Criminal Minds: No Way Out, Part II: The Evilution of Frank (season finale)

(S02E23) "Frank's back." - Morgan

Just like last year, Criminal Minds knows how to properly handle a season finale. This was a spectacular episode, and even thought it ended with a cliffhanger that came completely out of left field, I still ate up every second of it.

Frank, the most prolific serial killer ever, has returned and this time he's out to get Gideon. First off though, I have to say - I am terrified of Keith Carradine. Man... that guy is creepy. However, he played his part to perfection and it made for a thoroughly engrossing chase.

He's back, and unless his love Jane is returned, he plans to begin killing people Gideon has saved in previous cases. Things are complicated though when Gideon can't properly assist in the case because Frank murders Gideon's girlfriend making him a suspect. Sneaky, huh? I loved how the whole episode felt like a big season long culmination though. A melding of all these previous cases. Frank got to the young woman the BAU team saved in the season premiere from The Fisher King, but they were able to save the young girl Tracy Belle (again). Remember her? She was in the episode "The Boogeyman."

In the end Frank got his way, got his Jane, and the two of them jumped in front of a moving commuter train. Slightly anti-climactic but it felt satisfying. Frank isn't exactly the type of character that could keep showing up because eventually it would just be the same thing over and over again. He kills people, we get it. I'm glad it ended this way.

Now, on to the cliffhanger. Jayne Atkinson guest-starred as some sort of FBI director named Erin Strauss. For whatever reason, she has it in for the BAU team. Especially Hotch. She thinks the team is reckless and it stems from poor leadership. She's got ammo though. Elle's dismissal, Morgan's run in with the Chicago police, and Reid's drug issues all stand out. You gotta love Hotch though. The second that Strauss questioned his abilities, he expertly began to profile her and you know he was right because she immediately got defensive. Then he went on to profile his entire team, to perfection. It was an awesome scene and he owned every second of it. She was literally speechless and she realized Hotch wasn't just going to bend over and "quit." Then came the cliffhanger. Strauss went to Prentiss. Asked her to help get rid of Hotch.

So as I said, it definitely came out of left field. But it leaves plenty of questions for us to ponder. How devoted is Prentiss to the BAU team? In his assessment of her, Hotch made it clear that she still doesn't feel like she's part of the team. That could cloud her judgment, especially if she sees this as a way to further her own career. It could be interesting to see things take that route and get some dissension and tension amongst the team members. I don't think Prentiss would sell Hotch out like that though. Thus far, she's proved to be a good person. Which makes me wonder why Strauss would go to her. Is there something we don't know about Agent Emily Prentiss? I'm intrigued to say the least and I look forward to the answer. 6 out of 7. Not bad for what some people still consider to be just another "cop show."