30 Days of CM take two: Day 4
Day 4 - favourite episode
1x16 - "The Tribe"
I know, I know--it might seem odd that I've chosen to highlight a rather light season one standalone episode as opposed to one of the the intense, exciting ones that complete or launch a season and/or arc. Part of the reason is admittedly because these episodes have already been spammed and talked about so much, I wanted to highlight one of the less-talked-about ones. But mostly, I love "The Tribe" because in addition to being the first CM episode I ever saw (nostalgia value!), it is, for what it is, a slice of characterization and narrative perfection.
"The Tribe" is very much a character vehicle, and that character is Hotch. Granted, I might be a bit biased in this regard. But it's quite possibly the finest character-centric episode in the CM franchise--not in terms of thrills and bells and whistles--no major character gets kidnapped, shot, or placed in any peril (at least no more than usual)--but in the fact that we learn more about Hotch in this one episode than we learn about some characters throughout the series' run. And I don't mean in terms of factoids and whatnot. There is no doubt as to who this character is by the end of the episode, and it's all accomplished in a way that does not feel gimmicky or fanservice-y.
Part of the reason "The Tribe" succeeds so much is because of the character of John Blackwolf. He really comes off the page (screen?) and frankly, it's a shame he only got one episode. He's definitely one of the best Cops of the Week. He functions brilliantly as a foil for Hotch (or really the BAU and their methods in general). On the surface we've got the archetypal man-of-science/man-of-faith dichotomy (although, it being early-season CM, to phrase the dynamic as such is an oversimplification). But the reason Blackwolf is so effective is because he overtly challenges Hotch's methods--and vice versa--in a way that is neither unprofessional nor antagonistic. They're meeting on a level playing field, and while they do disagree, they also respect one another's views. And they compromise. This dynamic is probably best illustrated in the following exchange:
Hotch: "You can't tell that from my footprints. There's no perceptible difference between them."
Blackwolf: "The problem isn't with your prints. It's with your perception."
This right here? Is Hotch. Plain and simple. He's the practical, pragmatic, scientific problem-solver. His approach is often contrasted with Gideon's, which operates more on instinct and experience. But the reason why Blackwolf is a much more effective foil than Gideon is because he's never placed in the position of being superior in either knowledge or experience to Hotch. Although we do see cracks in Gideon's methods in "The Fisher King" and most notably in "Doubt," until this point, his instincts have always been right. More often that not, he is the one to "crack" the case. With Hotch and Blackwolf, it's a more even exchange of knowledge, a reconciliation and eventual combination of two vastly different points of view--both of which are equally effective. To quote Blackwolf, "You can take many paths to get to the same place." Both characters are ultimately enriched by taking a little from the other--a symmetry that is established when Hotch repeats Blackwolf's quote back to him.
This episode also works wonders in highlighting the complexity of Hotch's character (and TGibs' brilliantly subtle portrayal of him). He perpetuates his "dude who never smiles" shtick yet also displays a dry, witty sense of humor that sadly appears less and less over the seasons (although it doesn't disappear entirely). We're given an opportunity to see a more personal side of Hotch in a subplot with his brother, Sean. Sean, the rebellious younger sibling who chafes at his brother's overprotectiveness, challenges Hotch not only in his convictions but in his very nature (in a rather embarrassing--and for the audience, humorous--manner in front of his colleagues). They reconcile at the end of the episode, when Hotch--enriched through his experience solving the case with Blackwolf--comes to appreciate and respect his brother's point of view. This final scene is now on Sean's home turf--the restaurant where he works--but they're meeting as equals. It's a wonderfully effective scene and one of the more uplifting episode closers, without being overly shmaltzy.
Besides, you know, Hotch was really hot in this ep.
Honorable mentions: 1x14 "Riding the Lightning," primarily a Gideon vehicle but which also brings us some great moments with Hotch and JJ as well as a layered, complex, and fascinating suspect; 3x01 "Doubt," which, while treading a bit toward the cheesy with Gideon's letter/narration, is a pivotal episode in the team's narrative arc and provides a haunting and stunning commentary on moral ambiguity.
