(S02E03) Numerous times when I've written about this show in the past I've stated that it's nothing special. It's just consistently good (I love it for that reason) and this episode was a prime example. The story wasn't all that intricate and most people with half a wit of sense probably figured out what the big twist was about ten minutes before it was revealed. I thought about that for a second though. Tons of episodes in the first season of Criminal Minds followed a similar formula. Well not really a formula, but a loose storyline with a predictable twist that just about anybody can deduce. But do you change the channel after you crack it? No! You still watch the last ten or fifteen minutes to get that satisfaction of being right. That's what Criminal Minds is. It's the ultimate "HA! I knew it!" show.Before I talk about anything else though, I love how the team has a private jet. For whatever reason, it makes me think of "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" from SNL. You know what hits the fan and everyone piles into the jet. Or Team America... it makes me think of that too. OK, moving on.
Anyone have any ideas yet on how they're going to write Elle out of the show? They really haven't given any clues yet, at least none that I've picked up. She seemed like she might cry when speaking to the first victim's mother at the beginning of the episode... but that wasn't anything revealing was it? Elle always seems to be the most emotional one on the team.
It was good to see Gideon finally give some praise to Garcia. She's been on edge with him ever since she realized it was her fault the Fisher King hacked into the B.A.U. computer system. Gideon was clearly angry about that. But things seem to have returned to normal and Garcia finally got the pat on the back she deserves.
I also enjoyed the last twenty or so minutes because it was like a crash course on how to interrogate someone. Hotch handled it like the nice guy (can he be the mean guy?) and then Gideon came in with threats and the angry face. OK, maybe not that angry.
I'm confused about the preview for next week's show though, and that happens a lot. Did anyone else stick around for it? It was crazy. There were flashing lights and Hotch was just shaking his head. I'm not sure that it gave us any indication regarding what the next episode is about. Oh well.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-05-2006 @ 12:13PM
David said...
I don't know, I think it's getting a little too predictable. I do like the show, always enjoy anything profile-ish, but I hope they switch up "the formula" some.
I wouldn't mind a small few-episode arc where they're working on one case, but have another in the background, someone they just can't get and they go a little deeper into the crime/profile.
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10-06-2006 @ 12:17AM
Dennis said...
I like the complexity of the characters own lives without having that complexity become too invasive in the solving of the case.
I also wish there were some way to get the quotations that they use as bookends. I particularly would like the Gibran quotation from last night.
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10-06-2006 @ 12:17AM
Red Pen said...
LOL - switch up "the formula"? Unfortunately, that's all profilers ever do in real life. There IS no one formula, just a lot of guidelines.
This episode was just creepy, which I think is what they intended. It appears to be based on a real-life case in Missouri, the rape/murder of a woman by a man/wife couple. Ex-FBI-profiler John Douglas' website had a mention of the news articles on the message board, and it was creepy how many similarities to this ep there were.
What was also interesting was watching Garcia starting to come apart at the seams as she is thrust headlong into this case, having to filter the audio on that tape. The others have managed to build up a defense in order to do their jobs, but she was struggling more than the rest (and KUDOS to all the actors for the subtle showing of that underlying horror and stress).
I suspect that will come into play in future episodes. We already know Elle's on her way out-- maybe the attack in her house got to her more than they've let show so far... The tension in the eps is tangible... something's gotta blow soon, in some way.
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10-05-2006 @ 5:27PM
trachein said...
Two things:
1. Getting the quotes is easy, just turn on your close caption feature. I am hard of hearing and have to use close captions, so I always get the quotes.
The Gibran quote was: Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seared with scars.
This is what was said on the show. I did not check the source material for accuracy.
2. Re Elle's departure. The rumors I have heard are that she will be unable to be an effective agent due to aftereffects of the shooting, i.e. she "freezes" at critical junctures. Don't know if it will actually play out that way, but it makes sense and I agree there was a bit of foreshadowing in this episode (i.e. Elle is too good of a "soul" to do this awful work).
Apparently she will be replaced by Paget Brewster, who is best known, to me anyway, from her role in Andy Richter Controls the Universe (when is that going to be on DVD?). She was also was part of a story arc on Friends playing first Joey's then Chandler's girlfriend, the actress, Kathy on Friends. I haven't really seen her in dramatic parts, so its hard to judge how she will perform. Then again, "Hotch" was Greg from Dharma & Greg to me and he seems to be doing just fine.
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