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rachel-garber1947
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Criminal Minds: Middle Man (2010)
Fathers covering up for children, always a bad idea
This was an excellent episode and exposes the dangers of covering up a child's past run-ins with the law. The father (who was also the sheriff) thought he was doing his son a favor by covering up his past crimes, at the same time, he had an abusive relationship with his son. Parents do their children no good when they let them get away with bad behavior, at the same time they can be the most likely to have an abusive relationship with that child. I was surprised that the sheriff wasn't arrested for interfering with the BAU investigation. I think that's illegal? The audience is tipped off to the fact that the sheriff is of the school of thought that dictates, "we don't need any interference from government agencies." His attitude toward the victims is another indicator that he sees no reason for the BAU to be in his town in the first place. The women are exotic dancers, they are probably prostitutes as well, therefore why should anyone, much less he and the BAU care about their murders. It was interesting how Prentiss and Reid were able to figure out how the women were chosen for abduction, but the best part of the episode was the end when the father realized his son had to be held accountable, and finally Hotch telling him to be there for his son. It took a heinous crime for the father to step up and be a father, not cover up, but BE THERE. The resolution was probably the first time the father was a real father instead of a relentless disciplinarian. It's too bad it took the murder of three women for that to come about, but I suppose better late than never, let the healing begin.
Criminal Minds: Lucky (2007)
Garcia got away with murder
As I recall, from the one episode I saw in re-runs, Garcia was recruited by the BAU after she was caught hacking into their computer system. If I remember correctly, she was offered the job as an alternative to going to jail. Yet as the facilitator of a support group, she flagged the names of victims so the cases wouldn't be forgotten. Later, she met a man in a coffee shop who turns out to be the unsub on some open cases. He invited her for a date, and when he escorted her back to her apartment, he attempted to kill her. She accepted the date in the first place because she was angry with Morgan, who just tried to warn her to be careful about a man she knew nothing about. After she returned home from the hospital, she was given police protection. Then one of the officers protecting her was murdered. Did she even express remorse that she caused all this drama. Where were the consequences for Garcia, not that I expected her to be arrested, but it seemed to me, that she took it upon herself to flag cases, something she had no business doing, and what, everyone held her hand? Why doesn't she ever have to suffer the consequences for her wrongheaded, and possibly illegal actions. That is a real puzzle for me. She is the computer expert, so she knows the power of the internet, she was hired because she hacked into the BAU system, yet it seems nothing ever happens to her, she needs a wake-up call. Instead she puts on her I just want to see a world of sweetness and light and kittens and... gag me. I'm tired of her irresponsible behavior for which she never has to face the consequences. Have you guessed that I am not fond of this character, perhaps not Garcia herself, but the things that she takes it upon herself to do.
Criminal Minds: Empty Planet (2006)
Unrealistic about birth mothers and memory
Of course, I realize that the plot had to progress the way it did, however, I found it strange that the character was convinced that the woman he was convinced was his mother, would know what the looked like after so many years. As I recall, she only saw him for a short period of time before she had to turn him over to the people who would arrange his adoption. He seems seriously delusional if he thinks she would recognize the man in the baby she gave up many years earlier. He was so caught up in his delusion that he was her child, he even seemed to reject that she had a baby girl. Furthermore, given the age of the "mother" I seem to recall that adoptions at that time were closed, so I wondered how he found out that she was his "mother" But I guess that is artistic license for you. I was very touched by the scenes when Morgan stayed with the woman whose life was threatened when it turned it turned out that there was a bomb under her car. Gideon nailed it when he said Derek put his life on the line. Just the wrong move could have cost him and the woman's life.
Criminal Minds: Derailed (2005)
Heartstopping thriller
I am catching up with this excellent series, and have seen this episode a couple of times. The efforts of the BAU to keep the delusional man from killing the people on the train, as he is being goaded by the voice only he can hear had me on the edge of my seat. It does highlight the very real concern by some people that the government is monitoring every move by the average citizen. The young man, Josh Patel, fed into the delusion by adding his own fantastic beliefs along the same line, and added to the tension. I found myself wanting to yell at the TV to tell him to shut up. Dr. Reid's magic "trick" added to the drama and his quick thinking when the man demanded that the chip be "turned on" moved the drama along. I enjoy the developing relationship between Reid and Morgan. While Morgan teases Reid relentlessly, he also exhibits a big brother/protector persona to the younger agent. The former football player is exactly the type that tormented Reid when he was in high school and allows Reid to put his past behind him and begin to trust the person, not the "type" even if Morgan does exasperate Reid at times. This was a brand new program when this episode was aired, and I think little "three minute" fillers can be excused.
