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DoorTom Bellen/September 19, 2021 at 6:12 pm EST
The series only ran for 15 seasons on network television, unless somewhere along the way the elusive and elusive recipe for "great television" was discovered. With over 300 episodes and legions of dedicated fans, it's clear that "Criminal spiritsit had ingredients that audiences craved. Episode after episode introduced viewers to poorly known subjects, fast-paced investigations, shootouts and chases, and of course the various members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit, whose personal lives were often as fascinating as the cases they worked on.
The creative talent behind “Criminal Minds” also made things a little more exciting every now and then by adding a plot twist that few saw coming. Some twists, like David Rossi's (Joe Mantegna) discovery of a daughter he didn't know existed, warmed our hearts. While others, such as the apocalypseDerek Morgan's (Shemar Moore) childhood trauma., brought tears to his eyes. However, it was the plot of Season 4, Episode 18, "Omnivores" that, while perhaps not the most famous, had significant implications for the team in later episodes and seasons.
The omnivore represents the killer the BAU will be hunting
CBS
"Omnivorous" begins with the arrival of BAU unit chief Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) at the home of retired Boston detective Tom Shaunessy (James Handy). Upon his arrival, Hotch was informed that Shaunessy was very ill and was not expected to make it through the night. As the men talk, we learn that the two worked together on a case ten years ago when Hotch had just become head profiler.
In the mid-1990s, Shaunessey enlisted the BAU to help catch a prolific serial killer namedde Boston Reaper(based on the real life Zodiac Killer). Back in the present day, a dying Shaunessey admits to Hotch that he refused the BAU's help after six weeks because he secretly made a deal with the Reaper. In exchange for ending the investigation, Reaper promised to stop the "hunt" until either he or Shaunessey died.
As the retired detective explains, he took the job because the case was deadlocked and he didn't want more people to die. He also tells Hotch that he knows the Reaper is watching and waiting for Shaunessey to die and then he would start killing again. After Hotch's departure, the detective kills himself and the Reaper continues his reign of terror.
After a 10-year hiatus, the Reaper returns to stalk the night
CBS
Shaunessey's prediction proved correct. With two new murders in Boston, the BAU begins its investigation. As they work, details of an old investigation from the 1990s are revealed in memories and stories. During the Reaper's previous 21 kills, he removed a personal item from each victim to place on the next. The sick chain was broken when victim #9 survived the Reaper's attack. George Foyet (C. Thomas Howell) spent months in the hospital recovering from near-fatal injuries. After his release, Foyet, the only living person to see the Reaper's face, disappeared and removed all traces of him from the Internet and public records.
Hotch finds Foyet who appears to have a number of health problems, including a fear of being out in public for too long. Through a flashback, Foyer remembers the night he and his girlfriend were attacked. Reaper drove up to them in their parked car, stabbed Foyet in the chest, left him to bleed to death as he watched his girlfriend get stabbed 67 times. Foyet tells Hotch and Rossi that he is so terrified that the Reaper will return that he now uses multiple aliases and different residences, occupying each one for a period of time and moving to another to ensure that the Reaper cannot find him.
Only George Foyet survived the Reaper attack
CBS
Later, Hotch gets onea call from the Reaper, offering the same deal Shaunessey had accepted years earlier: The Reaper would stop killing if Hotch would stop looking for him. Hotch immediately rejects the offer, saying one of his most famous lines in the series, "I don't make deals. I'm a guy who hunts guys like you." Before the conversation ends, Reaper warns Hotch that he'll regret turning down the deal. The next scene shows the Reaper entering a city bus and killing the driver and his six passengers.
At the bus crime scene, the BAU finds a numeric code left by the Reaper. They soon realize that the numbers match Foyer's home addresses. The team splits into three and runs in every direction to stop the Reaper from finishing what he started years ago. At one of the locations, Morgan and a Boston police officer are ambushed by the Reaper, who kills the officer and beats up Morgan.
While Morgan's wounds heal, the team searches the house and finds a large bloodstain smeared in the kitchen. It is clear that no human could survive such a great loss of blood, and Rossi feels sorry for Foyet, who has been in hiding for ten years, only to be found and killed by the Reaper.
The BAU wonders why the Reaper is so fixated on Foyet
CBS
The team begins to wonder why the Reaper was so fixated on Foyet. Although he survived the initial attack, Foyer was clearly no threat to the Reaper. In reality, Foyer was only a shell of himself, huddled and hidden in fear for ten years. Why was the Reaper so fixated on Foyet? To answer this, the BAU reaches outPenelope "Babymeisje" Garcia(Kirsten Vangsness) to work her hacking magic. And what he discovers is a twist no one could have predicted.
