more season 1 blathery reviews

[buffyaddict13.livejournal.com]

hi all. so i'm finally getting around to typing up my comments on the next three episodes. here goes nothing!

1x13 poison

i like this ep. i think it's solid, and while it's not one of my top ten, i still enjoy it. i thought it was really interesting to learn about the different motives/reasons behind poison killings.  this ep had some really good reid moments. let me show you them:

1. i'll show you in a minute. first i'd like to point out i can't imagine anything worse than what the father of the little boy is going through. show, sometimes you stomp my heart into tiny pieces. (more on that next episode.)
2. just a note: if i was in the woods (i'm looking at you cherish hanson and lsd!dad) i would NEVER yell out "hello? is anyone there?" that's like saying HEY RANDOM KILLERS COME AND GET ME!!!! no thanks.
3. reid looks nice in red. he wore red in LSDK as well. i'm just sayin.' it's not like i have a handy pie chart of all his outfits or anything.
4. i really liked elle's interaction with samantha. nice job. elle, i liked you just then.
5. GREEN SCREEN MAKES ME ALL HEARTY.
6. reid eats! i love it when reid eats! (dear erik kripke from supernatural: this is what eating looks like. please let sam do this someday.)
7. the look on reid's face when lynn dempsey dies makes me wibble. he's such a puppy.
8. okay, this ep has one of the best things ever: ACTION!REID. did you notice? at the end of the ep when they're trying to reach the poisoned CEO-types, REID JUMPS OVER A STONE WALL ON THE WAY TO THE CAMPSITE. AND HE STUMBLES. i don't know if MGG stumbled during filming or just figured reid would totally stumble after JUMPING OVER  WALL (and he would, HE WOULD) but this fills my heart with joy. oh action!reid, i don't see you often, but you are adorable.
9. this quote about revenge and two graves is one of my favorites.
10. the final scene with jj and hotch is very well done. did you notice how she didn't lick the envelope?

1X14 ride the lightning

here is an ep that i love that has hardly any reid. but frankly, the acting is so amazing, i was able to function just fine without a bigger fix of MGG. the first time i saw this ep i cried through the last 15 minutes. i did better this time and only blubbered through the last 5. oh sarah jean, you amaze me.

awesome things:

1. show, you're tricksy. first scene: wtf? why do i care that gideon is at a cello concert? where is my unsub and hapless victim?
2. GARCIA FTW! so this was the first time garcia got a field trip. it seems she's allowed one jaunt per season. i'm sorry she can't come out to play more often, but i'll not look a garcia gift horse in the mouth.
3. reid is so excited to come on the interview. also, i have no idea if the fbi really interviews death row serial killers. i think it's likely they do, but regardless, this is a fascinating idea. well done!
4. the green screen for jacob's shed during elle and morgan's visit wins the creepy award.
5. the actress playing sarah jean is phenomenal. the first time i see her and hear her voice i already like her. and that's when i still think she' s a murderer! she just seems so dignified and kind.
6. sarah jeans' comment to reid "a doctor so young--your mother must be very proud." she has no idea how much her words must hurt.
7. the fact that sarah jean KNEW IMMEDIATELY gideon planned for her and jacob to see each other. she's no dummy. you tell him, sarah!
8. jacob's question to hotch "do you ever smile?" HEE.
9. reid's voice when he talks to sarah. i imagine this is the voice he uses on his mother sometimes.
10. the scene where jj and hotch play jacob. jj and hotch? have i mentioned you're made of win lately?
11. it's interesting gideon carries pictures of the poeple he's saved in his wallet, but not stephen.
12. hotch's cold "i'm not done yet" to jacob. oh YEAH, that's RIGHT jacob. you're pwned!
13. reid recognizes exodus 2:3. foreshadowing that reid knows his bible. (i'm looking at your, revelations.)
14. i love sarah jean's wonder at seeing the moon a final time. (cue tears.)
15. when gideon found the clipping of riley on the back of the painting i cried AND fist-pumped.
16. one of my fav moments of BADASS HOTCH. when he slaps the picture of riley against the window at jacob: YOU LOSE. *hearty hearty hearts*
17. gideon's desperation to save sarah jean and her equal (and greater) desperation to "save" riley from her and jacob's legacy. i fully expected sarah to be saved. i did not think show would let her die because she was innocent. i was wrong. and this is the exact moment i learned my show does not fuck around. O.O this is the exact moment i realized my show requires one box of kleenex to watch this ep.
18. the hug between gideon and sarah made me sob like a baby. i really liked sarah. in another life i think she would have been good for gideon. and i find it interesting that his "friend" who frank killed was named sarah as well. (wasn't it? am i just high?)
19. frank sheffield's quiet "thank you" to morgan when morgan says they made a mistake.
20. gideon watching the cello concert. no more wtf now. now there's only crying and bittersweet love that my show breaks me as much as it breaks gideon. and i wouldn't have it any other way.

