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Quicksand (2023)
Stupidity should have killed them a long time ago!!!
First I have to point out that right from the start the female character is absolutely unbearable!!! Talk about passive aggressive! Yuck! What kind of a movie starts with such an unpleasant character as the main one? Shouldn't we (the viewers) want her to survive? I get that she is there with her ex (or soon to be ex) but if you gonna behave like that then just don't go!
Second, they go hiking together to what is a clearly remote location and could they be less prepared?! The "experienced" hiker could hardly breathe while the woman who hasn't hiked in ten years is just flying forward without even a water bottle in her hand (to say nothing of an equipped backpack) and obviously it did not occur to any of them to check the weather before they go. Could they be more stupid?
Oh yes they can! They see a thief trying to break into their car and what do they decide to do? By the way, are we supposed to believe he followed them all the way just to break into their car? No one to rob in the city? Did he wait until they got back just so they could catch him? They clearly walked quite the distance before returning to their car. If he followed them from the hotel he probably arrived there pretty much at the same time they did so he clearly had hours till they got back. What exactly was he doing? Ridiculously unrealistic! Anyway, the genius guy decides to talk his way out of it because obviously the thief will just apologize and walk away (eye rolling emoji) but surprisingly instead he pulls out a gun so the guy hits him and runs away. Why not hit him till he's down? Then the genius woman decides to pick a fight with "you had to be the hero" while they are being chased by a man with a gun!!! Which btw I can't even figure out why he chases them. He has the backpack and the gun and the car but whatever. Then the plan is to run to a place that is so dangerous even the locals won't go in there because apparently they couldn't find a tree or a bush to hide behind until the man with the gun gives up. Sure, run to Las Arenas where you'll find sand and snakes. Doesn't she speak Spanish? Arena means sand. Come on! Then they fall into the quicksand (well, she falls and he jumps in because he's such a smart guy) and he tries to figure out how they can get out and she continues to behave like a complete b**** and says stuff like "didn't the guide book tell you how to get out of this". Seriously, how stupid are these two?! I was watching them hoping they would die.
I love survival movies because I really enjoy the psychological aspect of it. People behave so differently in dangerous situations. It brings out the worst and the best of them and yes, some stupidity is to be expected. I can cut them some slack for running to Las Arenas for example because that was a split second decision, maybe even for jumping in to save her although he had to know he would get stuck too so what would be the point to die with her? Can't you at least get a stick or tie your sweatshirt to a tree or something? Anyway, I can swallow some stupid decisions and some anger and other unhelpful emotions but these two behave like complete idiots and it is just too much and also in the most ridiculous moments possible. It's like watching a marriage counseling session from hell (and not in a good horror movie way).
The acting is mediocre at best and the dialogue is horrifyingly bad!!! The ending is as dumb and unrealistic as everything else. The way she pulled herself out is absurd!! They can barely move their arms but she could throw a 2.5m snake? That snake has got to weigh between 6-10kg!! Are you kidding me???? Please! This movie is both stupid and extremely unrealistic.
I only watched it until the end because I'm a sucker for survival movies and I had nothing better to do but it is still a really bad movie. One of those movies that make you feel bad for wasting your time watching it. Definitely not worth paying for it!!!
Lastly, as an animal lover I need to see in the credits the "no animal was harmed in the making of this movie" statement/logo and there wasn't one which pissed me off even more.
Conclusion: best to avoid.
Imaginary (2024)
Meh
There are some good elements to this movie especially from the production and acting side but I felt that the movie fell short of what I was expecting.
It was a bizarre mixture of childish scenes with horror scenes. Almost felt like this is a horror movie for children. Like one of those original scary and disturbing Grimm brothers fairytale. A really dark version of Alice in Wonderland. Obviously I wouldn't recommend letting children watch it because the scary scenes are way too scary for them but it's like a cautionary fairytale to get children to avoid trusting "friends" and follow them.
Way too dark for children but not that impressive for adults either. It was a slow burner that made me wonder if I'm really watching an horror movie at times. Tom Payne's character was practically redundant. If Alice was a stepmother that lost her husband and was left with his two girls it could have been more effective than introducing a character that had no real impact on the plot. Also the dialogue was a little cringy at times.
On the plus side, the acting was good, the special effects were also pretty good (for the majority of the time), there were some creepy moments (although personally I prefer scary over creepy) and no gore (always a plus since I find the gory scenes to be more disgusting than scary).
So while I appreciate the general idea I didn't feel satisfied by the time the movie ended. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely watchable if you got nothing else to do, just adjust your expectations because overall it was just meh.
Unsane (2018)
I don't get it
I've started watching this movie. I thought it would be good because the concept is interesting but they lost me when this supposedly smart businesswoman decides to sign papers without reading them because it's just "standard". If she is stable enough to work in a bank she should know better than to sign documents without reading them.
I also did not get why she brought a stranger to her house just to suddenly with no apparent reason freak out.
The way they are presenting her story about the stalker is not done well. The movie starts with a statement from the stalker then we see her workplace, a conversation with her mother, a date in a bar which leads to what I assume is a panic attack and from there we jump pretty quickly to her being "accidentally" committed to the hospital. The scenes feel unrelated and the whole thing doesn't flow well. Is it done to show us she's unstable? Signing papers without reading them make her look stupid and her reactions to the stuff asking her for her belongings and removal of her clothes feel completely unnatural. Nothing felt right, including her call to 911. Why doesn't she ask to speak with her therapist or someone in charge to explain that this is all a mistake? Why didn't she call her mother? Did she really expect the police to show up in a psychiatric ward? Maybe she's delusional but then how could she function? They eventually lost me completely in the scene with the used tampon (gross). Maybe it will all make sense later on but I'm out.
Lastly, I don't care that it was all shot with an iPhone. Maybe it's a big deal for film makers but I care more about the storyline and the acting so I'm not impressed.
Don't Move (2024)
Fun!
I really enjoyed this movie. I love psychological thrillers and horror movies. This movie is a mix of the two genres.
