The show opens in Phoenix AZ, with two cops driving at night. One is older than the other and starts grilling the younger one on how important it is to always know where you are. We learn that they are partners, but the younger one keeps calling the older one sir.

They get a call about a domestic violence issue, and begin their way towards the location. They get out of the car, but the younger one realizes he left his flashlight in the car and goes back to get it. The older one continues walking towards the house, and a hooded figure comes up behind him and shoots him point blank. The younger calls, and tries to get his gun out to shoot him, but gets gunned down by the hooded figure before he gets a shot in.

Cut to the BAU and Jordan informs the team that with this shooting, this makes three cops shot in four days. Initially, they thought it was gang violence, but but the chief commander thinks it might be a serial killer - apparently they were killed by being shot in the neck. Additionally, this killer is taking trophies 0 their badges.

Now we see the BAU jet zooming over to phoenix AZ. while on the plane, Garcia gives them some details over the phone; apparently every Saturday night the Phoenix department sets up a DUI check point, and it is public knowledge. Unsub blew by past the check point, and was chased and then shot in the neck. The unsub planned ahead - lured the officer to the death. So he could be sending a message to the cops. The unsub knew they would be wearing body amour because thats why he shot them in the neck. Hotch asks Garcia to learn more about the victims, and she says she will but she also shares that she’s been on the phone with them all morning, and pulling information with them has been like “pulling molars”. She says she does not think they are pleased that this case is being outsourced to the FBI.

The team arrives at the department, and right off the bat says she wants a word. They speak to another guy there, and he’s like “so are you here to save the day”? Super sassy, disrespectful. Hotch tells the head guy that he thinks its a serial, not gang related. He says that it needs to be settled fast before the team becomes unglued. Morgan and prentis talk to the disrespectful guy and he keeps insisting that its “the 12s” a gang. He tells them about the gang a little - their leader is named Playboy. Morgan proves that this wasn’t gang related because the dash cam on the car only saw one attacker, but also the only reason they even saw his face on the dash cam was because the two cops broke protocol by splitting up - the younger one going back to retrieve his flashlight. Additionally, it was intentionally set up to look like a gang-related incident - the neighborhood is used to hearing gunshots, and so it’ll be blamed on the gangs, and the police will do so too.

Hotch and Reid talk to the chief explaining how he is taking the badges. They are watching the dash cam footage and notice he lingers over the bodies of the shot officers - taking the badge should only take a couple seconds but he stays longer. So thats weird. Thats suspicious. So now, even though the cops all know he is out there, it is gonna be tricky and dangerous because they still have to do their jobs, but now that could also mean running into an ambush.

Cut and we see some cops arriving at the scene of an aggravated assault. It looks like a junkyard. There is a person behind a really dilapidated car. We see this person set another person on fire????? The cops yell out at them, one stays behind to put out the fire, and the other takes off after the guy who went running. Turns out the body on fire was a dummy, so the one staying behind wasted time. But yep, it was a trap. The one who ran after 0 Mark - gets shot, and the second one tries to find the unsub, but has no success.

Cut and we see this area being treated as a crime scene. The one who survives - Ron - talks about how this was a set up, and blames himself. Morgan and the asshole Lieutenant talk to Ron - the asshole is like “Playboy is going to pay for this” Morgan asks “Did you see Playboy there?” and he’s like “No, but -”, and the asshole is like “we all know he did it, Agent” and Morgan is like “No, we don’t. Lieutenant, you think I don’t know how bad you want this guy?” he schools him on his background. Then Ron is handed his partners hat with a photo of his family on the inside.

Morgan goes to Hotch and Prentis. He informs them that this was not the usual area - “beat” for these two cops to patrol, so its kind of random who he ends up shooting - prentis calls it a “lottery”. But it also isn’t random because each shooting is getting more complex. The unsub is clearly enjoying it all. The set up of the kills are just as important as the actual killings. Despite the fact that the BAU is like, its not a fucking gang thing, the police department still goes and arrests Playboy, even though there is literally no evidence he was involved in this.

The BAU tells the commander and chief that this is a bad move - it pulls attention away from the actually unsub, which might make him angry and act out - having him hurt MORE people SOONER than he normally would. It also will antagonize the right of the gang. The commander is kind of like – i know i just had to do something. But edlkdfghjgdf. The commander is like - okay so who is your suspect?

