Not just whistling Dixie!

[dysfunkshunell1.livejournal.com]

This is the discussion post for Episode 9x09 - "Strange Fruit". Watch out for SPOILERS in the comments.


Thanks to full_metal_ox for making sure the new episode discussion thread is posted! :)

Comments

[mzkitteh.livejournal.com]

Not a single comment. This poor community. :(

[moon-blitz.livejournal.com]

I found it to be a pretty decent episode - I liked the change in pace with the murders having happened years beforehand, and the narrowing down of who the Unsub actually was out of the family. It seemed to be a more Rossi-centric episode too, which was nice.

[a_blackpanther]

Thanks for taking this this week. I'm only a little late. :/

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

Over all I liked the episode because of the change of approach - not a current, fast-paced case, but a psychology/profiling centered one. I think it was the strong point of the episode. It also flew fast - it started and suddenly it was over. Which I'm not sure is a good thing or a bad one... On the one hand I was into the episode that didn't checked how long the the end, but honestly? It was more like the episode was "the same" through the 44-so minutes. Like it didn't had any real turning points, breaking throughs, culmination and resolution. Everything seemed at the same level in regards of the story-telling. That's why at the end I felt - over? Just like that? And kind of felt dissatisfied.

I'm not sure how I feel about Rossi. I kind of hope he and Morgan will have more time to work about this issue more. In the end Rossi has to live with himself over what he has done which was clearly shown in the episode.

I did not like the new chief's interrogating. He didn't feel right. kind of like he tried to show he knows what he's doing but not really selling it. I felt he's doing more damage than good... And speaking about him, we got a little tidbit that JJ and him are on some kind of assignment not having an affair.

Frankly I find this episode quite tragic - for the victims, the family, the killer, and Rossi. There was not an ounce of happiness in this case, just a tragic tale. I don't think it's a bad thing, it's just one of those sad, kind of thoughts provoking episodes. (at least for me).

And as to regards about the shout-out to previous seasons: it made me think about: Family Affair (season 7) and Pay It Forward (season 8) - family on the crime and revenge for past misdeeds.

[ruralstar.livejournal.com]

I liked the pacing of the episode as stated above. It went very fast and kept me interested the entire time.

I think Cruz is kind of heavy handed in his interrogation approach but it was nice to see that he has an idea of what field agents have to do, unlike Erin who was utterly clueless most of the time. I'm not sure how I feel about Cruz overall yet, except that I'm happy he and JJ are definitely not having an affair. I like Will.

This was a very tragic tale. It was also a great psychological story. The Unsub has deep-seated hatred and you can understand why. Telling the story in sort of a backwards fashion also provided a unique change of pace. While I did suspect the father from the start there were still many layers to the story and peeling them onion style is what our team does best.

I make no excuses for what Rossi did in his youth. He knows it was wrong now. Back then he reacted without thinking as he was a victim of bullying to some extent himself. Doesn't make it right, just gives the actions a context. I don't think Morgan and he need to talk about this issue. They are from two different generations and two different worlds socioeconomically. There is no way to reconcile who Rossi was as a young man with the person Morgan thinks he knows now. IMO it is enough for Rossi to own his mistakes and let them guide him to better choices throughout his life, which they clearly have.

[meepalicious.livejournal.com]

I liked the change in pace, and I liked that this episode was easy on the gore and torture. We knew something bad was happening to him in the flashback, but it wasn't in your face, and I always like episodes when the victims are already dead. I can't stand hostage situations, or watching a victim and hoping the team will get there in time, but bleached skeletons aren't as gross for me.

I liked the pacing. It felt more even and steady instead of frantic.

[liliaeth]

Got to admit that my main issue with the ep was that I didn't get why the FBI got involved with the case. The bodies weren't taken across state lines, there weren't any missing people. And the BAU got involved right away, so it wasn't like the police was given the time to fail to find out what was going on, in order to need to ask the BAU for help.