I don't know what people are complaining about, for a low budget film with such a minimalist storyline it's really great. I was actually surprised with how much they did with so little. It reminded me of the first time I watched the movie "Phone Booth" (2002). That movie was filmed almost entirely inside a phone booth so you wonder how thrilling it could get with such a limited set but it was a great ride. Here, the main character is paralyzed for the majority of the film so again you wonder how thrilling it could be but it really was thrilling. The acting was excellent. I was at the edge of my seat feeling hyperventilating at times. Of course you should adjust your expectations. Is it all realistic and plausible? Probably not, but it's not ridiculous or stupid either. It's a psychological horror so you need to remember that. If you want realistic horror go watch a crime documentary. For what it is, it was great imho. Especially for a Netflix movie!!!
One last note, I love horror movies but I love the ones that are really scary and less gory. Gory is just gross. I don't find it scary or thrilling so personally I would have liked it better without the violent gory scenes but they are short and not too over the top so it didn't ruin it for me. If you like the genre and you are intrigued by the storyline I'd give this movie a chance.
Time Cut (2024)
Fun teen time traveling movie
I'm surprised by the low ratings. This movie isn't that bad. It was entertaining and I enjoyed it.
It seems that people are complaining that it is similar to another movie called "Totally Killer". I haven't seen it so I can't comment on that but judging this movie on its own I think it's pretty good. The story is interesting and the acting is good. If you're looking for a slasher horror movie, this ain't it. It's a time travel story about a teen who travels back in time to 2003 to a few days before her sister gets murdered. It has a horror element to it because she's confronting the killer but it's mostly a cute teen movie.
The only thing that I didn't love was the ending. It doesn't make a lot of sense. Time traveling is always a difficult topic because the writers have to answer the main question of what happens to the future if you change the past. I don't think they did the best job with it but it wasn't that bad either. I think it's a cute time travel teen movie with a horror element to it. If you just watch it without any expectations I think you can enjoy it.
I'm curious about the other movie so I'll watch it too. I love horror movies and I love time traveling movies so I'll always watch anything that combines the two. So far nothing was as good as Happy Death Day, the BEST movie in this genre if you ask me.
Accused: Scott's Story (2023)
Powerful but unrealistic
I was intrigued by this show. The concept is really interesting. Ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
This episode is about a father and his school shooter son. The kid comes from a normal looking family with loving parents and yet he's deeply troubled. His father worries he might hurt not only himself but others too. What should he do?
The basic storyline is great, the acting is good, the pace is great, the production value is high and the topic is one we all know too well. If you don't think too much about it, it's gut wrenching to watch.
Unfortunately, despite all these good things the story goes off the rails. It's very unrealistic when you think about it. The idea that there's no other option other than to kill your own son (or let him hurt others) is absurd. Especially considering these are people with money. The father is a doctor and yet he's portrayed as a desperate man without any options. Why? There are many options (legal and otherwise). A doctor would know what to do and if he doesn't then all he has to do is call a lawyer. His son is hardly the first school shooter in the world. There are laws and options available everywhere. Not to mention that your instinct as a parent, as a father, as a husband is to protect your family. The idea that he struggles with what looks like his only option (to kill your son) is ridiculous. Makes him look like a moron. Maybe (and that's a big maybe) if he was a poor guy who was struggling to make ends meet with no one to help him that could have worked but no way an educated wealthy man like that wouldn't know what to do.
Also, there are lots of other stuff that make little sense or aren't explored enough like for example why is this kid so troubled? Was he born a sociopath or was he bullied? He was in therapy before so what was he diagnosed with? Why isn't he in treatment now? Another example is the money. Who writes a check for 10k without knowing what it's for? He has to be really dumb to buy the whole Island story. All episode long he was worried (so much that he considered killing his son) and a five minute of faking wanting help did the trick? Makes no sense. The mother also really pissed me off. She went from a complete denial to wishing her husband killed their son. This story would have made a lot more sense if the parents actually tried every legal/medical resource available and failed than this absurd idea that the only solution is to kill the son or let him kill others. The son is actually the only character that behaves realistically. I can buy his character. Even without the explanation as to what made him what he is. I can believe his storyline but not the parents. If you're loving parents and you have money, you have options.
It was still an interesting and powerful watch but it could have been a lot better if they made it more realistic.
Criminal Minds: Alpha Male (2017)
Much better
I liked this episode. It was an big improvement from the previous episode that really pissed me off.
The case was interesting and thought provoking. The team seemed to work well together despite Reid's absence. I wish Garcia was nicer to Alvez. Since he arrived she's acting kinda crazy. She was hostile to him and then nice and now we're back to hostile. I like him. He's an interesting character. Can't wait to learn more about him. The new guy is still a little boring. I'm not a fan of this character. He was supposed to be some big shot but so far I don't see what Emily's fuss was all about.
The only thing I didn't like about this case was how they located him at that bar. If you have three locations either split the team or figure it out in a way that doesn't feel so scripted. The way they figured where he was based on the fact that he wanted to go to an ATM and a Hoagie shop felt forced. Why would he write that he's going to an ATM? If that scene meant to look clever, it didn't work. It seemed bizarre to me.
As for Reid, watching him in jail was really intense and scary. He's not the kind of guy one expect can survive in prison. The hostile guard really pissed me off (as if dealing with the other inmates isn't enough). I wonder what's his story. Maybe he wanted to work for the FBI but didn't make the cut so he's taking it out on Reid or maybe he's working with the other fed who seems like he's in Reid's side but as he said so himself nothing is free in prison so I doubt he's just being nice. His help might come with a price. Don't know if it's the kind Reid would be willing to pay.
I'm still annoyed that the team doesn't seem to do anything about Mr Scratch. It's like they are just sitting around waiting for him to show up. I get that they need to stretch this storyline throughout the season but at least give us a few scenes of them trying to find him or at least come up with a plan for something. This isn't like them to do nothing when one of their own is under attack (technically several of their own if you include Hotch) but overall it was still a pretty good episode and I can't wait to see what's next for Reid.
Criminal Minds: Collision Course (2017)
What happened to the BAU?
This storyline of Mr Scratch is really getting on my nerves. Last episode was pretty interesting but this one made me wonder what the heck happened to the BAU? The scene between Emily and Reid was sappy to the point of nauseating! This is Emily, the HEAD of the BAU: Think about it Spenser, we will always fight for you but what if it will take us a decade to catch Mr Scratch? 25 years is a lot of time. Maybe you should consider admitting to a crime you didn't commit. You'll be out in 5-10 years and you'll be a felon but at least you'd be free. SERIOUSLY?! Can I use a throwing up emoji on IMDb?
