I'm going to do my best to find some positive aspects about this episode, but it certainly won't be the majority of the writing, that's for sure. I have to wonder whether the "CM" Powers That Be are a group of ostriches who simply will not get their heads out of the sand. The internet, magazines and other media have mentioned the shoddy writing this season so many times that I think most long-time fans are sick of repeating themselves where it's concerned yet still, it continues to be at a fourth grade standard with little hope of any improvement, at least for the rest of this seasson anyway. The message is a simple one. The show is slipping in the ratings. Get some better writers and better scripts for your actors or the show won't have a hope of being competitive.
Nice touch, showing us a picture of the supposedly dead Emily Prentiss. Not so realistic was the fact that Garcia became more teary when she removed J.J.'s nameplate from her door many episodes ago than she did when looking at a picture of a fallen colleague. How much time which may or may not have passed since the death would be irrelevant to someone as emotional and connected to the team as Garcia. Just looking at the photo would have had her reaching for the tissues. It was good to see her and Morgan having one of their 'chats', but even that lacked the spontaneous humour of a couple of seasons ago. I don't like to see good actors appearing to be forcing their lines.
One thing I DID enjoy was Hotch's comment that they needed to find an 'experienced' profiler soon to fill the yawning gap left by Prentiss. This gives me some hope that we will either have an old cast member returning or perhaps a guest star of note for the last few episodes of the season. That would be nice for a change.
Garcia is back to presenting the cases again. They still have not learned that this is wrong on a dozen levels. Technical Analysts do NOT present cases to an elite FBI unit. It doesn't work like that because it doesn't happen.
The profiling seemed close to non-existent again until Hotch correctly deduced from the patterns of the shoe tread that they were dealing with one very violent and very erratic unsub. That is the Hotch I like to see. One who is at the centre of the investigation instead of peeping over the shoulders of the others every now and again.
Upon visiting several internet sites since the episode aired, I have noticed that even a large number of Ashley Seaver fans believe she was in the episode too much and is being terribly mishandled by the writers. Please, CBS and Co., if you want the fans to fully accept Seaver, STOP throwing her in our collective faces in almost every scene because that is more overkill than we can handle. Her comments on the plane about Ben seeming to be a 'nice guy' are beyond belief. Didn't she grow up with a serial killing monster for a father? Didn't he bring her giftd etc.? More importantly, wasn't she brought into the BAU to give a unique perspective and insight into the mind of a serial killer? Doesn't she supposedly have those all-important 'fresh eyes' that this team of experts need so badly? Either define the character and write her part properly or get rid of her. There's no grey area. Prentiss had to struggle mightily with Hotch to be allowed to join the team. Why have they made everything so easy for the new girl? This discredits the show and the actress badly.
It was nice to see Reid talking about his headaches and that people were actually concerned and listening for a change. He seemed to have to battle his no-longer-mentioned drug addiction completely alone. His fear of schizophrenia was real and frightening for him. Kudos to Matthew Gray Gubler for portraying that so well.
Personally, I found the case dull and predictable. Seeing the unsubs right from the beginning is a trend that I am finding very bothersome because all the suspense is taken away when we know who they are at the beginning and the BAU find out near the end.
I'm not surprised the ratings were low for this episode and that so many people switched off after a short period of time. This is a very bad trend which will only continue if they don't stop playing around with what was once a blockbusting formula. Do they still think it was worth it to get rid of two much loved female characters? I'd like to be a fly on the wall during executive meetings as they try to figure out what it is they have done wrong ...