1x15 unfinished business

the previous ep is a good example of centering an ep on a character i care about. this ep is an example of centering an ep on someone who makes me yawn. and i'm sorry. maybe loads of you find max ryan interesting and cool. i'm not one of them. HOWEVER. i do like the ties back to early BAU TIEMZ. i imagine ryan and rossi as the assy old guard. suddenly rossi looks pretty cool in comparison. i think making the unsub be injured and forced to take a break from killing for so long is an interesting idea. and there were parts of this ep i liked. see?

1. reid's excitement at meeting max. someday he'll be just as excited at meeting rossi. and he'll be able to quote both their books.
2. this ep features one of my fav things: the reid-o-vision as he finds the clues in the word search. OH YEAH, FOLKS. doctor spencer reid, ladies and gentlemen. he kicks ass.
3. gideon telling max that working solo was wrong. UH HUH.
4. hiding the woman beneath the bed? CREEP-EEE.
5. the moment between jj and the victim's brother during the press conference. oh jj, i don't say it often, but your job sucks. i do not envy you. you are strong and made of win.
6. reid's speech about the types of strokes. his excitement over video games helping stroke victims and the look of pure WTF ON MORGAN'S FACE. hee. heehee.
7. reid figures out the unsub picked the victims out years ago, he's just finishing his work.
8. ELLE DOES THE END QUOTE.
9. the final scene in this ep is beautiful. on one side you have max more relaxed, sharing stories with reid and morgan and the laughter. on the other side of the plan is hotch and elle, together but alone. elle's reveal that she's afraid she'll turn into max does break my heart. so much sad foreshadowing in this scene. "divorce is not uncommon in the bau." we know, hotch. we know.

1. how many buckets did you cry for sarah jean? did you think she'd be saved?
2. what is your favorite action!reid moment?
3. what is your fav song that's been used on cm?
4. is ride the lightning your fav gideon ep?

Comments

[enots.livejournal.com]

'Ride the Lightning' is, hands down, one of the best CM episodes. Gets me every time. Sarah Jean is completely heartbreaking and completely believable - as is Gideon.

And, yes, Hotch is hawt.

[kalldoro.livejournal.com]

6. reid's speech about the types of strokes. his excitement over video games helping stroke victims and the look of pure WTF ON MORGAN'S FACE. hee. heehee.

I love the interactions between Reid and Morgan almost as much as I between Morgan and Garcia. Actually I just love the way they all interact, they're so real and human.

EDIT: I forgot to choose an icon. :P

[buffyaddict13.livejournal.com]

love the interactions between Reid and Morgan almost as much as I between Morgan and Garcia. Actually I just love the way they all interact, they're so real and human.

EXACTLY! just another why i adore this show.

EDIT: I forgot to choose an icon. :P

and what a pretty pretty icon it is. ♥

[batgurl88]

1. how many buckets did you cry for sarah jean? did you think she'd be saved?