This isn't real life, it's a television show about an elite unit of the FBI. They are supposed to be the best of the best and very well equipped to deal with the worst of the worst but with Mr Scartch they just whine. They don't even sit together to try to come up with a plan to catch him. They just wait around for an opportunity HE decides to show up in the hopes of getting him. When Foyet killed Haley it was so powerful because they did fight, they did look for him. He managed to kill Haley because he was faster. He got to her before Hotch could save her. With Mr Scratch they do NOTHING. Not when he supposedly went after Jack and Hotch, not when he went after Tara's family and not now. Maybe instead of whining about it they should try to investigate this case?! Mr Scratch isn't god, he isn't invisible. He may be smart but he still had to go in and out of Mexico, not to mention that usually he doesn't kill anyone himself, he manipulates others to do it for him so if it wasn't Reid and there was someone else in the room who was it? Maybe it was Mr Scartch but if that's the case what made him change his MO? I have a revolutionary idea: INVESTIGATE!! I don't care how smart he is, he can't be prepared for everything. Somewhere along the line he made a mistake. Find it! This is a crime show, not a soap opera. Stop whining and go get the bad guy!
As for the case itself, I liked the idea. Not sure it was possible back then (or even now) but it was mostly interesting. What ruined it for me (other than the Reid soap opera crap) was that the team dynamics was awful. No Reid or Prentiss on this case, Tara is barely tolerable, the new guy couldn't be a more boring character and sorry but Garcia belongs in her office and not running around on the field with those ridiculous shoes!
By any measures, this episode is not a good look for this show.
Criminal Minds: A Good Husband (2017)
Boring, sappy and stupid
I did not like this episode. The storyline and characters are boring. The acting is nothing more than what you'd expect from a mediocre soap opera, the interaction between the team members is somewhere between not good to really bad, the profiling process really sucked and on top of it all we have to endure watching chopped up bodies which is gross.
To be more specific, here are a few things I didn't like about this episode:
1. The abusive husband (the unsub) comes home to find his husband in the middle of packing his things and leaving him. This unsub showed tremendous anger towards his victims (which are surrogates for his spouse) yet when he realized his husband is leaving him m, all he did was whine and beg. Where is the anger? Where is the charisma and manipulation? You can only control another human being by using fear or manipulation. His manipulation attempts are pathetic. If this is how he controlled his spouse then it means the spouse is spineless and stupid (more on that ahead).
2. He killed his victims in his van. We saw the blood pouring down from the vehicle. Seems like an awful location to chop up a body. Maybe they were sedated so they couldn't scream but after dropping the torso what the heck did he do with the head, arms and legs? How did he get home without being covered with blood? Chopping up a body is a messy business. Doing it in a van?? Seems unlikely.
3. The acting by both husbands was soap opera like. It was very unconvincing and made me cringe. If the victims take screen time away from the team they have to be worth watching. There weren't.
4. Th team dynamics was awful. I love Prentiss but she isn't Hotch and she doesn't act like a team leader. Tara was again boring. Dave, JJ, Garcia and Alvez didn't shine, I still don't like the new guy (another dull and unenergetic character) and Reid was too busy with his own personal drama with his mom. I read a review that complained that the show lost its focus in recent years. Judging by this episode I have to say it's true. The unsub is revealed too soon, there's less focus on the profiling process (it was both boring and inconsistent), the characters personal lives take too much screen time and are often too soap opera like, the team showed up at the very last second to save the victim and there was not enough explanation for the unsub's motivation.
5. Stupid and unrealistic behavior is another thing that really bothers me. When the guy suddenly realizes his husband is the murderer everyone is looking for what does he do? Push him and turn his back to him. It's possible the guy is that stupid but it's really annoying to watch. First thing you do is run. If you can't run, fight. If you fight go all in and make sure the murder is incapacitated and what ever you do, DO NOT turn your back to him.
6. Where are the sweet moments between the team members? There used to be a lot more fun moments. Even in this season. I loved Garcia and Alvez interaction at the beginning. It was funny and I would love to see more of that and learn more about him. He's the only really interesting new character in the last few years. This episode all we got was a cringe worthy moment between Prentiss and Reid. "I'm so proud of you" is something a parent says to his child. Can't you show your support in a normal way? Maybe Dave could have said this line and sound authentic but not Prentiss. The whole thing felt forced.
So no, I didn't enjoy this episode. It's not the worst I've seen on this show but it's not good either.
Criminal Minds: Seek and Destroy (2017)
Fun episode but with two giant plot holes!
I enjoyed this episode. The acting was great especially by the actress who played the real alpha. She was terrific. I'd be scared of her.
The team did a decent job despite the many unwelcoming changes. Prentiss is a great agent but as a team leader she is only ok. Definitely not at the same level as Hotch. She might get better as time goes by but as of now she seems just like another team member. I'm still not loving the new guy. I don't see what makes him so good or special and Reid's absence is noticeable.
There are two major plot holes that are really hard to ignore. The first is the fact that there is ZERO chances that group did leave fingerprints and DNA behind! Only the guys were wearing gloves but with all the drinking and drugs it's absolutely impossible they left nothing behind. If the writers wanted that a group like won't leave physical evidence behind the easy solution would be the set the house on fire. The fire and the water the firefighters use will destroy the evidence but otherwise it's impossible that they left nothing behind!
The second plot hole was the female alpha's motivation. Clearly she intended to either kill or do harm to her parents but why??? If they are so normal and clearly have lots of money what made her get in trouble so much from a young age? Is she a psychopath? Just born this way? Why all that anger and craziness towards her own family? An explanation would have been nice!
I still enjoyed but those are some major noticeable flaws.
Criminal Minds: Profiling 202 (2017)
Mixed feelings about this one
There are elements about this episode that I liked starting with the way the episode was structured. Sometimes the writers of this show seem to forget to put the focus on the profiling process which is the essence of the show. Because this episode is built around a class of agent in the midst of training there is a lot of focus on the profiling process with some good (although somewhat basic) questions being asked. I especially like the first part that Rossi is going over a simulation of an unsub holding a woman at gun point surrounded by the BAU. That was both clever and interesting to watch. I also liked that the episode revolved around Rossi and one of the escaped serial killer.