1x16 - "The Tribe"
I know, I know--it might seem odd that I've chosen to highlight a rather light season one standalone episode as opposed to one of the the intense, exciting ones that complete or launch a season and/or arc. Part of the reason is admittedly because these episodes have already been spammed and talked about so much, I wanted to highlight one of the less-talked-about ones. But mostly, I love "The Tribe" because in addition to being the first CM episode I ever saw (nostalgia value!), it is, for what it is, a slice of characterization and narrative perfection.
"The Tribe" is very much a character vehicle, and that character is Hotch. Granted, I might be a bit biased in this regard. But it's quite possibly the finest character-centric episode in the CM franchise--not in terms of thrills and bells and whistles--no major character gets kidnapped, shot, or placed in any peril (at least no more than usual)--but in the fact that we learn more about Hotch in this one episode than we learn about some characters throughout the series' run. And I don't mean in terms of factoids and whatnot. There is no doubt as to who this character is by the end of the episode, and it's all accomplished in a way that does not feel gimmicky or fanservice-y.
Part of the reason "The Tribe" succeeds so much is because of the character of John Blackwolf. He really comes off the page (screen?) and frankly, it's a shame he only got one episode. He's definitely one of the best Cops of the Week. He functions brilliantly as a foil for Hotch (or really the BAU and their methods in general). On the surface we've got the archetypal man-of-science/man-of-faith dichotomy (although, it being early-season CM, to phrase the dynamic as such is an oversimplification). But the reason Blackwolf is so effective is because he overtly challenges Hotch's methods--and vice versa--in a way that is neither unprofessional nor antagonistic. They're meeting on a level playing field, and while they do disagree, they also respect one another's views. And they compromise. This dynamic is probably best illustrated in the following exchange:
Hotch: "You can't tell that from my footprints. There's no perceptible difference between them."
Blackwolf: "The problem isn't with your prints. It's with your perception."
This right here? Is Hotch. Plain and simple. He's the practical, pragmatic, scientific problem-solver. His approach is often contrasted with Gideon's, which operates more on instinct and experience. But the reason why Blackwolf is a much more effective foil than Gideon is because he's never placed in the position of being superior in either knowledge or experience to Hotch. Although we do see cracks in Gideon's methods in "The Fisher King" and most notably in "Doubt," until this point, his instincts have always been right. More often that not, he is the one to "crack" the case. With Hotch and Blackwolf, it's a more even exchange of knowledge, a reconciliation and eventual combination of two vastly different points of view--both of which are equally effective. To quote Blackwolf, "You can take many paths to get to the same place." Both characters are ultimately enriched by taking a little from the other--a symmetry that is established when Hotch repeats Blackwolf's quote back to him.
This episode also works wonders in highlighting the complexity of Hotch's character (and TGibs' brilliantly subtle portrayal of him). He perpetuates his "dude who never smiles" shtick yet also displays a dry, witty sense of humor that sadly appears less and less over the seasons (although it doesn't disappear entirely). We're given an opportunity to see a more personal side of Hotch in a subplot with his brother, Sean. Sean, the rebellious younger sibling who chafes at his brother's overprotectiveness, challenges Hotch not only in his convictions but in his very nature (in a rather embarrassing--and for the audience, humorous--manner in front of his colleagues). They reconcile at the end of the episode, when Hotch--enriched through his experience solving the case with Blackwolf--comes to appreciate and respect his brother's point of view. This final scene is now on Sean's home turf--the restaurant where he works--but they're meeting as equals. It's a wonderfully effective scene and one of the more uplifting episode closers, without being overly shmaltzy.
Besides, you know, Hotch was really hot in this ep.
Honorable mentions: 1x14 "Riding the Lightning," primarily a Gideon vehicle but which also brings us some great moments with Hotch and JJ as well as a layered, complex, and fascinating suspect; 3x01 "Doubt," which, while treading a bit toward the cheesy with Gideon's letter/narration, is a pivotal episode in the team's narrative arc and provides a haunting and stunning commentary on moral ambiguity.