Criminal Minds 13x05 "Lucky Strikes" Review

“Lucky Strikes” brought back Agent Baby Girl, and for that, I am grateful.

The episode has two stories going on at once. First, a serial killer they had put in a mental hospital appears to be killing again, but they can’t figure out how to prove it. Second, when they first worked this case, this was when Garcia was shot, so her PTSD is triggered and she is snapping at everyone.

I’m glad they kept throwing in little references to the episode in question throughout this episode. I remembered Garcia getting shot, but not Floyd Ferell specifically, until Luke mentioned something about eating the chili he was serving. That made me shiver a bit! This was also an episode that is frustrating from an audience standpoint, because Ferell’s lawyer is arguing Ferell did not do it, any of it, even ten years ago; it was all someone else. They need to figure out if there was someone else or not. Ferell is a lot smarter than he is letting on. He has groomed another member of his Bible study to start killing again, using the exact details of his rituals, including some things never released to the public. When his current partner admits to doing everything before killing himself, the agents have no choice but to share it (though they know he is lying). I did like the twist ending they did. Once Ferell was pronounced a free man by the hospital staff, Rossi steps in with an order to X-ray his stomach…for the missing fingers. Ferell’s façade disappears. Case closed.

Garcia thinks she’s gotten over the events of ten years ago. It’s been ten years, more than enough time to heal physically and mentally, right? But she keeps flashing back to what happened and in trying to control herself ends up snapping at the rest of the team. JJ calls Morgan to come and talk to her. That is all she needs to feel better, for now. Obviously she still has some healing to do, but her quick fix for her current funk is from her best friend. I just love the relationship between the two of them so much and I’m glad they were able to bring him back, if only for two scenes.

This was an overall strong episode, bringing back characters from the past. There’s been a whole decade between that episode and this one. Time moves in their universe, same as here. I wonder if they’ll keeping bringing back old cases, or if this is a one-time thing. Halloween episode this week. Should be good. I’ll try to get a review up sooner than next week.

10/10

Criminal Minds 13x04 "Killer App" Review

SPOILERS

“Killer App” was a slightly different episode than usual, but I loved it. It was very emotionally gripping all the way through and really made me think.

The episode begins with a fun look into the relaxing area of a video game company that quickly turns to a brutal and chilling office shooting where no one can see who the shooter is. The team works to try and connect the victims when there is another shooting and four coders are killed. They discover the connection between them: they all were coders on a team which did drone operations for the military. And the unsub is the person who piloted the drone. We learn there’s something a little sketchy going on as the unsub, named Jake, startles and kidnaps a woman named Tori. There is much red tape as they try to get to the unsub and once they do, it’s too late. Tori killed him in escaping, but Peakstone had finished the job by hacking into the drone. They almost kill Tori as well, though both she and the leader of Peakstone are arrested for withholding evidence about the team’s last mission.

It’s not often that Criminal Minds dives into problems with the government or military or related areas. They stick to the unsubs, and that usually involves everyday situations. But this story, of there being a massive cover-up, of a supposed bombing of an insurrection camp turning out to be an elementary school? It’s no wonder the unsub Jake is so triggered by the letter, or why Tori is so squirrelly. This made me so uncomfortable to watch play out and it felt so different from other episodes. But I liked it. I liked that they took a risk. It was a different episode with a different story. I’m glad they didn’t turn it into someone with a recreational drone doing this, or it might have devolved into something involving the greater Internet and starting an argument.

Really, the only gripe I had with this episode is in the provided description it mentions it was an office shooting done by drone. The surprise is taken away. It would have been interesting to figure it out at the same time as them.

There wasn’t much going on by way of the main characters, but that’s fine. We’ve had enough over the last few episodes that we can start sinking into the everyday formula. There were the scenes at the beginning and end with Emily and Luke, going over the last details of the Mr. Scratch situation. I did like the ending, a slice of life, endless paperwork and midnight takeout.

10/10

Criminal Minds 13x03 "Blue Angel" Review

SPOILERS

“Blue Angel” gave yet another unique unsub of the week while incorporating Matt Simmons in an episode that seemed to have a little something to say about the importance of family.

