The Storm
Antonia Slade's autistic son was tricked into assisting an UnSub in framing Hotch for domestic terrorism. The inmates of a maximum security prison containing many of the most notorious serial killers the BAU have faced is planning a mass breakout.Tropes in this episode
- Big Damn Heroes: Hotch and a SWAT team arrive in the nick of time to save Lewis from being killed by the rioting prisoners, and then to save JJ and Reid moments later.
- The Bus Came Back: We haven't seen Ennis since Tara quit her job as his prison psychologist to work full-time with the BAU. She runs into him again in the top security wing of the high security prison.
- Clear My Name: Hotch has to convince the DOJ that he's innocent while figuring out what is actually going on. The rest of the team also works on that goal.
- *Click* Hello: One of the prisoners tries to tunnel his way out, only to be met with a thicket of guns when he breaks through the wall.David Rossi: Evening.
- Cliffhanger: The episode ends on the announcement that 13 serial killers escaped prison.
- Continuity Nod:
- Garcia mentions the time she was in London in season seven.
- Hotch's boss brings up events such as Haley's death and when Rossi killed Gideon's killer.
- Continuity Snarl: In the Fisher King arc, Diana made a huge deal of being afraid of flying. In this episode, Reid tells Tara that his mother is not afraid of flying, but she's terrified of cruise ships. However, it's quite possible that Diana did overcome her fear of flying sometime after "The Fisher King".
- Dressing as the Enemy: The inmates dress as prison guards and SWAT members during the prison break to get the jump on law enforcement.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Antonia Slade clearly cares for her adult autistic son, and willingly co-operates with the BAU to ensure her son won't be killed when they catch him.
- For the Evulz: According to Hotch, Eric Rawdon, the mastermind behind the plot to frame him, has no ideological or political motivation for wanting to detonate a bomb in a major metropolitan area: he just wants to see a city burn.
- Great Escape: Hotch's framing is just a distraction, the actual Evil Plan is a huge prison break.
- Hauled Before A Senate Subcommittee: Hotch threatens the Department of Justice interrogator holding him with one of these for allowing a major terrorist incident to take place on American soil unless they release him to thwart it.Aaron Hotchner: Ask yourself one question: am I more helpful here mentally preparing a report to the subcommittee that's gonna haul you in, or out there catching Rawdon?
- Hoist by His Own Petard: One of the rioters disguised as a SWAT officer is about to throw a flashbang grenade to deal with JJ and Reid when Hotch shoots him in the arm, causing him to drop the grenade. Hotch manages to shout a warning and the law enforcement officers take cover: the prisoners are completely blindsided by the blast and disarmed before they can recover.
- Honorary Uncle: JJ's son Henry greets Reid as 'Uncle Spencer'.
- Horrible Judge of Character:Antonia thinks that she has figured out the basic psychology of all the BAU members, based on brief interviews with them. For some reason, she has concluded that JJ is a "goody-goody" who is unlikely to break the rules. Not only does an angry JJ force Antonia to bargain for the life of her son, previous seasons have established that JJ has little hesitation to use underhanded methods, she can get dangerous when sufficiently motivated, and she is struggling with her own own dark impulses.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: Ennis and the other serial killers menacing Lewis quickly surrender when Hotch and a squad of armed cops bust in and start shooting.
- Mama Bear: JJ is in this mode after her kids were caught up in Hotch's arrest. Her anger is enough that even Antonia Slade realises not to push her luck too far.J.J: I'm not making any promises. Not after your son's actions had armed police pointing a gun at my son!
- Manchild:
- Reid points out that Asher is "a bit old" for a SWATer. Turns out the man has a developmental disorder, which explains why in his mid-forties he plays pranks on FBI agents.
- Discussed when the team talks about autistics, and Reid mentions that some of them will do criminal things because "they know there's power in it", without deriving any pleasure from the crime itself.
- Mass "Oh, Crap!": The entire BAU's reaction to finding out 13 serial killers, including Mr. Scratch, have broken out of prison.
- New Old Flame: Rossi is back together with his ex-wife Hayden, his daughter Joy's mother.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Antonia Slade when she realises a pissed off JJ isn't bluffing about threatening to kill her autistic son if he resists arrest.
- One of the SWAT cops trying to retake the prison has this reaction when he notices a "warden" who was being held hostage has a white supremacist tattoo.
SWAT Captain: It's a setup! - Stage Magic: Reid entertains JJ and Hotch's kids with card tricks.
- Stuff Blowing Up: A helicopter is blown up by shooting it repeatedly. It helps there was a military grade explosive device on board it for a planned terrorist attack.
- Villainous Breakdown: Rawdon goes berserk when Hotch quickly figures out where the bomb for his planned terrorist attack is being kept.
- What Have We Ear?: Reid pulls a card out of Henry's ear, and an improbably long scarf out of Garcia's.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: Hotch's reaction to realising the Department of Justice are holding him based on testimony from Peter Lewis (aka Mr. Scratch). A serial killer told them that he might kill his own team.
