Where did everybody go?

[a_blackpanther]

This is the discussion post for Episode 9x03 - "Final Shot". Watch out for SPOILERS in the comments.

Comments

[ruralstar.livejournal.com]

Oh cool. I didn't!

[ruralstar.livejournal.com]

I loved the General squirming as well.

I don't Ship anyone on this show. And I find it a little nauseating how much slash is out there in the fanfic world for a certain pairing I really don't want to 'say' out loud. Just NO.

As stated earlier by others, this did feel like a throwback episode. I mainlined the whole series last winter to catch up and I was surprised at how much I missed the green screen walk through bit. There were a lot in the early seasons. My favorite is actually in Out Foxed with Hotch. I also loved the direct connection to LDSK from the first season.

[michelel72.livejournal.com]

Victim #3 in the first shooting was a social worker from the domestic abuse center. Rebecca was a community angel for that same center (which was the one Maya worked with).

[meepalicious.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my mind was totally blown by that twist. I tend to be the trusting sort, so I didn't guess that he was the sniper, let alone that their whole escape together was a fantasy.

[meepalicious.livejournal.com]

Tonight's episode was so much better than the first two episodes IMO, simply because it wasn't full of gory details. I enjoy these kinds of episodes more.
This, to the nth.

The first two episodes this season had a lot of my least favorite stuff: gore and the horror show psychotic episodes with that girl climbing the walls like something out of The Exorcist. I can't stand that stuff. There's a reason I watch crime dramas, not horror movies.

[meepalicious.livejournal.com]

This is the second unsub (of, y'know, two) motivated by feelings of resentment towards or ownership of women. I know that that's a real thing in the real world (remember that man who shot up an aerobics class? or something, trying to get revenge on his ex-wife or ex-girlfriend?) but I would like to see some other reasons … politics? money?

All that being said, I liked this episode a lot because it felt more like the early seasons, had a twist(s) I never saw coming, and Criminal Minds always handles sexism better, imho, than any of the other crime dramas out there on TV.

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

I agree, while I don't mind the gross part, I LOVE the psychology of the UnSub - that's what got me into this show and that's what makes the cases awesome. But I prefer guessing with the team about the killer, so I don't like when we are told about the identity of the UnSub from the very beginning... I prefer gathering the clues and forming a theory and then confronting it with the arrest/ending scene.

Though, there are good episodes explaining why the killer does, what he does, or how he devolve...

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

Ditto on the greenscreen walkthrough and ahout out to LDSK. That's what I love about this episode :)

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

the psychotic part you mentioned as well the cannibalism was awful, I agree, but I think the twist with the narcissistic, wicked in the second episode was pretty awesome.

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

Good to hear the community is not going down :)

And I agree the episode did felt like old school - I've spent some time yesterday and today to skim over last seasons. LDSK is one of my fav episodes in season 1, so I was glad for the shoutout. And thank to my skimming over the previous episodes i stumbled upon the one when team has dealt with Doyle for the last time - when Prentiss returns (on the side note - never thought it but I do miss Prentiss after all...), anyway Hotchner was in Pakistan during that episode, so yeah I can see him being special forces. :) Well remember this fact for future ;)

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I love about the show, it's a team show with familial dynamic but no inter-team shipping. That's why I get curious when i stumble upon squeeing fans :) And while... i do squee from time to time over M/G, too (:P but mostly because it's nothing serious and can be taken both as more then friendship or just them being them ;) ), I find CM to be very unique in the fact that it usually it leave me as a non-shipper (it's a first time ever for me... i usually ship something in everything...). I really love that about the show. :)

and yes, the General's reaction was priceless in that scene. Fierce Morgan was just the cherry on top for that scene :)

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

My fav episode ever is Legacy (season two) with a house-cleaner killing homeless people in Kansas City, that was noticed by a Cop with OCD. And Mosley Lane by MGG (his directing debut - ever since I adore his style). The most chilling/terrifying for me was season 7's The Proof with the slightly disabled brother lusting after his sister-in-law - the ending scene with the unsub laughing, and his black, chilling eyes - *shudder...* And the most gross killer was the taxidermist extracting the eyes, the stanistic cannibal from Lucky (season 3) and the one killing people like pigs in Canada... I also feel cold whenever i think about The North Mammon (s2 e7) - when the two girls kills the third one... so tragic...

The Fox was a really great adversary. :)

[dreamabella.livejournal.com]

I agree, the twist at the end was neat, although I kind of guessed which twin would survive, considering how often they brought up the twitch he had.

[dreamabella.livejournal.com]

Exactly! I hate horror movies because of how graphic they are. I prefer psychological thrillers.
I don't mind it if they explain things verbally, but to show them is beyond gross. This is exactly why I hate Halloween. I can't wait until November 1st.

[dreamabella.livejournal.com]

I think it's more fun to watch when you're trying to figure out stuff along side the team, rather than be told up front - or know before the team even knows. It keeps the show interactive in a way, it keeps the audience interested.

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

couldn't agree more :)

[full-metal-ox.livejournal.com]

And I find it a little nauseating how much slash is out there in the fanfic world for a certain pairing I really don't want to 'say' out loud. Just NO.

If it's the one hinging upon what a bad guy is strongly implied to have done to a good guy during the commercial break, I second the sentiment,