Criminal Minds: The Fisher King: Part 1 (2006)
The most important "clue" was left out of this preview
I am still trying to figure out why Garcia never held responsible for what she did. While I realize the game she played on her own laptop is what precipitated this two part episode, therefore "creating" a case to investigate in the first place. However, her "gaming" is what tipped off the Fisher King to the whole teams personal information. Everyone's privacy was invaded because she played a game using BAU connection, that allowed the unsub access to their private lives. Yet it appears that the only thing that Garcia "suffered" was to be upset. Garcia was recruited by the BAU because she hacked into their computers. I am surprised that nothing happened to her, she was not censured, she was not suspended for what she did. That was a real error on the BAU's part as far as I am concerned. Garcia has a propensity for digging through personal information that has nothing to do with the cases that are being investigated, and I fail to understand why her egregious behavior is overlooked time after time. She is very good at what she does, however, there should be a limit to what is tolerated by the BAU.
Criminal Minds: Machismo (2006)
Interesting how tourism trumps murders
I just saw this episode for the second time, and there were a couple of things that struck me as ironic. The attorney general, a female, wanted the case to go away, she believed if the murders were investigated as the work of a serial killer, it would effect tourism and she didn't believe there was a serial killer. It was the male police officer who contacted the BAU, and who insisted that the murders be investigated as a serial killer. It's always amusing to me that the countries that are so rooted in machismo, are so anti-woman. Women are allegedly revered, yet the woman are subjected to verbal and physical attacks, with no respect for their boundaries, up to an including rape. The episode was very interesting, well acted, with an interesting plot. I find this program the best of this genre. The program that gives the audience an insight into the stressors that precipitate the crimes. I recently saw an interview with Matthew Gray Gubler in which he disclosed that 60% of the stories area based on true stories.
Criminal Minds (2005)
The characters seem more well-rounded than other shows of this genre
Although I am a newbie to this wonderful show (I just started watching it in Jan 2014) I've been able to catch up with the episodes via the many stations that carry it in my area. One of the things I like in particular, is the fact that the audience learns something about each character as the show progresses. I've watched many programs in this genre, CSI, Law and Order Criminal Intent, NCIS, as well as Cold Case, however, although we get a glimpse of the background of the main characters, none is as in depth as CM. Last night I watched the episode where Reid discloses his nightmares to Morgan, he feels betrayed when Morgan tells him Gideon and Hotch know about Reid's nightmares. Later in the show, both Hotch and Gideon discuss the fact that no one could do their job without having nightmares. The personal lives of the agents make the characters come alive, and seem more realistic,as when the team is facing down the young man, Owen, and Reid talks about his own experiences being bullied, and therefore the audience can empathize with the unsub, even though he will be arrested. The sociological and psychological aspect of the program gives the audience an insight into why an unsub became the became a criminal. The history of the team becomes a subplot in the main story line, and that makes the show more interesting and well rounded. In some cases, as in the story about Owen, it also serves as a warning for people who ignore bullying (a lot of kids go through that, it's part of growing up) mental illness (we don't believe in that big city psychology stuff) child abuse (we mind our own business around here), and so on. One thing that disappointed me, was killing off Reid's girlfriend, he has had so much tragedy in his life, would it hurt to let him have some happiness? I'd also like to see some mention of Morgan dealing with his sex abuse issues; I think it is important for males especially to see the value of therapy or even a support group. As was disclosed in the episode about Buford, ignoring trauma can have devastating effects. I do find Garcia's sexual banter with Morgan annoying, and quite frankly a bit offensive. The writers should always have her assume that when she is talking to Morgan in the field that she is on a speaker, as per the situation when Strauss was with the team, and she said, "talk dirty to me" It's gets a bit nauseating after awhile, and I wonder if the "instigator" of the sexual innuendo was a man, if he wouldn't have been reported for that.