Will Graham's trial begins and he must watch as those closest to him are forced to take sides. Jack Crawford scathing report about his conduct with Will, is pulled in conflicting directions. He acknowledges that he may be partially to blame for pushing his star pupil over the edge. To add confusion to an already suspenseful trial, a court bailiff is killed in a Copycat-like manner and those closest to Will start to wonder if they were wrong about him. The outcome of the entire trial hangs in the balance as one last key victim is served up.

When one of the team's own is found in a grotesque tableau, Will volunteers to assist with the profile and informs Jack that it's the work of the Chesapeake Ripper and the Copycat Killer; the two are one and the same. Dr. Able Gideon is brought back to the asylum to help confirm Will's claims of the Ripper's true identity, but instead suggests to Will the idea of putting an end to the Ripper once and for all. Confined behind bars, Will enlists the help of Freddie Lounds to contact his murderous admirer through her website. Once he has the killer's attention, Will asks for help dealing with Hannibal. Alana becomes suspicious of Will's intentions after reading Freddie's article, and Gideon confirms her suspicions, sending Alana and Jack rushing to find Hannibal before it's too late.