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This episode challenges the audience to consider not only death penalties and the modalities therein, but the ethical imperative of allowing someone to choose their own death to protect an unknowing innocent.

I, as a rule, am rarely emotionally invested in television performances. They don't impact me in the same way as do theater or long performance films. Probably because TV is dealing with shorter time frames and emotional involvement is significantly impacted by being constantly interrupted by loud and annoying advertising.

But the end of this episode had me openly weeping...not just that little tear trickling down the cheek, but sobbing...really sobbing. I was so vested in the characters and the story and the ethical implications that I was beside myself with grief and wonder and emotion.

Jeannetta Arnette's acting was one of the more stellar things I've ever seen on broadcast commercial television. She played the character with quiet dignity and compassion. The sacrifice the character was willing to make, and that she begged the team to let her make was heart wrenching in its Solomon-esquire wisdom.

I've always thought that Ms. Arnette was a fun and likable actress, but this role carried a depth of despair and hope beyond what I thought could be accomplished in a mere few minutes of film time. Even today, 12 hours after watching the episode, I got teary trying to explain it to someone who hadn't see it.

Mandy Patinkin's character made me fall in love with him...well, again...who doesn't love Mandy Patinkin? The writers Jeff Davis (creator) and Simon Mirren (writer) are to be commended for writing such a beautiful and ethically challenging script. The director Chris Long shot the episode in a stunningly stark and bleak yet poignant modality that truly captured the essence of the story they were trying to tell.

Brilliant. Just brilliant. Writing, direction, acting...just brilliantly done.

The reviewers who criticize this episode for plot holes must not have been watching the rest of the season. The show requires a suspension of disbelief, as do most law enforcement shows based on the unique talents of a special group of individuals (Bones, Lie to Me, etc. etc.).

But this was one of the best written episodes of television I've seen. The acting was flawless. The writing was beautiful. The emotional power of the episode was stunning. It pulled at every heart string and had me crying out loud by the end. Of the episodes I've seen so far, definitely the best Criminal Minds case so far.

And the ethical implications... so beautiful... so tragic...

It is possible to look at the episode overall and pick holes in it about whether or not certain things would really be possible in the real world.

But this episode is a vehicle to tell the deathrow characters' stories first and foremost - there's a certain suspension of disbelief, it's not about the law as it stands, or as it should be in the eyes of the writers. It's not even really about the members of the team.

The grit of the actors playing the deathrow characters and the writing generally all serves to really get into the heads of all the key players - you really come to care about what happens to these people, albeit with very different feelings about the man and the woman.

It's also a beautifully shot episode, with a real starkness to it - you can't fail to be moved by the preparations for execution, especially when Sarah Jean is having her hair cut.

Enjoyed seems like a strange word for such a haunting episode - I really liked it though.

The BAU race against the clock as the execution of a couple is about to take place; the husband may have more bodies hidden and the wife may be innocent.

While the outcome may not be completely realistic, the underlying premise is what makes this episode note-worthy. Self-sacrificial love is the most power love in the world and this episode is a spectacular example.

By having Sarah Jean make the decision to die in order to keep her son forever safe, she gave him a part of herself and even if he never comes to know it, it'll still be with him. Believe me, I didn't want Sarah Jean to go to the execution chair and it physically hurt to watch the ending, but would've respected her decision, as Gideon did.

If you like to see the world as neat & tidy, black & white, good guys & bad guys -- you might not be comfortable with this episode. Yeah, one of the characters is a monster. He easily fits the in 'bad guy' -- like each of the 'unsubs' in each of the episodes of Criminal minds. But the other 'bad guy', his wife -- who also has been convicted of murder and sentenced to die -- is... complex. Actress Jeannetta Arnette plays this woman with such depth, compassion, and humanity that you want to watch the episode again and again. The concept of 'redemption' has never been better shown in a single-episode T.V. series. Ms. Arnette's portrayal of the character manages, in the most subtle of ways, to inform the viewer of the scars of childhood abuse; the familiar flight from one abusive relationship to another, far darker one; the horror of denial; the depth of consciousness that allows her to realize that, despite all of her experiences, mistakes, and denials, she has the opportunity to exchange her broken life for something of inestimable value: the immediate and permanent safety of her son. The 'suspension of disbelief' on the part of the viewer with regard to the members of the BAU in allowing an 'innocent' to be executed isn't really that difficult. We know the horror of their jobs and the hope that each of them holds that their efforts might make a difference. Bravo! Easily my favorite episode of Criminal Minds. Short on 'action', long on dignity!

