Why is this episode of Criminal Minds so familiar?

February 15, 2013 6:15 PM

Spoilers within. I just finished Season 8, Episode 10 "The Lesson" and I swear I've seen this plot before. What show was it?

I remember a plot where an old man had to complete a show by using human puppets. If I didn't know this episode was relatively new, I'd swear it was the same one.

The details that seem similar:
- human puppets
- a need to finish the show that was started
- the way the show was interrupted by the police
- possibly the theme of the robbery

The character plot doesn't seem familiar. I do remember another episode where a woman makes other women into her dolls - I'm not confusing these two episodes.

I watch lots of other shows like this. Bones, Law & Order (all), CSI, I wouldn't rule any shows like this out.

Hopefully this hasn't been one huge case of deja vu. I am also pretty sure I didn't see the episode when it originally aired because I think I would have remembered the character plot.

Can you figure out what other show/episode I'm thinking of, or have I lost it?

posted by sarae to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

Perhaps TV Tropes may be of some help? People Puppets and Dead Guy Puppet.
posted by hot soup girl at 7:11 PM on February 15, 2013

Could it be the Miniature Killer plot arc from CSI?
posted by angst at 7:18 PM on February 15, 2013 [1 favorite]

Could it be the classic Angel episode, Smile Time?
posted by dean winchester at 8:48 PM on February 15, 2013

It could be Belle Chose from Dollhouse, where, spoilers, a serial killer keeps people around to act out what he wants them to.
posted by Margalo Epps at 10:32 PM on February 15, 2013

Long shot but it could be Criminal Minds ep 6x08, Reflection of Desire. It came to mind when I watched the ep in your question.
posted by showeringsuns at 11:46 PM on February 15, 2013

I know you said you didn't see it before because you would have remembered the story arc, but remember the James Van der Beek episode? I remembered every single thing about it the second time I saw it, except for the scenes with the regular cast. I remembered everything from James Van der Beek and nothing from JJ, Reid, Morgan, Hotch, Rossi, Prentiss or Garcia. It could be... I guess... the reverse of the select amnesia I had and you forgot the character arc but remembered the stuff from the regular cast.
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 1:49 AM on February 16, 2013

Response by poster: I worded this wrong. I don't remember anything about the FBI staff, the Reid having a girlfriend plot, those are the character plots I mean. I remember the unsub plot, the puppets.

I have watched Fringe in the past, so I'm going to watch that episode and see if that's it.

I'll also look into the miniature killer and the other Criminal Minds episode.

TV Tropes was interesting but I don't think I found it there. The other shows are ones I haven't seen.

I'll report back if I figure it out. Thanks!
posted by sarae at 6:27 AM on February 16, 2013

Was it an old man who was holding a birthday party for a family of embalmed corpses, only to be interrupted by an armed robber? Made in the 1970s? And the old man shoots the armed robber in order to grant him eternal happiness in an eternal birthday party? And then the cops show up on the trail of the robber, and the old man shoots himself as he introduces himself as "the father of the family"?

Because if so, that was....

Um...

It's on the tip of my tongue...
posted by tel3path at 1:41 PM on February 16, 2013

Response by poster: Reporting back.

Watched the Fringe episode, I had seen it before. I had also seen the previous criminal minds episode. Didn't bother going back to the miniature killer from CSI.

I think this is a case of deja vu, compounded with having seen both the Fringe and Criminal Minds episodes previously. If there's anything more to it, I'm sure it will come to me some day while I'm in the shower, or driving on the highway, or trying to plan lessons. Thanks!
posted by sarae at 5:31 AM on May 8, 2013