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]

Well I was never a regular before last year but I'm dropping by to post about tonight.

I honestly didn't care all that much for the twins in the first two eps of the year. While I agree that going to Dallas again feels a bit like a retread, I actually really enjoyed this story. I guessed that the guy with the girl was the sniper but I did not guess that their whole interaction was a fantasy. I like how it played out. Loved Reid breaking down the timing of the shots to figure out who the targets actually were. His analysis of victim behavior was a direct reference to Maeve. Nice to see that her death still resonates without it being intrusive, tonight much like the nod in last week's episode regarding children. Garcia doing her thing was cool as always. Morgan getting in the face of the white supremacist in prison was AWESOME. JJ with her hand on his shoulder...oh yes way to bait the guy. I thought it was a good team episode with everyone having something to do, with the exception of Rossi who seemed to be there more as a commentator than active participant. Not everyone can have a moment in every episode. Hotch being the badass and taking out the sniper was a nice touch and wrapping the whole thing up with the JFK quote worked nicely.

All and all I would call this a win.

[dreamabella.livejournal.com]

I agree!
Loved the bit between JJ and Morgan with the prisoner. And Hotch at the end was pretty awesome.

[a_blackpanther]

I love it wherever JJ is doing a bluff, usually with someone else next to her.

[diemme.livejournal.com]

Yes, this was a really well crafted story with a clever twist. I like the idea of the UnSub being more "killing is my business" than psychotic break, sociopathy or hideous childhood.

[dreamabella.livejournal.com]

I agree. In some ways it makes it more difficult for the team to deal with because then the killer knows ways of staying hidden and getting away. I enjoy it more when they're trying to figure out the psychology of the UnSub and the relationship between the UnSub and the victim(s), rather than things like, "Hmm, there's human remains in this victim's stomach, why is that?" Gross.

[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...

[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 :)

[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.