The series finale of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders on May 18 ended with an emotional, heart-tugging scene and a beautiful prayer acknowledging our Creator and honoring our country and those who fight for it in the Armed Forces.
Gary Sinise is one of the few conservatives in Hollywood, and his character Jack Garrett fortunately appears to have been written to have beliefs and values similar to his. That was apparent in the last scene in part two of the double-episode finale, “The Ripper of Riga” Wednesday night.
Just before the last scene, we see Jack lying on the ground after his son was forced to shoot him by “The Ripper,” an ex-KGB agent who escaped jail and sought revenge on Jack and his family because Jack was responsible for his capture and imprisonment.
It seemed that Jack had died, and as we enter the last scene, K.D. Lang’s version of “Hallelujah” is playing as the camera pans across a dinner table with Jack’s family and friends gathered. The scene is reminiscent of a memorial with guests there to remember and honor their departed family member.
But Jack ends up walking into the scene and everyone expresses their relief that Jack is alive - his undercover agent son was skilled enough to make a non-lethal shot. And in a rare Hollywood moment, Jack says a beautiful prayer to close out the show for good (it was recently announced that the show has been cancelled, unfortunately).
Jack: Come on, let's eat. Cheers, everybody.
Karen: Are you okay?
Jack: Never better. Thank you, Lord, for my family, for my friends, and for my life, my job, and my amazing team, and for getting us home safe. Thank you for my son and my daughter serving in the Armed Forces and for all the men and women serving our country, and thank you, Lord, for the blessing of this food that we are about to receive. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelu-u-u-jah ♪
Amen, indeed! As a proud Army mom and strong Christian, this one really hit home for me. As I’m sure it did for any patriotic viewer with a strong faith in the Lord.
Well done, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. Very well done.
