Criminal Minds

To Hell...And Back (1)

Season 4, Episode 25, Aired 5/20/09

Episode Summary

In one of its most difficult cases, the BAU is called to Detroit to help track down a serial killer who forces the team into Canada to catch him.

8.9

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Cast & Crew

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A.J. Cook

SSA Jennifer "JJ" Jareau
Kirsten Vangsness

Analyst Penelope Garcia
Shemar Moore

SSA Derek Morgan

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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I love 'Criminal Minds' and I love the concept and the dynamic of the show but such a blatant rip off of the movie 'Hannibal' is just a bit much, particularly as a part of a season finale.moreless

6.5

"Fair"

By Lady_Lancaster, Nov 04, 2011 Report Abuse

Several people have gone missing from Detroit, Michigan. Mostly homeless people who would normally fall off the grid without anyone noticing but war veteran Sergeant William Hightower is not going to just let it happen. His sister is one of the missing and, after much effort on his part, the BAU are asked by the local authorities to investigate, even though they are sure that no actual crime has been committed.

The investigation leads the team to Canada where we find a potential unsub so disabled that it is not even possible that he has actually been involved in the fate of the missing people at all.

It was just about here that I lost interest. Particularly when I found that this chronically disabled and obviously evil man was named 'Mason' and that there were pigs everywhere ... All I needed was to see Sir Anthony Hopkins jump out of the shadows with the familiar Dr. Hannibal Lecter smirk and the show would have been complete.

I truly get that the show's producers are big fans of Thomas Harris's 'Lecter' films and books (the co-incidences throughout several episodes of the show are too numerous for it to be missed) and I certainly agree that the books and films were brilliant but I would rather see something new and original in a 'Criminal Minds' season finale. The actors deserve better and the writers have been proven many times that they are capable of it.moreless

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1 4
Definitely a great case, that's undoubtable, but I wish it weren't this disgusting...

9.5

"Superb"

By amazing_race, Jul 14, 2011 Report Abuse

This ws a very good case in the first half of the Criminal Minds season finale. The case was definitely gripping and very interesting, but I was revolted at what was happening to the victims, and I just wish it were different in some way.

Criminal Minds can, and has, created terrific and sublime episodes without vbeing vile and disgusting like this episode was, and that is why I took half a mark off. The case itself, was great.

All up, the first half of this investigation was very interesting, and if you have a strong stomach, I recommend it. But moreso, I recommend thie next half of the episode...moreless

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0 0
Except for the last two minutes this season finale was just 'ok'

6.0

"Fair"

By Tazmaniac85, Apr 07, 2011 Report Abuse

Well, where do I start? This case was pretty ok, but for a season finale it sucked big time. There was no real tention whatsoever, everything was VERY VERY predictable. The only good thing about this episode where the last two minutes;

- talking about the state of mind for people who get hurt because of this kind a people

- talking about the BAU's own state of mind because all the sh*t that they have to see every f'n time

- the serialkiller from earlier this season who has come back to get revenge on Hotch.

That really saved this season finale for me, overall it was just 'ok' though.moreless

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2 11
Complex and Bizarre.

8.5

"Great"

By saleblanc, Feb 22, 2011 Report Abuse

With the complexity of the script as well as the plot you very quickly understood the reasoning behind the two-part season finale. I really appreciated Hightower's dedication to his sister that he was willing to sacrifice himself. The aspect of the impossibility of tracking "homeless" people I found very poignant. I found the money aspect in the creating of the victim profile and how the victims were picked by how they cashed their checks. The revelation that Mason Turner was bed ridden forcing the team to re-evaluate their stance was a wonderful twist. It gave you a glimpse into their thought process in the heat of the moment.moreless

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4 0
What the hell

10

"Perfect"

By m00nlightsh4d0w, Jun 04, 2010 Report Abuse

awesome episode, it had feeling, thought, feeling, love, feeling, hate, feeling and twists did i mention it had feeling. I really felt for morgan this episode I hope he doesnt jack it in as he's one of the best characters since gideon left, I also felt alot for the autistic murderer, what a shame being so badly manipulated by his obviously deranged brother, such a shame, really put me in mind of the book of mice and men and perhaps that should have been the title for this episode. ("just look at the water lenny").

The victim kelly was great in this too brilliant acting all the way, especially by lucas, the army guy who lost his leg god did i feel for him - he done the right thing in the end and obviously no good deed goes unpunished but at the end of the day the bad guy would have gotten away with it, I dont think im spoiling it since it was obvious he was going to do what he did. Rossi was obviously of the same mind too. At the end what happens to hotch? who knows, i wouldnt write him off yet but it doesnt look good does it? I hope the series keeps the characters who make it great as I cant see Reid carrying the show on his own, Rossi hasnt quite filled the gap that Gideon left and I don't think the rest of the cast can carry on without the likes of morgan and hotch, cmon guys whats with the cliffhangers at the end of a season??? you's are going to drive me mad lol. If hotch is indeed dead then we need gideon back I mean cmon Mandy Patinkin, I understand religion must be a big part of your life to leave the best show you've ever done and the princess bride is like my favourite romantic movie and well illustrates Trooo Luvvvvv so i'm a big fan but if anything criminal minds has a positive message what with the summary and quotes at the end etc, really hits home that even though murder is a heinous act that there is no complete evil and no complete good just shades of grey, you should be part of this show as the wisdom gideon brings to it is necessarryand the show doesnt deliver the message quite as clearly without you. Anyway cant wait for the next season, much love to all the cast crew and everyone associated with the show, keep up the good work, especially Garcia sexy mamma (and reid rules the sherlock bit). XXX cant wait for next season anyone know when the first episode will be aired?.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Reid stated once the unsub crosses the border, there's nothing but woods to hide what he's doing. This is incorrect. The majority of southwestern Ontario consists of farmland and fields. Edit
- This story was most likely based on the case of Canadian serial killer Robert "Willie" Pickton, who targeted women, many of them prostitutes, in British Columbia. Pickton was a pig farmer, and remains of his victims were found in pig feces on his farm. Pickton was convicted of six murders, charged with another 20, and allegedly confessed to 49 murders in total to undercover police officers. He is currently serving 25 to life, the longest sentence possible in Canadian law for murder. Edit
- The attack on the guard post at the border crossing would not have resulted in the involvement of the RCMP from the way the episode was filmed. It appeared as though William Hightower never actually crossed the Blue Water Bridge, which made his attack and arrest occur in Port Huron, Michigan, and not in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. Edit
Notes
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- The song heard when William Hightower was driving to the Canadian border was "Chip Away" by Jane's Addiction. Edit
Quotes
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- William Hightower (about his mother): Everything I have done is to find out the truth so I can spare her. I don't want her living off hope.
  Officer Jeff Bedwell: There are worse things.
  William Hightower: You're wrong. Bad news stops us for a while, but then you move on. Hope is paralyzing.
  Edit
- Garcia: Good news and bad news. I've got IDs on multiple border crosses for the dates in question, trouble is I've got hundreds. As far as I can tell, if your license doesn't ping for prior felonies, you're pretty much going to pass Go and collect $200 Canadian dollars. Edit
- Hotchner: Flannery O'Connor said, "If there were no Hell, we would be like the animals. No Hell, no dignity." Edit
Allusions
- Help by adding allusions to this episode. Add allusions