Ep 19. Pay It Forward

The Criminal Minds season 8 episode 19 is titled "Pay It Forward". The episode opens with the BAU team in Quantico, Virginia, working on a case where a prominent businessman has been murdered. The team suspects it may be the work of a serial killer. The victim had a knife wound to the stomach, and the BAU team speculates that the killer may have an obsession with the abdomen area.

As the team begins to investigate, they find that the killer has left behind a coded message on the victim's computer. The team quickly realizes that the message is a clue to the killer's next target. However, when they arrive at the location, they find that the killer has already struck again and a second victim has been murdered.

The team starts to put together the pieces of the puzzle and begins to suspect that the killer is acting out of a sense of moral obligation. They believe that he is targeting people who have committed crimes but have not been punished for them. The team starts to look into the victim's background, along with the victims of the previous murders, to determine if there is a link.

During the investigation, the team faces some challenges. The killer has been using untraceable phone calls to communicate with his victims and has left no physical evidence at any of the crime scenes. The team must rely on behavioral analysis to piece together the clues and determine the killer's next move.

Meanwhile, the team members are dealing with their own personal issues. JJ is struggling with balancing her job with her responsibilities as a mother, while Reid is dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event that happened in a previous episode.

As the investigation progresses, the team realizes that they may have found the killer's next target. They work quickly to set up a trap to catch the killer before he can strike again. When they finally confront the killer, they are stunned to learn his true motives for the killings.

Overall, "Pay It Forward" is a compelling episode that showcases the BAU team's investigative skills and their ability to use behavioral analysis to catch a serial killer. The episode also highlights the personal struggles that each team member faces and how they balance their personal lives with their jobs. It's a must-see for fans of the show and anyone who loves a good crime drama.