A search of Foyer's known aliases reveals that he previously worked as a teacher and was fired from school for inappropriate behavior with a female student. Garcia also learns that Foyer's murdered girlfriend, who he claimed he was going to propose to the night they were attacked, had only known Foyer for less than a month.
Then Hotch learns the truth: George Foyet is the Reaper.
The Omnivore plot led to the BAU's future grief
CBS
Not only did the "victim as killer" plot make for a strong episode, but it also sparked a multi-episode storyline that spanned two seasons. George Foyet - who escaped custody at the end of 'Omnivore' - is set to return, this time with his sights set solely on Hotch.
Foyer's threats are so serious that Hotch's son, Jack, and his ex-wife, Hayley, are placed in protective custody while the BAU hunts him down. Tragically, as loyal fans know, Foyet kills Haley while Hotch is on the phone in an incredibly heartbreaking scene. Foyer eventually meets his end when Hotch beats him to death, seeking revenge for Hayley's murder.
Most importantly, Hotch and the entire BAU were irrevocably changed after Foyet's reign ended... and it all started with that twist in 'Svejed'.
Considering "Omnivore's" influence on the show's history, it's no wonder fans rate it highly. OnIMDb, the episode's rating ranks it at #7, making it one of the highest rated on the site.Screen Rantranks "The Omnivore" among the best episodes with a villain based on a real killer. The episode also remained popular as it featured fan favorite George Foyet.TV guideHe called Reaper the most memorable villain in the series. There are entire threads on Reddit discussing one and the othersmrtUhis debut episode. Some on Reddit even admitted that during the "Omnivore" replay,are found shouting at the screen, in a futile attempt to warn Hotch about Foyet. With a lot of criticism and strong fan support, it's clear that the plot in "Svejed" is a cut above the rest.
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FAQs
What is the most scariest episode of Criminal Minds? ›
Season 8, Episode 10
The Criminal Minds episode "The Lesson" is easily one of the most chilling and horrifying episodes in the 15-season series. The story followed Adam Rain, a killer who would abduct people, torture them, and transform them into living marionettes for his own puppet shows.
Almost every episode of Criminal Minds begins and ends with a quote. On the following season pages are comprehensive lists of the quotes, the episodes they were in, and which character said them. The quotes used on the show might not be the "entire" actual quote written and may be edited for the shows purposes.
What is a depressing quote from Criminal Minds? ›"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They are messengers of overwhelming grief and unspeakable love."
Who is the longest character in Criminal Minds? ›Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia then
Pictured here with Patinkin in the Season 1 installment “Riding the Lightning,” Vangsness appeared in 321 Criminal Minds episodes and is thus the show's longest-serving cast member returning for Evolution (unless Gubler makes a surprise reappearance, that is).
Jeffrey is the youngest serial killer in the entire run of Criminal Minds, only being twelve years old at the time of his final murder. However, the youngest killers in the show's run were Danny Murphy and the youngest son of the Romani Family, both of whom were only nine years old when they committed murder.
Was Reid hurt in real life? ›(In reality, Gubler had injured his knee and the show's writers had written Reid getting shot into the show to explain why he spent subsequent episodes with his leg in a cast and using crutches.)
Was Reid a serial killer? ›Reid Is Responsible For Some Unsub Deaths
Spencer Reid might appear nerdy and innocent but he is actually responsible for the deaths of eight unsubs during his time on the series. These include Phillip Dowd, Chloe Donaghy, Tobias Hankel, Daniel Milworth, John Bradley, Andrew Meeks, and Casey Allen Pinker.
#1: George Foyet (aka the Reaper)
George Foyet is arguably the most memorable unsub on “Criminal Minds.” He first appeared as the only surviving victim of the Reaper. But when the Reaper returns to Boston, the team finds out that Foyet and the Reaper are one in the same.
I'll be looking at you, and my chest will get so tight...and it's like, the only thought in my head is how much I want to reach over and kiss you.” “Let's carpe the hell out of this diem.” “We'll just have to try to make better mistakes tomorrow.” The darkest minds hide behind the most unlikely faces.
