The episode opens with Hotch rolling up to a house at night. He gets out of a car and approaches the door. He knocks, and is let in by an older blonde lady. She is like, you’re the only one he has been asking for, and says “you two must be good friends,” to which Hotch replies, “Actually, we worked together once, about 10 years ago” – so I am assuming this is a brand new character for us to be meeting. The lady says he’ll be lucky if he makes it through the night, so uh, well!

We now get shots of newspaper clippings and awards for a Det. Tom Shaunessy (oh nO!). He is wearing those oxygen nubs? However, he does not seem sick. He says he has been calling for Hotch because of The Reaper. This was a case he worked on in the past, and says it was a “Deal with the Devil”. He hands Hotch a piece of paper, and written on it is:

If you stop hunting me, i will stop hunting them.

For as long as we both shall live.

Till death do us part.

If you agree to my terms, take out a personal ad.

In the Michigan Post.

And then there is a Bill Cipher looking drawing. Also – I’m sorry?? Is this JK Rowling?? So it’s a contract! That they both allegedly agreed to. Hotch says, how do we know this stopped? And Tom says he kept an eye on him – to be sure. Hotch is like, sooner or later we would’ve got a break, however, Tom is like, but how many more people would he have killed? Would it have been worth it? But Hotch is like, we don’t get to make those decisions, we don’t get to let them get away! Tom is like, well tough! You’re going to have to pay for my sins. Because the contract AKA his LIFE, is about to expire! He says he can feel that The Reaper has been watching him – he knows – so he’s gonna start killing again. Tom asks for Hotch to tell the victims families he is sorry.

Now Hotch is back at the BAU, and Garcia was able to find the ad that Tom put in the Michigan Post. Garcia is like, we did this case? And Hotch explains it was his first case for the BAU as Lead Profiler – so Tom’s secret probably stings a little extra now! Garcia is like – we don’t have a profile for the Reaper in our system? And Hotch is like, okay byyeeeee

Cut and now we see Tom sitting in his home. I guess he did made it through the night? But he’s drinking some whisky, so we know he’s probably not doing too hot mentally. He downs the whiskey and then collapses. Hotch gets a phone call informing him that Tom has passed.

Now we cut away and we’re in Massachusetts. We see a couple in their car pull over because they somehow have gotten two flats. The guy gets out of the car to fix it, and his girlfriend in the car calls AAA. A car pulls up and a guy gets out offering to help – but we know its the Reaper because they don’t show us his face. I wish CM would stop doing that and just trust the audience to be able to figure it out??? The stranger offers in more ways than one how he can help them out, but the guy with the flats is like, its okay, my girlfriend is on the phone with AAA. As the stranger walks away, the bf is like, you know what, yeah thanks, lets actually give it a shot. Fuck!!

We see the Reaper walk towards his car, and grab a tire iron. As he walks away from his car, we see that there isn’t anyone in his passengers seat – earlier he was talking as if there was someone with him. The boyfriend is like “thanks, I appreciate this” and the Reaper is like “my pleasure” and how his voice sounds different – like Darth Vader lmao, but instead he’s just wearing a mask. He whacks the bf in the face with the tire iron. The girlfriend hears the commotion but doesn’t see it, she asks “Evan? Evan?” but no one answers, then she turns and The Reaper has a gun in her face. He says “give me your watch” she hands him her watch, and she begs for her life. He says he’s not going to shoot her, to which she’s like thank you, then instead he pulls out a hook and cuts her throat with it. Is this giving Hookman? After killing Nina, the Reaper goes back and finishes off Evan.

Back at the BAU Hotch gets the reports of the killings – Hotch had requested he be told of any strange homicides in Boston. Hotch opens the reports and the Bill Cipher figure that was on the note has been drawn in blood on the side of the car. He tells JJ that they’re going to Boston, and JJ is like ?? we haven’t been invited, to which Hotch is like, we’re about to be!