With that said, I did not like the overall storyline that much. We've heard before about how Yates and his deal with Rossi. I can understand why it's not exactly fun to spend your birthday going to prison, digging up a body and informing the victim's family but overall this is a good thing. Sure, it's creepy but finding out about a victim and giving their family some closure is not the worst part of the job. It's not like he's losing someone new. Yates already killed them so at least now they could be buried with dignity and their families would have some closure (obviously it's not the outcome they wanted but the other option of never being found is probably worse). The main problem I have with this storyline is that it's just not that interesting and I couldn't feel anything for anyone. We don't have any victims to relate to or to feel sorry for, we've only seen Yates once before and he's not that interesting as an unsub, Dave was too gloomy and mad for the majority of the episodes, the back and forth between Yates and Rossi isn't that clever (Yates seems more barbaric than clever), the other team members kinda disappear in the background, the new guy is really dull (I'm not seeing how terrific he is as Prentiss said), the trainees are mostly boring (as characters) and the ending isn't good either.
This whole thing could have been a lot better if Yates who knows he's dying offers Dave one last deal. Something like a game. If you catch me you get the full list if not I kill X amount of women he already captured. The way it ended is a win win for Yates.
Lastly, I'm recent seasons a lot of the new agents that are added to the team are all too qualified for my liking. Blake, Tara and now walker. This show needs new blood preferably a younger agent. Alves is a good addition but almost everyone else is boring. If you think about season one, many of them were a lot younger than they are now. Why don't they bring in someone younger and passionate? If they added one of the younger trainees it could have been a lot more interesting than adding up some "big shot" (=old&boring) agent.
Criminal Minds: Elliott's Pond (2016)
The good the bag and the ugly
So I'll start with the good. The storyline was definitely interesting. Any time missing kids are involved it grips my heart. I was especially touched by the older brother of the missing twins. When I was seventeen I made the same mistake as he did, me and my twelve year old sister split up. The plan was to meet at a certain point in fifteen minutes. She didn't show up. I went looking for her and couldn't find her. There were no cellphones back then and it was getting dark. It only took me thirty minutes to find her but every minute felt like eternity. Turned out she misunderstood where we were supposed to meet. I can't imagine what it must be like to lose someone you love and not knowing what happened to them. The acting in this episode especially by all the supporting characters was excellent!! The older brother, the cop, the kids and the twins. They all did a wonderful job! The only problem I see in this storyline is that there was absolutely no explanation as to where they were. When they were in the car they said maybe an underground bunker but since obviously nobody found them all these years, where were they and how did the team find them?? I could understand it if they used dogs but they just magically appeared in the exact right moment. It's lazy writing. If they found the backpack and used dogs to search from that location it would be plausible that they found them in whatever hidden place they were but if no one found them all those years then how did the FBI did??? Also, why did they take the boys in the first place? They used tranquilizers to kidnap them so there's got to be a reason. Maybe the guy who took them did it because he wanted company but they had each other in what looks like a small place so what did they need three kids for? I also don't know if I buy that the guy who took them brainwashed them to stay hidden all these years. They weren't that young and they had a family (even if not the best one) so I would have loved a better explanation to what exactly happened to them all these years.
Now to the bad and the ugly, I cannot be more upset and annoyed by the way this show dump my favorite character. The way they handled it was terrible!!! Every character from Gideon to JJ to Prentiss to Morgan got a nice farewell but the head of the BAU, the lead actor gets nothing?! I don't care if he kicked someone and I don't care that he got fired. That's a behind the scenes drama. Deal with it in a way that doesn't offend the viewers! Don't insult our intelligence!!! Every single time a member of this team (or a loved one) was in danger they dropped EVERYTHING and went on helping him/her and catch the bad guy. They even disregarded the rules at times. Now all of a sudden they do nothing?! REALLY? They don't drop everything to go and catch Mr Scratch (who is a much lesser evil than Foyet was) especially considering he was threatening Jack?! And they dare call themselves a family? That toss at the end was disgusting!!! You don't say goodbye to a character without that character being in the room unless that character is dead!! Nothing about that story made sense! Even if Hotch decided to go into WITSEC he would never leave the team without saying goodbye. If you go with that stupid storyline at least film a few scenes in which we see Mr Scratch near Jack and then Hotch telling the team he cannot take any more risks because of what happened to Haley. Seriously, it's insulting to the viewers that followed this show for twelve years!!! I don't care who's fault it is. Whoever it was whether it was the writers or the producers or the actor himself. Couldn't care less. Make the effort to do what is right for the show and for the viewers even if it's in a small way. Derek got three episodes so Hotch deserves at least a scene or two. Even Gideon's farewell was better. As short and as surprising as it was it didn't leave the viewers feeling disrespected. Sure we were sad to see Gideon go. I would have been even more sad to see Hotch go but at least make an effort. Don't write us a few short lines with an idiotic excuse and expect us to be fine with it!
I enjoyed the case so I'm rating it a 7/10 but when it comes to the whole story of Hotch leaving and Prentiss taking his place they get ZERO stars from me. I like Emily a lot and it was a good idea to bring her back but it was totally ruined by the way they dropped Hotch. If they let us say goodbye to this beloved character and in the next episode we would have seen the other team members all worried about who's going to take his place and then Prentiss would show up that would be something to celebrate (for them and for us) but the way it was done? Sorry, that's a big fat no from me!
Criminal Minds: Taboo (2016)
What the what the what?!
I want to address the elephant in the room before I review this episode. I just CANNOT believe that this is how they removed Hotch's character from the show!
Hotch was always my favorite character in the show (even more so than Gideon or any other character) and i cannot believe they gave us one line (he's on a special assignment) to explain his absence. I understand that the actor was fired because of some behind the scenes drama but this is insulting to the viewers! Especially to viewers like myself who followed the show from day one. All the other major characters who left the show got a decent farewell from Gideon to Prentiss to Derek. We just watched two full episodes dedicated to Morgan's departure. Morgan was the least interesting character in the show. Hotch deserves a lot better and I don't care what was going on behind the scenes!!! Even Gideon who left in a hurry got a sweet goodbye scene, not to mention that whenever a character left the show the other characters were clearly emotional about it. Now, I know there's more to come regarding to why Hotch left the BAU because I'm binge watching the show for a second time so I remember that the explanation was that Hotch and his son were targeted by Mr Scratch and went into WITSEC but I still think his character deserved a better goodbye than a few lame lines and so do we! As a viewer I'm so disappointed that I found it hard to concentrate on the case. I had to rewind it several times because my thoughts went back to Hotch. There are a lot of great characters in this show but Hotch is and always will be my favorite so right now I'm pissed at everyone for not doing what is right for the viewers who have been with them for more that eleven seasons.