While this episode doesn't have the heart-pounding action that others do, it does provide the viewer with serious questions. How far would you go to protect your child. This episode shows the compassion, that even those that see hideous crimes on a daily basis have for others. It gave me a different outlook on the show and gave me more reason to watch other episodes. If you get a chance, Watch this episode if you haven't already. If you have watch it again, you may see something different if you open your mind and heart. I can guarantee you will like this show. The last thing I would like to say about this episode, is that the acting by Jeanetta Arnette was the best I had seen from her.

This has to be one of the best episodes of television ever filmed! It grabs your heart at the start, then takes you on a (seemingly) never ending roller-coaster ride of emotion! Michael Massee is his usual, true-to-form self ... sadistic, UN-caring, UN-feeling and totally void of any humanity! He just eats these roles up, and you have no problem whatsoever, believing that he is exactly as the character is portrayed! BUT, Jeannetta Arnette is the "stick that stirs THIS drink"! Anyone who has ever been a parent (and a lot of folks who haven't), can feel this characters pain and longing right thru the television screen! To have saved her child from the MONSTER that was his Dad, and kept THAT secret all these years ... just to protect and keep their child safe from all the pain and torment that surely would have come his way, once folks found out that his dear old Dad was a horrendous hater and serial killer of women! There is not many greater ways to show your child just how much you really love them ... than to give up any chance at all, that you'd be there to patch up childhood bumps and bruises, or of teaching your child to ride a bicycle, of helping your VERY nervous son get ready for his first date, or something just as simple as being able to look at your child and say "I love you" ... THAT is what she gave up to protect her son from the vile, disgusting creature that was his Dad! She KNEW that if her husband didn't kill his son himself, then he would eventually do everything in his power to "pass on" his hate and mistreatment of women, to his son! So ... she gave him up ... even to the point of being on death row, because of it! And, once that was discovered, she begged Gideon to do or say NOTHING, so that her son could, possibly, go on and have a regular and good life! I'm a grown man, with 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren ... but, this episode had me "bawling" my eyes out! DO NOT miss this great episode of television! They don't come around very often!

From what I've watched so far, Criminal Minds is a mediocre program overall. It's something that's good to watch, when you have nothing else to do. I don't doubt it could get better, but for now (well up to this episode) it's just a plain Jane - there's nothing that would make me recommend it to all my friends, but I have no reason to dismiss it and never watch it again.

However, I do believe this episode, "Riding the Lightening" to have been a flash of something beautiful in all that is plain. As a viewer, I was finally able to connect with a character on amazing amount of levels - something I've found until now was very lacking in this show. This is a very beautiful episode, there are a lot of questions raised, a very powerful story is told, and it made me cry, a lot. And due to the emotional experience i had watching it, I would very much recommend the episode. Happy viewing!

Season 1 was regarded a few years ago by a number of people as one of the weaker seasons of 'Criminal Minds', though a few years on with a fair few episodes of the later seasons not being that great that's likely not to be so much the case.

For me while there is a finding-its-feet and occasional lack of momentum, there are some strong episodes in the season. To this reviewer too, "Riding the Lightning" is one of them.

It is one of the more visually striking episodes of the show, there is a starkness but also a melancholic look to the photography and the way it is lit that suits the nature of the story perfectly. When used, the music is very fitting with the mood and is not intrusive, inappropriately jaunty or pedestrian. It doesn't enhance as such, but it never distracts either. The theme tune fits the tone of the entire show too.

"Riding the Lightning" is one of the episodes of 'Criminal Minds' that really made me think hard and also there is a stark and creepy ambiance, like the interrogation with Jacob Dawes which saw a chilling lecherousness to the character. It is notable too for being the only episode from Season 1 to reduce me to tears, as well as being one of the emotional episodes of the entire show. Sarah Jean's final speech is along with Hotch and Haley's final exchange in "100" and JJ's appeal speech over the radio in "The Longest Night" one of the show's genuinely poignant moments.

The story is not the most original, but is beautifully paced and told that it doesn't matter. The characters and direction are solidly done, the BAU team were stronger developed in later seasons and their team dynamic more settled, but both the characters and their rapport still more than convinces, the most interesting being Gideon and Reid. Sarah Jean is a quite fascinating and sympathetically written character, that one empathises with somewhat and you are convinced just as strongly as the team that she's innocent.

