The Instincts 

"The Instincts" is an episode of Criminal Minds starring Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, and Shemar Moore. A child abduction case in Las Vegas causes Reid to have strange nightmares which appear to be connected to an event in his past.

Director:

Rob Spera

Writers:

Jeff Davis (created by), Chris Mundy

Stars:

Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Joe Mantegna	...	David Rossi
Paget Brewster	...	Emily Prentiss
Shemar Moore	...	Derek Morgan
Matthew Gray Gubler	...	Dr. Spencer Reid
A.J. Cook	...	Jennifer Jareau
Kirsten Vangsness	...	Penelope Garcia
Thomas Gibson	...	Aaron Hotchner
Jane Lynch	...	Diana Reid
Kari Matchett	...	Amy Bridges
Reed Diamond	...	Craig Bridges
Melinda Page Hamilton	...	Claire Bates
Shashawnee Hall	...	Det. Ashby
Taylor Nichols	...	William Reid
Bruce French	...	Dr. Norman
Brad Heller	...	Walter Davis

Storyline

The team travel to Las Vegas to investigate the abduction and subsequent murder of 5-year old Ethan Hayes whose dead body was found in the desert but in a visible location, newly clothed and seemingly starved during his abduction phase but somehow with nutrients in his body without visible evidence of an I.V. marking on his body. Another adolescent, Michael Bridges, has been abducted but assumed not yet dead. The tie between the two abductions is that the killer has contacted both sets of parents telling them they are the cause of their child's abduction. This case is especially difficult for Reid whose hometown is Las Vegas and whose mother has been institutionalized there for the better part of her adult life. In addition, he has been having nightmares of late of himself and the team chasing the killer of a six-year old child. However, this child is seemingly someone he may have known from his own childhood.

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Plot Keywords:

nightmare | repressed memory | kidnapped child | bob dylan quotation | delusion | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 November 2008 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS Paramount Network Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

55 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The following quote pokes fun at another CBS hit show, the original CSI series. In that series, the Crime Scene Investigators take on a larger role than their actual counterparts in the real world, who would never interrogate criminals or question witnesses.

[Walking into a messy crime scene in the middle of the desert] David Rossi: It's not exactly a well preserved scene. Emily Prentiss: It's the crime scene investigators. They all wanna play cop instead of just being scientists, and they end up trampling on everything.

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Quotes

Dr. Spencer Reid: Dr. Norman gave me permission to sleep on the couch in your room tonight if it's all right with you.
Diana Reid: [to Dr. Norman] If anyone tries to keep him in here any longer, I'll scratch your eyes out.
Dr. Norman: [to Spencer] One night only.
[Dr. Norman walks away]
Diana Reid: It helps if they think you're crazy. They don't argue.

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Soundtracks

Shelter From the Storm
Written by Bob Dylan
Performed by Bob Dylan

User Reviews

Personally thought it was a return to form for Season 4 and 'Criminal Minds'

After being disappointed by "Catching Out" (though it will be re-watched again to see if the opinion remains the same or not, it is unlikely as it has been seen twice already and the reaction has been the same), both "The Instincts" and "Memoriam" were returns to form.

While "The Big Wheel" (a rare perfection episode), "Zoe's Reprise" and "Conflicted" are Season 4's best episodes, "The Instincts" and "Memoriam" are up there too. "The Instincts" is a Reid-centric episode, and while Reid has always been one of the most interesting, well-developed and entertaining 'Criminal Minds' characters the development to him here is simply brilliant. Of the Reid-centric episodes, "The Instincts" is up there with the best of them, being both harrowing and poignant.

Matthew Gray Gubler's superlative acting has a lot to do with it, and he is more than ably supported by the rest of the lead actors, the chemistry and bond within the team still shines brilliantly. As well as a hard-hitting and quite moving Jane Lynch, in perhaps the most serious role she's ever done and what a performance she gives, and Kari Matchett, whose character is so easily rootable.

Immediately impressive also is the atmosphere. "The Instincts" has to be one of the most atmospherically creepy, hard-hitting and suspenseful Season 4 episodes, both the calls from the unsub and the nightmares are incredibly eerie. There are also a couple of entertaining moments, such as Rossi and JJ's exchange in the desert, and some insightful ones, such as the profiling and Morgan's analysis of Reid's nightmare. "The Instincts" is superbly written, Diana's lines really made me feel something, like shock and tears.

Storytelling is compelling, exciting and suspenseful, with a twist regarding the unsub's real identity that one does not see coming. While there is no way that one can condone the unsub's actions, due to their trauma and what triggered their crimes one can't help feeling a tinge of sympathy. The episode is very well made visually, and one cannot complain about the way it's scored and directed too.

To conclude, a wonderful episode, much better than given credit for from the previous reviews (respectfully) and a return to form for the season and the show. 10/10 Bethany Cox