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

[e-rousset.livejournal.com]

I wanted to put in my two cents.

First, I don’t hate Seaver (at all) but I don’t think her character, the way she was introduced to the team, makes sense.

I wasn’t a JJ fan, I think she was a great character but I wasn’t a fan.
I’m pointing that out to precise that my problems with Seaver are not related to JJ (or even Prentiss) leaving, and I hope I didn't offend the JJ fans.
It would be too easy to think that everyone who dislikes Seaver is ‘just’ missing JJ/Prentiss.

Is this character a replacement for JJ ? For Prentiss ? For both women ? For no one ?
Truthfully that’s beside the point, at least for me.
Yes, it’s sad to see those two women go (I wish we hadn’t lost them, it’s a real pity). But I was fully expecting to see a new woman on the show as soon as I learned about AJ and Paget in June 2010.
I was open minded if a bit apprehensive (and I already felt bad for the actress who would take the role, no matter who the actress was going to be).

What matters when I see Seaver is not who she is or is not replacing. What matters when I see Seaver is Seaver herself.

Regarding the issues some of you mentioned :
- I don’t have a single problem with Seaver playing ‘captain obvious’. She’s a trainee so it doesn’t bother me. For me it's realistic.
- I also don’t have a problem with what she said to Reid in ‘Coda’ and I’m saying that as a big Reid fan.
Actually it relieved me because I don’t want to see romance on this show and I was afraid (at first) that they might be going down that road.
Glad to see this doesn’t seem to be the case.
I just took her comment as her not being used to Reid, it didn’t bother me and it didn’t make me dislike Seaver.

My problem lies with how this character was introduced.
I’m not saying that this show is always realistic, but in their own canon the BAU has always been an elite team. Very few people could ever hope to have a shot at getting a place there.
This has been pointed out many times before by the fans, so I won’t go back to that in details, no need.

What I’m really afraid of is Seaver playing the part of the profiler way too quickly.
I don’t mind when she’s in the background asking questions, and I preferred her in ‘Coda’ because she was acting like a trainee (she asked questions and she we saw her studying).
As long as the writers make her act like a trainee, or a novice, I won’t mind too much. Just let her ask questions (about the Unit, about some serial killers, about specific MO…), let her take notes and let her study.

But when I see her participating in the profiles (even if it’s not much), I have a real problem. She shouldn’t be able to participate in those kinds of activities.
And I’m afraid the writers are going to give her a more important role, and the role of a profiler, very quickly.

So, all in all, I’m not a hater (and it’s sad to see that everyone who has a problem with Seaver is labeled as such).
Seaver’s character is not a “bad character”, she’s likable, but I really wished she hadn’t joined the team. For me it doesn’t make sense.
I hoped the writers would have introduced an older, more experienced woman on the team. I would have appreciated that much more.

So, I’m just going to hope the writers won’t show us ‘profiler Seaver’ anytime soon. Let her stick to her current role (and not the one of a profiler) and I’ll deal with it.
Not interesting some fans might say, but I still prefer that and I’m certainly not the one who rooted for a cadet/junior agent to join the team.

I also hope the writers won’t write romance for the main characters, even if it's with another, new, character who is not a team member.
This show is not about romance, there’s simply no time to deal with that in a realistic way.
I don’t want the writers to try (once again) to introduce a new character who is supposed to play the part of a potential love interest, even if it’s temporary.
Leave romance aside for the main characters please, it’s best left to our imagination (and to fanfiction).

[danikos-realms.livejournal.com]

What matters when I see Seaver is not who she is or is not replacing. What matters when I see Seaver is Seaver herself. Yes, exactly. I can't help but to feel that she's not living up to her potential in a series of this quality.

And I’m afraid the writers are going to give her a more important role, and the role of a profiler, very quickly. And when is that believable? That's an issue I'm afraid will wreck the general good planning and realism of this show.

So, I’m just going to hope the writers won’t show us ‘profiler Seaver’ anytime soon. They already have. It's offensive to anyone who watches and towards the older characters (NOT actors, characters) too.

This show is not about romance, there’s simply no time to deal with that in a realistic way. Agreed, once again.