Following the recent issues surrounding the unit, and notably his personal loss, Jason Gideons whereabouts and future remain a mystery to the rest of the team. In the fallout Aaron Hotchner is contemplating transferring to another unit, whilst Emily Prentiss quits the FBI. Whilst I'll miss Mandy Patinkins Gideon as a character I always thought he was somewhat light weight as a team member, although to be fair the whole group is a collection of oddballs and brains with a little common sense thrown in just to make it plausible.
Meanwhile life must continue and Director Erin 'I hate the team so why am I in this job?' Strauss steps up to lead the team but fails to make a good impression, especially in the field when called in to investigate a serial killer in Milwaukee.
When it become clear that the killer is using his young son to lure in the victims, and in response to the obvious team dynamic and trust issues both Aaron and Emily join the team, possibly for the last time, in order to see up the investigation and hopefully reach the final victim whilst she is still alive. .... The changes in team dynamic were somewhat grating, though admittedly some of this is deliberate on the behalf of the writers in showing that the upheavals do have consequences especially with the disruptive influence of the new director who is obviously not cut out for BAU case work. .... I don't feel this was a great episode but it was also quite workmanlike and did the necessary moves towards the post-Gideon era. I don't like the Director and whilst I feel the team really needs to be less 'Jet Setting' it seems to be too much of a 'administrative' new face.
A solid if unimpressive - 7