The episode starts to be about finding the link between two supposedly unrelated men, horribly tortured and captured all on tape, sent to the families. The link turns out to be an escort both of them used, and all of a sudden the episode is about her, Kimberly. The obvious idea for the unsub is a jealous ex-boyfriend or partner, but after a little digging it seems like a more probably solution is a family member. She doesn’t know anything, but it seems like her mother does. While the two women are kidnapped, the team figures out Kimberly’s biological father killed her biological mother and her “mother” is actually her aunt. Her father is now out of prison and is not happy about the way Kimberly’s life turned out, so he is going after the men she has had a connection with. The team finds where they are hiding and everyone gets away okay. Her father is arrested, and both Kimberly and her mother seem to be fine.

Agent Matt Simmons and his wife.

I really liked the scene at the beginning with Matt Simmons and his wife. I thought they were just doing a little character building to make him seem more real in our eyes, but it turns out there was a greater purpose there. While watching over Kimberly, she is a little suggestive but he turns her down, staying true to his wife, not hiding behind anything. She appreciates that, and we get to see what a loving family could be, should be, when compared to the mess that ended up being Kimberly’s family, with her father and her aunt/mother. The episode rewards us with a reunion with Matt and his wife and kids.

This episode kept me intrigued throughout. It was a different kind of story which sprinkled throughout little moments with the characters we love so much. The team is still sticking together, doing what they do best.

10/10

Criminal Minds 13x02 "To a Better Place" Review

SPOILERS

“To A Better Place” was a nice warm-up kind of episode, not too over-the-top to get both the viewers and the team back into the swing of things. While not as heart-pounding as last week’s, there were still some moments I enjoyed.

The unsub this week is killing girls and leaving them in old suitcases, extremely influenced by his grandmother and his lack of a mother. He has been able to curb his violent impulses his whole life until his grandma suddenly dies and he is left alone. Yet he is still hearing her voice in his head and imagines she is still there. She is guiding his actions and decisions; he wants to ask out a fellow coffee shop worker, yet she disapproves. After he asks her out and takes her to meet his grandma, who is obviously not there, she wants to leave him. He snaps and tries to kill her, but Spence gets there in time to stop him. It’s revealed his mother never left him like he thought, and his grandma had killed her in trying to stop her from leaving.

It’s one of the episodes where you end up feeling a little bad for the unsub. His whole life has been built on the lie of a memory of something that never even happened. All he wants is a mother, someone stable, someone who won’t leave him. And even though he goes about it the wrong way, it’s still something a little bit different from many other unsubs.

Spence is back on the team.

Another big part of the episode is Spence getting reinstated into the team. He passes everything and is allowed back in, but only if for every 100 days he works, he takes 30 off. He doesn’t like that idea but he goes with it because otherwise he wouldn’t be allowed back at all. Emily helps him out a little too, by arranging for him to teach lectures on his month off. He is told that he will be watched carefully; the last time they let someone back in after a situation like his, he acted irrationally and dangerously in a hostage situation. I found it unsurprising, then, that at the end of the episode, Spence finds himself the lone agent in a hostage situation, where he has to diffuse the situation and get everyone out safely while waiting for the rest of the agents. He is able to keep calm, though, and everyone gets out safely. Spence reflects on his time in prison being a good thing. Germs don’t bother him as much now. He’s taking baby steps. So far, so good, in his recovery.

9/10

Criminal Minds 13x01 "Wheels Up"

SPOILERS

“Wheels Up” was a great season opener, resolving the cliffhanger and definitely setting up for some interesting times ahead.

The episode picks up where the last one ended, the aftermath of the trap set up by Peter Lewis, AKA Mr. Scratch. Walker is dead and Emily is missing, but everyone else is sent to the hospital with treatable injuries. It is up to Garcia, new agent Matt Simmons, Luke, and Spence to use Walker’s and Emily’s research into Scratch to find his location and rescue Emily. They use the radio frequency from the trap to track down his “IT department” and from there his hideout. There is a chase and Scratch ends up hanging off the side of the building. Luke makes the decision to not help him and lets him fall to his death. One more monster gone.

There are so many little details in the episode that just resonated with me. I was surprised at how much they managed to pack in. For example, Rossi’s little scheme to get Luke and Spence into his office was definitely worth a laugh. JJ and Will’s little conversation about what the future could be like, her as a full-time mom and him owning a breakfast place was so cute. Spence so frustrated at how he’s lost his touch was so jarring, a big hint as to where his character is going to go this season as he deals with his PTSS from prison.