On the jet, Hotch explains that the Reaper is driven by the need to dominate, control and manipulate. But likely the reason he had that deal with Tom was because killing gave him power, however the payoff began to diminish after a while – so he switched tactics. Offering the deal gave him the ultimate power – he manipulated the police into voluntarily surrendering. And he got it in writing. But now he wants to kill again, because the only person who knew about the deal just died, and narcissistic killers need other people to recognize their power – the reason many contact the media. But what has he been doing for 10 years now? Hotch suggests he’s been planning what he would do if he started killing again.

Morgan points out that he’s stabbed, bludgeoned and shot 21 victims. All men and women, all different ages. No specific victimology or MO. So how are they supposed to build a profile? And Hotch says they don’t have one – because Tom made the deal before they had time to come up with a profile. Hotch also tells them that they want to keep the story of this being a copycat killer afloat for as long as possible – because the minute the media gets wind of this deal, its going to be an absolute shit show.

At the crime scene, we get a super Boston cop talking, saying it is definitely a copycat. Hotch explains sorry, but this is not a copycat killer, and the cop is like, sorry who invited you? Hotch shows him the letter and he’s like, okay fine I guess the FBI can be here. We learn that Nina had been stabbed 40 something times, and Evan bludgeoned and shot, however there are no gun casings found – historically he liked 44 magnums. Additionally, we learn that the younger the female victim, the more time he tended to spend with them. Ew. they also notice that she has a tan line on her wrist from her watch and now it is missing. We also learn that the Reaper left this on each of the victims to show it was him – the Reaper placed glasses on Evan despite him not needing glasses – additionally, glasses are symbolic because they belonged to a previous victim of the Reaper, one who survived.

George Foyet was this victim – the 9th victim specifically. He also, was the only one who survived – miraculously. Much like Nina and Evan, they were attacked in their car at night, on a poorly lit, less populated road. Something the Reaper likes to do. He had approached them pretending to be a lost tourist.

Reid explains that the Bill Cipher looking doodle was the “Eye of Providence” a symbol adopted by the US Government and incorporated into the Great Seal in 1782 with the words “Annuit Coepits” inscribed beneath – latin for “Providence or fate has favored our undertakings” – so the Reaper sees himself as the personification of fate.

Prentis asks how Foyet survived, and they play the tape of the Reaper calling 911 saying he just murdered two more – he gave the 911 operator the location and specific car to look for, and specifies they were 8 and 9. The ambulances got there 15 minutes later, Foyet’s date was DOA, however Foyet was still alive, despite barely breathing. Turns out the Reaper always made these calls, however with this particular attack, if he hadn’t made the call Foyet wouldn’t have made it, and after this call and survival, he stopped making the calls altogether. At this time, JJ gets a call from a reporter who wants to meet with Hotch. Turns out this reporter is the one who wrote a book about The Reaper, and he does not believe that this is a copy cat killer. Hotch placates him, sort of, and says he’ll call him once he has more information.

Now we see an elderly couple driving together at night. Oh no pleeeaaase. A cop woowwwees at them from behind, and after the man is like ‘UNBELIEVABLE he pulls out”. He gives his information over to the cop, who we know is the fucking Reaper. The Reaper walks away to “check some things”, comes back and is like “I’m going to let you off with a warning” to which the driver is like “a warning for what” and the reaper is like “for being at the wrong place at the wrong time” and swings and stabs Arthur in the chest. And he’s like “and now i’m gong to kill your wife Arthur”, and she loses it, and is shot.

Shortly after the BAU is at the crime scene. They note that this is a much older couple than before, and it was only one stab and one gunshot. Hotch notices the license and registration out in the car, and deduces that he used a cop ruse. HOW DID HE GET A FUCKING COP CAR THOUGH. We also see that he put Nina’s watch on the wrist of Arthurs wife, and took Arthur’s wedding ring. He also took a photograph from the purse of the wife and wrote “Fate?” with a question mark. Rossi is like, thats new! And Hotch explains that it is probably for them – being like, you had 10 years how do you not know yet. Rossi is like thats impressive you got that from one question mark, and Hotch is like…I know him better than I let on; and he explains that there is in fact, a profile on the Reaper. Hotch says he had just started it when it got called off, so technically they have it but not really, and this case stuck with him, so he kept coming back to it over the years. He worked on it alone, and despite knowing that profiling is a collaborative effort, this case is one that he thinks he has right.

