twin vibe to it

[@TheCreepypro]

nice to see the origin of this trope

[@mleighqs]

This is truly a creepy idea, very cool though :)

[@karl_alan]

Definitely one of my favorites. The exposition was a bit clunky & that was a super funny run at the end. Otherwise great though.

[@Theogony82]

This episode is the basis for the Mexican film The Similars (Los parecidos) 2015, which is a homage to the twilight zone, it a good watch and I'd recommend checking it out if u enjoy TZ

[@tremorsfan]

There was a movie with Lena Headly a while back. At the beginning of the movie she gets into a car accident and it’s revealed that she’s the doppelgänger.

[@vladalexeev8529]

Almost every Marvel movie is about a protagonist and his mirror evil copy

[@jacksparrowismydaddy]

if I ran in to my doppleganger I'd think I'd think she's be my twin sister. it would make sense considering I'm adopted with not much info on my birth family.

[@melissacooper4282]

Almost sounds like the plot of the sitcom Sister Sister.

[@coinsaver]

Am I the only one who spotted the (perhaps unintentional) "hitchcockian" style 'easter-egg' in "Mirror Image"? When Vera Miles talks to the ticket agent at his station, in the background is the entrance to the ladies room, partially obscured by the corner of the wall. What we see is a portion of the word 'Ladies' in individual neon letters; it reads: "DIES". I was certain that this was a clue that the woman who is speaking will be the one (of the two) who dies. (in the end, she merely "disappears" from the story by being taken away by the police to - or perhaps by - medical personnel?) Re-watching the episode with this known puts a whole new and interesting spin on the episode, IMHO.

[@zoefang4563]

LOOOVE THIS

[@isabellaearnhardt6380]

Yes

[@DD-uf2uo]

During my lifetime, I've had at least 4 people tell me they saw someone that looked like me in different parts of the country (USA). I would always tell them, If You See Them Again, GIVE THEM MY SYMPATHY. .

[@Neat0_o]

Yooo that head sticking out in the hall way was creepy as fuck. Good filmmaking channel awesome crew!

[@g.a.2997]

I want to see someone review the 2000's twilight zone series and find good things to say about it.

[@mrodriguez16ks]

It was hosted by forest whittaker...That's really the only reason i remember it.

[@g.a.2997]

@@mrodriguez16ks From what I've seen, the only episode I liked was Memphis. The 80's series was decent. The current series has some hits and misses. I find it interesting that the twilight zone returns every 20 years.

[@crowtsoff]

Some challenges are too difficult for normal human, my friend

[@BugsyFoga]

Mirror image walked so US could run .

[@chasehedges6775]

Such a good, creepy movie.

[@Jebbtube]

This episode is set in Cortland, New York, which is my home town.

[@Nasser851000]

Im starting with the man in the mirror image!

[@trinaq]

I'm asking him to make a change! 💚

[@RandomFandom0001]

I’m starting with the introduction :)

[@adrianamatlack532]

I literally get chill when she sees her other self in the mirror. NOTHING modern on movies or TV comes close to that.

[@gianinabadami5341]

When I think of something I see featuring a doppelganger I think of the Friends episode titled The One with Russ, the Good Luck Charlie episode appropriately titled Doppel Date, and the original The Invasion of the Body Snatchers

[@Dim4323]

And now Jordon peel is now creating the 2019 Twilight zone

[@billking1751]

Which was terrible.

[@thecrowe20]

Well great. Now the Twitch Queen is a scary doppleganger. Still gonna scare her with bits this month.

[@johnburns9634]

I remember reading about a story of a woman who's husband brings in a Wall TV. A TV which takes up the entire wall of their kitchen. As the story progresses the TV's fill up more and more of the wife's life. Until it's as if she's watching her and her husband's life, bt not living it. Dun, dun, DAH!!! It was a British tale.

[@ivane5110]

There's nothing I love more than parallel Earths theme (especially crossovers), but, and maybe this is because this is one of the few episodes I didn't even see until well into adulthood, it just fell short for me when I saw it. I was completely engrossed until it was all over and then just "Wait, that's it?". And naturally the second time it fell even shorter. So much potential as a possible favorite of mine, only to be one of my least favorite. Though a "bad" TW is still better than most shows' best.

[@jackkrisp1164]

Quality episode 👌🏼

[@TheWrongHands18]

This is Vera Miles around the same time as Psycho.

[@DanBrizuela]

Good year for Vera.

[@davidharrington4828]

The doppelgänger does know that eventually Doug and the rest of the crew are going to start shooting in the studio again and find the real heather right?

[@thealchemist51]

Here’s another little tidbit for the actor Martin Milner. For seven seasons he played Pete Malloy on the show Adam 12 it’s probably his most well-known role and I love this series being a dragnet Fan myself when I first saw this episode I was very happy to see Pete Malloy

[@FatNorthernBigot]

Three weeks in... still loving these. Are there enough episodes to last until Xmas?

[@dlahouss]

No. Then we'd be in the Twilight-vember Zone, and then the Twilight-cember.

[@AceTheBathoundProductions]

I bet there is. I hope this channel does the one featuring Agnes Moore... Or Number 12 Looks Just Like You!

[@popculturewatch8689]

There is enough episodes for sure but Walter seems to only be given a month at a time for these themes videos. Hopefully he keeps going.

[@HiFiYUNOPi]

I hope you guys will cover one of my fav episode "the eyes of the beholder"

[@ezaspie2871]

Yay

[@maxwellhurlock6285]

This episode partially inspired Jordan Peele's Us

[@westallen2383]

I wonder what aiyanna's episode is gonna be

[@moirad3895]

What else is freaky is that you don’t know who is mirror image, what if it is the person who is scared of the double?!

[@SharpDesign]

I agree about how the theory was worked in. "I read somewhere.." could have implied something more if used right. If the supposed author had relinquished those strange claims later, it could imply he was replaced by his doppelganger.

[@GrapeDogMoody]

How fun that Jordan Peele went from being a Twilight Zone fan to making a new version of the Twilight Zone

[@Kentrc11]

Isn't it beneficial to have a twin though? You get to do everything 2x faster.

[@popculturewatch8689]

That's...not how twins work. You can't actually do literally everything together. You are two different people.

[@ezaspie2871]

Yay!