Emily flatlines as Scratch tortures her.

Of course I have to talk about the scenes with Emily and Scratch. I didn’t figure out it was all a delusion until she did, so I was right there with her the entire time. My heart was pounding constantly and I had to look away for some stuff. I thought it was very clever how they used Emily’s previous brush with death to be the thing that brings her back and out of the delusion. I also liked how they brought back up the idea of Hotch again; I thought I heard somewhere he might be coming back, but maybe they squashed that rumor in this episode. However, I think using Scratch was a very mature and not too abrupt way of getting Hotch out of the story.

I am sad to see the character of Stephen Walker go. I really did like him. But I do like Matt Simmons so far and I will keep an open mind with him going forward in the season. The team is mostly back together, and I think the last scene is going to set the tone for the whole season. Emily shares the mantra that kept her grounded, two simple words, “Wheels up”. Their words, their little battle cry, their reason for existing, their strength. Last season they were a bit torn apart, with Hotch leaving and Spence in prison. I hope this means this season is going to have them even more grow closer as a family, referencing this episode whenever possible.

Wheels up.

10/10

Criminal Minds 12x22 "Red Light" Review

“Red Light” is the season finale we have been waiting for. It was amazing, a roller coaster of emotions that didn’t stop until the end, and even then we were left with a cliffhanger. Let’s get into this.

The main focus on the episode was Reid, of course. This whole half season was about him and bringing this story to a close. Who was after him? Why were they after him? How is he going to get out of it? How was it all going to end? All these questions had been answered except the last, as we waited with anticipation to see what happened with his mother’s kidnapping. I was right in my prediction they would not kill her off. The other thing about Reid is we see his darker side as in anger he throws Cat up against the wall and tries to choke her, and of course the big secret, that he enjoyed poisoning his fellow prisoners.

And of course I can’t not talk about Cat Adams. I enjoyed her character and her interactions with Reid. I loved how they played out Cat’s game, bringing them into a mind palace of sorts, all swanky and completely the opposite of where they were. I was surprised at how far she took her deception, and was not surprised of the nature of the relationship between her and Lindsey. I figured Lindsey would be the weak link to break the whole thing up, and she was. She felt betrayed by her lover and gives herself up. A good thing, too. She was quite the killer, and even the gas station fire seemed like overkill.

I really enjoyed them bringing Derek back for part of an episode, even if it was just for 10 minutes and that was all we were able to see of him. I couldn’t remember the last time Emily and Derek had seen each other, so that was sweet. And him and Garcia is something I’ve missed. I love their relationship so much.

Oh man that cliffhanger. Of course they’re all going to be okay, unless someone wants to change their contract, and then they will mysteriously die during the break. Everyone is going to be fine. I was expecting the house to blow up as soon as they got there. Having a trap on the road was very unexpected but I liked it. It goes along with the idea of Scratch being very tricky and unexpected. I wonder how long this story will take to be resolved next season.

10/10

Criminal Minds 12x21 "Green Light" Review

“Green Light” was the episode I have been waiting for, finally bringing the story of the second half of the season to a close right after that wonderful cliffhanger in last episode. I do like how they carefully hinted at these things in the past, with one episode it was revealed there was a woman there, and the next with the identity of the woman revealed. What none of us were expecting was for there to be a second woman, who was actually impersonating Scratch and behind the whole thing.

Looking back on the episode, it might have been a little more obvious that something was going to happen involving Reid and prison. A good chunk of the episode was flashbacks to previous violence and problems in the prison; this wasn’t just so the audience could remember those things, Reid had to remember those things as well. It was obvious he was starting to lose himself and he really needed to get out of there. He made a shiv and stabbed himself so he could be put in solitary confinement now that the other prisoners whom he poisoned knew he was the one who did it. So it’s a good thing he got out of there.

Reid in solitary confinement.

They won’t kill off his mother, right? That would just be too cruel at this point. And Prentiss was right: they lose his mother, they lose Reid. And there’s been no other indication that Gubler wants to leave the show, since they got him out of prison. They’ll find her just in the nick of time and everything will be all right.

I really like this whole throwing away expectations and really surprising us. Cat Adams. I had forgotten about her. So this whole thing about Scratch going after the team is completely separate from these women who want to go after Reid.