So now we hear the profile

The Reaper is a killer that is called an Omnivore; an omnivore doesn’t target a specific victim type. Although he tends to focus a little more on his younger female victims with his knife, he is essentially a predator who will kill anyone
He is democratic because his kills aren’t just about his victims. He needs recognition, he needs us (meaning the police? The public) to know.
All of the symbols and misplaced possessions of the victims – it is all for show, for them all to see. And this is all for power.
The letter with Tom is the clearest example of this power – getting the police to surrender to him.
In a real sense, Tom was the Reaper’s 22nd victim
Much like Denis Rader, the Reaper is extremely disciplined. In his every day life this will very likely make him so inflexible he can’t keep close relationships or work closely with others.
Rossi suggests that because of how he stabs his younger female victims more than the older ones, he is a hebephile. Ugh shut up! You know, someone who is attracted to young adolescent post-pubescent children. Teenagers. You know – a pedophile!
Hotch suggests they all look for men with access to authority, high school teachers, counselors, coaches, and anyone who has been charged with sex crimes against teenage girls within the last 10 years.

The team finishes the brief, but unfortunately Garcia has been unable to find George Foyet – apparently he is off the grid – can we blame him? Apparently 9 months after having been released from the hospital he quit his job, sold his car, closed all of his bank accounts and canceled all of his credit cards, closed his apartment, cell phone, etc. so he has literally no paper trail for them to follow. Garcia says it is definitely intentional because even “dead people” leave behind more of a paper trail than this; it is extremely difficult to do this – cut every tie of everyone and everything. Prentis says what i’m thinking, which is, “after all he’s been through, can we blame him?” and points out how he’s the only living person who knows what the Reaper looks like, and he’s still out there – except the BAU doesn’t know that he wears a mask!

Prentis says he’d have to talk to someone, and Hotch suspects it could be the reporter. Hotch calls him and asks for a favor. The reporter gives Hotch Foyet’s information and they’re able to track him down very quickly. Hotch and Rossi approach him on the street and introduce themselves. Foyet says he remembers them, and asks for them to get off the street. They go into his apartment – Foyet is coughing a lot, so that bodes well. We learn that he is now a freelance computer specialist. Hotch hands him the glasses found on Evan, and is like “these yours?” Foyet says he knew it wasn’t a copycat, and he has a coughing fit. Is this about to be a TB episode? We learn that Foyet was going to propose to his girlfriend that night but got cold feet. The Reaper had approached the car pretending to be lost, and was holding a map, and then stabbed him. Rossi is like man, you don’t have to go through this again, but Foyet ignores him. He also says he never found the ring.

They ask if he’s ever had strange calls or anything, and Foyet explains that he takes public transit, and lives in several different residences so that he cant get caught again. Foyet refuses to go with the FBI for safety, or to let them protect him there. He writes down his other addresses/phone numbers for them and insists they have to be careful. As they leave, they meet up with Roy the reporter and say he had a letter left on his desk. Hotch explains how important it is that Roy not run the story on the Reaper, but Roy doesn’t seem pleased with this.

Cut and we see Hotch getting a call in his hotel room. Heavy breathing is on the other side of the line, and a distorted voice says “if you stop hunting me i’ll stop hunting them”/ he offers Hotch the exact same deal Tom took. Hotch is like, huff my shorts, and the Reaper is like you’ll regret this.

Cut and we see the Reaper hang up his cellphone at a bus stop as the bus approaches. He throws the cellphone in the trash. He then holds a gun to the bus drivers head, instructs him on how to drive. The passengers freak out, and he guns them down, and a gun in each hand.

