Criminal Minds (TV Series) Entropy (2016) User Reviews

There's a reason why some episodes are better than others...Reid

[slevine292 · 10/10 · 16 March 2021]

I will give no spoilers. What I will say is as soon as I was done with this episode, I wanted to watch it all over again.

Gubler gave an outstanding performance, as usual. His counterpart, Plaza, did an equally excellent job. Their cat and mouse game was as extremely enticing. I didn't even kind that the other agents had a much smaller role because it all played out.

Many have said it might be the best episode of the series. I have not yet finished the series, but I cansay this is definitely a top 3. Top 3 of a 300+ episode series.

Spencer Reid is back!

[LoveIsAStateOfMind · 9/10 · 13 February 2016]

I know for most people, Reid is their favourite character in Criminal Minds. He isn't mine but I did miss him whilst he was gone and what an episode for him to come back! I think they cast the perfect actress to play Cat - 9 parts creepy and sadistic and 1 part vulnerable. It was a real battle of minds between her and Reid and the interplay of the tension in the restaurant and the flashbacks with Reid telling her how they managed to catch her was really gripping.

I haven't been particularly wowed by the "contract killers" plot arc and I'm glad it's over - and even more glad that it ended with a really strong episode.

One of the best shows off any season

[kwbdc-38836 · 10/10 · 29 May 2020]

Great arc with Spencer and a match of wits with Aubrey Plaza. Showed a humanization of Spencer against his usual braniac mode. Also shows how tight the BAU is as a family.

Terrific guest performance by Aubrey Plaza

[lor_ · 19 January 2016]

Aubrey Plaza, talented young actress from the big screen in "The To Do List", guests as Ms. 45 (a clever nod to Abel Ferrara and his amanuensis Zoe Tamerlis/Lund) in this spectacularly riveting episode of "Criminal Minds". I liken it to a one-off episode (similar in that regard to Patti LuPone's brilliant turn opposite Eva Green last year on "Penny Dreadful") structured around one character played by Matthew Gray Gubler rather than equal time for the whole Quantico team. This is a show about teamwork, but an exceptional segment like this one does not spoil the concept.

I've watched it twice, and what kept me riveted to the screen was the interplay between Plaza and Gubler, a meeting of near-equals. Of course, we fans root and respect Dr. Reid as portrayed by Gubler, but Plaza is so sharp and engaging (even when being evil) that we momentarily feel perhaps our genius has finally met his match. At times I thought the writers were leading us to a downbeat conclusion, analogous to that mythical episode where Perry Mason actually loses a case in court to his oft- humbled adversary Hamilton Burger.

Two-character cat & mouse dramas are among my favorite genres -not produced often enough due to the public's fascination with let's face it - sensationalism and quantity. Such chamber pieces are instantly considered old-fashioned and lack the SPFX to dominate and seduce (a la porn content) a susceptible audience.

But the classic "Sleuth" model to me is drama in its most heightened form. Who could have guessed that an actress previously known for comedy in "Parks and Recreation" could stand to to toe and slug it out verbally with an iconic character like Dr. Reid, but she was up to the task, never stepping out of character and creating an indelible mark of her own (if ephemeral as guest) in the TV scrapbook. I hope dramatists take note of this -with the right casting, one-on-one adversaries can't be topped, even as the writers are challenged to give each and every team member something to do virtually every week.

Kudos, Matthew Gray Gubler!

[saktiadhipratama · 10/10 · 30 May 2016]

An intense and intimate episode, "Entropy" is not to be watched one time only. With my girl friend, who is a big fan of MGG, and with Audrey Plaza in it ("Parks and Recreation"), I am game to watch for the second time tonight.

I would expect Thomas Gibson to play stronger role in this episode though the main attraction is of course the conversation between MGG and Audrey Plaza. The great mind game that makes "Criminal Minds" great is in every second of this episode, while you can expect actions as intermissions.

