CM's Season 6

[danikos-realms.livejournal.com]

I’ve reached episode 16 of Criminal Mind’s last season, and I can sum it up in a couple of words: what the fudge? I’m not trying to offend anyone’s sensibilities, but I though this show was a huge deal in the USA. What the heck are they doing lately? And what’s up with the spin-off?

The Rant

From the very beginning, the season has seemed rushed, overly dramatic and very little about the team and the criminals — as it was, as it should be, and the reasons why I even bother to watch when it’s not even aired in my country at decent hours.

Whatever, I thought, they’re focussing more on the team itself this season; I could live with that. But then they stopped showing the team! JJ is gone (I liked her, although I was not a huge fan), and Prentiss is on the same track . . .

Or, at least, that’s what I hear. I’m willing to pay good fic to anyone who tells me it’s a lie and means it.

Plus, the criminals stopped being interesting psychos to being simply psychos (bonus points for the one with the mummy’s issues, though), and everything is getting more and more makeshift by the episode. I only watch out of sheer loyalty for the veterans and hope it’ll change.

Furthermore, they simply won’t develop any of the main character’s stories. They throw us a bone every now and then (Morgan’s Ellie and Reid’s headaches and Garcia’s struggle with the job and Prentiss’s past) but where is the development, the background, the cathartic scenes these lovely actors do so well? When I think of Thomas Gibson in episode 5.09...! This season is seriously lacking.

Then, behold, the final blow that wrenched my heart: Ashley Seaver. I feel like crying.

The actress is beautiful, nice and competent so far (sort of aiming at replacing JJ, though, isn’t she? With the way she looks and all. . .), but where the hell does her character fit?

Ashley has no experience whatsoever, despite her rather dramatic background, which leads me to the conclusion that the whole plot is to get a pretty face to replace JJ and get Reid laid. Which I do not appreciate, because this show used to have standards and now they’re trying to convince the audience (an intelligent audience, I might add, if they enjoy this type of production) that this is believable.

They called her for her unique insight? She was profiling in her second episode! Not even Reid did that!! And the big boys – Hotch, Morgan and Rossi – actually listened? Please . . .

Plus, what kind of writers present a character’s whole back story in a single episode and get her involved in the main plot, before we even got to care for her? Which, admittedly, I totally could, IF SHE WAS BELIEVABLE. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but, “Hello, Mary Sue.”

I hope – I really do, with all my CM-loving heart – that they back on the horse before the mess it all up (and that they kick Ashley Seaver back into the Academy, where she should have stayed).

Now, what do you think? Am I being unreasonable, picky, bitch-y? I really do welcome any kind of opinions, because this cannot seriously be as bad as it looks . . . Anyway, that’s my two cents. I’m really disappointed with this season.

Comments

[thecowboycliche.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I do agree with everything you've said about Seaver here. It makes perfect sense to me. I think what I like about her is actually the actress, who seems really awesome, so it's helped the character to grow on me. But you're not wrong at all. She IS just there, I agree. She could have been written into the show a hundred times better. I don't see why she couldn't have been a full fledged agent when she entered at least.

Also, fantastic point about Prentiss. It's probably due to the fact that most of the writers now are new and it seems like they haven't watched any of the older episodes, so they have no clue.

[sugakane-01.livejournal.com]

LOL I think part of why I'm so frustrated with Seaver is because I actually do like Rachel Nichols..she rocked it out on Alias and I wanted to like her on CM but this character...its just bad. Bad timing, bad conception, bad writing, just bad all around. And I've NEVER not liked anyone on CM before. I FLOVED Gideon and Elle but didn't have a problem with Prentiss or Rossi.

I get that some people are so ticked about the backstage drama that it made it impossible for them to like Seaver but for me I figure cast changes are part of the game, they happen and sometimes the way they happen suck but its the nature of the beast. I could have embraced Seaver same as I did Prentiss and Rossi if the character were half decent. But for me she's not and THAT is the problem. Also they are compromising not only show history but character history in order to make her "fit" and THAT irritates me to no end. I want to like this character because I like the actress and I love the show but they made it an uphill battle.

[thecowboycliche.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of the bitterness is that AJ was fired but Mandy and Lola left of their own accord. It SEEMS like AJ was pushed out in place of a female who does look remarkably like her. However, I've tried to move beyond that and not see Seaver/Nichols in that way. I certainly don't want her to die (the actress or the character haha) or get kicked off or anything.

What majorly pissed me off was how they had to degrade Reid in order to believably get on the team by saying that HE got a waive on his cadet training too. That's not fair to him at all.

It's bad writing, and as someone else mentioned, I think Seaver is more of a symptom than the actual problem. I'm trying to give her a chance, because I think she does have some redeeming qualities maybe somewhere in there, I just want the writers to DO something with her. It's like she's just HERE now.

[tearbos.livejournal.com]

YES to your point about Reid! I almost turned off the episode at that point because they've worked so hard previously to show how hard Reid works to earn his place, and then they counter-act that so insanely just to make new girl feel better.

Character development has been seriously lacking this season-with possible exception of Prentiss-and it's to the point where they're actually harming the characters with inane comments and plotlines.

[westmoon.livejournal.com]

What majorly pissed me off was how they had to degrade Reid in order to believably get on the team by saying that HE got a waive on his cadet training too.

Don't even get me started on that one. And on all his physical training????!!!! Gimme a break.