CM 3x02 "In Birth and Death"
So, I've written a massive play-by-play of the episode. I might start doing this on a weekly basis. It's fun!
...or, y'know, not.
Okay, that intro? SRSLY creepy! I can't really say what was so creepy about it, maybe it was just the lighting, but wow.
"Gideon didn't answer his phone." Oh, Reid.. .
Hotch has cut his hair! Pretty! And Haley's done something with hers too. I wish I had Meredith Monroe's hair. Probably high-maintenance, though.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he says - that's like his mantra, isn't it? He never means it, but he always says it. He's not happy there. Or, rather, he would be happy there, were he there under other circumstances. He's leaving the BAU in half an hour - how can he be happy, Haley?
"We deserve a good life." It's not that I don't see where Haley's coming from, but what I wonder is how a selfless person like Hotch ends up with such a (relatively) self-involved person as her in the first place? This isn't about what he does or she does, these are their character traits. He puts himself last - she puts herself and her closest first. It's such a divergence in character that I can't help but wonder how have they successfully lived together until now?
"Yeah, 'cause you're never late" You tell'im, Reid:)
Maybe Hotch needs to buy his shirts a size larger - the skin of his neck spilling over the edge there is kinda disgusting.
The exchange between Hotch and Morgan is admirably honest. "Are you a pain in my ass? Yes, sir." And Hotch remembers that he called him a drill sergeant. Sure, he probably internalizes every criticism he ever gets.
“It’s been a privilege.” That’s the kind of person Hotch is, the kind that can say something like that with a straight face, and really mean it.
That’s strong by Emily, really is. “The team needs you.” And that look she gives Strauss. And the look Hotch gives the both of them. Oh, the dawning of sweet understanding. Thank you, Hotch!
Go, bitchy JJ, go!
Garcia… Oh, Garciaaaaaaa… You are awesome and amazing for caring so much about the team. And yet, Hotch focuses on her and her new office.
Morgan is like a natural leader
Oh God, oh God, get Strauss OUT OF THERE! Also, because I just noticed, that is one godawful outfit she’s wearing.
Oh, Haley’s cheating! …can’t say I didn’t see it coming, but then again I’ve pictured a thousand scenarios for this marriage ending. Didn’t see it revealing like that, though.
Morgan/Garcia banter is steamier than ever. Mmm, those two love each other so much. Too bad Morgan’s too busy playing around.
Oooh, that is one sweet gadget, a gun safe! Ah, finally, the fight that has been brewing for the first twenty minutes (Not to mention the first two seasons). I’ll get back to that later, though.
Hotch and Prentiss. I have no words. That’s just great. I knew Hotch got it. Good Hotch.
The kid is a good actor. Nice scene in the car with the UnSub. Who, by the way, is one fucking sick puppy.
Hotch and Morgan shaking hands, and JJ being smart! This is my team back in action. Is JJ joking or did Garcia actually work on her own, I can’t really tell?
Glee! Strauss can’t handle herself on the scene!
I can’t really make out what’s going on in the brief exchange between Reid and Hotch, apart from the clean words. I think it’s weird that Hotch doesn’t appear more worried about Gideon, though.
And Reid telling them about the perfect child of the unstable parent. Poor little child-Spencer. And the Hotch/Garcia moment. So pretty.
Sending Prentiss in is bold. Very much so. Oh, Prentiss, I love you more and more for every episode. Also, now Morgan carries two guns too? Methinks Reid/Gideon isn’t the only mentor/student relationship in the BAU.
Hotch doesn’t look very convincing when he says, “Why would I ever want to leave the BAU?”
They didn’t kill Gideon. Thank God. However appropriate it might feel to some of us in terms of karmic justice etcetera, the character hasn’t done anything to anyone. Killing him off would’ve been unnecessary, IMHO. I’m sad that we’ll never find out Gideon’s secrets, though. What has gone on between Gideon and his son that made him believe that Stephen wouldn’t want to hear from him in “Blood Hungry”? Why is Gideon still wearing his wedding band? What is the ring (or rings?) if not his wedding band? And there are probably other questions, too, that could do with some exploring.
When it comes to the Hotchner family, I’m tempted to quote the poet: “not with a bang but a whimper”. I totally expected them to make a bigger deal of this when it eventually happened. And while I’ve (almost) always been adamant in my defense of Haley, and while I can see how this could certainly constitute the last straw, I think she chose the wrong situation to be unreasonable. Well, unreasonable might not be the right word.
But of course she’s worried, because the job calls to him in a way she can’t - or won’t - understand, but certainly notices. She’s afraid that if he goes back he won’t be able to leave again. “Because after this case there WILL be another one. And another one.” And when Hotch says that the team needs him, you can sense her acute desperation when she says: “No, they need Gideon.” She probably knows that she’s already lost.
Anyway, possible (or plausible) adultery aside, Haley isn’t the bad guy here. Let as much be clear. She’s passive-aggressive as all hell, and lacks understanding for what Hotch does, and yes, for who Hotch is. But Hotch is missing something important when he says this is who he is. This isn’t how he’s always been. What went on in the Hotchner home when he decided to join the BAU in the first place? He used to be a prosecutor, so he hasn't been this person always.
In all fairness to Hotch, he DID decide to leave the BAU, even though he wasn’t happy about it. I think Katie’s words from “P911”, when asked if she doesn't think it's time for her to get out of the job, ring true also for Hotch.“I don’t think I can anymore.”
