Ep 20. Conflicted

The Criminal Minds season 4 episode 20, titled Conflicted, follows the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they investigate a series of murders in a small town. The murders are discovered after a boy comes across a dead body while exploring the woods and reports it to the authorities.

The BAU is called in to investigate and soon discovers a pattern in the murders. All the victims were young women who were killed in the same way and left in the same location. However, the BAU is not able to profile the unsub (unknown subject) as the victims seem to have nothing in common and there is no apparent motive for the murders.

As they continue to investigate, the BAU is faced with a series of challenges. The local police department is not supportive of their investigation, and the town's residents are not very forthcoming with information. Furthermore, one of the BAU team members, Jennifer Jareau (JJ), is struggling with personal issues, which begin to affect her work.

Despite these challenges, the BAU continues to work the case and discovers a connection between the victims that they had missed earlier. As they narrow down their search for the unsub, they realize that he is someone they would not have suspected. This revelation leads to a tense standoff between the BAU and the unsub, which ultimately ends in a surprising way.

Throughout the episode, the BAU team members also deal with their own personal conflicts. JJ's personal issues are revealed to her colleagues, and they rally around her to offer support. Meanwhile, Emily Prentiss struggles with feelings of guilt over a decision she made in a previous episode.

The episode ends on a somber note as the BAU reflects on the consequences of their work. They contemplate the weight of the choices they make and the impact they have on the lives of those they encounter.

Overall, Conflicted provides an intriguing case for the BAU to solve, while also delving into the personal conflicts of the team members. It showcases the challenges they face both on and off the job, as well as the emotional toll their work takes on them. The episode is a noteworthy addition to the Criminal Minds series and highlights the show's ability to balance engaging crime-solving with compelling character development.