It was the end of the world as the BAU knew it.

At least, they had to think that way to solve the case on Criminal Minds Season 13 Episode 6.

After all, they had to get inside the minds of the loony-tune survivalists who had been kidnapping women throughout Virginia.

Having a couple of dozen women disappear over five years didn't cause any red flags among local law enforcement. No wonder the BAU is in such demand.

Even though they were nuts, Coleman and Irene were smart as well. By kidnapping women from two wildly divergent groups, pregnant teens and professionals, they created a pattern difficult to discern.

Except, of course, by Garcia. Once she started casting a wide net, looking for women in Virginia who had disappeared over the past five years, then the two groups became more apparent.

Once again, things came together a little too easily. The BAU members threw a few phrases at Garcia, and thanks to the miracle of the search function, she had the names of the two unsubs and several possible locations before the end of the scene.

While I love Garcia, she gets far too many of the "a-ha" moments on this show. Let's have the big brains on the team firm up things a lot more before handing off their ideas to Garcia for the coup de grace.

How about allowing Lewis or Daniel do something, anything before the case is solved? (Tara was there, right?)

Now onto the unsubs. They were a boring pair.

They were both apparently true survivalists who were convinced the end was near.

I believe Irene was largely operating from a decent place, once you get past the, you know, kidnapping. She felt she was giving her clients a chance at a better life. Whether they wanted that chance was a completely different question.

Coleman, on the other hand, just wanted to be the last man on Earth, surrounding by, in many cases, attractive young women. He was a typical doomsday cult leader and was just using Irene for her contacts and her real estate.

Yeah, he was kind of a dick. I mean, killing a pediatrician they needed just because she wasn't enough of a true believer.

So let's not save them a spot in the Criminal Minds Hall of Unsubs. Just go lock them up in a hole in the ground somewhere. 

Were we supposed to believe that most of these women were fooled by that 1950s Civil Defense video into believing that the world was a radioactive mess? Really?

I could understand why the women couldn't escape because that was a well-designed bunker. But I don't get drinking the Kool-Aid and not even trying to get out. I understand the unsubs were preying on down-on-their-luck teen girls, but they must have had some common sense.

It was gratifying to see Chrissy finally snap out of it and conk Coleman on the head, freeing everyone.

This was a worthwhile JJ episode, based on her conversations with Joanna and her determination to free Chrissy and the other captives.

Too bad she had to be a downer about how difficult it was going to be to overcome Coleman's brainwashing of the captives. She and Reid got through to Chrissy, so maybe the others could be convinced as well.

Also she and Reid, like cops on any TV show, violated the cardinal rule. Repeat after me: Let's wait for backup. After all, they were standing with guns at the escape hatch, so how were the people in the bunker going to elude them? Instead, they hopped down inside the bunker and got trapped by Coleman. What?

While we're on the topic of dumb moves, why was Coleman lumbering around in a hazmat suit? Just for effect?

Yeah, this wasn't one for the ages. You had two villains who were just following the doctrine of their religion, survivalism, in trying to create a better world. It would have been nice to ask for volunteers, but where's the drama in that?

It makes you really wish for a twisted mister with a true air of menace.

Much of the BAU seemed to be there just to get outside the Beltway for a couple of days. Besides Garcia, JJ, and Reid, did anyone else contribute anything, except maybe Rossi's sublime fantasy for his final day on Earth?

While I'm at it, where has Reid's lingering PTSS gone? Or is he just so advanced that he's processed it already and moved on?

SPOILER ALERT: Criminal Minds Season 13 Episode 7 seems to have potential, with an unsub in Austin, Texas, targeting prominent community members. One of the underclass taking out the overlords could be intriguing.

To follow Reid's re-integration to the team, watch Criminal Minds online.

What did you think of the villains? Were the captives mindless sheep? Who among the BAU stood out for you? Comment below.

Dale McGarrigle is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.