There is no score at first. Just static. The script requires Thomas Gibson (Hotch) to act entirely through listening. We don't see Foyet pulling the trigger. We see Hotch’s face crumble.

If you are a fan of Criminal Minds , you don’t refer to Episode 100 by its production number. You call it "The one where Hotch loses Haley." You call it "The phone call episode." You call it the 45 minutes of television that left the entire fandom emotionally scarred and reaching for tissues.

As the team continued to discuss the case, they realized that they needed to get inside the killer's mind in order to catch him.

Airing on April 14, 2010, Season 5, Episode 9—simply titled —wasn't just a milestone. It was a thesis statement for the entire series. Here is why this script remains the gold standard for procedural tragedy.

As they processed the crime scene, the team found a small token left behind by the killer. It was a silver necklace with a small, crystal pendant.