My only problem with the episode was how quickly they finally managed to get Reid out of prison. There was all that hype about the fingerprints needing to get there quickly and they had that whole scene in the courthouse and it just felt so neatly wrapped up in a bow. They fixed it by having the rest of the story not wrap up neatly. Though I guess there would have been no other way to get him out of prison. Anyone else want to give him a hug as he stood there and waited for the door to open?

Good episode. Really good episode. Finally there’s some “end of season” resolution and Reid is out of prison. I can’t wait for the next one.

9.5/10

Criminal Minds 12x20 ‘Unforgettable’ Review

“Unforgettable” was great! This is an episode I’ve been waiting for, and I didn’t even know it. I can see how the season will come rushing to an end, and it’s exciting.

We get an episode that revolves around a close friend of Stephen Walker, and we do get a couple flashbacks to take us into the past, to Russia, where they bring back the ideas of his past as someone who had to travel a lot and the fact that he could play the trombone (hey, I pay attention to music-related details!). The question that was posed was if Sam was sick because of things they did in Russia or was it completely unrelated? Turns out it was. True, he was irradiated by using a Russian technique, but he was not the target.

After several weeks of the unsub being a socially awkward twenty-something white male with some kind of misogynistic or other mental problem, it was a woman. Granted, it was a woman whom we did not see until they caught her, but I guess that was the point of the episode: it could have been anyone you meet on the street, wrong place, wrong time and all that. If you think about it, poison is traditionally a woman’s weapon. It makes sense the unsub was a woman. I liked it; it reminded me of a couple episodes of NCIS, especially an episode with an ex-KGB agent and similar poison pellets.

Spencer's mom visits him.

The final thing I need to discuss is of course Reid, who is still being treated poorly by the guards. His lawyer arranges a visit with his mother. She is rather confused as to why he is there. Spencer is somewhat glad to see her and tells her exactly why he is there. I did appreciate that: he was very straightforward, “I’m in prison waiting for my murder trial”. The best and worst part of this was the amount of guilt his mother feels over learning he is there, partially because of her. He tries to reassure her, eventually Scratch would have caught up to him. I wished they could have hugged each other.

The meeting was over and theeen…we meet her new nurse. She’s younger and Reid instantly recognizes her, even though she gives a different name. At first, I was suspecting she was going to be the person behind the radiation attacks. Then it was better. It was a girl from a few seasons back. I recognized her, but I can’t remember the exact story; I think she was kidnapped, or maybe her father was the unsub. Either way, she’s turned to the Dark Side and somehow Mr. Scratch found her. She’s the one who killed Nadie. This is the plot drop we’ve been waiting for. Let’s go go go!

9.5/10

Criminal Minds 12x19 "True North" Review

SPOILERS

I kind of saw the ending coming, but “True North” was a really good episode. Just the right amount a drama to keep me hooked and nothing was ambiguous.

First, let’s talk about the weekly case. Again with the unusual. So we have a guy who is creating human sundials and using water and a shock collar to shock them, all out of some twisted revenge that he did not receive a college scholarship at a science fair. He ends up killing the kid who got the scholarship by using ideas from both their projects, the sun dial and the shock collar. He is also on his way to killing the woman who was the judge for the fair and didn’t give him the scholarship, but is apprehended by Luke and JJ. This is all after he mercy-kills his afflicted mother and attempts to kill himself. A smooth take-down occurs as JJ cut the power and therefore he couldn’t electrocute himself. Yes, he’s another revenge-bent 20-something white guy. I’ll let it slide. It was interesting.

The episode begins with the ending of last episode and a transition that shows us how Reid is coping with what happened. The team comes up with a strategy to get Scratch, but only if Reid identifies him in a cognitive, so they send Tara to talk to him. It made sense Reid was so withdrawn for most of the episode and was resisting Tara. He kept blacking out at the same spot as always, and became increasingly frustrated, completely convinced that he was the one who killed Nadie with the knife. He was also still feeling the effects of the last episode; he made a difficult decision, he’s feeling disconnected, and I believe he was starting to lose hope, which is why he kept believing the “I killed Nadie” narrative.

Tara guides Reid through a cognitive interview.

