The second episode of Criminal Minds , titled "," follows the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they hunt an unconventional serial arsonist on a college campus in Tempe, Arizona. Unlike typical arsonists who watch their fires for pleasure, this "unsub" (unknown subject) kills victims in private, suggesting a different psychological driver. The Arsonist's Profile
Agent Hotchner confronts Clara, attempting to talk her down to buy time. When she refuses to stop, Hotchner shoots her in the leg, allowing the team to save the students. Criminal Minds Season 1 Episode 2: "Compulsion" summary CompulsionCriminal Minds : Season 1 Episode 2
Fires are set in patterns of three (e.g., the first on March 3rd at 3:00 PM), and the unsub performs ritualistic actions in threes, such as turning doorknobs or repeating words. The second episode of Criminal Minds , titled
Clara traps three classmates in a science building elevator on the third floor, dousing them with chemicals and preparing to set them ablaze. When she refuses to stop, Hotchner shoots her
The unsub is obsessed with the number three, believing it has divine significance.
The investigation leads to , a chemistry student who survived a traumatic house fire as a child. She believes she is testing her victims' purity through fire.