CRIMINAL MINDS
Air Date: Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Time Slot: 9:00 PM-10:00 PM EST on CBS
Episode Title: (#310) "Birthright"


THE BAU TEAM INVESTIGATES A SERIES OF MURDERS IN RURAL VIRGINIA THAT ARE STRIKINGLY SIMILAR TO THOSE FROM AN UNSOLVED CASE IN THE SAME TOWN TWO DECADES AGO.

The new sheriff in Fredericksburg, Virginia, requests the BAU's assistance in the investigation of a series of mutilation murders that appear to mimic similar crimes that had occurred over two decades earlier.

WRITTEN BY: Debra J. Fisher and Erica Messer
DIRECTED BY: John Gallagher

A series of murders in rural Virginia has the BAU team investigating a link between this killing spree and a similar case two decades ago.

SERIES REGULARS:

Aaron Hotchner: Thomas Gibson
Emily Prentiss: Paget Brewster
Derek Morgan: Shemar Moore
Dr. Spencer Reid: Matthew Gray Gubler
Jennifer Jareau: A.J. Cook
Penelope Garcia: Kirsten Vangsness
David Rossi: Joe Mantegna

GUEST CAST:

Justin: Nathan Sutton
Molly: Lacey Beeman
Danny: Jesse Bernstein
Charlie Wilkinson: Curt Bonnem
Julie: Kandis Erickson
Michael Ballantyne: Jeffrey Corbett
John Caulfield: W. Morgan Sheppard
Tara Elizabeth: Ann Roberts
Karen Foley: Dendrie Taylor
Mary Wilkinson: Jennifer Hetrick
Stephen Foley: Rodney Eastman
Young Karen Foley: Rebekah Brandes
Robert Wilkinson: Matt Hoffman
Chrissy Wilkinson: Sally Pressman
Boy Royce: Thomas Johnson
Girl: Erika Whalen
Guy: Houston Rhines
Man: J. Claude Deering

more info added for this episode: **beware major spoilers**

Another killing spree has been committed, driving the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit to embark on a quest to find a psycho who likes to put his victims in a delusional mind game in the episode entitled “Birthright,” which is expected to air on December 12.

In the 10th episode of season 3, the new sheriff in Fredericksburg, Virginia, requests the BAU's assistance in the investigation of a series of mutilation murders that are strikingly alike to the cold cases that had occurred over two decades earlier. 

The investigation leads the team to a serial killer who is fond of kidnapping couples.  He murders the husbands and holds the wives captive until they misbehave and then kills them.

But as the team digs deeper, they find out that the psycho killer is the son of a serial killer from 25 years ago who slaughtered people in the exact same way. 

One of the original killer's victims escaped and had a son from her captor.  The team also discovers that he and his mother were rescued by the original killer's wife, who killed her husband so he couldn't hurt again.

OMG, that sounds like such an interesting episode!

I am sitting around patiently to watch this episode....

expectations:

our team gets back to solving the crime
prentiss and rossi...some interaction perhaps
history lesson on the Civil War
more barns

well, I don't know about the rest of you but I thought this was another weird and disappointing episode.

(complaint #1) I think the episodes are getting increasingly violent.

I didn't really feel like there was much of a point with this one - a ton of information but it seemed very scattered and random. I didn't know who we were supposed to be focused on or feeling for. JJ was very disturbed about this case but really the only explaination we got was that so many of the victims they see are female and about her age? They tried to give us some more of the story of Rossi, but didn't really manage to give us any real answers. Okay, so he's supposed to get right on it - don't let another year go by.....great advice there Mr. Sheriff - if he could have done that he would have 21 years ago right? (I just found that a little annoying)

(complaint #2) Where was Reid? (And Hotch & JJ seemed to disappear for long stretches too)

The victims. There didn't seem to be any closure for them in any way. In fact they didn't really seem to be part of the story at all except that they were targeted by the unsub. There wasn't any real resolve for the unsub's family either. So the original unsub was killed (they didn't arrest or question the wife any more about that did they?) The son is the next unsub - shot and killed by his wife (but she was being taken away for questioning in the end) but she's pregnant which left the question hanging.....would that child be a killer too? And I didn't really understand why the son became an killer and followed in his father's footsteps other than they said he was looking for answers and a father figure (and he found newspaper articles and decided that would be his role model???)

(complaint #3) inconsistancies in the stories. Where did they get a key to unlock the lock on the cage where he was keeping the women? The wives of these guys were never bothered when they disappeared for all this to happen and they never did anything about it until they decided it was bad enough to kill them? If they moved away to forget why would they come back? Why would they keep the newpaper articles about it if they wanted to forget it? The team is making Reid go out to drink with them but not JJ? That's it for for Hotch and Hayley?

AHHHHHH!!!!! I'm so annoyed right now! I want Season One Criminal Minds back! I can't handle all this "creativity" for the show and characters! I liked it better when it was simplier stories that made sense. :( Please give us some real answers - I'm begging you CM writers!!!!

