When on form, and even better at its best, 'Criminal Minds' is one of my most watched and most re-watched shows and is a personal favourite. It is nowhere near as good now, but there are still good to great episodes made every now and then when the show doesn't forget what it's about, but Seasons 1-5 was its prime period.
Season 6 was when 'Criminal Minds' became wildly hit and miss, and generally is one of the show's weakest seasons. This said, "The Stranger" was one of the season's better episodes and, coming from somebody expecting it to be a misfire due to hearing that it was going to be Ashley Seaver heavy (such a badly mishandled character throughout her entire latter half of Season 6 stint), to me it was so much better than expected and the most pleasant surprise of the season. Nearly as good as Middle Man", "Remembrance of Things Past", "The Longest Night", "Into the Woods" and "Hanley Waters", and much better than "Today I Do", "With Friends Like These", "25 to Life" and particularly "The Thirteenth Step".
"The Stranger" could have been better. Credit is due finally giving Seaver something to do, and her involvement in the climax is actually done quite well (also loved her perfect summing up of Reid in response to why horror films were so successful), but the character is still dull, annoying, inexperienced and condescending and prone to making facepalm-inducing remarks.
More profiling would have been more welcome too, there is some (more so than most Season 6 episodes) but not quite enough and not enough of the classic profiling, with still too much conclusion jumping and too much reliance on Garcia providing the answers. The team dynamic is balanced well and is fun and adorable, but they have worked more cohesively before and since, almost like the writers were trying too hard to give Seaver something worthwhile. The climax has a little suspense but for 'Criminal Minds' is too predictable and easily resolved.
However, the production values as always are very high in quality, being atmospheric and stylish, while the music has the right amount of the ominous touch and the pathos. The direction is alert and sympathetic and most of the script is thought-provoking with a good balance of mystery, bonding and humour. The opening cinema scene with the team was very funny, while the opening murder is nerve-shredding, setting up perfectly the tone for a case that is really quite creepy.
Another thing that was done well was Strauss' assessing of the team, Strauss is business-like but not as cold as she can be and one for once can see past her unexplained problem with Hotch. Her scrutiny is justified in the episode and it makes sense, plus it was nice to see Hotch showing genuine care for her considering her treatment of him.
Everybody performs well, including Rachel Nichols surprisingly. Of the regulars, Thomas Gibson, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jayne Atkinson are particularly impressive while Chad Todhunter and Heather Mazur fare strongly as Greg and Kate.
In conclusion, a pleasant surprise and a good episode. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Season 6 was when 'Criminal Minds' became wildly hit and miss, and generally is one of the show's weakest seasons. This said, "The Stranger" was one of the season's better episodes and, coming from somebody expecting it to be a misfire due to hearing that it was going to be Ashley Seaver heavy (such a badly mishandled character throughout her entire latter half of Season 6 stint), to me it was so much better than expected and the most pleasant surprise of the season. Nearly as good as Middle Man", "Remembrance of Things Past", "The Longest Night", "Into the Woods" and "Hanley Waters", and much better than "Today I Do", "With Friends Like These", "25 to Life" and particularly "The Thirteenth Step".
"The Stranger" could have been better. Credit is due finally giving Seaver something to do, and her involvement in the climax is actually done quite well (also loved her perfect summing up of Reid in response to why horror films were so successful), but the character is still dull, annoying, inexperienced and condescending and prone to making facepalm-inducing remarks.
More profiling would have been more welcome too, there is some (more so than most Season 6 episodes) but not quite enough and not enough of the classic profiling, with still too much conclusion jumping and too much reliance on Garcia providing the answers. The team dynamic is balanced well and is fun and adorable, but they have worked more cohesively before and since, almost like the writers were trying too hard to give Seaver something worthwhile. The climax has a little suspense but for 'Criminal Minds' is too predictable and easily resolved.
However, the production values as always are very high in quality, being atmospheric and stylish, while the music has the right amount of the ominous touch and the pathos. The direction is alert and sympathetic and most of the script is thought-provoking with a good balance of mystery, bonding and humour. The opening cinema scene with the team was very funny, while the opening murder is nerve-shredding, setting up perfectly the tone for a case that is really quite creepy.
Another thing that was done well was Strauss' assessing of the team, Strauss is business-like but not as cold as she can be and one for once can see past her unexplained problem with Hotch. Her scrutiny is justified in the episode and it makes sense, plus it was nice to see Hotch showing genuine care for her considering her treatment of him.
Everybody performs well, including Rachel Nichols surprisingly. Of the regulars, Thomas Gibson, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jayne Atkinson are particularly impressive while Chad Todhunter and Heather Mazur fare strongly as Greg and Kate.
In conclusion, a pleasant surprise and a good episode. 7/10 Bethany Cox