While all the regulars have done better in the show with meatier material, the acting is still very good with a particularly commanding turn from Mandy Patinkin. Michael Massee is chillingly creepy as Jacob, though his guilt is obvious from the get go which is not a problem as it was the intent all along and there was never a doubt. The episode belongs however to the movingly compassionate and quietly dignified Jeanetta Arnette, her delivery of the speech bringing a real lump to the throat.

In conclusion, a standout Season 1 and 'Criminal Minds' (in general) episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Out of all the Criminal Minds episodes I've watched, I have to see this is my favorite perhaps because this was in the first season when the team focused more on profiling and less on playing cops. The woman that played Sarah Jean did an amazing job and her nut job psycho husband played his role well also.

A serial killer and his wife are on death row. The team goes there to interview them as they rarely get to study a married couple who are serial killers. Turns out things aren't always what they appear at first.

The ending was not predictable like most cop shows including Criminal Minds. The only episode that made me cry for the unsub.

The film is very well-written as it gradually exposes each mysteries of the story in the way that makes the audience want to continue the episode and gets them thinking for what will happen next. The transition of the scenes were aesthetically arranged as to not spoil the ending of the case. Expressions of the actors plus the music makes the scenes more emotionally swaying. The episode tackles the story of an unselfish mother who will do whatever it takes to protect and give his son a better future in a non-cliché way. I literally had tears after the episode. Overall, It is one of the best episodes I've ever seen and worth the watch.

Well filmed episode with great external and internal sequences, especially of the death watch prison cells. The actors who play husband and wife serial killers about to be executed are gritty enough to add some realism (especially with shaven heads!).

Where this episode falls down is the logical leaps that make Gideon and the team decide that the wife may be innocent of the murders, including that of her son. For profilers they don't seem to have done their homework particularly well (especially for such a famous case). There are no clues as such, but the leaps of logic Reid and Gideon make are tenuous and outright laughable. And Garcia's rapid computer tracking magic is way too unbelievable (can she really read THAT fast?).

The decision Gideon makes in the end is morally repugnant, and I don't know why it seems acceptable to the rest of the BAU team who've also come to the same conclusion about the wife. Does he have a right to make a decision on their behalf, or that of the State? What if one of the team is anti-death penalty? It is just too dumb and undermines the character of Gideon who in other episodes has been portrayed by a smart and morally staunch man who has no time for killers or their supporters, and can't be manipulated. It's just dumb that it didn't cross his mind that she may have a Martyr complex so wasn't able to make a sound decision for herself (the 'supporters' outside the prison who dress like the Jacob's victims - the husband killer - should've been a clue). Even if the woman is a saint, he has proved himself to have failed the Law he is suppose to uphold, no matter how sorry he felt for her.

Pity, because it could have been a gripping episode if a bit more logic and thought had gone into the story.

This episode was just not appealing to me, which is unusual. I thought the story, which takes place in Central Florida, just smacked too much of political correctness and Liberalism: female is innocent; male is to blame; death penalty to kill an innocent person; religious people outside of prison made to look like creeps, etc. Gideon, instead of being his normal objective self, interviewed the woman like she was his long-lost mom, with these sad puppy- dog eyes. It was just ridiculous.

In addition, although the ending did interesting twist to it, the whole thing was too talky. This was the first episode that bored me. Maybe the people who wrote the script should have been sitting in "Sparky's" chair (only kidding).

This episode is so politically correct it's simply silly. I ended up walking away from this episode feeling like my intelligence was just insulted. Here's the premise....A woman wants to go to the electric chair for a crime she did not commit so that her son, who was adopted 15 years previous and doesn't know her from Adam anyway, won't find out who his parents, especially his father, are. Not only that, but throughout it all, even while going to her death, the woman never fails to wear a crap eating grin.... like she's up Joan of Arc ready for sainthood. Did it ever occur to the woman that she could live *and* protect her son from the awful truth about her son's father? The kid was put up for adoption about events of this episode anyway.... Did it ever occur to the writers that the kid would eventually figure out that he was adopted and then might find out that dear old dad was a sex crazed predatory loon? I didn't think so....but of course, I did something that the writers of this piece of crap didn't... I actually put some thought into it for about 10 seconds. After watching this piece of tripe, I wish I had opted to watch Larry The Cable Guy hosting a flatulence contest on the History Channel.

This story was morally repulsive. A sexual psychopath rape, torture and kill 18 children and teenagers in his garage. His wife knows about it, but say nothing.

