An attempt at conversation

[blythechild.livejournal.com]

In the last episode comment posting in this community, some folks lamented the general atmosphere of crickets here, and then a_blackpanther suggested that some members might want to discuss more general themes related to the show, sooooooo... yeah, I decided to do a thing. And since things can be daunting for some, I decided to fill the thing with fun little checkboxes because who doesn't like checking things off, amirite?

Below is a poll with lots of questions that hopefully encourage a little back and forth. Feel free to expand on your opinions in the comments section, okay?


[Poll #1960090]

As I said above, please feel free to expand on your answers in the comments!

*EDIT*: LOL! I'm impressed that so many of you think that this show needs more dinosaurs XD

Comments

[philstar22.livejournal.com]

I started watching the show way back in season 1. I used to be really obsessed with criminal profiling. I have all the books by John Douglas and a few of the books by other people. So I started watching for the concept. But I quickly fell in love with the characters. I feel the show is less about actual profiling now, but I still love the characters and will stick around until it goes away. Even if Hotch leaves. Because its about the whole show for me, not a single part or character.

My two favorite are Hotch and Prentiss. Rossi is a close third. But I love everyone. My least favorite is probably Reid, who I know is everyone else's favorite. But I don't hate him, I just don't love him quite as much. I love the team dynamic. I love that most of the episodes focus on cases, but I also love the few team member-centric storylines we get.

While I think earlier seasons were better, this season has been really solid for me. Better than last season, certainly (even if Mark Hamill as the Replicator totally made the final awesome). Basically, CM is awesome. Not quite as awesome as earlier, but still awesome.

I like Alex. But then again, I liked Seaver. But Alex has really fit in with the team to me. I'll always miss Prentiss, but Alex doesn't feel like a replacement. I like having an older female character, I like her lingistic angle, and I find her intriguing.

The violence doesn't bother me so much. But then again, I'm in the criminal justice field and have always had a thick stomach. It doesn't feel exploitive to me because the stories are about the team catching people who do horrible things. It isn't about the bad guys and what they do isn't justified. And it isn't filmed in a sexual way the way some shows do. Its just showing what the serial killers/etc. do. Murder is gruesome.

[wagrobanite.livejournal.com]

John Douglas rocks ;)

I don't mind the gore either (you should see my bookshelves... four forensic anthropology bone manuals...) but it just gets to be too much all the time...

See now if Hotch left, I'd be done...I started watching for him (huge Dharma and Greg fan) but I do love the team.

I wish they would incorporate more history with not so famous killers (which by the way have you read Psycho USA: Famous American Killers You Never Heard Of by Harold Schechter?)

[philstar22.livejournal.com]

That one's on my bookshelf too. I too wish they'd incorporate some of the less well known killers, but I guess the general audience wouldn't know what they were talking about.

The only gore that gets me is anything involving eyes. If it involves eyes, I'm out.

[blythechild.livejournal.com]

Ugh... I'm with you about the eyeballs... *shivers*

I had a bone to pick with the inclusion of Paul Bernardo/Karla Holmolka in the last episode as an example of couple killers. Although a relatively famous Canadian case, Reid claimed that the couple were responsible for over 20 rapes and murders which is, well, WRONG (they were responsible for 3 murders together - Holmolka was never implicated in Bernardo's Scarborough Rapist crimes). I think that the writers could reference lesser known cases if they wanted to, considering that they'll juggle the facts to suit the story that they are writing.

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

I hate the gore with eyes too. The ep with the taxidermist that was killing for the eyes... *shudder* and then the one with the German brother that put the cameras in the eyes this season... gross, awful, bleee!

[liliaeth]

I think my biggest problem with the show the past few years really has been that there's too much focus on Reid and Hotch. I don't even mind Hotch so much, but it's like where Morgan or JJ might get one ep a season with a bit more focus, Reid and Hotch get half a season worth of storylines and by now I'm just bored with that. I just wish they'd push them aside for a season or two and focus on the other characters for a change.

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

I don't mind that much Hotch's storylines but i do agree with Reid. And the worst, most frustrating thing about Reid is that he ALWAYS gets an UNhappy ending. Seriously. I love Reid, but I'm VERY tired of stories focused on him. While JJ is not my fav character (actually i like her the least) I'm glad to see some more focus on her this season.

[blythechild.livejournal.com]

I second this. I love Reid but would be happy to see him in a secondary role if they just let him be happy for once.

[blythechild.livejournal.com]

I will always miss Prentiss, although I am slowly warming to Blake.

I have to respectfully disagree about the inclusion of more violence in the show and that it "isn't filmed in a sexual way". Depiction of male predation on female victims will always have sexual overtones to viewers even if that isn't the point of the scene. The show isn't going to film a graphic rape scene, but that doesn't mean that the viewer isn't picking up on that act when a victim gets tied up and the UnSub suggests the outcome via dialog or non-consensual physical contact instead. Look at the episode where J.J. was kidnapped along with Cruz - they were both beaten and tortured, but the moment that the UnSub brushed J.J.'s hip suggestively, Cruz broke and gave in. The implication is clear to viewers, not to mention that it sends out a terrible message about how rape is quite possibly worse than death. Considering how often this show has lauded survival and saving victims, it seems like a mixed message and one that rape survivors probably wouldn't appreciate.

Sure, murder is gruesome, but this is entertainment. And there's something disturbing (or there should be) about witnessing human torment to pass the time. While we all tune in voluntarily knowing what the subject matter is about, I think that these stories could be told just as well without the attempt at gritty crime realism.

[freakingdork.livejournal.com]

...as a survivor, lemme tell you, plenty of us think that rape and sexual abuse is worse than death, myself included.

that being said, I completely agree that the show started sexualizing a lot of the violence in later seasons and unnecessarily so. it's really discomforting to me.

[blythechild.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, blossom.

[mycha-kk.livejournal.com]

I like Alex and I liked Seaver too. I liked her father/daughter like relationship with Rossi and kinda Hotch. It was a nice touch to the show. And Alex is a nice and fits well with the team, not overshadowing anyone, just clicked in place, IMHO.

Now, I do like Prentiss, she truly grew on me over time, but if there ever was a 'Mary-Sue' like introduction in CM, then sorry, but it was Prentiss's... I was not the biggest fan of her at first. But she is great and I love her dry snarky humor :)