Exit Wounds
Directed by Charles S Carroll
Written by Rick Dunkle
An Alaskan town has a serial killer who kills every other day. Evidence points to the UnSub being a psychopath who kills for his own amusement. The locals think it's natural to have basic hunting skills, like the UnSub has. The BAU detects a pattern in that the victims all planned to leave the town, even if one of them tries to leave because there's a serial killer at large.Written by Rick Dunkle
Garcia: "Nature, in her most dazzling aspects or stupendous parts, is but the background and theater of the tragedy of man." John Morley.
This episode provides examples of:
- Accidental Murder: The UnSub's first kill was a genuinely accident. Unfortunately, it convinced him to commit deliberate murder.
- Break the Cutie: Penelope witnesses a murder firsthand in this episode.
- Call-Back: Garcia brings up the time she'd been shot in Season 3, and how she'd laid there thinking that the last thing she'd ever see was the face of her killer.
- *Click* Hello: Pulled by Rossi, Morgan, and Prentiss during a Mexican Standoff.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: Garcia's appears again here when she runs towards the fourth victim moments after seeing the UnSub.
- Comfort the Dying: Garcia does this to make sure that the last person a victim saw before passing on wasn't his killer, but a friendly face.
- Cut Phone Lines: Happens while Garcia and Kevin are talking on the phone, prompting the former to investigate.
- Didn't Think This Through: When the UnSub’s abusive father is questioned about his whereabouts, he orders his wife to keep her mouth shut in a very threatening tone. It doesn’t occur to him that he really shouldn’t do that in the presence of FBI agents and the local sheriff. The next time he’s seen, he’s in a jail cell, presumably for interfering with a federal investigation.
- Double-Meaning Title: A wound caused by a projectile going through a body (such as an arrow or gun, like the weapons used in this episode), as well as alluding to the fact that Owen kills those who plan to leave the town or are responsible for someone else leaving.
- Exact Words: Hotch promises the UnSub’s mother that her husband will never lay a hand on her again. By the end of the episodes, he’s in a jail cell for covering up their son's killings.
- Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: Despite being in an abusive marriage, everyone notes to Mrs. Porter that she was one of the reasons behind Owen's behaviour and only stood by as people died.
- Hates Being Alone: Owen hates the idea due to having a severe case of separation anxiety. His victims are all people who planned to leave Franklin (or, in the case of Joshua's mother, keeping his big brother figure away from him).
- Hate Sink: From the little bit of screentime he has, Owen's father is never portrayed kindly. He's abusive to his wife and son, making them cover it up and having the gall to tell his wife not to say anything in front of FBI agents and the sheriff.
- Hunting the Most Dangerous Game: Owen's MO matches his hunting abilities, and later, he is chased by a hunting team.
- I'm a Humanitarian: Owen eats a spleen from his fourth victim.
- Karma Houdini Warranty: The UnSub’s father never received punishment for domestic abuse because his wife and son always covered for him whenever local authorities come to his house. When the BAU come to his home, his wife finally admits that the two were covering their son’s crimes. Regardless of whether or not he will be charged with domestic abuse, he will now serve jail time for obstruction of justice (which is a felony and has an even harsher sentence compared to the misdemeanor of domestic violence).
- Know When to Fold 'Em: When the members of the hunting party chasing Owen see that they're outnumbered by the BAU team during the Mexican Standoff, all but one of them give up peacefully.
- Lampshade Hanging: The victim-to-be at the start of the episode asks if anyone's there in the darkened pier.Brenda: "Is anyone there," Brenda? Right. 'Cause the homicidal maniac hiding in the shadows is really going to answer you.
- Parents as People: Mrs. Porter does love her son, but kept Owen homeschooled instead of getting real help and/or sending him somewhere safer.
- Pyrrhic Victory: While finally free of her abusive husband, the UnSub's mother will still have to face the fact that her son will still be incarcerated for the killings. Even if she doesn’t go to prison for covering up her son’s crimes by cooperating with the authorities, she still faces the possibility of being ostracized by the town for not reporting the crimes to the sheriff.
- Revenge Before Reason: Joshua planned to kill Owen for killing his mother, even when the BAU talked the Angry Mob into surrendering.
- Right Behind Me: Reid explains that Joshua matched the profile while his mother is right behind him, prompting her to confront the police and the BAU about arresting her son.
- Shout-Out: Garcia and Kevin when the latter learns about her sleeping in the same room as Morgan.Garcia: Oh, you're jealous.Kevin: Jealous? Why? Because you're bedding down with a... muscle-bound, modern-day 007?Garcia: Mm, he's more like Jason Bourne.
- There Is Only One Bed: Only four rooms in an inn for the BAU in this episode, considering that it's a small town with a police department smaller than their group.Morgan: I'm not sleeping with Reid.Reid: (looks offended)Garcia: (grabs Morgan's hand) Dibs.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Rossi shoots Joshua in the shoulder to protect Owen after the latter killed his mother. Rather than dying or being incarcerated for attempted murder, he's shown later with his arm in a sling and standing outside Owen's cell, apparently calmed down.
- Vigilante Execution: Attempted on Owen by Joshua and an Angry Mob.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Owen's mom is nowhere to be found in the epilogue. Although, it's doubtful anything will stay the same.
- Yandere: Owen is a non-romantic example to his big brother figure, Joshua, who later turns on him because of it.
- Garcia: Ralph W. Sockman said, "Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as real strength."