Didn't cry - just threw things at the screen. Actually, the whole Sarah Jean storyline really made me dislike this episode (the Hotch/JJ one saved it for me). I got into a huge arguement with my friend over the fact that they had no right to keep Riley's true heritage from him, and that it's exactly the kind of secret-keeping that leads to people becoming unsubs on this show (like in 'Birthright' - when the son found out his dad was a murderer and they'd all kept it from him, he ended up resenting everyone and following in dad's footprints). I know - it was supposed to be a "big sacrifice" on Sarah Jean's part, but it seems to me that Riley has a right to know who his parents are, and that he'd do better from knowing Sarah Jean than finding out who she is after she's dead when he has no chance of talking to her. If there's one thing this show has taught us, it's that secrets can become poison.

2. what is your favorite action!reid moment?

Probably 3rd Life - when we see him drive for the first time, and then he runs around the abandonned school with his gun pointed all funny and awkward-like at the ground. Actually, I love it whenever he runs - adorable awkwardness abounds.

I loved that scene in Poison when he stumbled. It was especially cute because once the BAU was done running like action heroes to the toxin victims, they basically just stood there ineffectually as the paramedics did all the work (And I love how Gideon telling the one guy to "breathe" garners a "thank you", while the paramedic actually *administering* the life-saving antitoxin gets ignored lol).

3. what is your fav song that's been used on cm?

Hmmm... Tie between 'The Moment I Said It' in 'Seven Seconds', and 'Bodicea' in 'Ashes and Dust', I think. Those are the two that spring most easily to mind. Very moving.

Oh - And 'Sympathy for the Devil' in 'Revelations'! I couldn't stop laughing when that came on - so perfect! I love my show!

4. is riding the lightning your fav gideon ep?

Nope. I think that award goes to 'Won't Get Fooled Again'. I can't explain why, but that's one of my favourites. And I especially love the last scene between him and Adriam Bale - "You might even call it an emotional release". That was the first time I cheered for Gideon.


On a side note, 'Poison' was one of the first episodes I saw (I watched many of them out-of-order), and frankly, one of the scenes almost turned me off Criminal Minds completely. I couldn't get over the completely unrealistic conversation the team has near the beginning about rohypnol (where Elle explains to the other four *FBI AGENTS* what rohypnol - or the date rape drug - is, and they all look at her like it's new information to them).

I understand that they probably wanted to show Elle's background in sex crimes, and that shows often have to explain things like that for the percentage of their audience who doesn't know about it, but I found it incredibly hard to believe that none of them knew what a roofie was (especially Reid - master of all knowledge - and Hotch - former prosecutor who's probably encountered it more than once). I felt like yelling at the screen: "There are other ways of giving your audience information!" *sigh*

*realises she's ranting and takes a few calming breathes* I'm very glad that I didn't judge the show on that episode alone, because they're usually quite good at keeping the dialogue realistic, but I still can't watch that scene without cringing.

[woodchoc-magnum.livejournal.com]

[i]On a side note, 'Poison' was one of the first episodes I saw (I watched many of them out-of-order), and frankly, one of the scenes almost turned me off Criminal Minds completely. I couldn't get over the completely unrealistic conversation the team has near the beginning about rohypnol (where Elle explains to the other four *FBI AGENTS* what rohypnol - or the date rape drug - is, and they all look at her like it's new information to them).

I understand that they probably wanted to show Elle's background in sex crimes, and that shows often have to explain things like that for the percentage of their audience who doesn't know about it, but I found it incredibly hard to believe that none of them knew what a roofie was (especially Reid - master of all knowledge - and Hotch - former prosecutor who's probably encountered it more than once). I felt like yelling at the screen: "There are other ways of giving your audience information!" *sigh*

*realises she's ranting and takes a few calming breathes* I'm very glad that I didn't judge the show on that episode alone, because they're usually quite good at keeping the dialogue realistic, but I still can't watch that scene without cringing.[/i]

Oh, I'm totally there with you. When I rewatch that episode now, I fastforward that part. I've had discussions with my friend about it and I know it's for the audience but come on! Any halfwit who watches any crime show on TV, CSI or Law and Order or whatever, knows what a roofie is!

That's one of the only real cringeworthy scenes that stands out for me in this show, I'm glad you pointed it out!

[woodchoc-magnum.livejournal.com]

Ugh, did the italics thing wrong there... sorry, it's been awhile!

