Personally wasn't that enamoured with Season 15's premiere "Under the Skin", with the character moments being a lot better than the pretty bland and obvious case. Despite liking 'Criminal Minds' very much, though will say that it has been very variable for a while now, expectations were not hugely high for the next episode "Awakenings". With it being pretty much the equivalent of the second part of "Under the Skin", as the events is pretty much where that episode leaves off.
Actually liked "Awakenings" less, with it having similar strengths and flaws to the previous episode. But also having the trouble of being over-stuffed, which "Under the Skin" didn't have as much, a case of being more eventful actually not being a good thing (something people would see said often by me). The concept was actually great, especially considering that it was part of an arc continuing from one of the previous season's best episodes, but the execution was very flawed.
There are good things about "Awakenings". The production values, especially the photography, are as slick and as atmospheric as usual. The music is suitably ominous and isn't overused, the main theme is still memorable. One of the better things about "Awakenings" is the acting. Matthew Gray Gubler brings out Reid's torment very movingly.
Sharon Lawrence didn't make Roberta one-dimensional, one does hate her but one feels her grief too. Alex Jennings unsettles as Grace. "Awakenings" does have a heart-breaker of a twist, one of the few genuinely eerie and moving moments of Season 15 and the emotion is really felt.
However, while it is good that more happens here in "Awakenings" it proved to me to be an undoing as well. The episode would have benefitted from having less content and having fewer characters, especially considering some are wasted and not as interesting as they ought to have been. There is too much of everything to do with Reid, it was quite sweet occasionally in "Under the Skin" but it is unnecessary and too sentimental which didn't gel with the tone of the case. It also felt a little too melodramatic. Worse was the everything with Reid and JJ, some of the writing was cringe-worthy and shoehorned in.
Furthermore, the case may be more eventful as has been said already but again is bland and derivative. With nowhere near enough suspense, too much being prematurely obvious, or surprises. Also felt that the story could have done with more clarity and again there were some very promising ideas that were under-explored. The writing can veer on being too soapy and the team have worked with each together more cohesively and intelligently before and since.
All in all, pretty lacklustre but not one of the show's worst. 4/10