As for the case itself, it was interesting and I thought the profiling process was incredibly persuasive. Some times they seem to know exactly what is going on without any evidence but his there were a lot of suggested theories as to what motivates this unsub. I also thought that his story was compelling. The idea that he was sexually attracted to his stepsister only to find out that she was his biological mother is creepy and would totally mess with anyone's mind. I'm not clear as to why she didn't get better treatment years before. That kind of a secret was not uncommon in previous years. Grandparents pretending to be the parents to conceal the truth but this is sick. It might be well meaning but a child should not find out his sister is really his mother and his mother is really his grandmother. This kind of revelation would mess with anyone's mind.
As for the team, Emily's return is welcome. She has always been a fan favorite so I was happy to see her return despite the poor explanation for it. I can understand she would choose to leave Interpol to take the position of the head of the BAU but "I'm here to help while Hotch is ona special assignment" is a poor excuse for her return. As if there are no other FBI agents that could step in and help in case they are short of a few people. Why didn't she stepped in when Morgan left? It's a lame explanation. Finally I have to mention the new guy. I like him a lot! He's interesting and his interactions with the other team members are a great watch (especially with Garcia and now with Emily). Indefinitely curious about his background story so I'm eager to learn more about him. The team dynamics in this episode was great by all accounts.
To sum up, if I judge this episode without knowing Hotch is gone for good I'd rate it 8/10 but for the way the removed my favorite character from the show they get ZERO stars!!!!
Criminal Minds: Sick Day (2016)
An emotional episode told from JJ's point of view
This episode focused mostly on JJ. The story is told retroactively by JJ to her husband who insisted she won't hold her emotions inside since she came home clearly traumatized by this last case the BAU dealt with.
It was nice seeing her relationship with her husband who is clearly a rock for her. It's a beautiful relationship considering both spouses work in law enforcement. It's wonderful that they manage to make it work. In reality it must be very rare because it's got to be very difficult to keep their jobs and hold their family together. I like the actor who plays her husband and I thought both of them did a great job.
With that said, because they focused so much on JJ, there was not enough time left for the other members. The only one who got a little more screen time was the new guy. I like his character and I think so far he's doing a good job.
As for the case itself, it was interesting and I was definitely intrigued by the unsub. The team did a good job profiling him but I wish they explained his motivations more. I know what Pyromania is so I understand his urges. What I don't understand is his obsession with his sister. Why did he try to set her on fire three times going back to his teen years? What was their relationship like? Setting things on fire isn't the same as setting people on fire. Why his sister? Has she done anything to him that he felt pleasure torturing older sisters? I also don't get what was his end game? Why kidnap the two siblings and bring his sister there? He didn't try to kidnap her before when he had the other four kids so what changed? I did not understand his motives and thought process.
I also found it extremely bizarre and unlikely that FBI agents don't have protocols as to what to do in this kind of a situation. Obviously JJ couldn't have known exactly how it is going to end but seems to me that chasing the unsub shouldn't be more important than saving all three of his victims. Why did JJ tell Alvez to go after the unsub when he already started the fire and all three victims were tied to the beds without being able to escape? She was right when she told her husband she made the wrong call. If he had stayed there to help her they could have saved the girl. They should have let the unsub (which isn't an unsub anymore) get away. You can catch him later or let the cops go after him. They sacrificed the girl for no reason and anyway it should not be their decision. I'm no expert but I'm sure releasing the victims is more important. All they had to do was to follow the FBI guide line/protocol which I'm sure directs them to put the victims first. I find it hard to believe they aren't trained to save lives first and above all. Otherwise it would be understandable that she made the wrong decision. It's hard to make the right call when you're in the middle of a burning building which is why they should be trained to follow certain procedures. It's baffling to me to understand why both agents didn't make the call to stay and save all three victims. I would also assume that you instinctively try to save the kids first which means that if anyone was left behind it should have been the unsub's sister not the 16 y/o girl.
Other than that it was a good episode. Well acted and well presented.
Update: I did not realize when I watched this episode that this is going to be the last time we see Hotch. He's my all time favorite character! I understand that there were some issues behind the scenes that led to his abrupt departure (the actor got fire due to physical altercation) but I would like to say that as a viewer I feel very insulted and disrespected. I've been watching this show from day one (this is actually the second time - I'm binge watching it again) and I feel that we the viewers deserved better than that! All the other characters that left the show got a farewell goodbye. Gideon, JJ, Prentiss and more recently Derek but the lead actor who is also the team leader gets nothing?! Shame on all of them for not putting the show and viewers above their own personal drama. How hard is it to film one last episode or at least a few scenes that will allow the viewers to say a proper goodbye to such a beloved character?! All we get is a lame excuse to his character's departure. As if anyone would buy that Hotch would leave his team without even saying goodbye. It's very disappointing and extremely disrespectful to the viewers!!!
Criminal Minds: The Storm (2016)
Tension is high for sure
There are a lot of great moments in this episode. I loved the scenes where Hotch gets arrested in front of his son, how JJ was toughly talking to Antonia, how Reid connected with Antonia's autistic son, how Tara was trapped with the serial killers, how Dave reconnected with his ex wife and of course the ending scene where the team realizes that they have to recatch twelve serial killers.
There's an excellent mix of action and emotional scenes in this episode which made all the wonderful scenes I mention however I'm not quite sure that the over all storyline makes much sense or even possible in real life. I don't really get how they managed to do this and who exactly is the mastermind behind this complicated plan that included framing Hotch, multiple prison breaks, bombing a city and who knows what's more. It's a little confusing and highly implausible if I even get it right. With that said, it was still a thrill of a ride and definitely a great way to end a season. Im rewatching the show and to be honest I don't remember all the details of what's coming (except for major event) but how cool could it be if they spend the next season focusing each episode on find each of the escaped serial killers? I'm pretty sure that's not what going to happen. I don't even know if they would focus on anyone other than Mr Scratch but I like the thought of it. Although technically I'm not even sure it would fall under the BAU responsibilities to catch escaped prisoners but the idea is cool.
