The tension of the episode is amplified by the eclectic group of hostages, each carrying their own "baggage" that complicates the negotiation:
: The character of Teddy Bryar was loosely inspired by Ralph Tortorici, a man with paranoid schizophrenia who took hostages at the State University of New York in 1994. Criminal Minds Season 1 Episode 9: "Derailed" summary. [S1E9] Derailed
: Bryar’s own psychiatrist, who was traveling with him to a conference to present him as a success story for treating severe psychosis. The tension of the episode is amplified by
The episode begins with Special Agent Elle Greenaway on what should have been a routine business trip to Dallas for a custodial interview with a convicted child murderer. Her journey is interrupted when a passenger, Dr. Theodore "Teddy" Bryar—a former renowned physicist—suffers a severe psychotic break. The episode begins with Special Agent Elle Greenaway
The situation reaches a boiling point when Josh Patel's unhelpful assistance makes Bryar even more unstable, leading Bryar to shoot Dr. Deaton. In the final confrontation, Reid manages to communicate with Bryar on a psychological level, pretending to see the "strings" of the universe as Bryar does—a reference to Bryar's expertise in M-theory . The crisis is ultimately resolved when Harold Anderson, the "Chekhov's Gunman" of the car, shoots Bryar, allowing the authorities to take him into custody.
: The confined space of the train creates a "closed-room" mystery vibe that maintains urgency throughout the hour.