Criminal Minds:

Criminal Minds: Ashes and Dust

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A serial arsonist who targets the homes of upper-middle-class families as they sleep is investigated. The BAU determines the arson victims are linked together through corporate development companies that have been accused of building on contaminated land. Read full recap »

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Writers:: Andrew Wilder

Director:: John E. Gallagher

Stars:: Shemar Moore (Supervisory Special Agent Derek Morgan); Thomas Gibson (Unit Chief); Paget Brewster (Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss); Matthew Gray Gubler (Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid); Mandy Patinkin (Senior Supervisory Special Agent Jason Gideon); A.J. Cook (Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer 'JJ' Jareau); Kirsten Vangsness (Analyst Penelope Garcia)

Guest Star:: John Nielsen (Dennis Cutler); Jordan Garrett (Paul Cutler); Sean O'Bryan (Vincent Stiles); Karen Lew (Doctor); Anthony Ruivivar (Lt. Ricardo Vega); Mercedes Col�n (Det. Leah Castro); Adria Johnson (Reporter); Tom Schanley (Evan Abby); Reed Ruby (Thomas Dunleavy); Christina Carlisi (Allison Abby); Angelo Custino (Liam Abby); Virginia Morris (Aunt Stiles); Sean Peavy (Brad); Nichole Smolen (Katie Dunleavy); Stacy Edwards (Charlotte Cutler)

In the distant shot of the house at the beginning of the episode, we see that it's a single-story dwelling. Why, then, did the family crawl all throughout the house to get out? The easiest escape route would have been out the windows of the master bedroom.

Even if they had to take the route they did, why were they breathing continuously and not trying to hold their breath or covering their mouths/noses with a cloth or their own shirt sleeves? edit »

Thomas Gibson, Mandy Patinkin, and guest star Stacy Edwards all starred in Chicago Hope although at different times. edit »
The music playing at the start of the episode, during the fire, is "Boadicea" by Enya. The music at the end of this episode was "Grey Room" by Damien Rice. edit »

Vincent Stiles: What are you doing?
Evan Abby: The right thing.
Vincent Stiles: Why? You didn't know any of those people.
Evan Abby: Neither did you! edit »
Garcia: Brace yourselves. I'm going to teach you the meaning of L.U.S.T.
Gideon: Did she say lust?
Garcia: I cross-referenced every known fact on the victims and I just found a website that links both Dennis Cutler and Mathew Jarvis' companies on a list of businesses guilty of L.U.S.T.
Hotchner: I'm missing something.
Garcia: Leaking Underground Storage Tanks. edit »
Gideon: When he arrives, bring the fake bodies right past us nice and slow. I want him to get a good look.
Lt. Vega: Remind me never to play poker with you guys. edit »
Prentiss: The EDF? The ecoterrorist group?
Reid: They aren't ecoterrorists. They're environmental activists. edit »
Gideon: For them, fire's just a substitute for sexual release.
Garcia: Oh, great. So if these guys don't get laid, they start fires?
Gideon: Or in this case, burn entire families to death.
Prentiss: (to Reid) No statistic?
Gideon: No, they don't have statistics on this guy; one of a kind.
Garcia: Thank God. edit »

The title "Ashes and Dust" may refer to a quote attributed to Jack London: "I would rather be ashes than dust. I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."

This sentiment seems to sum up Evan Abby's feelings about his life, and his death - his reasons for ending his life the way he did. edit »
Lt. Vega and Hotchner discuss serial arsonist Paul Kenneth Keller, who pleaded guilty to setting 32 fires in 1992-93 in Seattle. Police believe he may have been responsible for over 40 more during the same period. Only three people were killed in his fires, which was miraculous as he targeted churches, retirement homes, unfinished homes, garages and stores. edit »
Gideon: You're Abby. You're a dead man walking.

The phrase "dead man walking" originally referred to a condemned prisoner on death row. It was popularized by the 1995 film Dead Man Walking, starring Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon. This expression can be used to describe anyone who is facing imminent death. It can also be used facetiously to describe someone who is about to get into trouble. edit »
The Earth Defense Front (EDF) in this episode has a similar name to the real-life group Earth Liberation Front (ELF). The ELF are radical environmentalists who have been involved in arson and other property damage. The FBI considers them to be "eco-terrorists." edit »

9.5
00
cavanagh15
member since: Dec 26, 2004
Ashes and Dust
The Bottom Line: "Exciting"
Review ...Continue »
01/02/08 12:48am | report abuse
9.5
20
Adilaide
member since: Apr 7, 2007
Ashes and Dust
The Bottom Line: "Painful to watch"
One of the first episodes of Criminal Minds where I had to squeeze my eyes shut. Very effective episode! ...Continue »
04/07/07 09:07pm | report abuse
9.4
00
KatiKatNik
member since: Jul 16, 2006
Ashes and Dust
The Bottom Line: "Well written"
For the first time in a long time, an ep of Criminal Minds actually caught my interest. ...Continue »
04/06/07 10:53am | report abuse
9.5
20
Ismael909
member since: Feb 11, 2007
Ashes and Dust
The Bottom Line: "Painful to watch"
Wow, this episode was really good. ...Continue »
03/29/07 12:44am | report abuse
8.1
00
marvelfan89
member since: Jun 15, 2005
Ashes and Dust
The Bottom Line: "Adventurous"
A compulsive arsonist is actually part of the EDF movement. ...Continue »
03/28/07 08:24pm | report abuse