To Hell and Back
Criminal Minds 4 x 25 & 26
Difficult to comment on this without being overwhelmed by the ending, so I'll talk about that first. Crappy ending to a season, Ed. A cheap ratings booster and to be honest, a bit of an insult to the fans. We watch the show because it is good drama, not because we have to be suckered in by cliffhanger endings. This is the third season that has ended with a team member's life in jeopardy and it is getting old. I want quality drama, not soap operas. At least with the Fisher King there was a puzzle for fans to solve - with this, there is just waiting and I'm disappointed. If Hotch doesn't die, it is a bit of a pointless piece of shock tactics and if he does die, I think the show will struggle to continue without its moral centre.
Plus I love Hotch - and I think that to write a character out in that way is a pretty low blow to TG. At least Mandy got to ride off into the sunset. I can understand killing a main character is a brave decision, but the death has to serve a narrative purpose and I don't see how killing Hotch is going to enhance CM in any way.
So this ep has left me a little grumpy.
I was very disappointed with it last night - less so today. I still think that the plot was weak and parts of it were far too predictable. It was obvious that Hightower was going to take the conveniently left around gun and shoot Mason and I think Hightower's character was underdeveloped and under used. Why was he just hanging around there anyway?
I don't believe for a moment that Lucas was capable of complex medical work, or of stealing supplies unnoticed from a hospital. That made no sense. And I don't get why they shot him at the end? He was unarmed and surrendering and AFAIK, the only people who had been briefed that he was "psychotic" were the BAU.
I also wasn't sure what had happened to the profile - was Mason a sexual sadist, or an evil doctor or both?
The part with the rabbit hunter seemed like filler and I think they really had to stretch this over 2 episodes. It dragged in parts.
There were aspects that I liked - the general downbeat air to it, the pessimism and discomfort of the team. It would have been a very brave last ever episode. They used Rossi's "God complex" well and I liked how wrongfooted the team seemed all the way through.
I also liked the victim (Molly Ringwald Jr) who was smart and who fought back in an impossible situation. The impact of the case on all involved was well done.
So, it was okay and it could have been a whole lot better.
Difficult to comment on this without being overwhelmed by the ending, so I'll talk about that first. Crappy ending to a season, Ed. A cheap ratings booster and to be honest, a bit of an insult to the fans. We watch the show because it is good drama, not because we have to be suckered in by cliffhanger endings. This is the third season that has ended with a team member's life in jeopardy and it is getting old. I want quality drama, not soap operas. At least with the Fisher King there was a puzzle for fans to solve - with this, there is just waiting and I'm disappointed. If Hotch doesn't die, it is a bit of a pointless piece of shock tactics and if he does die, I think the show will struggle to continue without its moral centre.
Plus I love Hotch - and I think that to write a character out in that way is a pretty low blow to TG. At least Mandy got to ride off into the sunset. I can understand killing a main character is a brave decision, but the death has to serve a narrative purpose and I don't see how killing Hotch is going to enhance CM in any way.
So this ep has left me a little grumpy.
I was very disappointed with it last night - less so today. I still think that the plot was weak and parts of it were far too predictable. It was obvious that Hightower was going to take the conveniently left around gun and shoot Mason and I think Hightower's character was underdeveloped and under used. Why was he just hanging around there anyway?
I don't believe for a moment that Lucas was capable of complex medical work, or of stealing supplies unnoticed from a hospital. That made no sense. And I don't get why they shot him at the end? He was unarmed and surrendering and AFAIK, the only people who had been briefed that he was "psychotic" were the BAU.
I also wasn't sure what had happened to the profile - was Mason a sexual sadist, or an evil doctor or both?
The part with the rabbit hunter seemed like filler and I think they really had to stretch this over 2 episodes. It dragged in parts.
There were aspects that I liked - the general downbeat air to it, the pessimism and discomfort of the team. It would have been a very brave last ever episode. They used Rossi's "God complex" well and I liked how wrongfooted the team seemed all the way through.
I also liked the victim (Molly Ringwald Jr) who was smart and who fought back in an impossible situation. The impact of the case on all involved was well done.
So, it was okay and it could have been a whole lot better.