That ending, though! There were only two outcomes: it would either be Scratch, or it wouldn’t. I was guessing it wouldn’t, and I was right. But a woman! Nice. Finally we get a female bad guy. I wonder who she is. I’m glad that Reid pulled himself out of his misery for a minute and really focused and gave the audience what they wanted: a clearer look into what happened. Now we just have to wait to find out what happens next. Only a few episodes left! I knew things would start to pick up, and now they have. There’s a woman out there who wanted to frame Reid. Is she with Scratch? Is she alone? Will this carry into next season or will it be happily resolved in a month? I can’t wait to find out.

9/10

Criminal Minds 12x18 "Hell's Kitchen" Review

SPOILERS

“Hell's Kitchen” was a good episode. Reid's story keeps working towards an explosive resolution, and the unsub was more intriguing than usual.

I liked the unsub. Yes, he was a “bad guy” for kidnapping and killing those girls, but unlike many of them he thought he had a good reason to do it. The scenes with him were very creepy, mostly because of the darkness. He thought good blood would help him be in the sunlight; I loved the scene when he was sticking his hand in the sunlight and was counting the seconds. It was a nice little look into his mind and how he is thinking. I really enjoyed the contrasting shots of the busy, loud streets of New York City and the stark quiet and darkness of the unsub's underground place.

This felt like the episode was supposed to have an emphasis on Walker, but someone forgot to write a little bit extra for him. I liked the beginning and end with him calming himself (and Garcia and the unsub) with satanama, which is actually something I do with my fingers but as a nervous/unconscious habit as opposed to a way to keep myself calm (and I didn't realize it was a meditative technique). There were little hints into his background; he's been to Sri Lanka and apparently he has a daughter? And he was the one who tried to connect with the unsub after he hit him and shot him.

Reid makes a decision.

Reid had a lot to do in this episode. It is revealed to us that he has been keeping a journal and attending group therapy after the death of his friend Delgado. He is counting the days while he is in his cell. His voiceovers make it clear that he is struggling with his new life. At least we as an audience can assume and hope that this will all be over soon. I loved the look on his face when he saw Rossi. I'm so glad they showed another interaction between Reid and a member of the team.

I was excited to meet Malcolm until it seemed like Calvin didn't know him. And Calvin has been on a suspect list as someone who is not very trustworthy; I've been waiting for him to do something.

Maybe I missed something, but I'm not quite sure what Reid did. I guess he somehow poisoned the drugs, but I don't know with what. Whatever he did, it was spread to more than just the intended user, including his new acquaintance Malcolm and Calvin Shaw. I guess we'll find out next time.

9/10

Criminal Minds 12x17 "In The Dark" Review

SPOILERS

“In the Dark” was a pretty okay episode. It followed the same pattern as the other episodes this season in splitting the attention between the unsub of the week and Reid’s misadventures in prison.

As soon as they said there were two unsubs with two very different motives, I thought there was an episode of Criminal Minds where they did just that: two unsubs were in the same city and they were competing against each other. I figured that’s where they were going with this – with each murder it would get more gruesome and they would start stealing from each other (I thought that’s where this was headed when the knife murders suddenly changed). So I was a bit disappointed when they made the big revelation that it has to be the same person. They made up for that conclusion by explaining the reason there was one unsub with two different MO’s was because the unsub was sleepwalking. That was unexpected and definitely a unique explanation. All is forgiven, writers.

This was a pretty big Luke episode, despite the story not revolving around him. He has two interactions with Garcia, at the beginning and end to bookend the episode. In each you can see that he is trying to find out what’s under Garcia’s armor and offering to be there for her. It takes her a while to warm up to him, however slightly. Also, we find out Calvin Shaw is some kind of scumbag apparently. Luke dug up some info and used it to blackmail Shaw into protecting Reid. The only problem I had with all this is why didn’t Luke visit Reid while he was at it? I suppose he had to get to the field and work the case, but Reid seemed so hurt when he found out Luke was there and didn’t come see him.

Reid calls for help after Luis is hurt.

I was not expecting that ending. Is Luis dead? I guess we won’t find out until next time; it could be a fake-out and as soon as they turned the camera off someone came to help them. However, I think it is more likely he is dead and now Reid is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He will have to play by the rules in order to survive, but that will include doing dangerous things. His situation isn’t looking all that great; true, his trial might be at a better place, but he could still be found guilty, and he is still not in protective custody. As each week gets us closer to this trial, I can’t help wonder how they’re going to fix it. Like I said in a previous post, if they were writing Reid off the show, they wouldn’t make him go through all of this just to stick him in prison behind the scenes for the rest of the run of the show. Let’s hope there is a happy outcome in the works.