Overall this season wasn't the best of CM but there were a few really good episodes like "Entropy" and "Hostage" and I did enjoy this last one despite its flaws.
Criminal Minds: Devil's Backbone (2016)
Not bad at all
This episode was very interesting. It was structured in a different way than usual which really added to the overall dark atmosphere.
I liked how this serial killer toyed with the team. She tried to get in their head by talking to them one at a time. Out of all of them I thought Tara really shined! This is the first episode since she joined the team that I really enjoyed watching her character. She didn't let Thais woman get into her head and she definitely head the upper hand despite being in an inferior position (of needing information from her about the missing boys). Reid and Dave were also pretty good but not as good as Tara. Hotch and JJ did not shine in this episode which is unfortunate.
I also thought that the profiling element was very basic and slightly weak. The team was totally dependent on this serial killer's will. They barely knew anything and even when they managed to identify the unsub it was already too late because they couldn't find him without her help. It made them look pretty weak which is unusual. I get that it's possible and sometimes you don't have any other option than to make a deal with the devil but she definitely outsmarted them which isn't a great look.
I was glad that the two boys were saved but it could have been a lot more powerful if we had an emotional connection to the boys or their parents. We saw too little of them so I couldn't feel happy or emotional about their rescue and reunion with their parents.
Overall it was a pretty good episode. It was interesting and very well acted.
Thumbs up for Aisha Tyler for finally warming up to me. I've been complaining all season long that her character is dull and adds nothing to the team so I'm glad I finally saw a better side of her.
Criminal Minds: Inner Beauty (2016)
Watchable but boring and bizarre
I didn't really like the storyline of this episode. There was no one interesting or appealing to keep the viewer engaged. The unsub and his victims are dull and the whole thing is bizarre and gross. It is also demeaning to people who suffer from disfigurement because this guy clearly only loved his girlfriend because of her disease. If the idea was to make a point about the importance of inner beauty it didn't work at all. It was shallow and bizarre and I didn't like it.
The only interesting part of the episode was the interactions between Rossi and his grandson, son in law and ex wife. I really loved all his previous interactions with his daughter and I'd love to see more of her and learn more about their relationship. Unfortunately she wasn't in the episode which somewhat ruined my enjoyment of this part of the episode.
This was definitely not a memorable episode. The acting was good but the profiling process wasn't and the storyline pretty much sucked. With that said, it was still watchable. It wasn't one of the worst I've seen in this show but it definitely wasn't one of the best. Mediocre and nothing more.
Criminal Minds: Tribute (2016)
Good but not perfect
There's a lot of good stuff in this episode but (and I'll use a cooking metaphor) some of it feels undercooked while other parts are overdone.
I'll divide my review into two parts. First I'll address the team members/cast changes and then I'll address the case itself.
As for the cast changes:
1. Derek Morgan - I'll be honest, Derek was never one of my favorite characters. He was the muscles of the show and not much more. We had a few personal good moments here and there (especially between him and Garcia and him and Reid) but I always thought his character lacked depth. Even when they tried to make him interesting it didn't seem to work so I can't say I really felt his absence. His departure was handled at first with grace but later felt overdone. I mean, he isn't dead. He left to spend time with his family and he didn't even move so while it's understandable that they would miss him at work there's really no reason to mourn him. If you miss him, pick up the phone.
2. Emily Prentiss - Emily was always a great character. People seem to love her and I can't say I disagree. I think it was clever that they brought her back immediately after Derek's departure to sort of even things out. I do like to point out something about her that drives me insane and it's the fact that she (or whoever does her makeup) uses way way too much mascara!!! Overloading your eyelashes with mascara makes them appear chunkier and messier and it's not a good look. If you're a Friends fan you'd remember that episode with Chandler and his remark of his date's mascara goop. It's just icky and I can't pretend I don't see it. If it was just in this one episode I wouldn't mention it but I'm rewatching the entire series so I know it's something that we'll see many times in future episodes. Sorry for going on and on about it but I just don't get why they do it!
3. Dr Tara Lewis - her character has appeared in most of the episodes in this season and I still haven't felt anything good about her. At best she doesn't bother me but in many cases she's dull and cold and I just don't think she's a good addition to this team. I don't see what she brings to the table. It's possible I'll change my mind but as of now I'm wishing they brought someone more interesting. Every character has its strengths. Hotch is the leader, Dave is the one with the most experience, Reid is the genius, JJ is the compassionate one, Morgan was the muscles and Garcia is the computer expert. What does Tara bring to this team? Nothing so far. Not that I can see anyway.
4. Hotch, Rossi, Reid, JJ and Garcia - they all did their part well. I think they work really great together. Personally, since Hotch is my favorite character, I'd prefer to see more of him but since the focus was mainly on Emily's return it's understandable that the rest got less screen time in this episode. Still, with the exception of Tara I think the team's dynamic is really great. I loved the end scene. Not the tossing to Morgan part cause as I said he isn't dead but what came after - all of them going to dinner together. It was a heartwarming moment that was fun to watch and a good way to wrap up the episode.
As for the case itself, it was very interesting but definitely undercooked. I did not understand the profile of this unsub. It kept changing without any explanation. They said he is highly intelligent, full of confidence, likes to imitate famous serial killers and has money but then they said he hates people with money which is why he killed the rich couple. Then they realized he was a thrill seeker which would mean he takes too many risks so here are my questions: why did he kill that rich couple in the car? Don't tell me it's the first time he saw people with money. Why does he hate people with money? If he does hate them so much why hasn't he targeted them before? What made that one couple so unique that he completely changed his MO? If he doesn't have enough money why didn't Garcia found him when she checked entries and exits from the three countries he operated in? She said she got zero hits (which makes no sense btw) so how did he get in and out of Russia, Europe and the US? If he's such a thrill seeker why didn't they catch him before? What exactly happened with the undercover agent? Why did he kill her? What exactly was her mission and did he kill her because he realized who she was or for another reason? Why was Emily after him all by herself? They also said Chicago was probably his end game so what was it? Wouldn't he have an exit plan considering he knew the college student called the FBI hotline? Or was he planning to get caught and get the respect his father never got in prison? If that's the case why shoot him dead instead of persuading him to surrender and enjoy his fame? I have more questions and none of them were answered properly. Like why was he putting the bullets in his mouth? Cases were left behind so wouldn't they have his DNA and or fingerprints? The end scene at the college was exciting but rushed. They spend way too much time on Emily's nightmares. We get it, you missed him and you feel guilty about the death of the undercover agent. I don't want to sound insensitive but there's a lot to cover in just one episode so I don't think we really needed to see the dream three times. This time would have been better spent on understanding the unsub and or on the team and the profiling process.
