criminalxminds | Just to be sure it's in place...

..So--your thoughts on how the new Section Head is going to fit into the character dynamic?

Wondering if he and JJ have a thing going on?

I really hope not, unless it was before Will. I really don't wasn't a story arc about her having an affair.

Same here... I'm rather neutral about her, but if there is an affair involved I'm hoping to lose all the respect I have for the character...

Personally I hope they are family, him being a father is rather cliche so maybe some kind of half brother considering the theme of the episode? Or maybe they dud some kind of undercover job/case and they maybe become friends although they shouldn't.

I like JJ, so I'd be so sad if they used an affair plot.

I thought JJ and the new section chief might be family, too. I was thinking father/daughter because the unsub asked him if he had kids and he said yes (probably means nothing, but I thought it might be a writer's hint). At the end, when JJ mentioned she was going to go make supper for her boys, neither of them acted awkward enough for it to feel like an affair to me. And we know from her relationship with Will that JJ's first instinct when she's conflicted is to keep her personal life separated from her team, so if she's trying to reconnect with a family member or something, I could see her keeping it a secret. Granted, if it's a family connection, if it were obvious Garcia or one of the team member would have put it together quickly, so they'd have to have been estranged for some reason. (Separation after her sister's suicide? Or maybe JJ's mom had an affair with him or something along those lines?)

And I just need to shut up now before my bunnies force me to write a one-shot...

Loved the mention of Emily in this epi! :)

Exactly my thoughts/hopes on the plot with JJ. I was on my way to an important convention and was typing hastily my reply on my phone, so I was not as eloquent as you :-) but I agree completely.

Also, I found myself quite surprised with the almost squeal I made at the mention of Emily. I find myself hoping for a guest appearance on a case related plot (as there is probably no chance for her to visit with them just because...)

...the unsub asked him if he had kids and he said yes (probably means nothing, but I thought it might be a writer's hint).

I read something different between the lines of that exchange: the UNSUB may have been asking, "Do you have any loved ones I might be in a position to harm if I escape?" (The conversation also answers viewers' questions on the subject; I didn't think Blake was a mother, but that was a definite answer.)

And my personal opinion--and hope--is that Cruz and J.J.'s shared adventures took place in Spookland, rather than at the No-Tell Motel.

At the risk of coming out as ignorant, I'll ask what do you mean by the last comment? As I don't get the reference...

"Spook" is American English slang--possibly a bit dated by now--for a government intelligence agent; the "No-Tell Motel"--a term that I seem to recall originated in an old Bob Hope joke--is a venue for the other sort of clandestine affairs.

Thanks for the clarification :) I love all things English but there so much you can learn ;)

I realize it's nearly three weeks after the fact, but...

There's an additional cautionary point I ought to make for the benefit of an ESL speaker: had Morgan been among the parties referenced, I would not have chosen to use the word "spook"--it can also be a derogatory term for a black person.

If it was an affair JJ wouldn't be careless enough to go running in public with the guy. I'm guessing it has to do with whatever she did in that year that he was away.

The episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. last night had a plot centering around a victim who had a camera implanted in her eye. Bizarre coincidence? Is it the same network? Are they trading around plot ideas?

Not sure I can take this ickiness two nights in a row!

Different networks. CM is on CBS, while Agents is on ABC. Possibly the same writers worked on both shows, and the idea was floated at both places. Also I think it's a legitimate thing that they're developing, so maybe the writers saw the same press release or whatever and ran with it.

Q. Whatever happened to cyberpunk?

A. We're living in it. (http://eyeborgproject.com/)

But CM is produced by ABC Studios. I think it's one of those coincidences that occasionally happen. Especially if there was a recent articled in the mainstream media both teams of writers might have seen.

So the gore factor was pretty high last night. Curiously though I think the subject matter dinged the top of the creepy meter. I don't know a lot of people who can comfortably watch a movie or tv show that features torture to a person's eyes. Psychological mind twist came in the form of Sam's paralysis and desperate attempts to communicate with Derek. Not sure I really bought big D in that sensitive role. I think that was more of a Reid job. Blake isn't good with touchy feely stuff as witnessed by her awkward comforting of the shooting victim in the last episode. Everyone else had things to do. Overall a pretty disturbing one off story.

The underlying plot arc of JJ and the new section chief... I really hope this was not an affair. Their association took place during JJ's year away from the team, which means she was with Will. The timing was confirmed by the conversation in front of the elevator where they referred to a case that was nearly 3 years in the past. This is year 9 and Will and JJ have been together in one way or another since the end of s2. Obviously JJ's association with the chief began through work but JJ's discomfort with the breakfast idea, the 'we can't keep meeting like this' comment and the lies in the car... Yeah, it doesn't look good. And no way this guy just found about his new job the same day he took the position. Sloppy writing or maybe they are going somewhere with this? He seems a little too put together to be some sort of stalker...

Not sure I really bought big D in that sensitive role. I think that was more of a Reid job.
I agree...i felt that Morgan would've been more apt to surround Anton at the end and have a more violent showdown than to be with the mentally disabled Sam.

