"Wetwired" centers on a conspiracy involving subliminal messages transmitted through television signals that induce violent paranoia in viewers. Unlike the "Monster of the Week" episodes featuring supernatural creatures, "Wetwired" hits close to home by turning a mundane, household object—the television—into a weapon of mind control.
: The episode suggests that we are at the mercy of the media we consume, and that what we see can fundamentally alter our perception of reality. [S3E23] Wetwired
: The subliminal signals force individuals to see their own deepest fears manifested. For Dana Scully, this manifests as a crippling distrust of the one person she relies on most: Fox Mulder. The Fracturing of Trust : The subliminal signals force individuals to see
: Under the influence of the signal, Scully begins to believe Mulder is conspiring with her enemies, including the Cigarette Smoking Man. Her suspicion leads to a harrowing confrontation where she holds Mulder at gunpoint. Her suspicion leads to a harrowing confrontation where