Morgan goes to join the interrogation of Playboy. Morgan tells Playboy he knows he didn’t do it. He asks if he knows who did – he tries to be like, so who is this? He must be someone who is causing problems – someone causing problems for Playboy. Playboy isn’t very impressed, and says okay, so if you know so much, who is it? And Morgan sort of shares a profile? He says he would be someone you least expect - someone who when you look at them you wouldn’t suspect violence. Takes everything very personal, and is always looking for a fight. Aggressive. He’s white, and older. Works alone. Playboy says there is someone killed his brother Bobby. The asshole lieutenant sasses Playboy (it sounds like him!). But Playboy does not know the name of this guy.

Morgan leaves the interrogation, and Hotch says there has been another shooting. They have him cornered. Hotch and Prentis go to the scene of the crime/where he is cornered. Sargent Dawes was shot - his partner was killed; he just came up to them while the were at a red light. So it was a blitz attack with no radio. He only left because a truck came by. Suddenly there is a shot and a guy goes flying out the window. Bro what a mess! This is done is daylight, a blitz attack. It is not the unsub.

Morgan calls Hotch - Playboy’s lieutenant was shot in the same way. Hotch tells the commander that this guy was not the unsub. The commander is PISSED. The commander tells Hotch he only has four hours to find who is actually is, because they are not going to wait. Asshole- his name is Evans. Evans is not cooperating with Morgan - he refuses to pull a file.

Basically, Diablo - the gang member that they think was the unsub was only released from jail, etc recently. He had gone after the officer who got him. He’s not the unsub. Evans talks to the team and is basically saying, listen, gang members die all the time, because they are in a gang their life expectancy isn’t that long and them randomly dying isn’t that shocking, to which Reid is like the same can be said about cops. LOL.

We also learn that the killer who killed Bobby Q took his necklace - same kind of signature. Garcia finds another similar case with a bouncer. Morgan, Rossi and Evans arrive at the bar that the bouncer had worked at. Apparently Mick was in some sort of fight club, lmaoooooooo.

WAIT THEY WERENT JOKING. AN ACTUAL FIGHT CLUB. what the FUCKKKKKK. Morgan, Evans, Rossi, and Prentis all roll in and break up the fight club. They talk to fucking Doug Jones and ask some questions. They ask if they ever fought with a guy who like, always lost. Doug Jones said there was a guy who called himself Animal who fits that description. They realize, that when the unsub lingers over the bodies, eh is proving himself as the stronger one. The primal, etc. They ask Doug Jones - beanie - to met up with a sketch artist.

Hotch goes to the press and announces that the police fucked up. He announces that the FBI is taking charge, they are setting up a tip line and are gonna release a sketch.

And now - when there is 8 minutes and 30 something seconds left, we get a profile.

Narcissist and psychopath - trying to prove his masculinity.
Because he is a narcissist he goes after high-risk targets
He will also be following the investigation because he is a narcissist.
By pretending to take charge of the investigation, the FBI is putting themselves above the police, suggesting that they are tougher to take out - issuing the unsub a challenge
All of the attacks except for the last one took place in Twelve’s territory, multiple access ranges for the unsub, not many for the victim. They will be looking for a similar situation
He is smart and fearless

A call from a tip line says they’ve seen him, so the BAU prepares to go to that location. Garcia sends a satellite of the area. It is a very quiet area; main street, alleys, etc. Hotch pinpoints where he wants snipers and back up, and then the team heads out.

They arrive at the location, and prentis has her neck SO EXPOSED. Morgan breaks down a door into one of the apartments, but its clear. They continue to do this, and still don’t find anything. This continues to be a pattern, and we see hotch get out of his car, by himself. He seems defeated, and then the unsub shows up! He trails Hotch and follows him!! Hotch must pretend not to notice him, because he fakes him out behind a truck, and they catch him.

The tip was actually a diversion - they knew he unsub wouldn’t actually be at the location and would probably wait until Hotch was alone. As they apprehend the unsub, Playboy runs up with a gun and shoots the unsub. Revenge for Bobby! A dramatic ending.

Morgan says he wants to stick behind because there is something he wants to do. And now it is a funeral - for one of the officers. I believe this is Ron’s partners. Morgan introduces himself to Martins family. He says hi to the son, and tells him that his father was a hero. Morgan … And the episode ends with a Shakespeare quote.

Rating Criteria:

Criminal/Serial Killer: 14/20

Character development/ character arcs: 12/20
Forensics/Context: 14/20
Script writing: 13/20
Background characters: 19/20

Overall: 70/100

S4E10 - “Brothers In Arms”

S4E11 - “Normal”

S4E9 - “52 Pick Up”