[buffyaddict13.livejournal.com]

Didn't cry - just threw things at the screen. Actually, the whole Sarah Jean storyline really made me dislike this episode (the Hotch/JJ one saved it for me). I got into a huge arguement with my friend over the fact that they had no right to keep Riley's true heritage from him, and that it's exactly the kind of secret-keeping that leads to people becoming unsubs on this show (like in 'Birthright' - when the son found out his dad was a murderer and they'd all kept it from him, he ended up resenting everyone and following in dad's footprints). I know - it was supposed to be a "big sacrifice" on Sarah Jean's part, but it seems to me that Riley has a right to know who his parents are, and that he'd do better from knowing Sarah Jean than finding out who she is after she's dead when he has no chance of talking to her. If there's one thing this show has taught us, it's that secrets can become poison.

you know, i never looked at this ep that way before. you have a VERY good point. hmm. now i kind of want to write a fic exploring that. *ponders*

thank you so much for answering and making me think.

also, i like to pretend reid (and everyone else) totally knew what roofies were but wanted to let new girl elle sound smart. that's my story and i'm stickin' to it. :-P

[buffyaddict13.livejournal.com]

p.s. just had to add, my cringe rate for cm is MUCH lower than any other show i watch right now except maybe bsg. thanks for keeping the cringing to a minimum show! :D

*waves*

[asthenie-vd.livejournal.com]

I gotta re-watch these. I don't remember "Unfinished Business" at all.

18. the hug between gideon and sarah made me sob like a baby. i really liked sarah. in another life i think she would have been good for gideon. and i find it interesting that his "friend" who frank killed was named sarah as well. (wasn't it? am i just high?)

Yup, she's a Sarah too. Just like the unsub in "Jones". The producers are very fond of some names. The guy impaled by the sword in "Fisher King" was a Frank if I remember correctly. ^^

1. how many buckets did you cry for sarah jean? did you think she'd be saved?

actually, none. While it touched me, I didn't like the episode's plot too much. Storywise it's a good thing Sarah Jean got executed in the end. The female killer being innocent and eventually saved would have been too much of a cliché. I think I would have really disliked the episode had they done it any other way.

The scenes with Hotch and JJ were great though. Both the poker and the thing with the boy's photo.


2. what is your favorite action!reid moment?

Any Action!Reid is good to me. He's so dedicated when he enters Action!Mode. I love the comparison to Gideon's mockingbirds here: He's got no concern for his own safety, oh yeah. *g*


3. what is your fav song that's been used on cm?

That's either got to be "Hurt" from "Elephant's Memory", because I love Johnny Cash, and the song has such a nice, driving rhythm that helps nicely building up to the episodes climax

or the Remix of "Sympathy for the Devil" we get on Revelations. I grin every time I watch that scene. And just exactly who's the devil in that ep? ^^
Can't hear the song without thinking of CM anymore. ^^
The show makes great use of it's soundtrack. From heart-breaking to ironic to completely and utterly macabre.

[buffyaddict13.livejournal.com]

or the Remix of "Sympathy for the Devil" we get on Revelations. I grin every time I watch that scene. And just exactly who's the devil in that ep? ^^

hee, exactly! that song works so. perfectly.

Can't hear the song without thinking of CM anymore. ^^

yup!

The show makes great use of it's soundtrack. From heart-breaking to ironic to completely and utterly macabre.

i LOVE that they use so many eclectic songs and not crappy "cool" music like the cw does.

[asthenie-vd.livejournal.com]

Heh, I also liked the coincidence that the same passage from the Book of Revelations that Tobias used to leave at crime scenes is also quoted in the Cash song on Elephant's Memory - a Reid-Centric episode. ^^
Made me giggle. ^^

Sometime the (ab)use of Music on this show is almost creepy. Like that poor family burning to death to some Enya song. <.

[slash-girl.livejournal.com]

1. how many buckets did you cry for sarah jean? did you think she'd be saved?