Kudos for the 10-Star acting, MGG, and Writers: Please create more episodes like "Entropy" instead of boasting on barking senseless violence.

my favourite episode of criminal minds yet?!

[maisienmcdonald · 10/10 · 19 December 2020]

Aubrey plaza always is incredible in anything she's in, so this episode was a given. but WOW i wasn't expecting the little twists and turns. also the chemistry between matthew gray gubler and aubrey plaza was incredible. i hope they star in more things together

Best episode EVER!!

[sven-45726 · 10/10 · 14 January 2016]

SPOILER: First of all. Im glad that Reid is finally back in criminal minds, it wasn't the same without him! our crime fighters had finally a break in the case 'the dirty dozen' there are 4 hit men known as the sniper, the poisoner, the bomber, and the key. Reid had a business date with 'the key' so that our crime-fighters could finally close the hit men ring ones and for all. But it won't go down without a fight. although they had the sniper and the poisoner really fast, the bomber and the key really won't go down without a fight. This episode reminds me also somehow from season 2 episode 13, the evil frank, Gideon told frank how they catch-ed him in the whole episode. Reid told that also in this episode to the key A.K.A his fake-date. I'm glad the network is down now so Garcia can go on with her life and also the rest of the team. And poor Reid, didn't like it to see he was emotional in the end... And the ending was also hilarious, drunk Garcia loll hope we can see that in a few other episodes in the future heehaw!! This was by far the best episode ever. Keep up the good work criminal minds, this season is way way better then the last 2 seasons!!

brilliant

[maisiephillips · 10/10 · 29 November 2020]

This episode is absolutely amazing. it's definitely my favourite episode of criminal minds and i will be re watching it. i really missed spencer so was very happy to see him back. the acting in this episode was top notch not only from matthew gray gubler (spencer reid) but also from guest star aubrey plaza (cat adams)

Best of Season 11...

[jendarden · 10/10 · 20 December 2019]

I discovered Criminal Minds when it was in Season 7 and have since gone back, watched every episode from Season 1, Episode 1. By Season 11, sadly the show had begun to lose its footing. So this episode was a refreshing reminder of how good this series can be. The psychological and intellectual cat and mouse played here by Reid and hit-person Cat (played masterfully by Aubrey Plaza) was stunning! While I doubt Cat can rattle off statistics covering every topic possible, for the first time in 11 seasons it appears Reid has met his match to some degree. Even though he ultimately outsmarts her (as we knew he would) there was genuine tension which, once it started, never let up, not once for the entire episode. My only disappointment was the ending seemed a bit contrived. For this super intelligent criminal who's existed as a hit-woman (if that's the proper term) for years to suddenly fall for Reid's trick by becoming sentimental, desperate to see her father just seemed well, mushy. But it's CM and they always come out on top, right. Regardless, it was still a pleasure to watch this battle of the brains mental chess game between the two. Bravo for an excellent episode!!!

Best episode of Season 11, bar none

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 14 August 2016]

And this is saying a lot. Most of Season 11 has been disappointing, being average at best and poor at worst with only three or four episodes being good ("The Job", "The Witness", "Beautiful Disaster"- am aware that this is a controversial opinion- and especially "Entropy").

"Entropy" is by far the best of the season, and the only one to be close to a masterpiece. Would even go far to say that it's one of the best episodes of the latter seasons along with "Mr Scratch" and "Nelson's Sparrow" and one of the best of the whole show.

My only small criticism is Cat being outwitted a bit too easily and outwitted somewhat, but to me this was easy to overlook because the ending was still intense and moving (her line about her remembering Reid's name and he not remembering hers chills the blood and makes one feel so sorry for Reid) and because the rest of the episode was so brilliant.

Usually Lewis is an underwhelming character and Aisha Tyler's acting impresses even less, but Lewis is much more at ease and pretty bad-ass and Tyler gives quite easily her best performance of the season, at least to me.

