Criminal Minds - Hero Worship - Review: "Boom Goes The Dynamite"

For an episode that was supposed to be "bomb-centric", there really weren't a lot of explosions. Moreover, I have always been a big supporter of Rick Dunkle's episodes. He wrote Broken (8x15), and that was my favourite episode of the entire series. Needless to say, when I hear he is writing a new episode, I am automatically more interested. This episode did not disappoint. I'm a bit peeved that Reid got to have yet another episode dedicated to only him getting over a trauma, but they did it in a proper way that I'm okay with it. The case was interesting, too! So, enough of this preamble, let's get to the review!

The episode begins with a previously on? Well, those are always cause for concern. We know this episode is going to continue with the whole 'Gideon's death' storyline, minus the Ben Savage flashbacks, which were the only parts I enjoyed from last week. Oh well, I was still curious to see what they were going to do. The episode open with a view of the bullpen, that's pretty uncommon. Most episodes open with the unsub/case of the week, but these past two episodes have been different; that's good. Reid is playing chess with himself, poor guy. Rossi came over to him, how lovely. I love their friendship. Seeing more from them was on my wish list for things I want to see in Season 10, so this made me quite happy. Now we get to the case. There's a waiter in a restaurant dealing with a lot of customers and their complaints. Just when you think he's going to snap, a bomb goes off outside. That was intense. Cut to the team at the roundtable. No "Wheels up in 30"? Stuff isn't going to go well. We find out that the coffee shop may not be his only target. And then theme song.

Opening Quote:
Spoken by Spencer Reid - "The most heroic word in all languages is revolution." Eugene Debs

The BAU is on the jet talking about potential profilers for this bomber. Rossi says, "I don't like it.", in reference to one of the options. I laughed really loudly. Hotch and Reid had some screen time together; on the plane and in the hospital. That's always nice to see. We got a heartbreaking scene of Reid looking for someone who was killed in the blast. Then, we're taken to the house of the "hero" who saved a pregnant lady from the blast. JJ and Kate are talking with them, and then they go outside to a swarm of journalists. Kate said, "Sorry guys, guess you'll have to capitalize on somebody else's trauma today." Is that really appropriate? Yes, we get it, reporters are scum for you guys. But those are a very poor choice of words, especially since JJ just recently went through trauma of her own. Shame. Well, then we get a reprieve at the morgue. This Forensic Specialist that we meet is 'totally' modern. Rossi asked a few questions about her. Hmmm, I'm getting a strong vibe that they're trying to find someone for Reid. I actually like her so far. i hope they don't kill her...

Speaking of Rossi and Reid, Rossi is being so encouraging to Reid. Reid is playing a lot of chess with himself; it seems to clear his head. Rossi is being very cautious and kind to him. And then, he casually tried to get Reid to come up with a profile for the bomber guy. I liked that. Next is another scene with JJ and Kate at the family's house. Once they leave, we're still at the family's house, and we're watching a normal night with them. Why are they focusing on this family so much? Clearly the husband is the unsub or he's connected to the unsub in some way. Now the husband goes to car to just "go to the store". He gets in the car - there's a bomb under his car! See, I knew it! Reid and Morgan arrive on scene. Reid is so kind to the families, aw. "How the hell did we beat the bomb squad?" "I'd give you statistics, but we really don't have the time." That was a nice Reid and Morgan conversation. And they remembered that Derek Morgan has bomb squad experience! I'm absolutely elated! That was also on my wish list for things to see in Season 10. Way to go, Criminal Minds. The whole scene of Morgan stopping the bomb and he says, "Kid, I need you to step back." "Not gonna happen." was adorable.

Back to the station, and now we're getting somewhere; some sort of a profile! He's a personal-cause bomber. One of the officers asked what this guy's intended message was. The BAU responded with: "Look at me." "Fear me." "I am God." That was so spine-chillingly cool! Garcia checks in, and says, "I am the queen of lots of things, including subtlety." Oh, for sure. That was funny. Next we're back at the scene with Allen's family. So, Allen is the unsub? Why so predictable, show? There has got to be more to this guy. The team takes him and his wife into custody. The interrogation is to follow. "We heard you had a rough night." YOU GO, ROSSI! It's Kate's turn to interrogate. "Wanna know what I think?" "No?" Wow, I never thought I'd side with a creepy bomber dude. I laughed a lot harder at this than I should have. Anyway, so now there's a partner? And he wants to outdo Allen? Allen was just a copycat. This is interesting. Then, JJ talked about the media! I like this a lot! JJ goes to give the mom some tough love. And now they're doing a press conference, with Hotch and Rossi standing together! Give me more!

Ooh, a guy brought a bomb in an van to the press conference. That's ballsy. An intense scene where everyone runs behind a barricade so not to get hit by the bomb was next. But this bomb was a decoy; oh boy! JJ and the other unsub of the show, Burke, have a standoff. "I'm the one with the bomb." "Yes, but you're not going to use it." Ooh, good one JJ. They're talking him down very creepily. But it worked, so yay! And then JJ thanked Brenda, Alan's wife. That was sweet. I love how JJ was back in her old element again. It was like she was still the liaison with the press and the families. It was like a wish come true.

Closing Quote:
Spoken by Spencer Reid - "True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost." Arthur Ashe

"He's gone, Spencer. Keeping the game going won't change that." Rossi delivering the cold, hard, truth. Apparently before Reid, Rossi was the one Gideon played chess with; aw. Also, he mentioned that Gideon hated "Unfinished Business." Nice little indirect reference to the Season 1 episode of the same name? Rossi sat and played chess with Reid. Cute! He stopped Reid from becoming more and more delusional. Rossi helped Reid get over a trauma without whining, or dilaudid. I'm actually really impressed.

Final Thoughts:
- Isn't it sad that this is what it takes for me to be impressed? Reid is a grown man who is becoming more and more unrealistic as the seasons go by. Maybe that's why we love him, I don't know. Either way, I'm glad he is now capable over getting through trauma, even though it was ridiculous to have this trauma in the first place.
- It took a year for JJ to feel trauma, and Reid gets two episodes to be sad in a row. It has always been clear which characters the writers favour. Reid has always been one of them. But I wonder if they're capable of going Reid an episode to be happy. You know, happiness, an emotion where you're not sad?
- I'd give the episode a B+ simply because Kate's comments weren't my forte and they just had to have another upset Reid episode. The case was actually interesting, and I love how Rick Dunkle remembered that Morgan has experience with bombs!

What did you think of Hero Worship? Did it make you 'explode' with emotions? Leave a comment down below!