The story explores the cycle of life— (the motive and the victims), birth (the origin of a killer's urges), and death (the finality of the act and the loss of innocence). It is often cited by fans on Reddit and Tumblr as one of the most emotional episodes because of the empathy shown toward a character who feared his own nature.
: As the BAU closes in on the actual perpetrator—who is eventually revealed to be a high-ranking political staffer—Nathan becomes a primary suspect due to his proximity to the crimes and his self-confessed urges.
: Simultaneously, a serial killer is actively brutalizing sex workers near the U.S. Capitol. The team, led by Jason Gideon and Aaron Hotch , must profile a killer who leaves a trail of carnage in high-risk areas.