I Suddenly Remembered My Charlemagne

I wish I could accurately convey how I feel about this show (and assume I am about to feel about this episode).

The first time I ran into this feeling was when I read our own sharim's fic "Broken". This was a while ago, but the intervening time has not provided me with the words. But let it be known that when I say things like "That was horrible" or "It made me want to vomit" I don't mean it in the bad way. But it's not really good either. It just...moves me. Which is why I cannot listen to "One of These Mornings" (thank you Jack from Without a Trace), among other things.

And that is how I feel about Criminal Minds. I am about to be moved.

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Before I dive into the episode, I would like to mention something I thought of this morning. The Reaper is about Power. First it was power over those he killed, but that only lasted until the ninth victim. After that, it became all about power over the police/FBI. And everyone remembers Hotch...but I would like to remind you all that the only reason Derek Morgan is alive is because he was unconscious. And look at who is leading the team.

If Hotch did that on purpose I will freaking die.

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( Fearing the Reaper )

I am going to have to watch this episode a lot. But I might need to go look at some kitten pictures first.

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

( Chapter 4 )

A huge THANK YOU goes out to wojelah, who mercilessly slaughtered the Oxford Comma and pointed out that a contraction every now and then wouldn’t kill them.

AN: I usually love Criminal Minds to distraction. But “To Hell...And Back” left me really cold because I felt they had not done Canada justice. And not just because of their abysmal geography. So this story comes from that. And because these characters have moved into my brain and taken over.

The title of the fic is taken from a book by Julian Sher about the case I am using as a model, which was in turn taken from the original sentence “to be hanged by the neck until you are dead”.

Warnings: I don’t typically warn in fics, because I usually write for Stargate. This, however, is Criminal Minds. Criminal Minds is not exactly cotton candy at the best of times, and I’ve tried to make this story as true to the show as possible.

The case I’ve used as a model is the true story of a 14-year-old boy who was convicted of raping and strangling a 13-year-old schoolmate in 1959. Consider yourself “viewer discretion is advised”.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Thank goodness. Can you imagine the therapy bill if I owned these people?

Rating: Teen, like the show.

Summary: The BAU is called to a small town in Ontario to help in the re-investigation of a 50-year-old murder case after three additional bodies are found.

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( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 2

irony_rocks, this is not aimed at you. Well...mostly not. ;)

It took me a long time to fall in love with Criminal Minds.

I remember sitting down to see the pilot, getting about fifteen minutes in, thinking "Hey! It's Inigo Montoya!" and then deciding I didn't need another cop show. I also had night class on Wednesdays every year after that, so it wouldn't have worked out very well. In hindsight, the pilot lacks many of the elements that make Criminal Minds so great, but it got the job done.

The second time I tried watching Criminal Minds, I got very upset when a whole room full of police officers and FBI agents couldn't identify a human rib on sight. Because...they look exactly like you think they look, and...just...well, you know.

The third episode I watched was called "Scared to Death". And even though I sort of was, I knew I was hooked.

( Cut for length and very vague spoilers )

( Recommended Episodes )

Links

Synecdochic's Manifesto
Matociquala's Manifesto
My Criminal Minds Tag