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Criminal Minds

Masterpiece

Season 4, Episode 8, Aired Nov 19, 2008

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8.9

EPISODE RATING: Great

380 votes

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"Perfect"
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"Superb"
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"Superb"
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When a narcissistic psychopath confesses he has killed seven people and more will die, the team must locate his latest victims before it is too late.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Gina Garcia Sharp

CSU Tech Agent Sharp
GUEST STAR
Kathryn Ruel

College Girl
GUEST STAR
Jason Alexander

Prof. Rothschild

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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Fan Episode Reviews (16)

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Jason Alexander is the worst guest star ever.

2.0

"Terrible"

By oblodo, May 19, 2011

This episode was just plain horrific to watch. The plot was nonsense, the science just silly and Jason Alexander must be the worst actor on the planet. I love this series, and when it is good it is among the best crime shows on TV. This episode was so painful to watch that I had to leave the room a few times. There are more holes in the plot than stars in the sky. I can not understand anyone who thinks Jason Alexander did a good job. He was just one bad clich, and his "school play" style acting was annoying. He was ok in Seinfeld, because he never had to act, just be an irritating self absorbed insecure man. (just like in real life) If the idea is to dumb it down with pseudo science and moronic actors, then they will lose me as a viewer.moreless
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From unsub to the victims

9.0

"Superb"

By Parricida, Nov 06, 2010

A episode what had totally different story and for totally twisted and plotted story turned it one amazing episode.

Rossi and Reid meet an old guy in their lecture who gives them a pictures on 7 killed woman and says 5 more will be killed soon. And think that was so easy? Just go and figure out where.. the man has made a puzzle, his masterpiece what has meaning inside meaning and nothing is what first seens - and the real question is - is team cleverer than he? A dangerous game, in one point it does look bad but then we just found out it was another twist... I don't know... ending could have been better.. as the whole other story was brilliant.moreless
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duel of personalities

9.5

"Superb"

By fiyero7, Nov 06, 2010

the episode was phenomenal. however the main plot was concentrated on two of my most disliked TV characters - Agent Rossi and George from Seinfeld (never was a fan of that show). The acting however was very convincing and the unsub did have one point - Rossi is very arrogant (still disliking his character and holding on to that). The last minutes of the episode were amazing. The turn of events - you never see it coming (although it would have ended the show pretty soon if the team got killed). Reid, as always is top of his class (go figure)!moreless
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Such a well-executed storyline!

10

"Perfect"

By amazing_race, Nov 06, 2010

In yet another amazing episode of Criminal Minds, this time, th team catch the serial killer right at the start and have to find and locate the victims later on, and not the other way around.

The storyline was amazing! The y made it so interesting and some great acting definitely made it one of my favorites! Reed was as amazing as ever, and I absolutely loved his work with the pendant and the Fibonacci!

Overall, definitely an episode that I would highly recommend! This show is so amazing, and I hope they keep it up, because these sort of episodes are just a joy to wathc and review! Keep it up!moreless
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Jason Alexander in a dramtic role as a serial killer is an interesting thing to watch, as is the fact that the team have their unsub early in the episode - they just need to find his victims before it's too late.moreless

8.0

"Great"

By Lady_Lancaster, Aug 13, 2010

A professor, played by Jason Alexander, approaches agents Reid and Rossi and informs them in a calm, quite voice that he has murdered seven women and that there are five more out there who will die within hours if the BAU can't find them. At the same time, Agent Todd is getting the distinct impression that the team have not fully accepted her as a temporary replacement for J.J. and she wonders whether they think she is competent.

The by-play between the narcissistic professor and the BAU team as they question him about the killings of the past and the five people whom he says are missing was probably the most interesting part of this episode for me. I thought that Jason Alexander did a good job in his portrayal but I don't like Agent Todd, so that is probably one of the reasons I found this episode good but no more than that. Of course, poor old Agent Todd is fighting a losing battle both within the team and with the show's fans because everyone wants to see A.J. Cook back.

A worthy episode and very interesting in places but not my personal favourite from Season 4.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (4)
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- When Prentiss was in JJ's office with Jordan Todd, she says she was the last person to join the team. However, she wasn't the last person. She appeared in Season 2 Episode 9 "The Last Word." Rossi appeared in Season 3 Episode 6 "About Face," which means David Rossi was the last person to join the team.
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- Rossi enters the interrogation room with his jacket neatly folded over his arm when Prof. Rothschild is about to leave. As he opens the door and sees Prentiss standing there, he goes back into the room while Prentiss takes his jacket to put it over her arm. Her jacket is over her arm the whole time, but the jacket is over the chair again when she leaves.
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- It was revealed in this episode that Reid had turned 27 years old the month before.
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- It is revealed in this episode that Reid has PhDs in chemistry, mathematics and engineering as well as BAs in psychology and sociology, and he is working on a bachelor's degree in philosophy.
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QUOTES (13)
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- Agent Jordan Todd: I'm gonna manifest happiness and calm for the rest of the day. Prentiss: (laughs) Happiness and calm? At the BAU? That's... good luck with that.
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- Student: What did you study?
  Rossi: Criminal Justice, but Sports Appreciation was full up at my community college.
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- Rossi: (to Prof. Rothschild) Killing someone or not killing someone is a choice. If those people die, it's because you chose to make it happen.
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- Garcia: There must be some sort of mathematical equation to do this. Should have paid more attention in algebra. Hmm... note to self: get Dr. Reid in here ASAP.
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- Reid: (referring to Prof. Rothschild) I never have any normal fans.
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- Rossi: (to Prof. Rothschild) Oh, and one more thing. I'm gonna be there when they strap you down for that lethal injection. And just before they hit the plunger, I'm gonna lean in real close and tell you to say hello to your scumbag brother.
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- Prof. Rothschild: You have something going on more important than me?
  Rossi: My dry cleaning is more important than you.
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- Prof. Rothschild: (to Rossi) Some games are just intended to be played by higher intellects.
  Morgan: Harming a person weaker than you doesn't take any special ability.
  Prof. Rothschild: Neither does slamming your fist down on a table, but we all must do what we must do.
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- Garcia: There must be some sort of central grant database. I can't imagine the government just handing out money and not che... I'll look into it.
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- Rossi: ...but if you killed seven women without leaving a trace of evidence, why turn yourself in?
  Prof. Rothschild: Imagine what the world would have missed if da Vinci never showed his work.
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- Reid: How many existentialists does it take to screw in a light bulb?
  Rossi: (whispering) Don't.
  Reid: Two. One to change the light bulb and one to to observe how it symbolizes an incandescent beacon of subjectivity in a netherworld of cosmic nothingness. (crickets)
  Reid: Um, an existentialist would...
  Rossi: Before he does his quantum physics knock-knock joke, do we have any other questions about opportunities in the FBI?
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- Rossi: "Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, or retaliation. The foundation of such a method if love." Martin Luther King, Jr.
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- Rossi: "Let us consider that we are all insane. It will explain us to each other. It will unriddle many riddles." Mark Twain
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NOTES (4)
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- A.J. Cook was credited, but not appear, in this episode because she was on maternity leave.
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- The character portrayed by Jason Alexander in this episode was modeled after the California serial killers Charles Ng and Leonard Lake.
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- Jason Alexander is credited as Special Guest Star in this episode.
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- Paul Michael Glaser, the director of this episode, appears as Detective Garrity.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Garcia: It's obviously Tank Girl. "Tank Girl" is a British comic character created by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin. The comic's style was heavily influenced by punk visual art, and the character became quite popular, standing as a sort of cartoon mirror of the growing empowerment of women in punk rock culture.
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