To see the ever stoic Hotch reduced to a helpless and distraught mess is agonizing. You feel the tension throughout the episode as you try to figure out exactly what happened. You know something terrible took place but you're not exactly sure what. The entire story is executed perfectly, all the way to the end. Hotch, and the entire team, actually having to listen to Haley's final moments was the breaking point. Hoping there was time to save her but knowing Foyet would never be that merciful. And then Foyet thinking he had the ultimate power over Hotch by "surrendering" after murdering Haley...because he never believed Aaron would bend the rules, never mind BREAK THEM, by not taking him into custody. He wanted to break Hotch but didn't expect him to lash out like that...fatal mistake. I think they ended this story arch perfectly because there was no way Hotch could properly feel closure with Foyet alive, especially knowing he'd escaped once before.
Saddest episode, but definitely one of, if not THE best.
Saddest episode, but definitely one of, if not THE best.