"The Pact" (8x2) is one of my 5 favorite episodes from season 8. It's not necessarily one of the best,just a personal favorite. But it is a good episode. I'm only gonna talk about the first half of the episode.
The story is about two female vigilante killers who are out for revenge. They met online in a support group. Darlene is out to get the guy who raped and murdered her 8 year old daughter. Ellen is out to get the woman who killed her baby nephew while driving drunk when she was 17. The woman especially got off easy, with her being a minor at the time. The woman is murdered in San Diego and 3 hours later, the man is murdered in Los Angeles. Both were killed in the same way: blitz attacked, chained to a car and dragged. They appear to have no relation to each other. The BAU quickly deduce that it was the work of two unsubs and that one unsub was more reluctant/hesitant and the other one seemed to enjoy what they were doing.
I'd like to acknowledge the casting. Kim Wayans (Darlene) and Meckenzie Phillips (Ellen) had a really good chemistry with each other as the vigilante duo. Kim Wayans made Darlene very sympathetic to the viewers. She seemed nice. She even killed her victim BEFORE the dragging, because she couldn't bring herself to drag them alive. Ellen is a possible psychopath who seemed like she actually liked the kill (and the suffering of her victim).
Darlene and Ellen swapped murders (like in Strangers on a Train). However, the fact that they met on the internet would probably mean the cops would eventually connect them as partners. But it seems they have plans to flee the country after they're done anyway. Ellen tells Darlene that before she killed one of her daughter's rapists, he gave up the name of two more guys who were involved.
The BAU identify both unsubs only halfway into the episode (which is pretty quick). But that's because the story takes a very interesting turn. These two female vigilantes eventually go toe to toe with a psychopath in the second half of the episode and it's quite a ride. The psychopath Jason Nelson is played brilliantly by Brandon Keener. And it's a second half that is way too good to give away. There are extended scenes with the ladies and the psychopath that's wonderfully written and acted.
Criminal Minds has done it's share of vigilante episodes over the years. My favorite is probably still "A Real Rain" (1x17) from season one. But there have been other good ones like "True Night" (3x10) and "The Road Home" (9x13).
The story is about two female vigilante killers who are out for revenge. They met online in a support group. Darlene is out to get the guy who raped and murdered her 8 year old daughter. Ellen is out to get the woman who killed her baby nephew while driving drunk when she was 17. The woman especially got off easy, with her being a minor at the time. The woman is murdered in San Diego and 3 hours later, the man is murdered in Los Angeles. Both were killed in the same way: blitz attacked, chained to a car and dragged. They appear to have no relation to each other. The BAU quickly deduce that it was the work of two unsubs and that one unsub was more reluctant/hesitant and the other one seemed to enjoy what they were doing.
I'd like to acknowledge the casting. Kim Wayans (Darlene) and Meckenzie Phillips (Ellen) had a really good chemistry with each other as the vigilante duo. Kim Wayans made Darlene very sympathetic to the viewers. She seemed nice. She even killed her victim BEFORE the dragging, because she couldn't bring herself to drag them alive. Ellen is a possible psychopath who seemed like she actually liked the kill (and the suffering of her victim).
Darlene and Ellen swapped murders (like in Strangers on a Train). However, the fact that they met on the internet would probably mean the cops would eventually connect them as partners. But it seems they have plans to flee the country after they're done anyway. Ellen tells Darlene that before she killed one of her daughter's rapists, he gave up the name of two more guys who were involved.
The BAU identify both unsubs only halfway into the episode (which is pretty quick). But that's because the story takes a very interesting turn. These two female vigilantes eventually go toe to toe with a psychopath in the second half of the episode and it's quite a ride. The psychopath Jason Nelson is played brilliantly by Brandon Keener. And it's a second half that is way too good to give away. There are extended scenes with the ladies and the psychopath that's wonderfully written and acted.
Criminal Minds has done it's share of vigilante episodes over the years. My favorite is probably still "A Real Rain" (1x17) from season one. But there have been other good ones like "True Night" (3x10) and "The Road Home" (9x13).
