Unveiling the Dark Secrets of Criminal Minds' Intense Villain Peter Lewis
Peter Lewis, known as Mr Scratch, is the bone-chilling antagonist in the hit TV show Criminal Minds This recurring character is renowned for his terrifying presence and is sure to leave viewers on the edge of their seats
The character Peter Lewis in Criminal Minds is considered to be one of the most cunning and terrifying adversaries that the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) has ever encountered. Criminal Minds is a police procedural drama that originally aired for 15 seasons on CBS, concluding in 2020. However, the series was revived for a sixteenth season in November 2022 on Paramount Plus. The show revolves around the BAU, a specialized division of the FBI, who utilize behavioral profiling and analysis techniques to apprehend the perpetrators, referred to as unsubs (unknown subjects), responsible for the most heinous and challenging crimes in the United States.
Throughout the series, the main cast of Criminal Minds has tackled numerous unsubs, ranging from simple con artists to highly intelligent serial killers. While some criminals only appeared as "villains-of-the-week," others, like Peter Lewis, became long-standing adversaries who deeply impacted the BAU team. Portrayed by Bodhi Elfman, Peter Lewis's character spanned four seasons of Criminal Minds, engaging in a personal battle with the BAU that surpassed the typical interactions between the investigators and unsubs.
Peter Lewis Is The Mr. Scratch Killer In Criminal Minds
Peter Lewis makes his first appearance in season 10, episode 21 of Criminal Minds, titled "Mr. Scratch." This episode is highly regarded as one of the best in the series. The title refers to how Lewis's victims perceive him during their hallucinations. During his childhood, Lewis resided in a group home run by his parents. Unfortunately, due to a false accusation of child abuse, his father was wrongfully imprisoned and later murdered. After many years of working at the NSA, Lewis devises a plan to seek revenge against those who testified against his father. Utilizing his exceptional mathematical abilities, Lewis embarks on a hunt for his victims.
Lewis administers a mixture of drugs to his victims, inducing hallucinations and rendering them highly susceptible to his manipulation. Some of his victims are coerced into killing their own loved ones, while others are compelled to take their own lives. Lewis's modus operandi presents a perplexing challenge for the investigators of Criminal Minds. Eventually, Lewis captures BAU Agent Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner and subjects him to the same drugging. However, Hotch resists and discovers that Lewis himself testified against his father. It is revealed that Lewis's spree of killings is driven by his internalized guilt. Despite being apprehended, Lewis succeeds in tormenting Hotch with vivid nightmares during his hallucinations, providing him with a sense of satisfaction before being taken into custody.
Peter Lewis Became A Recurring Criminal Minds Character
Throughout season 10 of Criminal Minds, Peter Lewis is apprehended and subsequently escapes custody in season 11, transforming into a malevolent and persistent menace in season 12. During this time, Lewis adapts his method of operation and begins targeting individuals with dissociative identity disorder, manipulating them into committing crimes and murders. The BAU gradually becomes aware of Lewis's renewed criminal activities, but apprehending him proves to be increasingly challenging. As season 12 progresses, Lewis progressively closes in on the BAU, culminating in a two-part season finale where he tragically kills SSA Stephen Walker and drugs SSA Emily Prentiss.
In a climactic shootout between Agents Luke Alvez and Spencer Reid, Lewis ultimately meets his demise, plunging from the rooftop. Lewis's storyline serves as a chilling reminder that despite the competent and honorable individuals within the BAU, a cunning and malevolent criminal can still place their own colleagues in jeopardy. The events of season 12 deeply impact Reid, leading him to confront his own unsettling desire to kill Lewis, unsettling him as he looks toward the future. Lewis's violent and chaotic actions leave a lasting impression, surpassing many of the other memorable unsubs in Criminal Minds.