To me, "Criminal Minds" used to be like hearing the delightful news that someone had baked your favourite chocolate cake. It would arrive, like clockwork, every Wednesday evening, fresh from the oven, covered in gooey icing, ready to be gobbled up. You knew it was going to be mouth-watering, moist and delicious. You wouldn't dare miss a single crumb because that one cake had to last a whole week. Since the beginning of Season 6, the "CM" cake has still been regularly delivered and, from the outside, looks as good as ever. The reality, however, sets in when you take that first bite because the cake is dry, tasteless, raw in places and burnt in others whilst the icing has no flavour whatsoever and you find yourself no longer anticipating baking day. Ah for the days when I could have my cake and eat it too, just the way I liked it. Time for Ed Bernero and friends to bring back their original bakers or they will find that nobody will want to buy their product anymore. That would indeed be a sad and useless waste of expensive ingredients.moreless
The BAU is called to Oregon to investigate murders committed by a suspected gang in Portland, which is targeting a new victim every night.
 Thomas Gibson |
Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner |
 Joe Mantegna |
Senior SSA David Rossi |
 Matthew Gray Gubler |
SSA Dr. Spencer Reid |
 Kirsten Vangsness |
Analyst Penelope Garcia |
 Shemar Moore |
SSA Derek Morgan |
 Rachel Nichols |
FBI Cadet Ashley Seaver |
 Bug Hall |
Ben |
Guest Star |
 Matt McTighe |
Matt |
Guest Star |
Samantha Shelton |
Yolanda |
Guest Star |
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (3)
ADD TRIVIA-
When Garcia is looking up prescriptions that have been filled for Ben Foster, his date of birth is shown on screen as 10-4-2001, which would make the unsub only 9 years old at the time. It is mentioned several times during the episode that the unsub is in his twenties.
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As the team closes in on Ben Foster at his home, he is sitting on his bed surrounded by the three 'friends' he sees in his delusions. One of them goes to the window and warns the rest that the police are coming and they needed to run. This is impossible because the delusions cannot act on their own; they can only perform what Ben imagines they are doing. Since he was not aware the police were outside, he could not imagine that one of his delusions looked out the window and saw the police.
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Greg Van Dyke transportation coordinator for the series, guest-stars as the bus driver in this episode.
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QUOTES (4)
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Reid: (to Morgan about his headaches) Because predicting one's chances of developing a genetic condition are like finding a penny in an ocean... I have terrible headaches. I can't sleep at night. I can't focus on our cases. I... I only read five books last week!
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Reid: (at the crime scene) Look at the stab wounds.
Morgan: There's gotta be over 50 of them.
Reid: 71. -
Morgan: Siddhartha Buddha said, "It is not his enemy or foe that lures him to evil ways."
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Reid: Lizette Reese said, "The old faiths light their candles all about, but burly truth comes by and puts them out."
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NOTES (2)
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Original International Air Dates:
Czech Republic – July 3, 2012 on Prima family -
Beginning with this episode, Paget Brewster was no longer listed as a star in the opening title sequence.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.
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Official discussion thread: "#6" - Spoilers
2 days ago3
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Season Nine Renewal News
05/16/136
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Speculation: Who is the Replicator?
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Who is your favorite character and why?
05/11/13290
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Official discussion thread: "Nanny Dearest" - Spoilers
05/11/132
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#6
S 8 : Ep 22
Aired 5/15/13
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Nanny Dearest
S 8 : Ep 21
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Alchemy
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Pay It Forward
S 8 : Ep 19
Aired 4/10/13
Season 6 Episodes
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Supply & Demand
Ep 23
Big Sea
Ep 22
Out of the Light
Ep 21
The Stranger
Ep 20
Hanley Waters
Ep 19
With Friends Like These...
Ep 18
Lauren
Ep 17
Valhalla
Ep 16
Coda
Ep 15
Today I Do
Ep 14
Sense Memory
Ep 13
The Thirteenth Step
Ep 12
Corazon
Ep 11
25 to Life
Ep 10
What Happens at Home...
Ep 9
Into the Woods
Ep 8
Reflection of Desire
Ep 7
Middle Man
Ep 6
Devil's Night
Ep 5
Safe Haven
Ep 4
Compromising Positions
Ep 3
Remembrance of Things Past
Ep 2
JJ
Ep 1
The Longest Night
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