"The Internet is Forever" is not one of the best of Season 5, like "...A Thousand Words", "100", "The Uncanny Valley" and "Mosley Lane".
It's also not one of the weakest, being better than the likes of "Hopeless", "The Performer" and "Parasite". Memories of "The Fight" are vague but also remember that being a lesser episode and that in serving as a pilot for its vastly inferior spin-off 'Suspect Behaviour' (never got into that show, and 'Beyond Borders' is even worse) it didn't feel like 'Criminal Minds'.
Computer and internet experts will despair at the numerous inaccuracies and poor technological research here, then again this is not the first, last or even the worst time that 'Criminal Minds' has had inaccuracies and been criticised for it. A reason for why the unsub committed his crimes would have been welcome too, if there was one it should have been much clearer because for somebody who never has trouble paying attention to this show and very rarely having issues understanding it that went over my head.
As has been said in the previous review, which makes some very good points about the episode but noticeably much more harsh than mine, "The Internet Is Forever" falls apart at the end. It's rushed, implausible and illogical, almost like 'Criminal Minds' had gone into fantasy land, to the point of bordering on incomprehensible. And this is a real shame, as up to then "The Internet Is Forever" was not a bad episode at all, far from it.
One strength is the atmosphere, with it definitely being in the top 3 of the creepiest Season 5 episodes along with "Mosley Lane" and "Our Darkest Hour". The beginning is beautifully shot and chilling, and the episode is spooky and suspenseful with a lot to say about the dangers of the internet. While the delivery is not exactly subtle, then again considering the show and the subject that was not unexpected, that it's not exactly new information (everyone knows that while a lot of fun and rewarding the internet is also dangerous in many ways) and it's somewhat of a one-sided view, the points that are made are excellent and are true.
Production values are high in quality as always, being shot and lit with a dark grit and class, while the music is haunting and moody and the direction keeping the tension alert while letting the story breathe. The script, inaccuracies aside, is thought-provoking, and while the story in general is not new conceptually for a 'Criminal Minds' concept at that point there are few episodes like it. It is a diverting story, rich in atmosphere, and with enough sinister twists and turns to please fans.
No complaints about the acting either, which is excellent all round. Particularly Joe Mantegna, helped by Rossi being perhaps the most interesting he's been all season. Wouldn't have said no to more Reid though, a character that's generally been underused this season.
On the whole, falls apart at the ends but a good episode with a startling opening that promised what could have potentially been one of the season's best but it doesn't quite make it. 8/10 Bethany Cox
It's also not one of the weakest, being better than the likes of "Hopeless", "The Performer" and "Parasite". Memories of "The Fight" are vague but also remember that being a lesser episode and that in serving as a pilot for its vastly inferior spin-off 'Suspect Behaviour' (never got into that show, and 'Beyond Borders' is even worse) it didn't feel like 'Criminal Minds'.
Computer and internet experts will despair at the numerous inaccuracies and poor technological research here, then again this is not the first, last or even the worst time that 'Criminal Minds' has had inaccuracies and been criticised for it. A reason for why the unsub committed his crimes would have been welcome too, if there was one it should have been much clearer because for somebody who never has trouble paying attention to this show and very rarely having issues understanding it that went over my head.
As has been said in the previous review, which makes some very good points about the episode but noticeably much more harsh than mine, "The Internet Is Forever" falls apart at the end. It's rushed, implausible and illogical, almost like 'Criminal Minds' had gone into fantasy land, to the point of bordering on incomprehensible. And this is a real shame, as up to then "The Internet Is Forever" was not a bad episode at all, far from it.
One strength is the atmosphere, with it definitely being in the top 3 of the creepiest Season 5 episodes along with "Mosley Lane" and "Our Darkest Hour". The beginning is beautifully shot and chilling, and the episode is spooky and suspenseful with a lot to say about the dangers of the internet. While the delivery is not exactly subtle, then again considering the show and the subject that was not unexpected, that it's not exactly new information (everyone knows that while a lot of fun and rewarding the internet is also dangerous in many ways) and it's somewhat of a one-sided view, the points that are made are excellent and are true.
Production values are high in quality as always, being shot and lit with a dark grit and class, while the music is haunting and moody and the direction keeping the tension alert while letting the story breathe. The script, inaccuracies aside, is thought-provoking, and while the story in general is not new conceptually for a 'Criminal Minds' concept at that point there are few episodes like it. It is a diverting story, rich in atmosphere, and with enough sinister twists and turns to please fans.
No complaints about the acting either, which is excellent all round. Particularly Joe Mantegna, helped by Rossi being perhaps the most interesting he's been all season. Wouldn't have said no to more Reid though, a character that's generally been underused this season.
On the whole, falls apart at the ends but a good episode with a startling opening that promised what could have potentially been one of the season's best but it doesn't quite make it. 8/10 Bethany Cox
