Ep 8. Reflection of Desire

The eighth episode of the sixth season of Criminal Minds is called "Reflection of Desire." The episode revolves around the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) team investigating a string of murders in a wealthy Florida neighborhood. Each killing involves a woman found naked in her own home with her eyes removed and a mirror placed in front of her.

As the team delves into the case, they discover that each victim was recently divorced and had attended a local spa called Reflections. The BAU agents start suspecting that the killer may be a former spa employee with an obsession with perfection, beauty, and youth.

The team initially suspects the spa owner, Dr. Larson, and her assistant, Caitlyn, who had both been in the business for over a decade and seemed to have a strong motive for revenge. However, the investigators soon learn that the spa has a new owner, Natasha, who bought the business from Dr. Larson only a year earlier.

As the team digs deeper, they discover that the employees, including the therapist and the receptionist, are all involved in the killings in some way. The therapist seems to be the mastermind behind the murders, as she is the one who has been counseling all the victims before they were killed. She has been manipulating them into thinking that they need to undergo extreme treatments to look younger and more beautiful, and then she uses their insecurities against them, ultimately leading to their deaths.

The therapist had also been grooming one of the receptionists, Sheila. Sheila was desperate for the therapist's approval and affection, and she ends up being her accomplice. Sheila lures in the victims by pretending to care for them and making them feel important and beautiful. However, her actions eventually lead her to become an accomplice to murder and one of the killer's victims.

While the team works to catch the killer, Rossi grapples with his personal life. He has recently reconnected with his ex-wife, who now works at the spa as a beautician. Rossi is struggling to balance his work life and his personal life, and his connection to the spa makes it harder for him to remain objective during the investigation.

As the team closes in on the killers, they finally discover the identity of the therapist. In the climactic scenes, the BAU agents race to stop the murderers before they can claim any more victims. The episode ends with the team successfully apprehending the culprits and Rossi making a difficult decision about his relationship with his ex-wife.

Overall, "Reflection of Desire" is a tightly paced and suspenseful episode that explores themes of obsession, insecurity, and the quest for perfection. The episode is notable for its strong focus on character development, particularly with Rossi, and its memorable and unsettling villain. Fans of the show will find plenty to enjoy in this gripping and emotional entry in the Criminal Minds canon.