Criminal Minds 7x11: True Genius

Original Air Date: 18 January 2012

Storyline: A series of murders in San Francisco bearing the tell-tale signs of the infamous Zodiac Killer have the BAU wondering if the notorious serial killer has returned. Also, Reid ponders if he should be doing more with his genius abilities.Trivia: The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The killer's identity remains unknown. The Zodiac murdered victims in Benicia, Vallejo, Lake Berryessa and San Francisco between December 1968 and October 1969. Four men and three women between the ages of 16 and 29 were targeted. The killer originated the name "Zodiac" in a series of taunting letters sent to the local Bay Area press. These letters included four cryptograms (or ciphers). Of the four cryptograms sent, only one has been definitively solved.Best Quote:

Reid: It's not the real Zodiac. 
Prentiss: How can you be so sure?
Reid: I just know it. Sometimes I can't really explain it.

Intro: "Three can keep a secret if two are dead." Benjamin Franklin. (Morgan)Outro: "There is no greater sorrow than to recall in misery the time when we were happy." Dante. (Reid)Review: There are two main reasons why this episode is one of my favorites: it brings to our attention the story of the Zodiac, one of the serial killers I've been most obsessed with over the years, and it focuses on Reid, the sexiest of all them geeks and my favorite character of the series. I think it's not too much to say that Reid was the one that got me to start watching this show in the first place.

Thirty is a turning point for us all, I believe, an age when you really start evaluating your life and compare your dreams with what you have actually achieved. It's Reid's case as well and he reconsiders his life based on his former status as a child prodigy, a genius who could have done a lot with his life, like cure schizophrenia, invent something big or run a multi-million dollars company. Instead, he has the same job as the other members of the BAU and has moments when he thinks he could have done much better in a different environment.
But Reid's opinion changes when he's faced with discovering who the killer behind the Zodiac-like murders is - a task made even more difficult than usual by the fact that the UnSub is a genius just like him. And when you deal with someone with superior intelligence, you know that you have to pay extra attention to all details, otherwise you may never solve the case.
Spencer's abilities were put to the test through deciphering codes - something we haven't seen often, but every time we have, it made my day. Also, the UnSub's game of chess was brilliantly played out and no one other than Reid would have been capable of figuring that out. So not leaving the BAU when Gideon left (despite having Rossi grow on me over the years, I'll always miss Mandy Patinkin's character) payed off, as he not only figured out who the Zodiac copycat was and what his motive was, but he also discovered the murderers of a seven-year old kid who disappeared years before.
Other than Reid's implication in solving the case, the episode was entertaining because the UnSub was not revealed until about halfway into the action. Also, the complex relationship between Caleb and Harvey made this installment particularly engaging. Not to mention that such a popular figure as the Zodiac is always a good way to make the public feel familiar with the subject at hand.
The rest of the team - with the exception of Garcia, who had a couple of funny moments, and Prentiss, who acted as a big sister for Reid this week (a role I would have seen more fit for JJ, whom I still want to see doing more than just interviewing parents) didn't have much to do, but I'm not complaining, since Reid got to show both his genius persona and his more recent confidence in negotiating with suspects and using a gun (can he be more sexy?), not to mention that he actually got all tough in front of the camera. My only complaint is that I didn't really buy the team not remembering about Reid's birthday, since they have been working together for so many years and Reid and JJ are especially close. The writers could have made the same point with the guys throwing Reid a party at the beginning of the episode as well.Criminal Minds 7x10: The Bittersweet Science Back to Season 7