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Criminal Minds Season 7 Episode 6

Epilogue

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8.7

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 11/2/11

The BAU is called to the Angeles National Forest in California after bodies mysteriously turn up in the mountain lakes there. Meanwhile, Rossi must make a difficult decision regarding his ex-wife, Carolyn.

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Fan Episode Reviews (4)

An interesting concept for the source of the unsub's drive but overall the execution did not live up to the original inspiration.

2.5

By jgoodyer, Dec 06, 2011

An interesting concept but the execution was dreadful. I am a fan but there were too many writing and directing mistakes. The final scene in the lakewith the rubber knife actually had my wife and I laughing out loud - so much for suspense. It was obviously rubber and at one point it is actually flopping back and forth like a grade 12 drama prop. I have no idea how the director thought that this scene would be acceptable on anything except aSaturday Night Live skit. The writing had too many short cuts that made the victims seem to be at fault. The friends in the first scene watch their firend be attacked and do not get the police and their motor boat to help? The jet ski girl's friends drive off without her and never notice she is missing? The mother leaves her son with the car when there is a killer on the loose? This is not the level of writing or production we have come to except from CM.moreless
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Quite an interesting episode.

9.5

By nhcool_007, Dec 04, 2011

This episode swings two ways for lots of people. Some liked the team aspect better and not the rossi arc or the case and somepreferredit the other way.

Coming to the case, I think it was quite interesting. Initially it seemed like just another case (which if it would have been, then this episode would have been way below average) but as the episode progresses it takes on a whole new arc, concerning the "after-life". For me the idea of exploring this with relation to a serial killer was very intriguing, though the episode did bring this out well but I felt like something was lacking in terms of making the audience connect with the serial killer, dont mean emotionally but rather in a creepy way where you go WOAH!

The team dynamics in this episode were just absolutely fantastic. The profiling, though a little too over the place, was still well done. But what was the best was Reid and Emily's confession of their afterlife experience. It was an intense moment andexcellentlyportrayed. Coming tot he Rossi arc, I know a lot of people dont like it but I personally loved it. I think why people may find the emotional scenes maudlin isbecauseRossi's character is usually very stolid when it comes to expressing emotions. However, I really like rossi and it was long overdue to get some insight into his personal life. The last scene was really sad yet warm in anice way, especially seeing rossi having a glass of wine. Seeing his son's grave was absolutely heartbreaking especially when I read the dates.

Overall a good episode. Can't wait for the next CM episode!moreless
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An interesting and well-written episode from one of the best of the "CM" scribes.

8.5

By Lady_Lancaster, Dec 04, 2011

I really enjoyed this episode. To start with, I thought the team dynamic was excellent and it was good to see everyone working together to solve the case as a cohesive unit to track down the unsub and solve the case. J.J. seemed much more cheerful than she has in previous episodes and it was terrific to see Reid doing his "Reid thing" when Rossi wasn't turning the pages of his book!

Knowing who the unsub was all the way through actually felt 'right' this time because we could see how he was devolving and, more importantly, WHY he was behaving the way he was and why it was so necessary to him to talk to his victims after he had revived them. The two different perspectives from Reid and Emily about life after death were interesting as well. Two sides to the coin which has divided religious groups and the non-religious for a very long time.

Then of course there was the highlight of Hotch actually attending a case without wearing a tie. Most unusual.

I knew that Rossi's wife would end up taking her own life because he certainly had no intention of helping her do it. It was very sad to see their son's grave right next to hers, but fitting, I think.

All in all, an excellent piece of work from all involved with the show.moreless
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Case wasn't 100%, but the Rossi storlyine was so emotional! (Spoilers ahead!)

10

By amazing_race, Dec 04, 2011

This ws a first-class Criminal Minds episode, in terms of the character development. I coudln't believe the ending, especially the plaque with Rossi's son 'James', evidently a stillbrn - I actually started crying a little upon seeing that. It was all so sad and so emotional, and I couldn't believe it...

The actual csae was good, but not the best. I thought the first half of the episode was well below-par, but it did improve. The ending reminded me a little of the episode 'Charm & Harm' from Season 1, with the unsub and a victim in the lake. However, it was very interesting to watch, and the logic behind the unsub's crimes was quite intriguing - he wanted to understand what lay ahead in death before his time came...

Well, it was not a good start to the case, but it definitely improved significantly and I rather enjoyed ti. Top it off through the Rossi storyline and we have a really spectacular episode! The episode title, 'Epilogue', fits this episode in so many ways! :)moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Thomas Gibson	Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner
Joe Mantegna	Senior SSA David Rossi
Matthew Gray Gubler	SSA Dr. Spencer Reid
Shemar Moore	SSA Derek Morgan
Paget Brewster	SSA Emily Prentiss
A.J. Cook	SSA Jennifer "JJ" Jareau

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Isabella Hofmann	Carolyn	Guest Star
Zach Filkins	Ranger	Guest Star
Karen Sheperd	Katherine	Guest Star

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- The prop knife that was used in the final scene with Chase and his victim Evan was obviously made of rubber.
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QUOTES (9)
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- Garcia: (after Hotch asks her to start another search) Faster than a Hotch rocket.
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- Carolyn: Do you think he'll be there?
  Rossi: I know he will.
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- Rossi: "The timing of death, like the end of a story, gives a changed meaning to what preceded it." Mary Catherine Bateson
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- Rossi: "To die is poignantly bitter, but the idea of having to die without having lived is unbearable." Erich Fromm
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- Hotchner: If the dump site is doubling as his trophy collection, he won't be happy it's been disturbed. He'll want to make another one quickly.
  Garcia: Uhh, guys, I'm afraid that's just happened. Nick Skirvin's body has just been discovered, but it wasn't found in Ridge Canyon. It was found in Lake Banter, which is 20 miles away. Visual aid to follow. And, postscript, you don't want to know how many hits you get if you Google this forest plus murder. To say it should be called the "Angeles National Unsub Dump Site" is an understatement.
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- Morgan: What's really going on?
  Rossi: Look, it was a late night with Ringo and not enough coffee. I mean the guy's a world-class drummer, but don't think I didn't wipe the floor with him in "Rock Band."
  JJ: All right, what do you think?
  Prentiss: He could be telling the truth. I only played him to the Easy level.
  Reid: I can't tell.
  Rossi: And you never will.
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- Hotchner: Finding out you're going to die isn't enough to make somebody a psychopath.
  Reid: It does, however, explain why he stopped strangling his victims. How do you find out about death?
  JJ: You ask someone who died.
  Hotchner: Is he bringing his victims back so he can talk to them?
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- Rossi: I can't help you. What you're asking. I can't.
  Carolyn: I know. I knew you never could. You spout all that profiler talk, but really the best way to get to know someone is to marry them. You are the best man I've ever known... that's why I wanted you to be with me tonight.
  Rossi: What have you done?
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- Prentiss: He wants to know if the experience can change. I can relate to that. Reid felt a warmth and saw a light. When I coded in the ambulance, all I felt was cold and darkness. And I would like to think that there's a different future waiting for me.
  Reid: You actually died?
  Morgan: All right but resuscitation is hit or miss. You can't guarantee that you can actually bring somebody back, let alone that anyone will remember what happened in their moment of so-called death.
  Rossi: Reid, what's the best way to make sure that his victims had an experience?
  Reid: Keep them dead longer.
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NOTES (2)
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- Director Guy Ferland became seasick while shooting the scenes on the lake.
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- Production on this episode wrapped on September 12, 2011.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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