Neither of them are the bad guy. They are two people who possibly aren’t quite right for each other. They love each other, but sometimes love just isn’t enough.
...or, y'know, not.
Okay, that intro? SRSLY creepy! I can't really say what was so creepy about it, maybe it was just the lighting, but wow.
"Gideon didn't answer his phone." Oh, Reid.. .
Hotch has cut his hair! Pretty! And Haley's done something with hers too. I wish I had Meredith Monroe's hair. Probably high-maintenance, though.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he says - that's like his mantra, isn't it? He never means it, but he always says it. He's not happy there. Or, rather, he would be happy there, were he there under other circumstances. He's leaving the BAU in half an hour - how can he be happy, Haley?
"We deserve a good life." It's not that I don't see where Haley's coming from, but what I wonder is how a selfless person like Hotch ends up with such a (relatively) self-involved person as her in the first place? This isn't about what he does or she does, these are their character traits. He puts himself last - she puts herself and her closest first. It's such a divergence in character that I can't help but wonder how have they successfully lived together until now?
"Yeah, 'cause you're never late" You tell'im, Reid:)
Maybe Hotch needs to buy his shirts a size larger - the skin of his neck spilling over the edge there is kinda disgusting.
The exchange between Hotch and Morgan is admirably honest. "Are you a pain in my ass? Yes, sir." And Hotch remembers that he called him a drill sergeant. Sure, he probably internalizes every criticism he ever gets.
“It’s been a privilege.” That’s the kind of person Hotch is, the kind that can say something like that with a straight face, and really mean it.
That’s strong by Emily, really is. “The team needs you.” And that look she gives Strauss. And the look Hotch gives the both of them. Oh, the dawning of sweet understanding. Thank you, Hotch!
Go, bitchy JJ, go!
Garcia… Oh, Garciaaaaaaa… You are awesome and amazing for caring so much about the team. And yet, Hotch focuses on her and her new office.
Morgan is like a natural leader
Oh God, oh God, get Strauss OUT OF THERE! Also, because I just noticed, that is one godawful outfit she’s wearing.
Oh, Haley’s cheating! …can’t say I didn’t see it coming, but then again I’ve pictured a thousand scenarios for this marriage ending. Didn’t see it revealing like that, though.
Morgan/Garcia banter is steamier than ever. Mmm, those two love each other so much. Too bad Morgan’s too busy playing around.
Oooh, that is one sweet gadget, a gun safe! Ah, finally, the fight that has been brewing for the first twenty minutes (Not to mention the first two seasons). I’ll get back to that later, though.
Hotch and Prentiss. I have no words. That’s just great. I knew Hotch got it. Good Hotch.
The kid is a good actor. Nice scene in the car with the UnSub. Who, by the way, is one fucking sick puppy.
Hotch and Morgan shaking hands, and JJ being smart! This is my team back in action. Is JJ joking or did Garcia actually work on her own, I can’t really tell?
Glee! Strauss can’t handle herself on the scene!
I can’t really make out what’s going on in the brief exchange between Reid and Hotch, apart from the clean words. I think it’s weird that Hotch doesn’t appear more worried about Gideon, though.
And Reid telling them about the perfect child of the unstable parent. Poor little child-Spencer. And the Hotch/Garcia moment. So pretty.
Sending Prentiss in is bold. Very much so. Oh, Prentiss, I love you more and more for every episode. Also, now Morgan carries two guns too? Methinks Reid/Gideon isn’t the only mentor/student relationship in the BAU.
Hotch doesn’t look very convincing when he says, “Why would I ever want to leave the BAU?”
They didn’t kill Gideon. Thank God. However appropriate it might feel to some of us in terms of karmic justice etcetera, the character hasn’t done anything to anyone. Killing him off would’ve been unnecessary, IMHO. I’m sad that we’ll never find out Gideon’s secrets, though. What has gone on between Gideon and his son that made him believe that Stephen wouldn’t want to hear from him in “Blood Hungry”? Why is Gideon still wearing his wedding band? What is the ring (or rings?) if not his wedding band? And there are probably other questions, too, that could do with some exploring.
When it comes to the Hotchner family, I’m tempted to quote the poet: “not with a bang but a whimper”. I totally expected them to make a bigger deal of this when it eventually happened. And while I’ve (almost) always been adamant in my defense of Haley, and while I can see how this could certainly constitute the last straw, I think she chose the wrong situation to be unreasonable. Well, unreasonable might not be the right word.
But of course she’s worried, because the job calls to him in a way she can’t - or won’t - understand, but certainly notices. She’s afraid that if he goes back he won’t be able to leave again. “Because after this case there WILL be another one. And another one.” And when Hotch says that the team needs him, you can sense her acute desperation when she says: “No, they need Gideon.” She probably knows that she’s already lost.
Anyway, possible (or plausible) adultery aside, Haley isn’t the bad guy here. Let as much be clear. She’s passive-aggressive as all hell, and lacks understanding for what Hotch does, and yes, for who Hotch is. But Hotch is missing something important when he says this is who he is. This isn’t how he’s always been. What went on in the Hotchner home when he decided to join the BAU in the first place? He used to be a prosecutor, so he hasn't been this person always.
In all fairness to Hotch, he DID decide to leave the BAU, even though he wasn’t happy about it. I think Katie’s words from “P911”, when asked if she doesn't think it's time for her to get out of the job, ring true also for Hotch.“I don’t think I can anymore.”
Neither of them are the bad guy. They are two people who possibly aren’t quite right for each other. They love each other, but sometimes love just isn’t enough.