8/10

Criminal Minds 12x16 "Assistance is Futile" Review

SPOILERS

“Assistance is Futile” was an okay episode, continuing the storyline with Reid in the prison - I'm guessing every episode will have a small cameo - as well as showing the team having to track down an unsub with the help of his mother who suspects he is the person behind the kidnappings and injuries.

The opening scene with Reid and JJ was so sweet. I'm glad they showed him interacting with his friends instead of just letting it occur behind the scenes between episodes. I also didn't realize his mother didn't know where he was, but it makes sense that they would not tell her. The whole scene while they were eating was a little unclear as to what went on. It was carried over from the previous episode, talking about the hierarchies and the like in prisons. Whatever Reid said or did, it led to him getting jumped at the end of the episode. I guess this will continue next week.

JJ visits Reid in prison.

The unsub was definitely creepy but I'm glad they brought in the story with his mother. Usually they have to rely on research in order to track down who the person is and where they are probably hiding, but with this one, some of this research was already done. I liked the way they integrated the mother into the story, the way they slowly kept peeling back the layers into the past, finding things wrong with her son in the past and how it lends itself to informing the present, until they figure out where he is and what he is going to do. The selfie with him in the background was the creepiest part of the episode for me.

There was a part of me that was expecting it to not even be her son that was the unsub, and then they have to go find two guys. It would have been interesting and might have created a two-parter, not that Criminal Minds does two-parters very often. I think the title is referring to the fact that even though the mother helped them find him, and before the episode wanted to help him by giving him ecstasy, he ended up backed into a corner and taking his own life (also, did anyone else think of Star Trek?).

I enjoyed the scene with JJ and Rossi at the end. Any scenes that contribute to the fact that this team is such a family are always heartwarming. And what a cliffhanger! Obviously Reid is not going to die (he might get hurt but he won't die). But we still have to wait for a week for the resolution.

7/10

Criminal Minds 12x15 "Alpha Male" Review

SPOILERS

I wonder if this is how the rest of the season is going to go: the team is off finding an unsub and meanwhile Reid’s doing his thing in prison. I’m okay with that because I never like those episodes when characters just disappear for weeks on end, but also I feel like because we need to keep Reid's story going, the other stories, the ones with the unsubs, are a little less developed and more surface level motivation. What I did appreciate with this episode was how the title and the two stories were linked thematically.

“Alpha Male” shows Reid as he transitions to life in prison and the team looking for an unsub who is throwing acid at attractive young people. The seemingly random targets turned out to be substitutes for people the unsub is angry with for their sexual success. The team narrows down who it could be and reads through a manifesto that explains where his next attack will be (all I was thinking was how fast Reid could have read through those 120 pages). Reid is approached by the “white guy gang” in the prison (note that he was purposely moved for some reason from protective custody to general population) and when he refuses to join them he is nearly attacked. He is rescued by a fellow ex-FBI fed, named Calvin Shaw, who is in prison for killing his informant. It seems that Reid has found a friend, someone who sort of knows what he is going through, who likes to read and play chess. So at least it won’t be so bad for him in the end.

Reid's new friend, Calvin Shaw.

When the team first suggested there could be multiple unsubs or it could be a woman, I was hoping for that angle. It was like they wanted to make the story more interesting, but instead went with a white, glasses wearing, socially awkward, twenty-something male, with a case of narcissism and meninism, the same unsub in probably 85% of the cases. That’s part of the reason I am rating this episode a little lower than usual. I’m not sure how I could have improved this storyline, but I felt like there were ways to play it out differently.

Thematically, the episode was pretty consistent. The title is “Alpha Male”. This idea is found in Reid’s story through the whole idea of there being a hierarchy in prison, gangs and leaders and tribute and submission. It is clear Calvin Shaw is an Alpha, deserving of respect, and Reid is lower than a Beta. The rest of the episode is heavy with this idea; the men featured on the “man-o-sphere” website were called “Alpha Males” and male superiority was praised, being tough and manly and overpowering women. It’s a topical theme, but again, I feel like it could have played out differently.

I’m looking forward to seeing what is going to happen to Reid next. At least he’s in a better situation than the last episode.