Enough of my complaints. So what did everyone else think? Am I alone with being extremely annoyed with the show right now?

i liked it ....i mean wasnt great..but i liked it....the spark is gone from the show to me..

The "spark" is gone for me too. Do you think the writers feel like they are turning out quality episodes?

i think they think they do....i mean its like something is missing you know

I've thought something was missing since the middle of season two. (it's not the characters of Elle & Gideon) it's the way the stories are being told. Something about it has changed....but I'm not too sure what. We still get a good one sometimes but it's very hit and miss now. I just don't feel like they've got the formula they once had for every episode to be good.

I don't know how to explain what I mean....there used to be a pattern to the show. The opening that introduced the crime, the BAU and plane ride to the city to expand and fill us in on details, then they solved the crime (the team actually solved the crime not ran around the town chasing an unsub before he was handed over to them) And they actually talked the viewers through who they were looking for and why. And then the plane ride home to wrap the story up and maybe throw us a bone about a bit of personal information. (yes, I actually liked stories that were wrapped up in an hour.)

Now everything seems so unorganized and half the time the team isn't working together and even when they do sometimes they're not even solving the crime. They've got way too many unsolved storylines going on that I don't think we're ever going to get any answers to anymore and so many things are inconsistant.

I'm just really worried if they don't get back on track soon, I don't know how long the show will last. I know the ratings have been good but I just can't see it lasting for long if there's no real substance to the show to keep it together.

they're probably just going through a funk right now...the writers did say that this season they were going to focus more on the characters. this just might be the way that they're doing it...hopefully we don't have to get used to this though. i think (for the first time probably) i agree with you pam. It just wasn't the CM i grew to love... :lol:

plus...i think they used the same woods in the end as the ones in The Boogeyman...i recognized it..

But that's just it....what are we really learning about the characters? They're careful to start a storyline about one but they won't finish it and give us an answer to it!

It's getting extremely frustrating! :angry:

JJ is a good example from last night's episode - she was really bothered and upset. I was thinking in the beginning "oh good, it's going to be a "JJ" episode." But we didn't really learn anything about her. I don't know what we learned last night.

All we're getting is a general, the job is hard and takes a toll on them - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Well duh! I think we could already make those assumptions!

I think I'm just so tired of the vagueness and hinting at things but never any specifics.

I'm sorry I'm being so negative....I just hate to see this happen to my favorite show. :(

You know Pam, you sound EXACTLY like my mother when you say that :lol:

Whenever we watch Criminal Minds, or CSI, or CSI Miami or whatever other crime program (except House). Not one episode goes by without her saying something negative :P!

Disappointed to hear the sparks gone....Do you think it's the strike? It must have been thought about while they were writing these, and frustrations must have been high, maybe that's why the episodes are dodgy?

Buuuut, the reason I'm in here, poiling myself....Hotch and Haley getting a divorce!!! :D My word, there is a Santa Claus!!!! :D *dances* (Sorry Hotch/Haley fans, but I myself am not a fan of hot men being married, and therefore plot to destroy them! :P j/k! :lol:)

Anyways, i shall leave now, to make lots of Hotch artwork! :D *squeal*

[/COLOR][COLOR=red]I know what is missing : ELLE!!!

I actually liked the characters in season one most, their behavior and everything...Okay, I have to admit that I can actually live with Rossi instead of Gideon, but Prentiss instead of Elle - I will never accept that one...

**Jems**

secret code spoiler..... B) .... <_< careful.....

**I know it is not nice to wish ill will on others, but I thought you might be happy to hear that the bad lady (haley) served "Your Man" with divorce papers last night... :ph43r:

He should be free and clear, super single, very soon. .. :rolleyes:

The whole team was standing around, about to go to the pub for an ale and some crisps, when the process server walked right into the BAU (?? who is working reception??) :angry:

and asked the question..

"are you aaron hotchner...consider yourself served"..... :-no

he then had to explain to the whole team that scaley haley was filing for a divorce....very sad moment for you fella :( **

It was so mean! How could she do this to him - in front of his colleagues?

good riddance is what I say!! He will be sad for a bit but how about a new member arriving from Scotland Yard named SSA Jemma?

I used to not like the Prentiss instead of Elle but I'm learning to love her..she'll never take Elle's place.. i definitely agree with you on the Rossi instead of Gideon point..in some ways i like him better..

I actually liked this one. I really want Rossi's unfinished buisness to finally be solved.

I think that when the writer's strike is over some of the old things we love will come back.

I liked the episode, but it was a bit hurried for my taste…and the profile seemed to come last and that's what interest me a lot about the show…
Seriously hope Hotch and Haley will come back together, but's probably not happening… :(

yeah...ummm Jemmaaaaa...he's ALL YOURS now! lol.

the shows definetly different. but i still love them.

