Criminal Minds 7x03: Dorado Falls

Original Air Date: 5 October 2011

Storyline: The BAU team investigates a mass murder at an Internet security company in Charlottesville, but clues reveal it is not a typical workplace serial killer. Also, Prentiss must complete recertification training under Morgan's watchful eye.Trivia: General Boyd Milgram, the character portrayed by Lindsey Ginter, was named after Stanley Milgram, who devised a series of experiments in social psychology conducted when he was at Yale University and later discussed in his 1974 book, "Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View".

The license plate on the car of one of Luke Dolan's neighbors (WLT-62X3) was the same one used for Gideon's car in the final scene of "In Name and Blood."

Best Quote:

Morgan: People with delusional disorders don't all become killers, though. 
Reid: True, but Dolan's background as a Navy Seal, his knowledge of secret missions plus his Capgras Syndrome could result in extreme paranoia. It's the perfect storm.

Intro: "Men are not prisoners of fate, but prisoners of their own minds." Franklin D. Roosevelt. (Reid)Outro: "We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for a moment that we're not alone." Orson Welles. (Rossi)Review: First of all, did anyone else find Garcia's "since you know how to rub my lamp, your wish is my command" line a little bit too out there even for her?

Now, moving on to the actual plot, I found it refreshing that the team is back to the usual activities and left most of the sentimentalism caused by Prentiss' return behind. I don't mind exploring that from time to time, but they shouldn't take too much out of the actual profiling work, like in the beginning of this season.
That being said, this week's unsub was a unique one, for sure. We've seen former soldiers with PTSD believing they were still in combat on other shows before, but one who would think his own parents had been replaced was something quite original. One reason why I'm such a fan of this show is that they truly explore different human conditions instead of just relying on stereotypes when it comes to their criminals. It's the first time I've heard about the Capgras Syndrome and it made for a very interesting plot.
The episode was fast paced and the case provided enough turns to keep any procedural show buff on the edge. Luke Dolan went from a mass murder thought to be a workplace murder to killing his parents to popping up behind Rossi in the FBI building in the course of 45 minutes and it made for an extremely entertaining case to follow. The ending was an unnecessary hunt for drama, but I won't complain about that, as the delivery was overall superb.
I'm very excited about the new Reid. He's always been a genius who finds answers where the others don't, but this season he seems to be getting more attention. I'm a big Reid fan and he was the reason why I committed to this show in the first place. Also, loving the new haircut! Matthew Gray Gubler is one of the very few people who can actually rock something like that.
I'm still not seeing JJ as a profiler. She's good at talking to the press and she has connections in the Pentagon which led to her getting hold of the Dorado Falls file, but other than that, I don't see much of her in the field.
Rossi was a big part of this episode. His negotiating skills were impressive and ultimately saved the day. It's not the first time he does that - back in season 4, he negotiates the release of Reid and Prentiss, who had gone undercover into an underground cult. He kept his cool the whole time, even with Dolan holding a bomb trigger inside their offices.  Very entertaining episode, in true Criminal Minds style. It is one of those few shows that don't get old with time.
Criminal Minds 7x02: Proof Back to Season 7