Why was Penelope written out of Criminal Minds? ›So, why did Penelope leave 'Criminal Minds'? As "Face Off," the first half of the Criminal Minds finale reveals, the witty analyst bid farewell to the team to seek out new challenges and put her unparalleled hacking skills to use at a Silicon Valley-based private research company fighting against the climate crisis.
What Bible verse is used in Criminal Minds? ›
He's saying 18:22. As in Leviticus 18:22, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind, for it is an abomination." David Rossi : He converted 18:22 to 6:22 p.m., like military time.
What is the truth quote from Criminal Minds? ›When truth is buried underground it grows, it chokes, it gathers such an explosive force that on the day it bursts out, it blows up everything with it.
What are 5 famous quotes? ›| Quote | Who | Language |
|---|---|---|
| That's one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind. | Neil Armstrong | English |
| The love of money is the root of all evil. | the Bible | Greek |
| The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. | Franklin D. Roosevelt | English |
| The truth will set you free. | the Bible | Greek |
Dr. Spencer Reid : I don't believe that intelligence can be accurately quantified, but I do have an IQ of 187, an eidetic memory, can read 20,000 words per minute. Dr. Spencer Reid : Yes, I'm a genius.
Does Hotch marry Reid's sister? ›Dr. Lilliana Hotchner (neé Reid), nicknamed and often called "Lily", is a Supervisory Special Agent with the BAU. She is married to Aaron Hotchner, her Unit Chief, whom she has a daughter with named Hope. Lily is also the fraternal twin sister of Spencer Reid.
What IQ does Reid have? ›Because of his eidetic memory, Dr. Spencer Reid can speak a multitude of foreign languages. With an IQ of 187, he can read at 20,000 words per minute and memorize both visual and audible information.
Who killed the most Criminal Minds? ›Of course the most prolific killer of the entire series had to make the list. Frank Breitkopf killed more than 175 people. He was never actually caught by the BAU, choosing to kill himself and the love of his life by jumping in front of oncoming train instead of letting Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) take him in.
Who was the first female killer on Criminal Minds? ›First Appearance
Sarah Danlin is a delusional would of slightly unfortunately been vigilante "wound collector"-type copycat of Jack the Ripper, and serial-turned-spree killer who appears in the Season Two episode of Criminal Minds, "Jones".
The team included Jason Gideon, the founder of the BAU, who was known as the best profiler in the Bureau; Derek Morgan, an ex-Chicago Police officer who is an expert on obsessional crimes; Spencer Reid, an expert on geographic profiling; Jennifer Jareau (JJ), the team's communications liaison, who later becomes a ...
Who are the LGBT characters in Criminal Minds? ›To make matters worse, the only LGBTQ character we do see is Mark Tolson (Ivan Hernandez), a gay killer who appears for one episode in Season 12. He murders four innocent men.
Who is the least liked character in Criminal Minds? ›
Linda Barnes is the character fans love to hate on Criminal Minds. Ashley Seaver and Kate Callahan probably weren't created to antagonize "Criminal Minds" fans, but Linda Barnes (Kim Rhodes) seemed designed to get under people's skin from the get-go.
Who was the best profiler in Criminal Minds? ›- 1 Aaron Hotchner Led The Team From The First Season.
- 2 Jason Gideon Left Too Soon. ...
- 3 Emily Prentiss Was Not Underestimated For Long. ...
- 4 Spencer Reid's Intelligence Was Invaluable. ...
- 5 David Rossi Had Decades Of Experience. ...
Because Matthew Gray Gubler busted his knee while partying with his 500 Days of Summer (2009) co-stars, poor Dr. Reid had to get shot in the leg in this season opener.
Why did Reid leave Criminal Minds? ›Matthew Gray Gubler
However, Reid is now among them, as he left the team to go on classified assignments. In reality, Gray Gubler said that he isn't interested in reprising his role in season 16 of Criminal Minds: Evolution and wants to pursue other projects. For 15 seasons, he played Dr.
With the series finale on CBS, Reid's story didn't exactly come to a satisfying end. In the final season, he has started a romantic relationship with Maxine Brenner (Rachael Leigh Cook), and the two continue in their romance after Cat Adams (Aubrey Plaza) attempts to break them up.
Who is JJ's real husband? › Why is Reid not in season 16? ›The real-life reason for Reid's absence on Criminal Minds: Evolution stems from scheduling conflicts. Initially, it was believed that it was the actor's decision to skip the revival altogether after starring in and occasionally directing episodes of Criminal Minds for 15 years.