Cut to- Rossi and Hotch on the bus, and it turns out he killed seven people including the driver, smeared words onto the side of the bus in their blood, and put Arthur’s wedding band on the driver. Hotch is starting to have a hard time with this – blaming himself for this. Rossi is like, want my gun to kill yourself? And is like, yeah you fucker it is your fault, totally blame yourself for this. Rossi gives him a super tough-love pep talk and is like, you can’t blame yourself for this – what i think is interesting here though is that he’s like “If you want to end up like Shaunessy, like Gideon and blame yourself, go ahead” – is this the first time they’ve mentioned Gideon since he left? He also says its not your conscious in your head blaming you, its your ego.

Back at the BAU they look at the photographs of the blood smeared on the windows of the bus. This is different because historically it was only putting shit like “fate” or “fate?” and the bill cipher symbol, but this time he put numbers. So this is different – and possibly a code. They realize that that the numbers are reflective of Foyet’s apartment and his other addresses. So Foyet is probably in trouble. The BAU splits up and zoomies over to his other addresses. They all enter his different apartments, however they don’t seem to have much luck finding anyone or anything – until! Oh how the turns tabled – the Reaper TACKLES MORGAN. Oh shit! He knocks out Morgan, and is like “wake up Derek, it is time to die” after taking his wallet.

We also see that Foyet has been killed. And next we see Morgan getting glass pulled from his shoulder. Morgan says he took his credentials, but also left a gunshot. Next, we see that a ton of blood was smeared through the apartment.

Back at the cop place, the BAU is regrouping. They discuss why the Reaper is/was so focused on Foyet. JJ asks about Amanda, the girlfriend foyet was going to propose to. We learn that they met at college where Foyet was a TA for a class she was in. Additionally, she was from Michigan, which is of significance, since Michigan Post is where the Reaper insisted that Tom place his ad.They also realize that there is something off with Foyet’s story – Amanda had JUST moved to Boston from Michigan, he was 28, she was a freshman, and they only would’ve known each other for about 4 weeks. So either it was love at first sight or….he has lots of access to young girls while in a position of power.

Garcia looks up all of Foyet’s aliases, and badabing badaboom, they are all substitute teachers in high school – but not all of them are working. One of them was fired for inappropriate relations with one of the students. And yeah, Foyet is the reaper. Garcia looks up Roy’s number, because yikes, Roy is going to meet with him. So why did Foyet inflict these wounds on himself and pretend to be a victim? Because it put him at the center of the investigation – all of the interviews with Roy, so literally everything they have learned about the Reaper was actually from the Reaper himself — he had complete control over the narrative.

Roy is like, hey how you’re doing? And Foyet is like, actually I’m kind of angry at you. And he’s like, why didn’t you release the story of the deal i made with Tom? Foyet starts to get violent and points a gun at Roy. but a this is happening, the BAU comes in and is like, oops ya busted! They are able to apprehend him without bloodshed, and Derek is likE WHERE IS MY BADGE. Derek is doesn’t matter, they’ll just give you a new one.

On the BAU jet back to VA we learn that they didn’t find Morgan’s badge anywhere, and all of the blood that was found at the home was truly Foyet’s blood, and it was about 4 quarts – enough to be dead. He had been planning on faking his own death, draining a little at a time. We get some spooky slow-mo shots of the BAU back at Quantico, and Foyet cutting his wrists with his handcuffs and drinking his own blood. JJ comes into the BAU office and says he escaped – the guards found him convulsing and vomiting blood, they brought him to the hospital, and he somehow escaped!

Turns out, they found documents detailing every single prison and jail in MA, so he knew how to get out! He had been planning for 10 years…Hotch is like- They’re not gonna find him…

Rating Criteria:

Criminal/Serial Killer: 20/20

Character development/ character arcs: 16/20
Forensics/Context: 12/20
Script writing: 19/20
Background characters: 14/20

Overall: 81/100

S4E18 - “Omnivore”

S4E19 - “House On Fire”

S4E17 - “Demonology”