I think the JJ and Cruz arc will go further for i think it's not done with explaining yet. Also, her fellow team members will definitely see something. I half thought that Rossi was going to say something else at the elevator.

Ditto on the gore. I hardly ever flinch at CM, but anything with eyes and I'm all squirmy and sick... The most disturbing episode for me is the one with taxidermist... This one come as the second...

I actually liked Morgan working with the patient. I don't think he was ssupposed to be touchy-feely, he was efficient and that's what was needed. Personally I find Morgan's mostly slightly aloof, maybe even detached attitudes in character considering his history (the abuse); and I think he's quite private and distrusting so he feels truly relaxed Only with his loved ones: Garcia, JJ, Reid, Emily in the past...

I was wondering about the case JJ worked with the new chief and the timeframe. It ddoes seem there might more to it, I think. I thought Rossi will say something at the end but then again he is quite discreet so he Kay be quiet for a while.

Not sure I really bought big D in that sensitive role. I think that was more of a Reid job.

Actually, that part worked very well for me, reminded me of him with the boy victim in Foundation. I think it’s a nice contrast to Derek’s usual role in the investigation, keeps things fresh that way.

Cruz seeking out Derek in his office after the case really surprised me. I wonder what was up with that?

As for JJ and Cruz, I really hope they don’t / didn’t have an affair but the family theory mentioned above doesn’t work that well for me, either. I guess I’ll just wait and see what comes out of this one.

By the way, did this episode remind anybody else of Legacy? With the LDSK episode last week, it seems to me like we might get CM’s greatest hits revisited this season. I sure wouldn’t complain if this turns out to be a trend.

I love Legacy (I think my favorite episode ever) but this one hasn't reminded me of it (though the torture scenes where similar, kind of...). But then again I love Legacy because of the OCD cop plot and the shivering idea of such a sufficient home-cleaner...)

But the idea of revisiting the previous great episodes me likes :)

Admittedly, I haven’t watched that episode in ages but that made me all the more surprised when it came to the forefront of my mind right from the beginning. I guess it was the setup, the warehouses and especially the way Anton let Sam escape, the very first scene of this episode where Sam struggled his way through the rat-infested corridor on his bare feet in his desperate attempt to escape. Only the shards of glass were missing.

That was definitely a Legacy throw-back! And yes, I hope this trend continues as well.

The thing is, they didn't really show much - but they implied it all in the squeakiest way possible. I love that device CM uses quite often, as much as I hate the squick.

Derek has been the sensitive one before - and I think that worked for me. But I think reid should have also been there as he might have found a way to communicate better/faster with the poor guy.

I doubt JJ is having and affair though. Something is going on, but not that.

I don't think it's an affair with JJ and Cruz. Likely it has to do with something left over from the State Department, something she can't talk about as it's an active case. She mentioned the cameras in regard to foreign intelligence, so maybe that's involved as well. Maybe she and Cruz are sort-of spying on the FBI? Like maybe there's a mole or a leak, or they're making sure there isn't one. Meeting for runs is risky, as maybe it would put the investigation on notice to the bad guys. IDK, spies and cloak-and-dagger stuff are not my forte, but hopefully you know what I mean.

I like Cruz well enough. He didn't interfere, he helped, and he's different from Strauss in personality so they're not just C&Ping her. I'm curious to see how that'll play out.

Also, Reid and Blake geek-out. <3

Randomly, for those that watch NCIS: LA, I totally want Eric, Nell, and Garcia to hang out together.

What's with all the "suspended comments" on this post and where did they come from?

I think it was spam comments.

There were a couple twits who apparently thought that their miracle weight-loss product had something to do with Criminal Minds. (To whomever showed them the door: thank you.)

Thank you for posting this. I have a cold and went to bed early yesterday and completely forgot.

Ugh. *crawls back to bed*

It was within my power to do.

(And I hope you're in a position to indulge in fluffy slippers, nested quilts, and hot soup.)

I did! Now I'm feeling somewhat better. If only the damn headache would go away.

We still do not know what is the link between JJ and the new section chief is. They seem like they're really good friends and training partners but is that all?

This was a sick episode with the lobotomies going on. :shudders: It was kind of anticlimatic in capturing Anton though. WHo is the actor that played him? Looks familiar.

David Anders played Anton. He was in several series like Alias, Heroes, Once Upon a Time and others.

The given name "Anton" may mean "priceless"--but it's also one that this UNSUB shares with (warning for horror-movie gore) another vindictive mad doctor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBo0H3oYSoo), as well as another diabolic character. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_LaVey)

Given that this entire episode revolved around sibling rivalry, I am guessing the JJ/Cruz angle has to do with family. And you KNOW Rossi knows something's up. He isn't the best for nothing. ;-)

The beginning reminded me of LEGACY from 2007.

we need new comment thread on this episode!!!! one of my favorites omg!!!!

Just to be sure it's in place...

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