Detour (The X-Files)
Encyclopedia
"Detour" is the fourth episode aired in the fifth season of The X-Files
. While traveling to a conference with Scully and two other FBI agents, Mulder stops at a roadblock to join a nearby inspection of attacks by an unidentified predator.
an area of the forest in Leon County, Florida
when they are attacked by unseen assailants with glowing red eyes and killed.
Later that day, Michael Asekoff and his son, Louis, are hunting for possums with their dog (Bo) in the same stretch of woods when they come across the abandoned equipment. Upon discovering a surveyor's bloody jacket, the father orders his son to take the dog and run home. As the son and dog take off, two shots go off.
Meanwhile, Mulder
and Scully
are carpooling with Agents Kinsley and Stonecypher, en route to a leadership and "team building" seminar. When they are stopped at a roadblock by local police, Mulder decides to investigate. As Mulder and Scully venture into the woods, they are informed by Officer Michele Fazekas that no conclusive evidence has been found despite the boy's report of a shooting. Mulder sees this as a perfect opportunity to ditch the seminar.
That night, Scully visits Mulder in his hotel room after the reception. Mulder informs her that not one species native to North America will attack a stronger member of its prey when there is a weaker target available.
At the Asekoff residence, Bo becomes upset and begins barking. Mrs. Asekoff lets him outside but when she attempts to retrieve him, the dog refuses to budge. She turns to go back inside but discovers that it has been bolted from the inside. Louis hears his mother's screams and climbs out of bed, but a dark, shadowy figure with red eyes corners him. Louis barely escapes through the dog door
where he runs into Mulder, informing him of the creature's whereabouts in the house.
The next morning, Mulder shows Scully some tracks by the front door of the house that appear to be human. Based on the weight distribution, however, the assailant evidently travels on the balls
of its feet rather than from heel
to toe
. Additionally, that the creature lured the mother out of the house in order to get to Louis suggests to Mulder that the creatures are paranormal in nature.
Jeff Glaser, a local technician armed with a foward looking infrared
(FLIR) device, joins Fazekas, Mulder, and Scully on a search for the creature. They soon spot two creatures on the FLIR, though they are unable to spot them otherwise. The two creatures travel in separate directions, causing the four to split up. Officer Fazekas is attacked and disappears. Mulder deduces from this that the creatures may be related to the Mothman
of Point Pleasant
, West Virginia
. After a brief encounter with the creatures, Jeff takes off running and is swiftly killed by a creature. Mulder is grabbed by the other creature, though it releases him after Scully manages to wound it with her firearm. The two camp out in the woods over night, and Scully sings "Joy to the World
" by Three Dog Night
while Mulder rests so that he can know she is awake and on guard.
The next morning, while foraging for berries, Scully falls through a hole into an underground chamber where the bodies of their missing companions are stored. Spotting a pair of red eyes, Scully realizes she doesn't have her firearm on her. Mulder drops his down to her as the bushes behind him begin to rustle. He jumps in the hole as Scully shoots the creature and kills it. As they examine the dead creature, they notice its almost human-like features and wood-like skin. Nearby, the words "Ad Noctum" (Latin
for "into darkness") are found carved into a tree trunk.
Shortly thereafter, Agents Stonecypher and Kinsley, with police in tow, locate Mulder and Scully and help them out of the hole. Michael Asekoff and Officer Fazekas are found alive, but there is no sign of Jeff or the other creature.
Meanwhile, Mulder realizes that the creatures presume others' presence in their territory as threatening and rushes to the hotel room where Scully is packing her things. After ascertaining that she is finished packing, he firmly urges her to vacate the room, which she does. The camera then pans under the bed where a pair of red eyes open.
named it the seventh best standalone X-Files episode of the entire series.
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
. While traveling to a conference with Scully and two other FBI agents, Mulder stops at a roadblock to join a nearby inspection of attacks by an unidentified predator.
Plot
Two men are surveyingSurveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
an area of the forest in Leon County, Florida
Leon County, Florida
Leon County is a county located in the state of Florida, named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. At the 2010 Census, the population was 275,487. The county seat of Leon County is Tallahassee which also serves as the state capital. The county seat is home to two of Florida's major...
when they are attacked by unseen assailants with glowing red eyes and killed.
Later that day, Michael Asekoff and his son, Louis, are hunting for possums with their dog (Bo) in the same stretch of woods when they come across the abandoned equipment. Upon discovering a surveyor's bloody jacket, the father orders his son to take the dog and run home. As the son and dog take off, two shots go off.
