Distress

Season 2, Episode 17, Aired
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Episode Summary

The BAU travels to Houston to investigate a series of murders that have occurred near construction sites and abandoned buildings. Because the murders appear to be random, the team believes the killer could be a homeless person. Meanwhile, everyone is noticing an apparent change in Reid's behavior.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (20)

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  • Praying that the team gets Reid some help!

    9.7
    "Superb"
    By JPPT1974, Jan 29, 2011 Report Abuse
    Great on the character development as well as the victims
    Of the crime as the team investigates the murders nearby
    At a homeless place as three people have been murdered while
    The killer maybe a homeless person. Meanwhile back to Reid who has gone through a lot since what happened after being
    Taken a hostage, the team notices him not his usual self
    Praying that they get help for Reid.

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    2 0

  • A war veteran suffering from PTSD hiding out in construction sites, murdering anyone that comes inside his hiding place. Reid clearly shows signs of PTSD that only a moron would miss and we see hopeful signs that the BAU members are not morons after all.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By cbsfan, Jan 29, 2011 Report Abuse
    I never realized a PTSD victim could suffer to such a degree that they could actually spend days on a murdering spree without waking up and realizing where they were and what was going on -- at least periodically - enough to call 911 for help or something. I was under the impression they could suffer for a few minutes, maybe hours, but then snap out of it. But apparently, PTSD can cause a reaction that goes on for days. Meanwhile Reid shows obvious signs of having PTSD as well as possible drug addiction? Hopefuly they will get him help!moreless

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  • Good story line.

    8.8
    "Great"
    By CMaddict, Jan 29, 2011 Report Abuse
    I liked this episode. The story line was good, it had me guessing the whole time. They also did a good job of getting me to feel bad for the war vet in the end. I was sad that they shot him. As far as Reid's strange behavior, I don't know. I really hope that things turn out better in the next couple of episodes for him. He's totally my favorite character on that show and it's tough to watch him so altered.moreless

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  • A war veteran suffering from PTSD thinks he is back in a war zone. Reid displays signs of PTSD himself.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By auntydale, Jan 29, 2011 Report Abuse
    It was a very good episode. It was well written, and the investigative process was, as always, very interesting to watch. The ending made me sad, though. I wish that the police could sometimes try to just stop and not kill the subject. Would have it been so hard to shoot him in the leg? We the viewers knew that, since he had not harmed the little girl earlier, he would probably not harm this child. The way he was running toward the boy seemed like he was trying to protect him. But the officer obviously felt the child was in danger. The man was, after all, delusional and dangerous. I don't understand- why didn't the police or FBI clear the construction workers from the area? It was, after all, the scene of a police/FBI operation. That jackhammer going off was just stupid. As soon as that happened, I knew the guy was dead because the noise would set him off again.

    Judging by the number of episodes left in the season, I think the Reid storyline will climax in the season finale.moreless

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  • Three men are murdered in a short time span, with seemingly no connection. War claims another victim.

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By wyldrein, Jan 29, 2011 Report Abuse
    The writers at CM are very, very clever. Of course we already know that, but this episode really highlighted that. Normally we regard the unsub with fear and loathing, and want nothing more than for the BAU and their colleagues to take the person out of action, one way or another. In this case, as we see what's causing the unsub-- a former Ranger suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after the action he faced in Somalia--to go on a rampage, we are filled with pity. PTSD is sometimes claimed as an easy out for criminal behaviour, but it's also a valid and very serious problem. The saddest line was when Roy's wife wistfully remarked that he never really came back from Somalia's war zones. The noticeable changes in Reid's character are alarming, and I'm surprised that the team hasn't taken more action than they have to this point. They have to know...Gideon and Hotch both are watching Reid, however, so I'm hoping that this plot threadlet doesn't continue too long. The longer I watch this show, the more I like the playoff between Hotch and Gideon. Hotch comes across as angry and cold so often, yet his compassion for and understanding of humans is no less deep than Gideon's. Nicely formed characters--but then, the whole cast is a pretty strong ensemble, though I'd like to see more of Garcia, whose eccentricities and smarts remind me of NCIS's Abby Scuito.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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  • Notes

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    • The song at the very beginning of the episode is "Sumpin'" by The Pimps. The song used near the beginning of the episode is "Ghost Towns Along The Highway" by John Mellencamp.

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  • Quotes

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    • Reid: (at the homeless shelter) Do you keep a list of everyone who comes through here?
      Angie: We have a sign-in sheet but we don't force anyone to sign if they don't want to. Some who do don't even use their real names. Elvis eats here a lot.

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    • Prentiss: What is the matter with you?
      Reid: What do you mean, what's the matter with me?
      Prentiss: I have never seen you act like this.
      Reid: Oh, really? Oh, in the months that you've known me you've never seen me act this way? Hey, no offense, Emily, but you don't really know what you're talking about, do ya?

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    • Morgan: And, Garcia? I'd better not ever find any Photoshop pictures of me.
      Garcia: Oh, trust me, my vision, you will never find them.

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  • Allusions

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    • Max Weston: Yeah, we both are, we were in Special Ops, 75th Ranger Regiment, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion. Roy… he retired shortly after things went bad in Mogadishu.
      Reid: That was back in 1993.

      This reference is to Operation Gothic Serpent, which was depicted in the book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden and in the film that followed.

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