It was still a pretty good episode but with a few changes it could have been a great one. 8/10.
Criminal Minds: Hostage (2016)
Wonderful performance
What an interesting and emotional episode. This unsub is probably the most creepy one we've seen in a while. It makes you sick to your stomach watching him. The actor playing this role did a phenomenal job and so did the two actresses who played his victims. You really feel for them and you really hate this guy.
The storyline has enough twists and turns to keep you interested and engaged. The team did a wonderful job working this case. Every one of them had a role in solving this crime. I was also pleased that Tara was gone. I can't get used to her character. She's not interesting and I don't see what she adds to the team. Every time one of the team members wasn't in an episode (recently it was Reid and before that it was JJ) his/her absence was felt but Tara being gone is a blessing. They all shined in this episode and worked great together.
There are just two things that were missing to wrap this storyline up perfectly. First, the unsub said he saved the girls from their families but other than the one who escaped I don't get what was wrong with the other two families. Both seemed to love their kids so why did he say he saved them? Was it all in his sick head? Was it because no one was watching them when he kidnapped them? And why wasn't anyone watching them? They said there were no witnesses so who was watching the two eight years old? How did he manage to abduct them? Was it explained and I missed it?
Second thing is that I was really sad for the girl that escaped. She has no one. Where will she go? When the second girl died I thought maybe her mother would take her since she risked so much to save her daughter but considering the ending that's not going to happen. So what will happen to her? The parents of the older girl probably won't be able to help either considering they got their daughter back along with her two daughters.
Sometimes we see the agents talk to each other about the victims future after they wrap up a case but they said nothing so I was left worried for her.
Other than that, it was an excellent episode. The acting, the storyline, the pace, the music and the rest of the production were all very good. Hope we get more episodes like it soon.
Criminal Minds: The Bond (2016)
Twisted
What a twisted relationship between mother and son. I wonder if it's her own trauma that turned her into a vindictive psychopath or if she already was one and the rape brought it to the surface.
Watching this episode turned my stomach. It was twisted and sick and sad all at the same time. I couldn't care less that she killed his father. That's just karma but she totally ruined her son's life. Her murderous need to get revenge on anyone who she believes hurt her is insane. I kinda feel sorry for her son. With his parents it's no wonder he turned the way he did. The end scene was also very creepy with the music and the blood and the look on his face.
It was a good episode. It was creepy and interesting at the same time. The profiling process was confusing but that's what made it interesting. The mother was a silent partner to the murders. I don't think we ever had a partnership like this in the show before. The acting was great and so was the production value.
The only tiny thing that I didn't like was the scene where they realized the murdered teacher must have been the unsub's teacher. At that point that was kinda obvious so there was no need to emphasize it the way they did but it's not a big deal.
Criminal Minds: Entropy (2016)
Good but I still don't get it
This episode is phenomenal. Everything looked so good!! The set, the costumes and the music all add tons to the overall tense atmosphere between Reid and Cat. The acting is phenomenal too. I was very impressed with Aubrey Plaza as Cat. She was excellent and so was Reid. He was missing from the last few episodes and this was quite the return.
This episode is built completely different from what we usually see on the show which makes it unique and fresh. It was a nice way to wrap up the Dirty Dozen storyline. There was a lot going on in the episode but it didn't feel rushed or cramped.
I only have two issues with the episode. First, I still don't get why there was a need to target Garcia in the first place. If I got it right, the team stumbled upon the hitmen network when they went after one of them (the Montolo guy). This network included five hitmen and one computer geek. The idea that they perceive Garcia as a threat to them and decided to take her out doesn't seem plausible to me. Garcia is a talented analyst but she's not the only one working for the FBI. To do their job the hitmen would have to evade all law enforcements. I don't see a reason to target one member of the FBI, especially if the FBI is already on them. Not to mention that you don't really need five hitmen for the job. If anything that's a job for their computer geek. Once he figures out who the analyst is you would only need one hitmen to take her out and in any case I just don't see what makes her so special. This is the second time the writers have chosen to go with this notion that if a dark network is threatened the criminals target specific agents in the FBI. First was Callahan and now it's Garcia. The whole idea is that they use the dark net to hide so why expose themselves by going after FBI personnel? I just don't get it. If the FBI is on to them the logical thing to do is disappear or change the way they operate. Targeting specific agents won't stop the FBI, if anything it would do the exact opposite. Second thing is the way the episode ended. I think it was clever that the bomber was a woman but she was very noticeable just sitting there with her cellphone staring at Reid and Cat. I was also disappointed that Reid lied to her about her father. I don't expect the FBI to hand him over to her but I would have liked to understand his story. Where is he? Why did he kill Cat's mother? Why couldn't she find him? Was he hiding from his daughter? Is he even alive? I need more information about Cat's background story. I checked on IMDb and I see they brought back her character in future episodes so hopefully we'll learn more about her.
Lastly, I still wish they added a more interesting character than Tara to the team. She's dull and I don't see what she brings to the table.
Criminal Minds: Future Perfect (2015)
Solid episode
I think this episode is pretty good. The unsub is intriguing and the old couple's story is very emotional. Anyone who has dealt with a loved one that is sick with an incurable disease would relate. What do you do in this situation? Do you fight the odds or accept your fate? You want to fight because sometimes people do beat the odds but if you fight and lose you might miss out on the little time you do have. Obviously what this husband did was absolutely the wrong decision but one can really feel his desperation and understand why he made such a stupid mistake. If you don't get it you probably never been in a real desperate situation. Emotions can easily beat all logic.
