One of the best episodes of Season 3, and up to this particular point in 'Criminal Minds' run no other episode to me disturbed me as greatly as "Lucky". No, not even "North Mammon", "The Fox" or the "No Way Out" episodes.
"Lucky" is certainly Season 3 at its most disturbing, and few episodes before were this sadistic or graphic. Just like "Elephant's Memory" was Season 3 at its most poignant and the season finale "Lo-Fi" was the season at its most tense. Season 3 was not a perfect season certainly, starting off a tad bumpy (but still actually doing surprisingly well considering the circumstances) but there are some great episodes, even exceptional. "Lucky" is one of the exceptional ones.
'Criminal Minds' nearly always had top notch production values, apart from a few lesser episodes suffering from editing problems on top of everything else wrong with them. "Lucky" is no exception. Visually, it is dark and stylish stuff, reminiscent of what you'd find for a moody thriller or a truly creepy horror and actually a combination of both. The music is full of haunting atmosphere and never feels over-the-top.
Script is thought-provoking, taut and intelligent, while the story is unsettling, tense and suspenseful to the point of giving the viewer nightmares. As said, "Lucky" is a sadistic (especially the unsub and his sickening crimes), shocking (the ending was completely unexpected and makes one really care for the fate of the character in question) and graphic, but in a way where these elements add to the atmosphere instead of feeling gratuitous like it did in another graphic episode like "Corazon" from Season 6.
No disappointments to be had with the team's chemistry, their team-work and their dynamic. Particularly strong is the challenging relationship between Morgan and Rossi (whose initial appearance when joining the show was shaky but he is steadily settling and one likes him more with each episode and he has since gone on to be one of the few reasons why the show's still being stuck with).
The revelation of Morgan's lack of faith in God and the reason also well done. The moment of friction between Morgan and Garcia was the one slightly odd note, not enough to bring down the episode but while Morgan's intentions were meant well his way of words showed a less than pleasant side to him, considering how close the two characters are that was a little jarring.
With the acting, nothing to complain about either. Kirsten Vangsness is particularly terrific of the regulars, but Jamie Kennedy was the biggest surprise. Was expecting him to be a disaster (then again was expecting that too from Frankie Muniz in "True Night"), but actually not only was he unrecognisable but out of all the unsubs from Season 3 Kennedy's Floyd is easily the freakiest, a side that one does not expect at all from Kennedy.
In conclusion, a "classic/elite" Season 3 episode, not many episodes (speaking as a huge fan) of 'Criminal Minds' have properly disturbed me but "Lucky" is one of them. 10/10 Bethany Cox
"Lucky" is certainly Season 3 at its most disturbing, and few episodes before were this sadistic or graphic. Just like "Elephant's Memory" was Season 3 at its most poignant and the season finale "Lo-Fi" was the season at its most tense. Season 3 was not a perfect season certainly, starting off a tad bumpy (but still actually doing surprisingly well considering the circumstances) but there are some great episodes, even exceptional. "Lucky" is one of the exceptional ones.
'Criminal Minds' nearly always had top notch production values, apart from a few lesser episodes suffering from editing problems on top of everything else wrong with them. "Lucky" is no exception. Visually, it is dark and stylish stuff, reminiscent of what you'd find for a moody thriller or a truly creepy horror and actually a combination of both. The music is full of haunting atmosphere and never feels over-the-top.
Script is thought-provoking, taut and intelligent, while the story is unsettling, tense and suspenseful to the point of giving the viewer nightmares. As said, "Lucky" is a sadistic (especially the unsub and his sickening crimes), shocking (the ending was completely unexpected and makes one really care for the fate of the character in question) and graphic, but in a way where these elements add to the atmosphere instead of feeling gratuitous like it did in another graphic episode like "Corazon" from Season 6.
No disappointments to be had with the team's chemistry, their team-work and their dynamic. Particularly strong is the challenging relationship between Morgan and Rossi (whose initial appearance when joining the show was shaky but he is steadily settling and one likes him more with each episode and he has since gone on to be one of the few reasons why the show's still being stuck with).
The revelation of Morgan's lack of faith in God and the reason also well done. The moment of friction between Morgan and Garcia was the one slightly odd note, not enough to bring down the episode but while Morgan's intentions were meant well his way of words showed a less than pleasant side to him, considering how close the two characters are that was a little jarring.
With the acting, nothing to complain about either. Kirsten Vangsness is particularly terrific of the regulars, but Jamie Kennedy was the biggest surprise. Was expecting him to be a disaster (then again was expecting that too from Frankie Muniz in "True Night"), but actually not only was he unrecognisable but out of all the unsubs from Season 3 Kennedy's Floyd is easily the freakiest, a side that one does not expect at all from Kennedy.
In conclusion, a "classic/elite" Season 3 episode, not many episodes (speaking as a huge fan) of 'Criminal Minds' have properly disturbed me but "Lucky" is one of them. 10/10 Bethany Cox