But then they get a child, and only then she feels the need to act. When the boy is two years old, she make an anonymous call to the police, abandon the child on the street in the hope that he be found an adopted, and let herself be arrested along with psycho hubby.

She is more than willing to die in order to keep her son safe. And so she does.

The FBI team are oh so understanding, and seems to think she is an innocent little flower. It really is disgusting how they don't see anything wrong in her covering up her husbands despicable crimes, and that she only came forward when her own son was in danger.

The 18 girls are hardly mentioned, their parents are are never interviewed, and no one care about them.

Horrible episode.

This episode deserves the Florida tag from the Fark website. Implausible in most very level, it also shows the team committing felonies for obstructing justice. How arrogant-- "we need to protect him from knowing who his father is." How about recognizing humans can be self-directing adults and not blame their parents for their upbringing or their grandparents for their genetic makeup? Not the Criminal Minda world. There a privileged elite who get to carry guns and bash in doors gets to decide what is best for us lowly peons. Please Mr weepytears above, do not encourage this bad writing. This is no great triumph of moral introspection. It is like when 24 tries to convince us that it is really OK to torture people cause they will give us the critical info to keep the bomb from blowing.

Look, I like Criminal Minds. I admire the way the producers and writers are encouraging and preparing us for the upcoming fascist police state. The bad guys are always bad, the BAU never makes a mistake, and when they do, it is an honest and decent mistake. I imagine they could get Nadine Strossen to cheer as they do their no-knock shakedowns and toss suspects like true Giuliani blackshirts.

The implicit bargain of Criminal Minds is simple. First show us somebody we can hate hate hate. Humans love to hate. That is why we have religion. Then show us using incredibly intrusive spying, that never seems to affect innocent people or the guy next door. No, at the BAU we only spy and violate the privacy of the bad guys that you already hate hate hate. Then the obligatory bash-the-door-in scene, where the jack-booted thugs sweep into some American's house looking like total dorks swinging their guns around. What movie was it that made fun of SWAT teams, having them chant "hut hut hut" as they run around like the bully assholes they are? OK, after the no-knock set piece, they get to manhandle and push around the object of our hate hate hate. And we love it because the sent-from-God BAU only does this to guilty people that we hate hate hate. Now the BAU gets to interrogate the person we hate hate hate. They use all the charm-and-bully tactics that have given us false confessions and innocent convictions. But it is OK since our saintly BAU works for our godly overlords that never make a mistake and only do these interrogations on guilty people that we already hate hate hate. In a season or two, look for them to start doing water-boarding and special renditions. After all this, we get the payoff, and they only reason to watch the show. Will the person that we hate hate hate get killed during the collar and who gets to blow him away? Or will they realize he is just a misunderstood sociopath and gently cuff him as they shake their holier-than-thou heads?

OK got that? 1) Make us hate. 2) Show it is OK to spy on us. 3) Get us used to them kicking in our doors and pointing guns at us. 4) Show how lawyers and those silly constitutional rights are a terrible inhibition to get justice. 5) Kill the bad guy, since we all exist at the mercy and for the use of our privileged elite, it is OK for them to have us overseen by a military force, not a police force.

Like I say, I love the show because it is so clever and polished at getting me to hate and accepting we need a fascist police state. I suspect I would not be so enthusiastic if I was a Muslim, or brown, or that Hatfield guy, or the falsely accused Olympic bomber, or the Ruby Ridge family, or one of those dead children at Waco. The fact that the show even mentions these travesties of justice and the FBI's complicity in it is amusing. I remind you of what a girlfriend told me about men: "Ignore everything they say, pay attention to everything they do." Almost as delightful is the show's giving lip service to constitutional rights while they kick in doors and spy on us. The best thing is that they do all this while quoting Nietzsche and Ayn Rand. The show is obviously a bunch of narcissists passing judgment on us, from their high and holy ivory tower.

If they want to get all deep and moral on us, rather than this pablum episode, how about we show them falsely profiling and accusing an innocent man? Show us Penelope spying on him. Show Derek kicking in his door. Have one of the fluff-babes clang his head against the car as they cuff him and stuff him. Show Hotch interrogating him into a false confession. Then let the guy hang himself in his cell. Then, and this is the best part, have the whole team get an award and adulation in the media, and it never ever comes out that the poor schmuck was innocent. That would be a real slice of life thought-provoking episode, unlike this one.

If you want to see the real BAU in action, watch the movie Brazil.