S7 E8 Hope

I’m sure this has been noted hundreds of times before but I just finished watching Hope. I think this was genuinely one of the most messed up episodes of this show I have seen so far (this is my first time through). What I keep getting stuck on is the name choice of Hope for the episode and the first victim.

It was such an intentional and necessary choice that impacted the arc of the episode. If the daughter’s name had been Jane or something else, it wouldn’t have the same effect. The plot hinges on Monica’s hope that her daughter is still alive. Hope was hoping to see her mother again. The unsub was hoping to recreating Hope, both the literal person and his hope for the future. And even Garcia’s hope and conviction to save Monica.

It’s just an example of the clever writing and story arcs that makes me love this show so much, as well as be disturbed by it.