Ep 10. Lessons Learned

The episode titled "Lessons Learned" opens with the team of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) investigating a case of a prison break in Guantanamo Bay detention camp. The initial investigation shows that three prisoners, convicted of terrorism offenses, have escaped from their cells and taken a hostage, a Navy captain who was a former employee of the detention facility.

The team, led by SSA Aaron Hotchner, arrives in Cuba to assist the Guantanamo Bay Joint Task Force in the investigation. They soon realize that the prison break wasn't solely motivated by the desire for freedom but an elaborate plan to stage an attack on US soil. The escaped prisoners are part of a terrorist group involved in various attacks across the globe and have been trained to withstand torture and brainwashing techniques.

The episode shifts between the present and flashbacks of the interrogation of one of the escaped prisoners by a CIA agent, Mark Gregory. The agent employs a method called SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape), which involves extreme techniques of physical and psychological torture to extract information. However, the prisoner remains resilient, and instead, the agent finds himself succumbing to the psychological effects of the interrogation.

As the BAU team delves deeper into the investigation, they discover that the terrorists' ultimate goal is to stage a suicide attack on a US target, using the hostage captain's knowledge of the Guantanamo Bay facility to gain access. The team races against time to prevent the terrorist plot and save the hostage Captain, before it's too late.

The episode is an intense and dramatic portrayal of the real-life SERE program, which has been at the center of controversy for its alleged human rights violations. The use of flashbacks to show the effects of torture on both the prisoner and the interrogator is a clever device employed by the writers, highlighting the moral dilemmas posed by such extreme interrogation techniques.

Throughout the episode, the team is faced with the challenge of applying their profiling skills in a unique context, where the perpetrators are trained to resist all forms of interrogation. Their collective expertise in reading body language, facial expressions, and vocal cues is paramount in piecing together the evidence and foiling the terrorist plot.

The episode also touches on the theme of sacrifice, as Agent Greg offers himself as a bargaining chip to the terrorists in exchange for the hostage captain's safety. The self-sacrifice of the agents on the show is a recurring theme, and this episode is no exception. The BAU team puts themselves in harm's way to save innocent lives, a testament to their unwavering dedication to their job.

In conclusion, "Lessons Learned" is a gripping episode that highlights the difficult moral and ethical dilemmas faced by law enforcement and intelligence agencies in their fight against terrorism. The use of flashbacks to show the effects of torture on both the prisoner and the interrogator is an innovative device employed by the writers, further enhancing the episode's intense and thought-provoking nature. The episode showcases the team's collective expertise in profiling and their unwavering commitment to justice, even in the face of extreme adversity.