Twenty-Five to Life
Directed by Charles S Carroll
Written by Erica Messer
Morgan recommends the parole of a man convicted of killing his wife and daughter who still claims to be innocent. It looks like he commits another murder immediately after his release. The BAU finds out that he was framed by a politician.Written by Erica Messer
Morgan: "There is no such thing as part freedom." Nelson Mandela.
This episode provides examples of:
- Bittersweet Ending: Though with emphasis on sweetness. Don is exonerated for his past crimes and gets to reunite with his son... but he still had to spend 25 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and it’s left unclear how much justice the real killer will face for his crimes.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Don had to endure 25 years in solitary for two murders he didn’t commit, but thanks to the BAU, he ultimately gets to reunite with his son and see the real killer brought to justice.
- Formula-Breaking Episode: This episode doesn't focus on catching a killer, and instead focuses on analyzing a prisoner. This hasn't happened since the Sarah Jean case.
- Frame-Up: Don was framed for murders 25 years ago by the real serial killer.
- Killing in Self-Defense: Don had to do this to his sole real kill, who was interrogating him at gunpoint.
- Living Emotional Crutch: The only thing that kept Don going while in prison was his son.
- Sarcastic Clapping: Morgan does this while confronting the real UnSub at his party.
- Understatement: At the start of the episode.Prentiss: [The Last Case]... didn't end the way she had hoped.Rossi: I'd say.
- Would Hurt a Child: A really awful example. Don’s 5-year-old daughter got killed purely because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time during the break-in.
- Morgan: "All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." Galileo.
