Plain Sight

Season 1, Episode 4, Aired
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Episode Summary

The BAU travels to San Diego to stop a rapist and murderer who commits his crimes in the middle of the day. The suspect appears to blend into the neighborhood so well the local authorities have been unable to capture him.
8.8
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Fan Episode Reviews (12)

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  • Perhaps not the best episode of the season but the excellent profiling work and fine acting make up for it. The BAU must travel to San Diego, California to try to capture a rapist/killer who operates during the day and glues his victim's eyes opened.moreless

    6.5
    "Fair"
    By Lady_Lancaster, May 21, 2011 Report Abuse
    An unsub labelled 'The Tommy Killer' is raping and murdering women in wealthy neighbourhoods in San Diego, California. The two strangest facts of the case are that he operates, apparently unseen, in broad daylight and that he poses his victims on their beds and glues their eyes opened. The killer, it seems, also has a poetic side, as he quotes 17th century ballads where Death has a voice and converses with its victims.

    When a further rape attempt goes wrong, the team think they are dealing with a copycat and Gideon is able to piece together enough to lead them to a killer who literally can operate in plain sight.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 5

  • Typical of Crime Shows

    6.4
    "Fair"
    By kitiara1304, May 17, 2011 Report Abuse
    I thought that this episode, though well written and somewhat interesting, was pretty predictable. I did like the interactions between the characters. I didn't like the fact they got to the lady before any attack could occur because it is one of those "victim gets held hostage but the good guys get to the victim before any harm comes to them." I did like the kiss on the baby's head when Gideon was about to go look for the baby's mother and the bad guy. I definately would not watch this particular episode again, unless I am really bored in the future and it happens to be on.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 8

  • I really like this tv show. My only problem with it is that every single episode, it is so simple to figure out who the killer is that there really is no need to watch the rest of the show! Please make it harder!moreless

    5.8
    "Mediocre"
    By miabellaangela, Feb 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    I really like this tv show. My only problem with it is that every single episode, it is so simple to figure out who the killer is that there really is no need to watch the rest of the show! Please make it harder! I would like to be challenged and I am not!

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 10

  • Since their are a lot of cop shows, each one of them aims to find a niche. This show is maturing and finding its place.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By danasdude, Dec 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    A rapist who attacks in broad daylight is a scary thought. Once again, they load up the plane and head to the scene of the crime. These folks are really starting to rack up some frequent flyer miles.
    This go around, there is a reference to an ancient poem. Normally, this would be the lynchpin on which no which most cop shows would rest their case. However, in this case it turns out to be something the perp does to get noticed. The manner in which the team figures out the modus operandi of the bad guy is fun to watch.
    Oh, and having the kid cry in the kitchen was unlikely. If this guy was as careful as they had said, he would know that a stay at home mom would have an automatic built in distress signal with the kid screaming. But I won't hold that one false step against them.moreless

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    5 0

  • Great show and great characters!

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By JPPT1974, Dec 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    I really love Spencer as I remind myself of him
    As he is awkward with social skills like I am
    But is trying to get better and will get better with
    Time and age. The town is up in arms with a
    Serial killer who kills in the middle of the day!
    They must stop the killer before it is too late!

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • When Reid is holding the Redskins tickets, sometimes the front of the tickets are visible from his perspective and they appear blank at other times. Edit
    • During the scene before the credits, the team presents Reid with a birthday cake with trick candles. They mention it's Reid's 24th birthday in the accompanying dialogue. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • The song played at the beginning of this episode was "Respect" by Aretha Franklin. The song heard at the closing was "Doctor My Eyes" by Jackson Browne. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES

    • Gideon: Ever feel like there's something obvious right in front of you, you just can't see it?
      Morgan: Yeah, usually right before a woman dumps me.

      Edit

    • Elle: (hearing a chirping bird and looking up) Is that an oriole?
      Gideon: No. A black-headed grosbeak.
      Elle: What kind's the other one?
      Gideon: Grosbeak, too. Female. Huh (smiling at the two birds). Orson Welles said all the birds that belong to our sex have prettier feathers 'cause males have got to try to justify their existence. We spend all our time screaming, "look at me. Look at me."

      Edit

    • Garcia: (answering the phone) Go, from Ms. Penelope Garcia.
      JJ: (via phone) Are you ready with the trap and trace?
      Garcia: Peaches, this is the Office of Unmitigated Superiority. I am always ready. With the awesome power I have in this room, all I need is 15 seconds on the phone to nail this skeevy perv.
      JJ: (via phone) Fifteen seconds?
      Garcia: If that.

      Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Reid mentions Herbert Mullin as someone who killed people of completely varying ages, races and creeds. Herbert William Mullin was in and out of psychiatric facilities most of his life. In 1972-1973, in S. California, Mullins killed 13 people of different ages, races and creeds by various means at the urges of his schizophrenic hallucinations. The voices told him to kill in order to prevent earthquakes and tidal waves that threatened California. Edit
    • The complete title of the ballad, Death and the Lady, is "The Great Messenger of Mortality or A Dialogue Betwixt Death and a Lady." When the lady is first approached, she does not recognize the speaker. Death must tell her who he is, and then challenges her, "have you not heard of me?" The killer is similarly focused on making sure people know who he is. Edit
    • The killer in this episode is nicknamed the "Tommy Killer" after the rock opera Tommy by The Who. The killer glues his victims' eyes open, which reminded the authorities of the rock opera's recurring line, "See me, feel me, touch me." Edit

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