I disagree with both the above posters. I think this episode would be very accessible to non-X-files fans. And, in the world of the X-Files, all the paranormal things are real, so the ghosts are real.
Being ghosts, they can read people's minds, and so they accurately diagnose Mulder as a narcissist and Scully as his co-dependant. The psychology is accurate; pairings of this sort are quite common, and the parapsychology milieu seems like ideal place for such people to hang out in.
I think this episode is a brilliant insight into the characters of Mulder and Scully. I mean, how surprised were you when Mulder shot Scully? Even if it did turn out to be the ghosts playing games; as in other episodes where evil Mulder dopplegangers attack Scully, (and where the real Mulder attacks Skinner) there's something in there that suggests that Mulder could indeed turn violent on his friends in the right circumstances. Narcissists become very nasty when crossed, and that's what makes that ghosts lay analysis of Mulder so good.
In summation; this is probably the best Christmas episode of any TV show since Steptoe and Son.
Being ghosts, they can read people's minds, and so they accurately diagnose Mulder as a narcissist and Scully as his co-dependant. The psychology is accurate; pairings of this sort are quite common, and the parapsychology milieu seems like ideal place for such people to hang out in.
I think this episode is a brilliant insight into the characters of Mulder and Scully. I mean, how surprised were you when Mulder shot Scully? Even if it did turn out to be the ghosts playing games; as in other episodes where evil Mulder dopplegangers attack Scully, (and where the real Mulder attacks Skinner) there's something in there that suggests that Mulder could indeed turn violent on his friends in the right circumstances. Narcissists become very nasty when crossed, and that's what makes that ghosts lay analysis of Mulder so good.
In summation; this is probably the best Christmas episode of any TV show since Steptoe and Son.