Elegy (The X-Files)

Elegy is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files. It premiered on Fox on February 16, 1997. It was written by John Shiban and directed by James Charleston.

In "Elegy," FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate a series of murders where the victims seemingly foresee their own deaths via visions or dreams. These visions manifest as spectral women appearing to the victims. The investigation leads them to a psychiatric institution and eventually to a printing press where the women's faces are appearing on posters.

The episode explores themes of precognition, mental illness, and the nature of death. The victims are receiving visions of their own demise, but the source and meaning of these visions are initially unclear, blurring the line between paranormal phenomena and psychological disturbance. Mulder initially leans towards a supernatural explanation, while Scully initially seeks a rational, scientific explanation, creating the typical tension between their viewpoints.

The investigation reveals a connection between the victims and a patient within the psychiatric institution, suggesting a possible psychic link or shared experience. The episode's climax uncovers the unsettling truth behind the spectral women and their connection to an act of violence and despair, leaving the agents to contemplate the boundaries of perception and the potential for psychic phenomena. "Elegy" is considered a standalone "monster-of-the-week" episode, meaning it does not directly contribute to the overarching mythology of The X-Files.