This is not the first time that this has been said by me, but from personal opinion Season 9 is one of the weaker 'Criminal Minds' seasons with two of the show's low-points and the difference between the best of the season and the worst being pretty large.
"What Happens in Mecklinburg" is not up there with the best of the season like "Gabby" and "The Caller" (the two-part season finale also fared extremely favourably) but it's miles ahead of "The Inspiration", "The Black Queen" and especially "200". A long way from a bad episode, in fact it's a decent and often well done one, but there are a few major things that stop it from being great.
Starting with the good things, the production values as always are of very high quality with a lot of style and atmosphere. The music is suitably haunting and melancholic, having presence while not being overbearing. The script is thought-provoking, while the profiling makes sense, actually feels like effort was made to make it part of the story rather than feeling tacked on or like an afterthought. The acting is very good from all the regulars, while Anne Leighton's Sheila is both subtly chilling and moving.
Regarding the case it was pretty strong, although the unsub and the crime could have been revealed later and the motive for one of the abductions is a bit over the top and not as comprehensible as the others. There is tension and suspense, with a very creepy opening that sets up the tone very well indeed as well as a poignancy and irony, and there have not been many episodes in previous years that have make us feel a swaying mix of both sympathy and disgust for both the victims and the unsub and so vividly.
On the other hand, what especially brings down "What Happens in Mecklinburg" is the Morgan/Savannah subplot, it is little more than dull soap opera and it not only features too much in the episode but it paints Morgan as a jerk. Not to mention the zero chemistry between the two characters, and Savannah is a bit dull at the moment. As good as it was that he was called out on it later, it really didn't have to be done in a way to make people cringe with JJ being far too cold and like she had a stuck-up attitude problem, making her point with no subtlety at all.
As said too, the unsub and crime could and should have been revealed later. Making them obvious so soon did diminish the suspense levels a tad, while the middle act could have done with some tightening up pace-wise. Rochelle Ayrtes is rather bland as Savannah, not seeing much personality yet and seeing even less chemistry with Shemar Moore. Wouldn't have said no to more Rossi and Hotch, they are great characters and are barely in it practically.
On the whole, the case is good but the subplot really dragged things down. 6/10 Bethany Cox
"What Happens in Mecklinburg" is not up there with the best of the season like "Gabby" and "The Caller" (the two-part season finale also fared extremely favourably) but it's miles ahead of "The Inspiration", "The Black Queen" and especially "200". A long way from a bad episode, in fact it's a decent and often well done one, but there are a few major things that stop it from being great.
Starting with the good things, the production values as always are of very high quality with a lot of style and atmosphere. The music is suitably haunting and melancholic, having presence while not being overbearing. The script is thought-provoking, while the profiling makes sense, actually feels like effort was made to make it part of the story rather than feeling tacked on or like an afterthought. The acting is very good from all the regulars, while Anne Leighton's Sheila is both subtly chilling and moving.
Regarding the case it was pretty strong, although the unsub and the crime could have been revealed later and the motive for one of the abductions is a bit over the top and not as comprehensible as the others. There is tension and suspense, with a very creepy opening that sets up the tone very well indeed as well as a poignancy and irony, and there have not been many episodes in previous years that have make us feel a swaying mix of both sympathy and disgust for both the victims and the unsub and so vividly.
On the other hand, what especially brings down "What Happens in Mecklinburg" is the Morgan/Savannah subplot, it is little more than dull soap opera and it not only features too much in the episode but it paints Morgan as a jerk. Not to mention the zero chemistry between the two characters, and Savannah is a bit dull at the moment. As good as it was that he was called out on it later, it really didn't have to be done in a way to make people cringe with JJ being far too cold and like she had a stuck-up attitude problem, making her point with no subtlety at all.
As said too, the unsub and crime could and should have been revealed later. Making them obvious so soon did diminish the suspense levels a tad, while the middle act could have done with some tightening up pace-wise. Rochelle Ayrtes is rather bland as Savannah, not seeing much personality yet and seeing even less chemistry with Shemar Moore. Wouldn't have said no to more Rossi and Hotch, they are great characters and are barely in it practically.
On the whole, the case is good but the subplot really dragged things down. 6/10 Bethany Cox