S1E2 - “Compulsion”
We open on the Towpath Killer (aka Lukas Haas from the MCR “Black Parade music video) holding a shotgun on Jason Gideon, an FBI profiler from the BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit). The Towpath Killer asks Gideon for his “profile”. The BAU uses profiling to identify the perpetrator of a crime based on the manner in which the crime is committed, the evidence left behind, and sometimes the nature of the victim. Gideon tells the Towpath Killer that he knows why he stutters.
Cut to Gideon talking to FBI trainees discussing the case. Elle Greenway interrupts his monologue to ask Gideon why the Towpath Killer stutters. Cut to the BAU headquarters in Virginia. We meet Jennifer Jareau (aka JJ) who is the BAU’s unit liaison. The BAU’s next case is an arsonist at Bradshaw College in Tempe Arizona where six fires have broken out in seven months. The most recent fire caused the death of a student.
Bradshaw College is not actually a really college, but Tempe is actually a really city in Arizona. So that’s confusing. Anyhoo, the BAU is in possession of a recording of of the death/murder of the student who died at Bradshaw. We see a recording of Matthew Rowland being filmed by his roommate (uncredited from IMDB). They’re filming as the dorm building across the way is on fire. Matthew draws the cameraman’s attention to what appears to be smoke coming underneath their door, and someone attempting to open the door room door. Then Matthew catches on fire and dies.
PROFILE PART 1 “ARSONIST”
82% of arsonists are white males between 17 and 27
Two common stressors for a serial arsonist: loss of job and loss of love
Female arsonists are less likely, but their motive is typically revenge.
Serial arsonists derive pleasure from pathological fire setting. They wouldn’t just set the fire and walk away.
Fire starting is one third of the homicidal triad, an early indicator of criminal behavior (bedwetting, cruelty to animals)
Absent or abusive father
Trouble with the opposite sex
Chronic low self-esteem
The team arrives at Bradshaw College incognito (no badges) to avoid giving the unsub the satisfaction of knowing that the FBI is involved. Worth mentioning the team is Special Agent Jason Gideon, special agent Derek Morgan, Dr. Spencer Reid, and Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner. And Special agent Elle Greenaway is with them, sort of on a probation before they hire her permanently? At the college they interview Dean of Students Ellen Turner and Fire Inspector Zhang.
Inspector Zhang states that the chemistry lab on campus is missing flammable chemicals that went missing today, and shows the team a device that was used to set the fire. The team tries to determine whether the attack on Matthew was intended to kill him specifically, or if he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Inspector Zhang states that he’s investigated and Matthew’s roommate who said that Matthew was well-liked and that there was no motive for revenge?? He’s basically doing all the work for the BAU. I looked up what a Fire Inspector is, they inspect buildings for potential fire hazards, they don’t investigate fires?? They don’t investigate murders? I’m not sure why he’s here? But I’m here for him because Daddy Zhang is HOT.
Lots of investigation happens and none of it really leads anywhere. Gideon sets up a hotline for the case, because he believes that the arsonist will call the hotline.
The arsonist strikes again, killing a professor at the school named Professor Wallace. This second murder shows that the arsonist is a serial killer as well as arsonist and that the death of Matthew was not a mistake.The BAU team struggles to put together a profile because they still don’t know the motive behind the fires and murders. We also learn about the homicidal triad, which we’ll hear a lot about in later episodes: Fire starting, bed wetting, and cruelty to animals.
Gideon meets a nerd on a bicycle who identifies himself as “campus patrol” (actually credited that way in IMDB) and asks Gideon a lot of questions about profiling. We think… hmm… he’s kinda creepy? Could he be the murder? Gideon tells him that his girlfriend thinks he’s going to break up with him because of a locket he’s wearing?
Reid, Hotchner and Inspector Daddy Zhang (yes Daddy is still here) work with Bradshaw College’s Chemistry club to help them solve the crime? Even though, Reid and Hotchner are FBI agents? A precocious college student named Jeremy informs them that the Chemistry Club has figured out how the fire in Professor Wallace’s office that subsequently killed him was caused. Apparently you drill a hole in the side of the light bulb and fill it with gasoline, and then screw it back on. Another student named Clara confides in the team that she knows how to make a Molotov Cocktail and she’s super creepy about it.
The arsonist finally calls the BAU tip line using the office right next to Professor Wallace’s office. We hear a distorted voice that says “Karen. I do this for Karen”. Penelope Garcia (Office of Supreme Genius) works on editing the audio to try and clean it up. All of a sudden Morgan is calling her “my girl” when last episode he was kinda shitty to her. Morgan and Elle attempt to interview all of the Karens on campus. We only see a brief snapshot of this… but the prospect is hilarious.
Gideon runs into the Campus Patroller guy again, and asks him if he broke up with his girlfriend. The Campus Patroller comes out to Gideon, and tells him that he broke up with his girlfriend who then told him that homosexuality is a sin and that he will incur the wrath of god. This leads Gideon to realize that the arsonist’s recording is not saying “I do this for Karen” but “I do this for Charown.” (God’s burning anger) meaning that the motive is religious.
PROFILE 2 “Compulsion”
OCD/ Scrupulosity religious obsession/compulsion
Task orientated - uses fire for OCD compulsion
Reid makes a further discovery that the unsub’s fire starting is a compulsion. He notices on the original videotape that the unsub is not trying to get into Matthew’s room, but is simply turning the doorknob three times. The fire is a manifestation of OCD called scrupulosity. Reid further discovers that each fire is surrounded by threes: First fire was March 3rd at 3pm. Professor Wallace was in Office Number Three for his office hour at 3pm, etc.
Hotchner realizes that the unsub is not a he- but a she. Clara Hayes, one of the Chemistry Nerds. I guess he noticed that Clara was turning her ring three times?? Gideon confides this to Dean Turner and Fire Inspector Zhang who are hanging out eating pizza together?
Elle and Morgan go to Clara’s off campus apartment. The walls are covered with like crazy lighting and there is a Kyrie playing in the background. Lots of candles and beaded curtain. You know, normal girl stuff. Also Morgan has to teach Elle that OMG means “OMG”. Also apparently Clara was saying “I do this for Charon, the greek mythological ferryman of the dead” Not was Gideon thought???? Apparently Clara survived a house fire when she was young, and this is why she is the way she is.
Meanwhile Clara traps Jeremy the nerd and the two other female students from Chemistry Club in an elevator on the third floor. Jeremy mansplains to the girls and they make feeble attempts to escape. Clara opens the exterior elevator door and tells Jeremy + the girls that she’s going to “save them”. The student credited as 2nd Chemistry student says “Is the building on fire?” and Clara goes “not yet” very dramatically. She dumps three containers of gasoline in the elevator. She then lights sage on fire?
Hotchner attempts to reason with Clara. Hotchner then shoots Clara and saves the day. Back in the BAU’s private jet, Elle tells Gideon she’s figured out why the Footpath Killer Stutters. She tells him that she believes that Gideon was stalling and didn’t actually know why the Footpath Killer stuttered. Nice transition of Gideon turning around and now we’re back with Lukaas Hass (of the Outkast “Roses” music video) holding a shotgun on Gideon. Gideon overpowers him by making fun of him.
Rating Criteria
Criminal/Serial Killer: 5/20
Character development/ character arcs: 5/20
Forensics/Context: 5/20
Script writing: 3/20
Background characters: 15/20
Total: 33/100