Ep 8. Kitsunegari

Agents Mulder and Scully are called to investigate a gruesome murder in which the victim's chest has been ripped open and her heart removed. Mulder recognizes the crime as being similar to one committed by a Japanese man named Robert Modell, aka “Pusher," whom he helped incarcerate. However, they find out that Modell has been in a coma for four years, making it impossible for him to have committed the crime.

As they continue to investigate, they discover that Modell may have had an accomplice, who has now taken up where he left off. The suspect is a Japanese woman named Mokoto, who is also a psychic and has the ability to manipulate people's minds. Mokoto is known as a "kitsune," a mythical fox spirit in Japanese folklore. Mulder believes that Mokoto is seeking revenge on him and Scully because they were responsible for putting Modell in jail.

As they try to track down Mokoto, Mulder and Scully are forced to confront their past actions and their views on culpability. Mulder is haunted by guilt over his role in Modell's incarceration, while Scully struggles with the ethics of punishing someone for a crime they have not yet committed.

As the danger intensifies, the agents begin to realize that Mokoto's powers are not limited to just manipulating people's minds. She may have the ability to physically transform into an actual kitsune, giving her unmatched strength and agility. Mulder and Scully must race against time to put an end to Mokoto's killing spree before she can strike again.

The episode is a thrilling and suspenseful exploration into Japanese folklore and the power of the mind. The performances by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are as strong as ever, and the episode's themes of responsibility and redemption give it a deeper resonance. Kitsunegari is a standout episode among the series' rich and varied history.