7/10

Criminal Minds 12x14 "Collision Course" Review

SPOILERS

“Collision Course” was another roller coaster of an episode, split between two stories: an unsub who is hacking cars and experiencing a thrill from watching a terrified crash, first selecting random victims, then focusing his anger on women who ignored him on a dating site; and the continuation of Reid’s story as he gains a lawyer, is offered a few deals, turns down the deals, and is facing a trial, stuck in jail without bail for three months. It seems to be rock bottom, and we’re left wondering where could it possibly go from here?

The whole hacking the cars storyline was one that I hadn’t even considered before. There have been plenty of unsubs that I should have been scared of (most of them have some problem with young women) but this one really scared me. I guess anything is hackable, but the fact that as cars become smarter they also become more susceptible is something that has never really occurred to me before. The actual car crashes, especially the last one, were enough to get my heart pounding a little. It’s the same story they’ve covered dozens of times before: an antisocial guy is going after the girls who rejected him. But it’s a different take on it.

Garcia was the little beacon of light in this episode. It’s been a while since she’s been in the field, and her hobbling around in heels and an FBI vest made me chuckle a little; it was a tiny bit of much-needed humor in an otherwise taxing episode. Also, who doesn’t lowkey ship her and Luke?

Prentiss and Reid discussing Reid's options.

The Reid storyline made me feel confusion, indecision, and worry all through the episode. The rapid-fire questioning by his lawyer Fiona Duncan made me actually consider, for just a moment, that perhaps Reid really did kill her. I was surprised about the deal offers, but not surprised he rejected them and wanted to fight. And I felt, along with the rest of the team, the utter disappointment when he was denied bail. I read his phone call to his mother in a few different ways: he is comforting her, he is comforting us, the audience, and he is also trying to reassure himself. It’s all gonna be okay. But is it? Will it?

Here’s my prediction for the rest of the season: the finale will be the team capturing Mr. Scratch and getting Reid out of trouble. His trial will be in 3 months, and 3 months from now is May, the end of the season. That’s definitely enough high stakes for a season finale. Also, if they’re writing Reid out of the show, why would they tuck him away in jail? It just doesn’t make sense. I always hope for a happy outcome, but the road to get there may not be so.

8/10

Criminal Minds 12x13 “Spencer” Review

SPOILERS

“Spencer” was such a good episode, one that happened at just the right time. We had built up enough suspense around Reid, his mother, and whatever those drugs were. Now we had to get some fallout.

There’s a car chase in Mexico…and it’s Reid who was driving the car! The police find drugs, he’s arrested, and he’s very, very high. The team does their part in helping figure out what’s going on, because he was definitely set up. He is still in custody, but back in the United States at the end of the episode. There were flashbacks to his early season drug problems, as well as this-season problems with his mom. This was a very Spencer-centered episode (as the title would suggest) and one that I’m glad they got around to doing.

Spencer Reid in jail in Mexico

I enjoy episodes that revolve around one of the main characters. Sure, some of the cases they solve are interesting, but the team-centered ones are the arcs and episodes I prefer. And I have a soft spot for Spencer; a lot of fans do (I was hoping this wouldn’t be his surprise final episode. The last time there was a character name as a title was when Derek left. My grandma is still mourning his absence.). To take such a smart, quick character and have him slowed down, with memory gaps and a mug shot, is a great way to draw the viewers in. It was not out of character for him to have drug problems or secrets. It just took a while for all of this to catch up to him. Throw in Mr. Scratch out to get the entire team, and you have a perfect storm for this all to boil over. And we’re only halfway through the season!

I was surprised at how far the writers were willing to take this storyline. The whole thing isn’t wrapped up at the end of the episode. There’s no technicality that gets him out of everything, the federal lawyers won’t represent him, and his mom is still no better and has no idea of what lengths Spencer went for her. This won’t take a two-parter to solve; it’ll probably be more. Real-world repercussions with characters that seem so untouchable always hurt. It was slightly painful to watch Reid all hazy and not remembering things, with the lightbulbs swaying and the flashbacks pulling us into his mind. And to top it all off, he’s under investigation for murder.

This was a really good episode. I’m sure a lot of people watch shows like this for the interesting stories and murders to solve and bad guys to catch, and a part of me does. But after a few seasons of the same thing, when the stories start diving into the characters in very personal ways, that is when it really gets interesting. You really find out how invested you are in the characters.

9/10