As for the team, Reid absence was dramatically felt because this is exactly one of those cases where his vast knowledge is needed. I'm still not loving Tara. I don't see what she brings to table. Her character is boring and stiff. I also don't know if I love the storyline of The Dirty Dozen. I still don't get it. Why are they after her? What do they want? She's a brilliant analyst but it's not like she's the only one working in the FBI. Not to mention that I don't get why you need five hitmen to get the job done. Hopefully we'll get some answers soon because watching Garcia living at the office is just weird.
Lastly, as an animal lover I wasn't happy with the opening scene (with the frog) or with the Jellyfish scene but I saw at the end credits that the American Humane Association monitored the animal action and no animals were harmed so at least there was that.
All in all it was a solid episode. I'd say it was a 7.5/10.
Criminal Minds: Awake (2015)
Solid episode
I enjoyed this episode. I loved the storyline. The unsub was interesting and sympathetic. Obviously what he did was wrong but if you combine his guilty feelings with a severe lack of sleep you get what we saw. I loved the small interactions we saw between him and his daughter. It really humanized him and touched my heart. As if what happened to him isn't enough, no one believes him that the man with the skull tattoo is real.
I agree that the torture was extreme but they didn't show us anything too gross so I guess I'm ok with that.
Two things bothered me about this episode. One, they didn't have to shoot him dead at the end. They could have moved and shoot the car. Makes them look bad! If the writers wanted the unsub to die at the end they should have written a suicide by cop type of ending. This would be understandable considering his daughter is dead and what he had done. The second thing that really bothered me was the ending. I liked that he wasn't hallucinating and the man with the skull tattoo was real. This is a great tease but ONLY if this story isn't over and according to what I read it is. The didn't continue this storyline in future episodes. Why not??? So they just missed it? They just assumed the guy isn't real and moved on? Why? I know they can't solve every single crime but they didn't even try!
Both of these things make the team that we love look really bad! I didn't like it. Other than that the episode was pretty good. The acting was great. I thought the actor that played the unsub did a great job. As for Reid not being in this episode, it didn't bothered me that much. I can live without him for an episode or two. My favorite character in the show is Hotch not Reid. He's the one who I'll miss the most when he's gone. As for Tara, I still don't like her. She's stiff and dull and not a good addition to this team. I would have definitely liked this episode more with Reid in it and Tara out. I'm still hoping she'll grow on me but she hasn't so far.
Real shame they didn't continue this storyline in another episode. I'd like to understand the motivations behind these kidnappings. Why approach the parents about the tale light and then take the kids? Who is this unsub? What did he want? What happened to the kids after he took them (before they were found dead)? And if the other girl was also taken why wasn't the FBI aware of it? What a missed opportunity for a great interesting storyline. Such a shame!
Criminal Minds: Target Rich (2015)
Great episode!
This is the first episode of the 11th season that I really like. I don't mind that the storyline isn't unique. A college girl gone missing is interesting enough. I actually find "ordinary" missing cases like this to be more interesting than other cases because this can happen to anyone.
Usually I prefer not to know who the unsub is and follow the investigation along with the team but because they went with multiple unsubs it was still very interesting.
I really loved that they brought back Rossi's daughter Joy. The actress is really doing a great job. I enjoy watching the relationship between father and daughter. There were some really great moments between them. Dave really shines in this episode.
After 11 seasons the show needs some new fresh (preferably young) faces. They brought Aisha Tyler (as Tara Lewis) this season but I really don't like her character. She's boring, stiff and annoying! I don't know if it's the character or the actress or both but I was really happy she wasn't in this episode! I wish they added someone more likable (like the actress who plays Joy) to the team. We don't need another boring Blake. The only good female character that we had since Prentis left was Kate Challahan but she didn't stay for long.
I was happy to see that JJ is back. Without her the team's dynamic isn't the same. I just wish we had another likable female agent. I know Tara is here to stay and it's not making me happy. Maybe she'll grow on me but right now I'm not happy with her.
The only thing that I thought wasn't great was that sometimes things just happen in this show that are clearly scripted for the sake of the storyline. Things that just don't happen in real life. This was mentioned by another reviewer but I noticed it too. The girl that went missing was last seen with her friend. They went to a party but didn't take their phones because they didn't have pockets in their skirts. Really?? I have never heard of any women let alone a young college student that went out without her phone!! If you don't have pockets you have a purse and if you don't have a purse you have a hand. Seriously, what college girl would go out with her phone? Never gonna happen! Why do they write these things? You can easily change it to something more believable that doesn't hurt the plot. It's just weird.
Lastly, the end scene was quite intriguing. So Garcia is the Dirty Dozen? But why would you need five hitmen to take her out? I don't really get it but I'm sure we'll learn more in the upcoming season. Hopefully it's a good storyline. I was disappointed with the last network storyline that we saw in the previous season. The whole network for serial killers story was absurd. Hopefully this one is better. Fingers crossed.
Criminal Minds: Pariahville (2015)
Ok but
The episode has an interesting premise. A murder has occurred in a town full of ex sex offenders. None of them have a history of violent behavior but the team still needs to consider them all considering where the murder took place.
I was intrigued by the story because it makes you wonder if and what they are hiding but pretty quickly the team realizes that this must be an outsider. I find it a little predictable. It could have been a lot more interesting if the unsub was one of them.
I was also disappointed with the profiling aspect of the episode. They got it all wrong. I know age is not the easiest parameter to predict but they thought the suspect was in his late thirties to early forties and he was significantly younger. I also didn't like it that they got to the suspect because an eyewitness noticed his car. That's not a detail that should pop up towards the end of the episode. We're not dealing with a traumatized victim that couldn't remember details about an incident. Sometimes this cognitive interviewing process they use feels a little bs. Why didn't he say something earlier when he was questioned about the murder? Why didn't they ask him what he might have seen before?
Lastly, I'm not loving the new character. Dr Tara Lewis is not a good addition to this team. She's stiff and boring and quite annoying. The team dynamics is completely off with JJ gone and this new addition. They don't shine like they used to. There's something missing here. We always had two female agents. When it was JJ and Prentis it was great. Alex Blake was a little dull but didn't bother me much. Kate Callahan was a much better fit than Tara is. I don't know if it's the character or if it's Aisha Tyler's acting but something isn't right. I hope I'll change my mind cause I know she's staying for the rest of the show but so far I ain't loving her!