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| | Criminal Minds (Hotch-centric)Episode Commentary - Ashes and DustYeah, it's way back last season, but after reading one of the only threads devoted to the character of Hotch and TG that isn't just gushing about how hot he is, but that still keeps going on about how one dimensional he is, I decided to take a look into the episode that most people point to when they want to show someone a good Hotch episode. Part of me feels people miss all the wonderful layers of Hotch throughout the entire series (and the emotions that he has) because they feel this is the only episode with it. But, it's a good episode. TG does fine work throughout - not just in the one scene everyone remembers.
We get so many different sides, and they all fit. First, we get compassionate, understanding, gentle Hotch, when he goes to talk to Charlotte Cutler, the woman who lost her husband and son in the same fire that will kill her soon - but who doesn't know that they're dead. And, this is Hotch centric, but looking again, I don't think Prentiss was upset that he lied (even if she did seem a little shocked that the doctor said that they could lie to her - Prentiss is a very by the book person) I think she was overwhelmed by the sadness and pushing her emotions down. But, back to Hotch, the part where he offers to stay with Charlotte until she's ready to see her family (but really until she dies) is so poignant.
Then, there's his gradual move from suspicion and coldness to identifying to not being able to keep that famous self control because he's grown to care so much for their first suspect, Evan Abby. It's not the first time Hotch has started off antagonistic and then grown to respect someone - it happened with Blackwolf in The Tribe. He feels Abby is guilty of something, even if he's not directly responsible for the murders. And, he's not above trying to intimidate him. But, when he realizes there's something that he hadn't expected, you see his feelings change. (I also realized looking at the transcript that Hotch's question to Prentiss about whether Abby weighed 185 pounds was the first clue that Abby was sick - weight loss) But, it's still gradual. First, his absolute conviction that Abby is guilty wavers - but not completely. But, he finds out that Abby has leukemia. And, that he's estranged from his son. So, now he identifies with Abby as a father. The next time he talks to him, the antagonism is gone. They talk as two men who've been on both sides of the fence - Abby as the father who will leave his son soon, Hotch as the son who lost his father when he was young, just like Abby's son will. And, under that, is the layer of Hotch as a father who feels guilty about the time he is away from his family. Abby names a guy who could be the unsub (and who is) But, Hotch still keeps a tail on Abby just in case.
Abby shakes the tail. And, that brings another one of the great scenes, great emotion, and another example of the great friendship between Hotch and Gideon. Hotch's comment about being at home and being in a "silent panic" feeling he has to be perfect, because the phone will ring and he'll be called away on a case is just what people who feel he didn't care about his family should hear. He can't ignore the call that they need to catch a criminal and save people, but he also doesn't want to fail his family (and with a wife like Haley, it's impossible not to) so he puts unbelievable pressure on himself. He needs to be perfect at both the job and his family and he can't. You see him all wired up. And, he says he feels the same panic in Abby - his time is running out, too, permanently. And, you see Gideon get Hotch to say what he doesn't want to believe about Abby. At first Hotch is sure Abby is a serial arsonist and has no problem calling him on it ("Are you accusing me of a crime?" "What do you think?") but now Gideon has to pull out every response. What would Hotch do in Abby's place, if he found someone was using an organization he set up for good as a way to kill? Gideon tells him to say it, don't think about it, because he knows the answer. "I'd stop him." And, then he asks how. And, Hotch is almost scary. "I'd burn him." Because it's not just an act to trick an unsub like in LDSK. Pushed to the edge, Hotch just might do that. Then, Hotch goes off to try and prevent the tragedy, and to save Abby.
But, he can't. And, we come to the famous scene. But, before that, there's more of the bond with Hotch and Gideon. Gideon is informed that there's no way to stop the fire, which means they can't save Abby. So, Gideon gets things set to protect Hotch (and he must have known that he would need to). He calls Morgan who's driving with Hotch, and tells him not to put the phone on speaker. And, Morgan stops the car at a distance from the fire. Hotch is confused, but when he's told it's too late, Hotch wastes no time getting out the car. And, I still love this. All logic has flown out of Hotch's head, but he doesn't race like a madman into the burning building. He marches, with sheer determination, like a man on a mission. It's only Gideon and Morgan holding him back, telling him to stop that keeps him away. But, he still yells, surprised that they want to just stand there while Abby burns to death. And, when he finally has to accept that there's nothing he can do, he just seems so -not sad, so much as worn down by how futile it is. He can only say that Abby wanted his death to mean something. (And now I wonder - does he feel Abby got that, or is he sad that Abby didn't?)
Finally, there's the scene with Hotch and Abby's son, Liam. Again, we see Hotch's gentle side. And, again, we see that any failings Hotch might have as a husband and father aren't from lack of caring. We know he really started to identify and care about Abby, but when Liam (who saw Hotch with his dad before) mentions that he wasn't at his funeral, Hotch says he had to be with his family - when Hotch has a choice, he chooses his family. And, for Hotch when it comes to people in danger, there is no choice. We also know that Abby grew to respect Hotch, since he gave him something (an envelope, don't know what was in it exactly) to give to his son. If I could write Hotch (and I actually care about getting the character right) I'd write a story where Liam does call Hotch with questions about his dad.
| | | Posted 5/6/2008 11:10 PM - 0 comments
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