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Criminal Minds Season 4 Episode 18

Omnivore

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AIRED: Mar 18, 2009

8.8

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Episode Summary

EDIT

The BAU travels to Boston when the serial killer from one of Agent Hotchner's first cases, which involved one of the most notorious murderers in the history of New England, returns after 10 years.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (16)

AMAZING!

10

By cdnaera, Feb 23, 2013

NOW THIS is what an excellent episode is! Some of the episodes are just so dull and boring OR really really good until the end where you're like well that was shit but this wow this had me captivated and engaged and wanting more once it was over!!

George Foyet you sneaky bastard!

Loved every minute hope more episodes are as intriguing as this. Also loved how he escaped! Very clever!moreless
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Little did we know...

10

By nothatsabsurd, Nov 04, 2011

The episode Omnivore continues to be in my top three of all Criminal Minds episodes (right under Penelope, 100, and a tie with Faceless, Nameless). C. Thomas Howell, creepy as he was, played a brilliant victim who I never suspected as The Reaper. The interaction between Hotch and Rossi was very good (I especially appreciated Rossi's mention of Gideon, which was spot on). Seeing Morgan getting completely layed out by an unsub (while frightening) was very interesting, as he usually does the laying out. Of course, little did we know what this episode meant for the rest of Criminal Minds...moreless
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'If you stop hunting me, I'll stop hunting them.' This is the message from a killer from the past known as 'The Boston Reaper'. It's ten years later, and The Reaper is back, this time, he wants to make a deal with Agent Aaron Hotchner.moreless

10

By Lady_Lancaster, Jun 16, 2011

In my opinion, the best episode of this entire season and one of the top five of the entire series. Just brilliant from start to finish. Great script, superb acting and a truly chilling performance by C. Thomas Howell as the elusive killer.

Tom Shaughnessey worked the case of 'The Boston Reaper' ten years ago. Twenty-one people died at the hands of this man, men and women, young and old. Suddenly, the murders stopped. But why? When Hotch visits a dying Shaughnessey he is handed a typed letter, signed with the Eye of Providence' in which The Reaper offers to stop the killings if Shaughnessey and his team will stop hunting him. It was Hotch's first case as the lead profiler at the BAU but this is the first he has heard of 'the deal with the devil' as Shaughnessey calls it. The cop took the deal and the killings stopped, but now that the old man is dying, he is convinced that the killings will start again.

Just as Rossi had a case from his past that just wouldn't go away, this was the one for Hotch. He has, we find, never been able to let it go, and after Shaughnessey's death, sure enough, the killings start again. From the original series of murders, only one survived, George Foyet, and he has been moving from place to place and living under assumed names ever since, fearful for his life. Rossi and Hotch track him down with the help of a reporter who wrote a book on the killings and with whom Foyet has stayed in touch. Foyet is clearly a vroken, terrified man who is convinced that The Reaper will come looking for him now that his murder spree has started once more. Of course, the killer contacts Hotch and offers him the same deal, but in Hotch's own words 'I don't make deals ... I'm the guy who hunts guys like you!'.

I won't spoil it by going into any more detail, but I WILL say that if you haven't seen this episode of 'Criminal Minds', then you are missing a dramatic masterpiece. Kudos and more kudos to Thomas Gibson and C. Thomas Howell for amazing performances that kept me on the edge of my seat. Watch and see why!moreless
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Perhaps one of the best episodes ever. This one had it all!

10

By amazing_race, Jun 16, 2011

The concept of a killer stopping his game for such a long duration and then resuming again certainly intrigued me, adn this episode was built upon that foundation.

I thought this case had it all. The unpredictable unsub, the amazing turn of events, taht brilliant realisation of when the team discovers that huge secret to solve the case!

Yes, this epuisode had all the characteristics of a sublime Criminal Minds episode, and much, much more! I'm really hoping that there mwill be more episode s packed with this much drama and revellations - as well as suspense and tragedy.

Congrats to the writers, who have outdone themselves and exceeded all expectations with this episode! I commend you for a fabulous show, and I cannot stress highly enough of how much I recommend this episode. Great work, guys!moreless
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There is no words to say how great this episode is. It is criminal supense at its best!

10

By Shard2005, Feb 02, 2011

Of all the episodes of Criminal Minds so far, this one had to be my favorite. I loved the drama, the suspense, the action, and the villain was literaly to die for.

The idea of a serial murderer actually making a deal with a police officer was new to me and I loved the writers for even thinking about it. All of the team acted stunningly in this episode and Gibson was especially good.

However, this episode's success totally goes to the villain. C. Thomas Howell did an excellent job and the character of The Reaper is by far the best serial killer I have seen on the show. He is methodial, extremely intellegent, and an excellent actor. Its amazing how he had the perfect alibi and he had everyone fooled. Its even more amazing how he ended up getting away at the end, which has not really been done before in CM. I hope to see him again in the future. The Reaper is a very scary villain, especially with those eyes and mask, and the way he talks to his victims. I loved everything about this episode and I hope to see more like it in the future!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

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

EDIT

Louis Ferreira	Ray Colson	Guest Star
James Hanlon	Sgt. Michael O'Mara	Guest Star
James Handy	Tom Shaunessy	Guest Star
C. Thomas Howell	George Foyet/The Reaper	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

George Foyet (guest star C. Thomas Howel...

© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Agents Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Ro...

© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Agent Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) talks wit...

© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Agent Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) revisits ...

© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc.

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (3)
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- The young couple is killed after suffering two flat tires on a deserted-looking road surrounded by trees near a stop sign. This road is listed as Route 128 in Needham, Massachusetts. Route 128 in Needham is a major six-lane divided highway that connects a large part of the state.
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- In the scene where The Reaper is telling Ray Colson what to write, an orange strip on the barrel of the gun can be seen clearly, which indicates it as a prop gun and not a real one.
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- In the second murder scene, the Lanessas are driving a 2008 Toyota Camry. While trying to keep the killer out of the car, the wife cranks up her window. However, Camrys produced after 2007 have no manual window available.
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QUOTES (4)
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- Rossi: Hey, I was retired! Should I blame myself for every victim that got killed while I was on my book tour? Look, if you want to end up like Shaunessy, like Gideon, blaming yourself for everything you go ahead, but that voice in your head is not your conscience, it's your ego. This isn't about us, Aaron, it's about the bad guys, that's why we profile them. It's their fault. We're just guys doing a job. And when we stop doing it someone else will. Trust me. I know.
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- Hotchner: Put that [the gun] away.
  Rossi: You sure?
  Hotchner: It's a little dramatic, don't you think?
  Rossi: My wife always said I had a flair for the dramatic.
  Hotchner: Which one?
  Rossi: All of them.
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- Hotchner: "Men heap together the mistakes of their lives, and create a monster they call destiny." John Hobbes
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- Hotchner: "Fate is not satisfied with inflicting one calamity." Roman author Publilius Syrus
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NOTES (0)
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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