What medicine was Reid giving his mom? ›Galantamine is a cognitive-enhancing medication that is used to treat Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Is unsub a real term? ›verb (used with or without object) un·subbed, un·sub·bing. to unsubscribe from an online service, email updates, marketing messages, etc.:The service renews automatically, but you can unsub at any time.
How many unsubs has Reid killed? ›Reid is responsible for 8 deaths
During the course of "Criminal Minds," Reid was directly responsible for the deaths of eight different unsubs (per Screen Rant), including Phillip Dowd, Chloe Donaghy, Tobias Hankel, Daniel Milworth, John Bradley, Andrew Meeks, and Casey Allen Pinker.
Who killed Gideon? ›
The belief in happy endings." In the Season 10 episode "Nelson's Sparrow," Gideon is murdered off-screen, having been shot dead at a close range by serial killer Donnie Mallick, whom he and Rossi had investigated 30 years before.
Who is prisoner 27 in The Darkest Minds? ›- Age. ...
- Nicknames. Prisoner 27. The Red.
- Psi Ability. Red.
- Status. Flamed Out.
There are five classifications of abilities (from most potent to least): Red (pyrokinesis), Orange (mind control), Gold (electrokinetic), Blue (telekinesis), and Green (enhanced intelligence).
What is the 2 minds quote? ›Two minds with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one.
What did Derek Morgan call Penelope Garcia? ›Morgan is intensely devoted to his coworkers, especially Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia. Morgan often calls her "baby girl", "doll face" or "sweetness"—having first used the term when he did not know her name, he continued doing so when she seemed to like it.
Does Reid end up with Max? ›Matthew Gray Gubler's Reid ran into Max while she was with her nephew. Though they had a series of awkward encounters right off the bat, he eventually won her over with his classic Reid charm.
Why did Morgan leave Criminal Minds? ›Ultimately, Moore left Criminal Minds with the desire to explore new opportunities and focus on his personal life. As Moore stated in his TV Guide interview, "I'm just ready to grow. I just want to leap.
Which serial killer killed the most in Criminal Minds? ›Though Gideon calls Breitkopf "the most prolific serial killer ever", there is evidence that other real-life serial killers have much higher kill counts than Breitkopf: Harold Shipman, a.k.a. "Dr. Death", killed around 250 people and is believed to have killed many more, his victim count easily surpassing Breitkopf's.
What is the 69th episode of Criminal Minds? ›Directed by. "Paradise" is the fourth episode of Season Four and the 69th overall of Criminal Minds.
Should a 13 year old watch Criminal Minds? ›Criminal Minds is a TV show that is rated TV-14, which means it may be inappropriate for children under 14 years of age. Maybe, if you think they can handle it. Every 13-year-old is different. I was almost 15 when I first started watching CM (and other crime dramas) with my mom.
Is UnSub a real term? ›
verb (used with or without object) un·subbed, un·sub·bing. to unsubscribe from an online service, email updates, marketing messages, etc.:The service renews automatically, but you can unsub at any time.
Who kills Hotch's wife? ›The Criminal Minds episode where Hotch's former wife Haley is killed by UnSub George Foyet, aka the Reaper, is one of the show's most memorable to date. Criminal Minds debuted in 2005 and set itself apart from other law-enforcement dramas of the time by putting a focus on a team of FBI agents profiling serial killers.
Why did Reid choose Hotch? ›They realize that because of this treatment combined with an addiction to dilaudid, Tobias dissociated, giving him split personalities. Reid "chooses" Hotch to be killed next, because he is a "classic narcissist." He quotes a Bible verse to support this claim.
Why is Reid not in Criminal Minds: Evolution? ›Who Is Missing on 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' and Why? As Criminal Minds: Evolution began filming, it was announced that Gubler and Henney would not be reprising their respective roles as Reid and Simmons due to other projects.
Does Emily Prentiss come back in season 14? ›Emily Prentiss returns!
Everyone's favorite Interpol agent returns to Criminal Minds as a series regular this Fall. Emily Prentiss, who worked with the BAU for several seasons, will be making quite the comeback as she returns to the FBI.
'Criminal Minds' (12 seasons, 277 episodes)
If Netflix adds the final three seasons of this CBS procedural, you'll have 13 days and 14 hours of grisly serial killer drama to watch.
It was a team effort by the BAU, so he had Prentiss reinstated as a sign of gratitude, which gave her full hiring authority to throw Barnes under the bus and give J.J. her job back.