I didn't cry for her at all. *shrug* I figured she was going to die--she was determined to. Riding the Lightning isn't one of my favourite eps as good as so many people think it is. It is a good ep but it's just not one that I consider one of the best. However, I do love Hotch in this--both in the poker game when he fakes he's lost at first, then pulls out the winning card and when he slaps the picture against the window.

2. what is your favorite action!reid moment?

Um. Hm. I don't tend to notice action reid moments, I guess. *g* They don't stand out to me. I guess anything that shows him running cus he's so geeky/cute/funny when he runs.

3. what is your fav song that's been used on cm?

The Moment I Said It--cus it's Imogen Heap and her song "Come Here Boy" is one that is just Hotch/Reid to me. I also liked that they used Hurt, the Johnny Cash version, in Elephant's Memory, mostly because I did a Reid vid to it months ago, so it was interesting to see how they used it on the show.

4. is ride the lightning your fav gideon ep?

Nope. Gideon's never been one of my faves, but if I had to pick a fave ep with him--it'd be No Way Out. He and Keith Carradine are phenomenal in that ep and pretty much all they do is sit and talk in a diner. And Frank has one of the best lines ever: "But you know what's an even more interesting question? What's the psychopath got in the bag, Jason?".

[buffyaddict13.livejournal.com]

The Moment I Said It--cus it's Imogen Heap and her song "Come Here Boy" is one that is just Hotch/Reid to me. I also liked that they used Hurt, the Johnny Cash version, in Elephant's Memory, mostly because I did a Reid vid to it months ago, so it was interesting to see how they used it on the show.

i LOVE imogen heap, but i ADORE johnny cash. i used that version of hurt in a fic once so i literally did a dance when cm used it. especially in a reid ep! *squee*

Nope. Gideon's never been one of my faves, but if I had to pick a fave ep with him--it'd be No Way Out. He and Keith Carradine are phenomenal in that ep and pretty much all they do is sit and talk in a diner.

you know, you have a good point. i've only seen NWO once, so i'm excited to see it again.

And Frank has one of the best lines ever: "But you know what's an even more interesting question? What's the psychopath got in the bag, Jason?".

YOU'RE RIGHT. that line was excellent. i'm kind of sorry frank's dead.

[alethialia.livejournal.com]

Riding the Lightning isn't one of my favourite eps as good as so many people think it is. It is a good ep but it's just not one that I consider one of the best.

I agree here. Unfortunately I'd heard the hype before I watched and found myself disappointed that it wasn't better than it was. I was actually rather surprised they chose to do a Very Special Execution Episode as they've managed to resist the urge for other Very Special xyz Episodes since. And the fact that they chose the 'mother selflessly sacrificing herself for her child' - which boiled down to some completely irrational behavior on a lot os people's parts - was doubly surprising because it's been done so many times before.

Apparently I need to rewatch for Hotch, though, because I missed him in the background.

Frank has one of the best lines ever: "But you know what's an even more interesting question? What's the psychopath got in the bag, Jason?".

One of the best lines of the series. In fact, the line was even stronger because they played it out. This would have been the perfect spot for a red herring. But no, he unzips the bag and actually does have a severed head in there. The line set up an expectation of something creepy in the bag and anyone who watches TV also expected them to undermine that expectation...so instead they met it head on. He is that much of a psycho that he wanders around with body parts on him.

Well-played. And brilliantly acted.

ANYway.

[diet-cokefiend.livejournal.com]

3. what is your fav song that's been used on cm?

they used the pixies's "where is my mind?" at the beginning of sex, birth and death, and they used the pixies's "rock music" at the end of extreme aggressor. man, i love the pixies!

[buffyaddict13.livejournal.com]

the pixies are. awesome. *nod*

[lostandalone22.livejournal.com]

Ride the Lightning makes me cry every time I see it.

[hopskotch-hotch.livejournal.com]

1. how many buckets did you cry for sarah jean? did you think she'd be saved?

I sobbed like a baby watching this ep! I cried for Sarah Jean - she was such a gentle, well-spoken person. The way she and Gideon interacted was riveting, it was almost like she became the profiler. One of my all-time fave eps.

2. what is your favorite action!reid moment?

