'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders' manages to be even worse than the hugely disappointing first spin-off, 'Criminal Minds: Suspect Behaviour', of one of my most watched shows. One of the worst episodes as to why was the very first episode "The Harmful One", a first episode so bad that it was enough to nearly put me off continuing to watch. Still, to be fair to the show and with the hope that it would one rough start but gets better show, watched it but found it never improved.
"Harvested" may not quite be as insensitive or as distasteful as "The Harmful One", hence the not quite irredeemable rating, or at least not quite as overtly so. It however is just as poorly made, has pretty much all the flaws of that episode and doesn't correct anything that was wrong before. Quality-wise "Harvested" is pretty much on the same level, and if anybody is still debating whether to continue cannot be blamed. It is a real shame, as there was something intriguing about the idea for the story.
Again, Alana De La Garza is the one saving grace. The only cast member to have any kind of presence or be remotely likeable, wasted by bad material and screen time that isn't enough.
Didn't once again didn't care for any of the characters or the rest of the acting. Gary Sinise is far from a bad actor (the opposite) and this should have been a role that was perfect for him, but here and throughout the show he is at his most wooden and bored. Annie Funke is stiff and lacks sensitivity and Tyler James Williams is equally annoying. Their characters play some part in why they come off poorly, Mae couldn't be more bland and her lack of sensitivity really grates. One wouldn't mind Garcia back perhaps, because this male pale imitation is every bit as grating. The supporting cast fail to register in caricature roles.
The writing and story are not much better in any way, actually they're even worse. The writing actually is the component that single-handedly sinks the show on its own. Of anything on television, it is difficult to find any other show throughout its run this condescending, nobody likes being talked down to, and the cheesiness awkwardness and vagueness present in "The Harmful One" is here in "Harvested" too. The story was a nice idea, but lacked any kind of excitement and the lack of clarity frustrates as well as a complete lack of tension and suspense. There is nothing to the responsible that's interesting or menacing, just so what, or the team chemistry, which is very stiff and cold overall. The methods they do in solving the case are not prominent enough and are not developed well at all.
Even the production values are not very good. The way it's shot and edited is incredibly choppy, with it being incredibly obvious when stock footage is used, and completely lacks atmosphere or a sense of mood, either being overly-bright or drab. Furthermore, one never fails like they are in India, either visually (very stock) or culturally (was any research actually done?), which "The Harmful One" did except even worse. The music is also annoying, it is too loud and too constant with not a sign of a break and with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, it also does not fit at all (a lot of it is misplaced actually) as well as cheap and out of date.
Summarising, very poor though very marginally better than the previous episode. 2/10
"Harvested" may not quite be as insensitive or as distasteful as "The Harmful One", hence the not quite irredeemable rating, or at least not quite as overtly so. It however is just as poorly made, has pretty much all the flaws of that episode and doesn't correct anything that was wrong before. Quality-wise "Harvested" is pretty much on the same level, and if anybody is still debating whether to continue cannot be blamed. It is a real shame, as there was something intriguing about the idea for the story.
Again, Alana De La Garza is the one saving grace. The only cast member to have any kind of presence or be remotely likeable, wasted by bad material and screen time that isn't enough.
Didn't once again didn't care for any of the characters or the rest of the acting. Gary Sinise is far from a bad actor (the opposite) and this should have been a role that was perfect for him, but here and throughout the show he is at his most wooden and bored. Annie Funke is stiff and lacks sensitivity and Tyler James Williams is equally annoying. Their characters play some part in why they come off poorly, Mae couldn't be more bland and her lack of sensitivity really grates. One wouldn't mind Garcia back perhaps, because this male pale imitation is every bit as grating. The supporting cast fail to register in caricature roles.
The writing and story are not much better in any way, actually they're even worse. The writing actually is the component that single-handedly sinks the show on its own. Of anything on television, it is difficult to find any other show throughout its run this condescending, nobody likes being talked down to, and the cheesiness awkwardness and vagueness present in "The Harmful One" is here in "Harvested" too. The story was a nice idea, but lacked any kind of excitement and the lack of clarity frustrates as well as a complete lack of tension and suspense. There is nothing to the responsible that's interesting or menacing, just so what, or the team chemistry, which is very stiff and cold overall. The methods they do in solving the case are not prominent enough and are not developed well at all.
Even the production values are not very good. The way it's shot and edited is incredibly choppy, with it being incredibly obvious when stock footage is used, and completely lacks atmosphere or a sense of mood, either being overly-bright or drab. Furthermore, one never fails like they are in India, either visually (very stock) or culturally (was any research actually done?), which "The Harmful One" did except even worse. The music is also annoying, it is too loud and too constant with not a sign of a break and with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, it also does not fit at all (a lot of it is misplaced actually) as well as cheap and out of date.
Summarising, very poor though very marginally better than the previous episode. 2/10