What was immediately fantastic was the story. Loved that it was centred around Reid, who is one of the show's most interesting characters and whose absence during the hiatus was immediately noticeable and instantly deeply felt and the episodes that the hiatus concerned suffered heavily as a result amongst many other things. But it also doesn't neglect the rest of the BAU or what makes 'Criminal Minds' so good in the first place, which so much of Season 11 lost or forgot about.

There is tension, suspense excitement, emotional impact, humour, twists and turns, chess-like manoeuvring and ingenious verbal sparring galore, the writing and storytelling really is some of the finest in a long time. The chemistry between Reid and Cat is truly a joy, the episode provides a truly satisfying conclusion to the Dirty Dozen story arc, Reid is developed absolutely beautifully here and the sight of Garcia drunk is priceless.

As ever, "Entropy" is incredibly well-made, hauntingly scored, tightly directed, majestically paced (one of few of the season to be rushed or dull) and as said the writing is the best of 'Criminal Minds' in years. The acting is the best it's been in a while too. Matthew Gray Gubler is phenomenal, and playing one of the more memorable supporting characters of Season 11 (cool, calculating, confident, deceptively charming and subtly chilling) Aubrey Plaza matches him brilliantly.

In conclusion, Season 11 has never been better, and along with "Mr Scratch" and "Nelson's Sparrow" it's one of the best latter season episodes. 10/10 Bethany Cox

One Of The Best I've Seen

[mattblasing · 10/10 · 5 November 2021]

When this episode was over, I IMMEDIATELY wanted to watch it again to dissect it. Thoroughly impressed by the depth of the subject matter and the acting from both Plaza and Gray. Good lord.

Aubrey Plaza Shines

[ramblingvagabond · 10/10 · 9 February 2021]

This episode was about Aubrey Plaza. She was beautiful in every scene. She wore a slinky, tight fitting dress, she smiled just right, and has the biggest, most beautiful eyes. There was some talking about something, and people running around doing stuff, maybe a bomb or something. But then Aubrey Plaza lit up the screen. 10 stars!

Good and bad

[nick-botte · 1/10 · 21 August 2020]

Idk. Good , but at the end very cliché... Like, they could've disappeared, but they didn't, sad. Sometimes, you gotta accept you can't always win and they always do, that's why criminal minds is so cliché.

A Very Emotional Episode

[PredRodrigo · 10/10 · 2 August 2022]

Entropy Is one of the most beautifully written and emotionally resonant episodes of TV that I have ever seen. It's not hard to see why this episode has been such a hit with viewers. If you want to feel something, watch this episode and you will be guaranteed to feel something, even if it's just loneliness.

Entropy: A Masterful Blend of Deception and Suspence

[xenn032 · 10/10 · 19 January 2024]

"Entropy" isn't just another Criminal Minds episode. It's a masterclass in suspense, delving into the darkest corners of the human psyche while showcasing the emotional core of the BAU team. Here's why it deserves a rave review:

Reid's Risky Play: Matthew Gray Gubler delivers a tour-de-force performance as Spencer Reid, who goes undercover as a hitman's client to infiltrate a deadly assassin ring. The tension is palpable as Reid navigates a twisted world of secrets and violence, constantly on the brink of exposure. Gubler masterfully portrays the internal struggle between Reid's intellect and his fear, creating a character you can't help but root for.

The Cat and Mouse Game: The dynamic between Reid and Cat, the enigmatic "Black Widow," is electrifying. Aubrey Plaza steals the show with her portrayal of a complex, layered villain who is both ruthless and vulnerable. Their interactions are a dance of manipulation and unexpected connection, keeping you guessing until the very end.

More Than Just Thrills: Entropy isn't just about blood and gore. It's about the fragility of the human mind, the power of human connection, and the resilience of the human spirit. It's a testament to the show's ability to delve into complex themes while delivering exhilarating entertainment.

Aubrey Plaza

[korrayabousquet · 1/10 · 28 April 2021]

Can't stand Aubrey Plaza. Very disappointed her character comes back in a season or so. She rarely speaks above a monotone. She's always stone faced. What is there to like? She acts the same in everything.