Meanwhile, Mulder
Fox Mulder
FBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist in the American Fox television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
and Scully
Dana Scully
FBI Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully, M.D. is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series The X-Files , played by Gillian Anderson. She also appeared in two theatrical films based on the series...
are carpooling with Agents Kinsley and Stonecypher, en route to a leadership and "team building" seminar. When they are stopped at a roadblock by local police, Mulder decides to investigate. As Mulder and Scully venture into the woods, they are informed by Officer Michele Fazekas that no conclusive evidence has been found despite the boy's report of a shooting. Mulder sees this as a perfect opportunity to ditch the seminar.
That night, Scully visits Mulder in his hotel room after the reception. Mulder informs her that not one species native to North America will attack a stronger member of its prey when there is a weaker target available.
At the Asekoff residence, Bo becomes upset and begins barking. Mrs. Asekoff lets him outside but when she attempts to retrieve him, the dog refuses to budge. She turns to go back inside but discovers that it has been bolted from the inside. Louis hears his mother's screams and climbs out of bed, but a dark, shadowy figure with red eyes corners him. Louis barely escapes through the dog door
Dog door
A dog door is a hinged or spring operated door rather than the more commonly known 'flap' set into a door, wall or window to allow dogs to enter and exit a house on their own without needing a person to open the door. Flaps are hung from the top of the opening and do exactly that - flap. Dog doors...
where he runs into Mulder, informing him of the creature's whereabouts in the house.
The next morning, Mulder shows Scully some tracks by the front door of the house that appear to be human. Based on the weight distribution, however, the assailant evidently travels on the balls
Ball (anatomy)
The ball of the foot is where the toes join with the rest of the foot.Source:...
of its feet rather than from heel
Heel
In human anatomy, the heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg.- Human anatomy :...
to toe
Toe
Toes are the digits of the foot of a tetrapod. Animal species such as cats that walk on their toes are described as being digitigrade. Humans, and other animals that walk on the soles of their feet, are described as being plantigrade; unguligrade animals are those that walk on hooves at the tips of...
. Additionally, that the creature lured the mother out of the house in order to get to Louis suggests to Mulder that the creatures are paranormal in nature.
Jeff Glaser, a local technician armed with a foward looking infrared
Forward looking infrared
Forward looking infrared cameras, typically used on military aircraft, use an imaging technology that senses infrared radiation.The sensors installed in forward looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal imaging cameras, use detection of infrared radiation, typically emitted from a...
(FLIR) device, joins Fazekas, Mulder, and Scully on a search for the creature. They soon spot two creatures on the FLIR, though they are unable to spot them otherwise. The two creatures travel in separate directions, causing the four to split up. Officer Fazekas is attacked and disappears. Mulder deduces from this that the creatures may be related to the Mothman
Mothman
Mothman is a legendary creature reportedly seen in the Point Pleasant area of West Virginia from 15 November 1966 to 15 December 1967. The first newspaper report was published in the Point Pleasant Register dated 16 November 1966, entitled "Couples See Man-Sized Bird...Creature...Something"...
of Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Point Pleasant is a city in Mason County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. The population was 4,637 at the 2000 census...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. After a brief encounter with the creatures, Jeff takes off running and is swiftly killed by a creature. Mulder is grabbed by the other creature, though it releases him after Scully manages to wound it with her firearm. The two camp out in the woods over night, and Scully sings "Joy to the World
Joy to the World (Hoyt Axton song)
"Joy to the World" is a song written by Hoyt Axton, and made famous by the band Three Dog Night. The song is also popularly known by its opening words, "Jeremiah was a bullfrog"...
" by Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
while Mulder rests so that he can know she is awake and on guard.
The next morning, while foraging for berries, Scully falls through a hole into an underground chamber where the bodies of their missing companions are stored. Spotting a pair of red eyes, Scully realizes she doesn't have her firearm on her. Mulder drops his down to her as the bushes behind him begin to rustle. He jumps in the hole as Scully shoots the creature and kills it. As they examine the dead creature, they notice its almost human-like features and wood-like skin. Nearby, the words "Ad Noctum" (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "into darkness") are found carved into a tree trunk.
Shortly thereafter, Agents Stonecypher and Kinsley, with police in tow, locate Mulder and Scully and help them out of the hole. Michael Asekoff and Officer Fazekas are found alive, but there is no sign of Jeff or the other creature.
Meanwhile, Mulder realizes that the creatures presume others' presence in their territory as threatening and rushes to the hotel room where Scully is packing her things. After ascertaining that she is finished packing, he firmly urges her to vacate the room, which she does. The camera then pans under the bed where a pair of red eyes open.
Reception
The episode earned a Nielsen rating of 13.2, with an 19 share. A total of 22.8 million households watched this episode during its original airing. IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
named it the seventh best standalone X-Files episode of the entire series.