Hmm, Reid and action don't seem like two words that gel...lol But no, Reid is just adorable. Would his kick-ass shot in LDSK count?? That was frickin' awesome!! Actually,a little off point, but one of my fave Reid moments (non-action) - when JJ is joking and saying 'Garcia and Kevin sittin' in a tree!', and Reid is so confused - and Emily is about to explain but tells him to forget about it. Cutest moment ever! haha

3. what is your fav song that's been used on cm?

Oh lordy, so many! Some great music choices for CM - always seem to fit the mood so perfectly.
Have to say though, I really liked Damien Rice's 'Grey Room' in season 2, 'Ashes and Dust', with the Hotch scenes. Wow. Beautiful.

4. is ride the lightning your fav gideon ep?

Tough one. Possibly. The final scene, where he's just brimming with emotion - you see Gideon, but I think you see more of Mandy, if that makes sense? Thing about Gideon - I think he had some excellent, memorable scenes dispersed throughout seasons 1 and 2, as opposed to a single all-encompassing ep., per se. Though 'Riding the Lightning' comes pretty close!

Great questions! :-)

[buffyaddict13.livejournal.com]

Hmm, Reid and action don't seem like two words that gel...lol But no, Reid is just adorable. Would his kick-ass shot in LDSK count?? That was frickin' awesome!!

that totally counts. cuz my mouth dropped open and i did a fist pump for reid after that!

:D

Actually,a little off point, but one of my fave Reid moments (non-action) - when JJ is joking and saying 'Garcia and Kevin sittin' in a tree!', and Reid is so confused - and Emily is about to explain but tells him to forget about it. Cutest moment ever! haha

cm is full of awesome little moments like that. aw reid, come over here, i'll tell you what the song means. ♥

Tough one. Possibly. The final scene, where he's just brimming with emotion - you see Gideon, but I think you see more of Mandy, if that makes sense?

it makes total sense.

Thing about Gideon - I think he had some excellent, memorable scenes dispersed throughout seasons 1 and 2, as opposed to a single all-encompassing ep., per se. Though 'Riding the Lightning' comes pretty close!

i think you're right. because gideon is in a LOT of scenes now that i think about it.

Great questions! :-)

great answers! ♥

[xbittersweet89x.livejournal.com]

I just spend ten minutes wondering who the hell Sarah Jean was. *headdesk* I really need to re-watch season one again.


4. hiding the woman beneath the bed? CREEP-EEE.

I swear, I about jumped out of my skin during that scene. o.Ô


1. how many buckets did you cry for sarah jean? did you think she'd be saved?

I didn't cry, but I did shed a tear during the last scene. That was just beautiful, in a bittersweet, heart-breaking way. And yes, I was so hoping she'd be saved.

2. what is your favorite action!reid moment?

Any Action!Reid is great. ;D

3. what is your fav song that's been used on cm?

Oh, that's a tough one. The show always uses fantastic music. I'm sure I have quite a few favorite songs that have been used on the show ... problem is, I can't remember them. What I do remember was Damien Rice's 'Grey Room' during the final scenes of 'Ashes and Dust'. I enyojed this very much. I love Damien Rice and these scenes were just great. Oh and the last scenes from 'In Birth And Death' set to 'Broken' was just beautiful.

4. is ride the lightning your fav gideon ep?

Nope. That would be 'No Way Out'.

[buffyaddict13.livejournal.com]

I just spend ten minutes wondering who the hell Sarah Jean was. *headdesk* I really need to re-watch season one again.

i'm sorry! i should have been more clear. *facepalm*

4. hiding the woman beneath the bed? CREEP-EEE.
I swear, I about jumped out of my skin during that scene. o.Ô

i know! this show freaks me out more than most so-called scary movies!

I didn't cry, but I did shed a tear during the last scene. That was just beautiful, in a bittersweet, heart-breaking way. And yes, I was so hoping she'd be saved.

exactly. so bittersweet.

Any Action!Reid is great. ;D

HEE! you're right about that!

Nope. That would be 'No Way Out'.

i am getting pretty excited about rewatching this ep. *nod*

thanks for answering!