I have to say that this episode was different. The plot just seemed too easy to figure out who the unsub was. But i have to say when they kept having close-ups on JJ i thought she knew the person or something happened to her at one point or even she was involve in this case some way. But when Hotch talked to her i was dissapointed cause all i could think was "thats it!!!!...that was nothing" because of course they can get emotional..thats life in that career. But i have to add one last unlikely thing that probably is NOT true but here goes: through out the episode i noticed JJ acted different. And when i put some stuff together such as she suddenly this episode she got emotional, she kept holding her stomach and she turned down drinks after a case like THIS. I know this is highly unlikely but it popped into my head after the episode...JJ might be preggers (pregnant). I don't think the writers would have that drama but it just came to me. That would be cool but doesn't seem likely for this show. :unsure:
Also, when Hotch got the papers i knew exactly what they were for. Poor Hotch. :(
So thats my two (maybe more) cents.

hehe, that would be so awesome! And, of course, Hotch would love the Brit accent, and be swept of his feet! :D It's all planned baby! :lol:

But see now why I've always said Haley was awful? Serving my poor baby with divorce papers, in front of the team! What a cow! *nods* It's OK Hotch, I'll take care of you....

Thank you for the spoiler Jentzer!!! *hugs* You're so lovely. hehe, 'scaley haley'! :D

I agree with all of you!
In my opinion, in this new episodes, there's a very big less of "emotions"; I noticed this lack in "Penelope" and also in this last episode!
for example: Where's Reid!?!? I mean, JJ and Reid were so close (and I don't say that because I'm a Reid/JJ fan).
Or in "Penelope",.....where's the whole team!?!? :(

I hope that, when this strike will ending, the episodes come back to "shining"!;)

So do I!) :)

YES!!!! That's whay i thought,i was like oh goody finally another JJ story,maybe we'll get some background into her...We saw her near the beginning and i knew ,well everyone probably knew that something was bothering her and then we see her at the crime scene and the only person that seemed to pick up on it was Hotch,then she disappeared far a long spell,we only got glimpses of her here and there so yeah a little frustrating to say the least!

Ahhhhhh,so i wasn't imagining it,,,I noticed her holding her stomach too and i thought maybe something bad happened to her and something in this case brought up bad memories but when Hotch came and spoke to her and the reason they came out with i was like,is that it........But maybe JJ's just saying that to cover something else up...Remember Morgan hid his secret very well for so long so maybe there's something to this but she's not ready to tell the team or anyone yet.....


Or i coud be completely wrong,it's been known to happen occasionally! :P

Well… personally…I think it might be good that JJ was upset, not because of she could relate because of some horrible past event in her life to the victims, but because of who she is and that it sometimes is to much pain for someone to handle.
I don't know about you guys, but most people live average, happy, slightly boring lifes, inthis country they do anyway…it's for me hard to believe if all members of the BAU would've had horrible childhoods and/or pasts, I mean look at their childhoods:

Reid: bullied, unstable mom and dad that left when he was ten.
Elle: father died when she was eight.
Morgan: father died when he was ten, criminal record from when he was a minor, and molested by his mentor as a teenager.
Hotch: Father abused him physically and father died at a young age from heartattack or cancer…
Garcia: parents died when she was eighteen.

If the other three also had horrible childhoods…what are the odds of that?

So I think it's good that JJ was just upset and yes I love drama, so it might be odd coming from me…

Well, I think it is very interesting that all the main characters had a bad/tough childhood...

I thought in the beginning, that JJ seemed to be focusing on the one girl in particular so I thought she was so upset because that person reminded her of someone. I was disappointed (I'm trying hard not to complain Brigitte!!! :lol: ) that the focus kept jumping from person to person. At first it was JJ, then it was the victims, then it was the unsub's wife, then it was the victim that escaped and her son, then it was the other unsub and his family, and then it ended with Hotch.

I think I would have liked it more if they had concentrated on one person so we could have felt something for that one, but when it jumped around so much I didn't really end up caring too much about any of them. I felt very detached from any of the characters. Did that make any sense?

Interesting: yes
Realistic: not really…well ofcourse I don't live in the US nor do I exactly know why people choose to work for the Bureau, but bad childhoods can't be everybody's motivation right? :huh:

No I guess it isn't...

Yeah, I think it's a little unrealistic that all of them would have traumatic childhoods.

I'm sure that would be a very disturbing job and you'd have bad days and some cases would get to you more than others for all kinds of reasons. But I think anyone who would take the job would have to be a pretty tough person to start with...if things got to you easily you would be in the wrong line of work!

and the same with their lack of relationships or inability to be in one. who have we seen in a relationship??? i sense a new thread coming on...

Damn right!

I agree with you, Jentzer!

Do you think that would be because of their pasts or because of the job itself (not a lot of time for a relationship)

both...

ClarkDLM: now that you mention it, i noticed that JJ WAS indeed holding her stomach. i highly doubt they would make her pregnant. plus (no offense to the writers), i think they would completely ruin a good storyline. <_<

i think jj hasnt been ok since she shot that guy

I think it is always getting to you when you kill someone...