SPOILERS  if you're still watching..............(cause I saw it at 8 pm and had until now to write up my thoughts)

first off, a solid 7 on my Reid-O-Meter... for a non-Reidcentric episode, there was enough Reid in this one to satisfy me..

and on to my thoughts on this episode....

Okay, other than any of my favourite ‘Reid centric’ episodes, this might be one of my favourite episodes of the show ever.

“Hold on. When there is nothing in you except the will which says, hold on”—Rudyard Kipling. Always a good thing when I love the quote, and it’s delivered by Matthew.

So much goodness. So many questions answered, ends tied up. Surprised me who reinstated Reid and how :)  We find out how Scratch came to know everything, and although it wasn’t directly addressed, I’m willing to bet this is how Cat came to know everything too. 

The loss of Stephen Walker, handled with grace, class and love by the team members. Like he *meant* something to them all, even though he was there for such a short time. And his death, as we’d all predicted since we heard Damon Gupton was leaving, wasn’t pointless. Walker actually had a hand in fulfilling the purpose for which he was brought on board in the first place: Catch Scratch. And they did.

We find out, as others have also suspected, that Hotch has been in some limited contact with Prentiss and the team uses this to their advantage as well, using that knowledge to profile Peter Lewis.

Rossi. Oh man, Rossi was the Rossi I loved when he first came on board. Snarky, no BS, smart as a whip Rossi:

“Jagoff ambushed us” (reporting on what happened)

 “You two need to get a room”(to Will and JJ caught in a PDA)   and

  “You two ass clowns will do me the courtesy of following my orders!” ….

(Alvez:) “This has  nothing to do with season’s tickets” (Reid:)“Ass clown?”

yet Rossi knew *exactly* what he was saying and why.

Luke won me over with two lovely displays of compassion; one with a broken-hearted Garcia and one with the breaking down but strong widow. His gentle handling of Reid’s mental state was well done too. I might like this guy more than I want to.

Reid. PTSS. Not firing on all cylinders and he knows it. But he forges ahead despite his fragile mental state because he knows Emily needs his help. More on that in a sec.

And Emily. Even in her injured and drugged state, she’s not gonna give up her team. Present or past. She figures it out. And puts the bite on Scratch in a spectacular way. I loved how she never really stopped being in charge, even when she was strapped to a bed and being drugged. When she’s figured it out and they go after Scratch, she knows she has to call Reid off and does so. And he gets it, even though he’s struggling, he knows she’s right.

There’s a lovely moment with Will and JJ. This is why I like Will so much. He’s a decent man, a great husband and father, and the loss of Walker gives the couple a moment of reflection on life. Reaffirmation of the ten years they’ve loved each other and how they support each other. 

There are several family like moments throughout the episode, reminding us all of just how close these people all are. JJ’s brought into the hospital, Reid sees her and she says ‘I have to call Will!’ and he tells her ‘I did. He’s on his way!’ Garcia refuses to leave Stephen ‘alone’ in the wrecked vehicle and stays with him until Luke comes to pull her away when the EMS arrive. At the funeral, Prentiss has some tender words with Walker’s widow. And of course, at the end, in the round table room, Prentiss affirming that Hotch is enjoying being a full time dad and won’t be back. He’s lost so much already. And, in what I think is a total homage to Hotch, Emily tells them what got her through the drugging and torture and hallucinations was the repeating of two words. Two words that each of the team repeats back to her, “Wheels Up”

well done, Breen and crew. Well done.