Tribute
Emily Prentiss is living in the UK and working for Interpol. She keeps having nightmares about an agent who died because she let her go undercover before she was ready. When she realizes an international serial killer who "pays tribute" to other serial killers with his MO is at large in the US, she calls the BAU to warn them.
Tropes in this episode
- Action Survivor: The UnSubs last two victims almost manage to fight him off before they're rescued by the BAU.
- All Girls Like Ponies: Megan and her roommate have lots of pictures and figurines of horses in their dorm room, along with several ribbons that appear to be horse show prizes. Given the amount of expensive accessories Megan has, they (or she if it all belongs to one of them) may double as Upper Class Equestrians.
- Ask a Stupid Question...: Rossi gently teases Prentiss about why she hasn't talked about her boyfriend before. Prentiss asks how they know, and JJ tells her to take a guess. Prentiss immediately replies "Garcia."
- Boom, Headshot!: Emily kills the UnSub with one of these.
- Catapult Nightmare: Prentiss has one in the beginning of the episode. She also has another where JJ is the victim of the UnSub.
- Fame Through Infamy: Peterson is excited to learn that the FBI has tracked him so far and gloats that his murders will inspire books and make him world-famous.
- Gondor Calls for Aid: Prentiss calls the BAU for help.
- It's Personal: Prentiss is determined to take the UnSub down because he killed a British police woman who Prentiss had taken under her wing and encouraged to help in the hunt for the UnSub when he was operating in London.
- Jack the Ripoff: The UnSub is one of multiple serial killers: he murdered prostitutes (and an undercover police officer) in London using the MO of Jack the Ripper, raped and murdered a child in Russia to emulate Andrei Chikatilo, and carries out killings on American soil reminiscent of the Boston Strangler and Son of Sam. The BAU catch him in the process of trying to copy the townhouse murders of Richard Speck.
- Loophole Abuse: Invoked by Emily when she tries to convince Hotch that the British murders plus the one in New York are a case of serial killing, and therefore FBI business. It doesn't work.
