Ep 17. The Gathering

The Gathering is the seventeenth episode of the eighth season of the American police procedural drama television series Criminal Minds. The episode follows the BAU team as they investigate a series of murders in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The episode begins with a young woman named Meg fleeing from a man who has been stalking her. As she runs through the woods, collapsing from exhaustion and fear, the man catches up with her and strangles her to death. The team is called to investigate the murder, and while examining the crime scene, they find a drawing of a woman with a rose. The same drawing is found at every murder scene that follows.

Soon, the team realizes that the women who have been murdered all have a connection to a cult-like group called "The Gathering." It is revealed that the group is led by a charismatic man named Marcus who claims to have a direct connection to God and is followed blindly by his followers.

The team's investigation leads them to Marcus's compound, where they witness the group's rituals and learn that Marcus has taken a new wife from among his followers. As they delve deeper into the cult's practices, they discover that Marcus believes he must kill a woman with a rose tattoo on her body to achieve salvation and be reunited with his deceased wife.

As they race to stop Marcus from carrying out his twisted beliefs and saving his intended victim, the team faces unexpected obstacles and danger. The situation becomes even more complicated when one of their own is captured by Marcus.

Throughout the episode, the team deals with their own personal struggles and relationships. JJ struggles with the recent death of her sister, while Rossi must confront his own past mistakes in dealing with a cult. Meanwhile, Reid's relationship with his girlfriend, Maeve, takes a dramatic turn that will have lasting consequences.

With high stakes and heart-pounding action, The Gathering is a gripping and emotionally charged episode that showcases the team's skills and dedication to saving lives. In the end, the team is faced with difficult moral decisions and the aftermath of their actions, highlighting the toll that their work takes on their personal lives.