[CM] In which I attempt coherence
Not spoiler-cutting anything. If you're more behind than me, you're not watching the show at all. ;)
Oh thinky thoughts, oh thinky thinky. I have not figured out yet why something snags its hooks into me and turns my brain into a squirrel on crack, but when it happens, it TAKES OVER MY BRAIN. I suppose with Criminal Minds, it doesn't help that I'm able to mainline episodes several at a stretch nearly everyday, as it's become to A&E and PAX what Law and Order is to TNT.
You know, it's really hard to be newly obsessed with a show and wigging out over episodes that aired years ago and all the other fans have already seen. I'm all "OMG did you see that?" and they're all "Um, yes." So I'm looking forward to the new season.
I find it fascinating that so many people who identify as survivors of one form or another are so into this show (myself included). With such dark themes, you'd think it would be triggery as hell. I think a lot of the appeal is that the show GETS IT. Brutal, horrible, awful things happen to people, and there are consequences. There are lingering after effects. LONG lingering after effects. Hell, it's been three seasons since the episode I watched last night, and Reid is still showing signs of PTSD.
Criminal Minds: the show that should be subtitled, "Which Main Character Demonstrates/Develops PTSD This Week?" Seriously. Every single one of the team is damaged, and I love that. They either came damaged, or they took damage as part of their job (or both). They're damaged but they're functional. Maybe that's why we all love them. I know that's a huge part of why Reid is my favorite character. I identify with him in some ways: smart, a loner, not terribly socially apt, dislikes anything he can't intellectualize his way out of, a perfectionist. The writers have put that boy through absolute HELL: heartbreaking childhood, torture, drug addiction. And still he shows up and does his job. (Okay, it doesn't hurt that he's pretty--I'm only human.) I'd say that until the Reaper storyline, Reid took more abuse from the writers than anyone else.
Speaking of the Reaper: how did I watch that ENTIRE STORYLINE without realizing that Foyet was PONYBOY? (C. Thomas Howell, for the 80s-impaired among you.) Jesus. The other subtitle of this show: "Where Child Actors Go to Die Be Serial Killers". Howell, Wil Wheaton, Frankie Muniz, James van der Beek... anyone I'm missing? All four, interestingly enough, featured in some of the best episodes so far.
I just... man. It's a smart, smart show. Also: created by geeks. The geek references are off the charts. I'm really hoping they don't fuck things up too badly this season by the cast changes.
Oh thinky thoughts, oh thinky thinky. I have not figured out yet why something snags its hooks into me and turns my brain into a squirrel on crack, but when it happens, it TAKES OVER MY BRAIN. I suppose with Criminal Minds, it doesn't help that I'm able to mainline episodes several at a stretch nearly everyday, as it's become to A&E and PAX what Law and Order is to TNT.
You know, it's really hard to be newly obsessed with a show and wigging out over episodes that aired years ago and all the other fans have already seen. I'm all "OMG did you see that?" and they're all "Um, yes." So I'm looking forward to the new season.
I find it fascinating that so many people who identify as survivors of one form or another are so into this show (myself included). With such dark themes, you'd think it would be triggery as hell. I think a lot of the appeal is that the show GETS IT. Brutal, horrible, awful things happen to people, and there are consequences. There are lingering after effects. LONG lingering after effects. Hell, it's been three seasons since the episode I watched last night, and Reid is still showing signs of PTSD.
Criminal Minds: the show that should be subtitled, "Which Main Character Demonstrates/Develops PTSD This Week?" Seriously. Every single one of the team is damaged, and I love that. They either came damaged, or they took damage as part of their job (or both). They're damaged but they're functional. Maybe that's why we all love them. I know that's a huge part of why Reid is my favorite character. I identify with him in some ways: smart, a loner, not terribly socially apt, dislikes anything he can't intellectualize his way out of, a perfectionist. The writers have put that boy through absolute HELL: heartbreaking childhood, torture, drug addiction. And still he shows up and does his job. (Okay, it doesn't hurt that he's pretty--I'm only human.) I'd say that until the Reaper storyline, Reid took more abuse from the writers than anyone else.
Speaking of the Reaper: how did I watch that ENTIRE STORYLINE without realizing that Foyet was PONYBOY? (C. Thomas Howell, for the 80s-impaired among you.) Jesus. The other subtitle of this show: "Where Child Actors Go to Die Be Serial Killers". Howell, Wil Wheaton, Frankie Muniz, James van der Beek... anyone I'm missing? All four, interestingly enough, featured in some of the best episodes so far.
I just... man. It's a smart, smart show. Also: created by geeks. The geek references are off the charts. I'm really hoping they don't fuck things up too badly this season by the cast changes.