I have chosen not to use an image from this episode for reasons that should be fully clear. Oh, remember how I said last week was the week to play a song by Linkin Park? I still think it was, but this week's episode was the golden opportunity to play the song called Crawling. It's strange how well that song fits with this episode, and the title of this review.
The episode opens with a man driving in his car, using Siri to text his friend. Well, this is proof Siri isn't very smart. "Are you ready to go on your period?" That was very comical. The rest of the opening scene was scary. The victim was walking around screaming, "GET THEM OFF ME!", and then he got hit by a car. Then, we can see the unsub (Unknown Subject) in his prime - trying to get a cockroach out of his skin using a needle and tweezers. Lovely show we watch, isn't it? For some reason, I forgot to eat before the episode. I was fine, though, I think we've seen a lot of gross and scary things in the 10 seasons of this show. Next, we see the team on the plane debriefing. The victim was a newspaper journalist. As a Media student, hearing that writing certain stories can get you killed was unsettling to me. Also, "Throw shade?", Garcia? More modern day terms that most people wouldn't understand. Great.
Afterwards, the team talks to a woman who worked with the victim. Her calling him a "Schizo" seems a bit controversial to me. Also, since it was hinted that they might bring up Reid's drug addiction again, this would have been the perfect time for Reid to defend the victim, seeing as though his mom is actually a schizophrenic, and he suffered from a drug addiction before. Kate's comment, "The newspaper telling the FBI no comment, imagine that." was funny. And then, we have a comical quote from Garcia, "I know you guys are psychic, but how did you do that?" Oh, I get it, because they can see into criminal's minds. How amusing! On another note, JJ has such pretty hair. It never looks messy, no matter how bad the situation is. And she called Reid, "Spence", again.
Next, the unsub abducts the doctor who was working on a vaccine that the journalist was reporting about - it's cool how they put that all together. It's nice to see the doctor talking to the unsub. Whoops, I spoke too soon. The doctor says, "You are sick." Don't tell him that! He's delusional, but he refuses to accept that! Who knows what he'll do...he'll kill you by pouring bugs on you. And with this we get Reid being used appropriately again. Me likey. Now, we are in BUG HEAVEN. As my mom said, "The music kills it." The cockroach came out of his nose; that is disgusting. Then, Rossi called him, "The good doctor". Blake reference, anyone? In Demons (9x24), she referred to Doctor Who as, "The good doctor." Leave it to me to find solace in a bug-filled episode of Criminal Minds.
We get the profile delivery next. Thank goodness. I'll take anything to distract me from these creepy crawlies. The unsub believes in a government conspiracy. That seems to happen a lot on this show. We finally get a glimpse of the unsub. Wow, he looks so "normal". Funny how the most delusional ones always look like your typical human being. Furthermore, the BAU are eating fried chicken while discussing this case. If they can keep their lunch down, we all should be able to. Grcia figures out that the unsub has Margellons syndrome? Nope, Reid is quick to correct her, it's Morgellons. JJ and Morgan go talk to a person with Morgellons. Her name is Lisa. She is very defensive, and she appears to be covering for the unsub. And the lady the unsub is with? They look like soul mates. Delusional soul mates. Well, I guess the phrase, "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours," truly applies here.
Another cute quote from Garcia, "Top of the morning, fellow leprechauns." I love her so much. I recall hearing the unsub say, "I don't ever really sleep." PLEASE don't make me relate to this guy in any way, please...*sigh*. We see JJ calling people again. I loved that so much; I really miss her being a liaison, that go-to person for the families and the press. Another quote, "Do you know why I itch?" I found this veryyy creepy. After, we see Hotch profiling. "I'm trained to see what's in front of me." [...] "I'm also trained to listen to what people say." That was badass. Finally, we get to see Hotch actually acting like Hotch again. He also said, "Someone who's not a mother doesn't just stumble on a cure like that." Was that some indirect reference to Haley which the writers probably didn't mean to put there, but I noticed and interpreted it as one anyway? Oh dear. The BAU then infiltrate the unsub's apartment. Only, they're greeted by a paranoid Jane. "He's not here, he's gone. And you're never gonna find him." Not likely. Also, Kate's sassy look was a nice touch. Is it bad that I'm not feeling this JJ and Kate relationship yet? I heard Rossi say to a doctor, "What didn't you try?" Hmmm, this has a different connotation to me.
We then see the unsub abduct Lisa. Her fear is spiders, so, naturally, this guy has spiders at his disposal. I wasn't too concerned, though. Have you seen Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets? Acromantula are the kings of spiders. The unsub screams at Lisa, "WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?" She works for you, dummy. And next we have Rossi's attempts to talk the unsub down. Very clever. Rossi wins MVP for the episode. Why? HE PUNCHED OUT THE UNSUB! Bad. Ass. JJ is running after Jane once the case is over. I love this so much. She's talking to victims again! The tactic that Rossi used, the mirror box? Reid has heard of it. Guess what? I have heard of it too. I saw it happen on House before, and it was awesome. That JJ and Hotch scene at the end was great too. And the morgellons girl, Lisa? She all right now. That was yet another nice ending. Unfortunately, I'm kind of missing some epic Morgan action. We've gotten nothing but him screaming "FBI!" at the unsub. I miss him actually contributing things to the team.
What was the best part of the night? The events that happened after the episode, of course! Larry Teng and Breen Frazier were replying to the fans' questions for an hour or so. This is proof positive that the Criminal Minds cast and crew are some of the nicest people in all of television. What did Larry and Breen confirm for us? 10x11 will be JJ's PTSD episode, with Hotch supposedly helping her through it. Breen has been trying to get a Round 2 of the Morgan & Reid practical joke war, but he hasn't found the right situation for it, yet. Larry enjoyed working with Jeanne, and Bruce Zimmerman actually wrote in the phrase, "That's Ballsy." for Jeanne to say during Fatal (9x22). Amazing, amazing news.
So, what did you think of The Itch? Did it make your skin crawl? Are you looking forward to Boxed In next week, which is directed by Hotch himself, Thomas Gibson? Leave a comment down below!
