In its prime (Seasons 1-5, with Season 4 to me being the best and most consistent season with a lot of classic episodes and even the weakest episodes being far from awful). From Season 6 it did become hit and miss, with the odd gem, but a lot of average episodes and some stinkers.
Apart from the disappointing "The Anti-Terror Squad", the weakest episode since Season 11's "Inner Beauty", Season 12 has so far been much better than expected. No classics yet but no low-points, but it has done very well considering the circumstances. After being let down by the previous episode "The Anti-Terror Squad", Season 12 gets back on track with its best episode yet (replacing "Keeper") "Elliot's Pond".
Rossi's final speech felt rather forced and tacked on and while it was good to have an explanation for Hotch's absence it felt like an unsatisfactory send-off for one of the show's longest-serving and popular characters and him being written out in this way has done the character an injustice.
"Elliot's Pond" as ever is very well made visually. It's very well shot and lit and is overall stylish, gritty, classy and atmospheric. The music is moody in the haunting and melancholic sense and fits well, without either enhancing or distracting from it. Matthew Gray Gubler does a typically wonderful job in his tenth episode directing 'Criminal Minds', it has all his directorial trademarks and he brings out the melancholy, creepiness, intensity and poignancy extremely well.
Scripting is much improved over the previous episode, only striking a false note in Rossi's speech. It's thought-provoking and Garcia has some great lines. The team seem to function far better here, more cohesive, and they do a much better job with their interaction and investigating. Garcia is a delight and bringing Prentiss back is one of the best decisions the show has made in recent years.
On top of that, the story is creepy, sometimes suitably bizarre and moving, with the best executed twist of the season so far. The kids' rescue and the characters themselves bring tears to the eye and the unsub is the most loathsome of the season yet. The acting is strong.
In summary, the season is back on track in its best episode yet. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Apart from the disappointing "The Anti-Terror Squad", the weakest episode since Season 11's "Inner Beauty", Season 12 has so far been much better than expected. No classics yet but no low-points, but it has done very well considering the circumstances. After being let down by the previous episode "The Anti-Terror Squad", Season 12 gets back on track with its best episode yet (replacing "Keeper") "Elliot's Pond".
Rossi's final speech felt rather forced and tacked on and while it was good to have an explanation for Hotch's absence it felt like an unsatisfactory send-off for one of the show's longest-serving and popular characters and him being written out in this way has done the character an injustice.
"Elliot's Pond" as ever is very well made visually. It's very well shot and lit and is overall stylish, gritty, classy and atmospheric. The music is moody in the haunting and melancholic sense and fits well, without either enhancing or distracting from it. Matthew Gray Gubler does a typically wonderful job in his tenth episode directing 'Criminal Minds', it has all his directorial trademarks and he brings out the melancholy, creepiness, intensity and poignancy extremely well.
Scripting is much improved over the previous episode, only striking a false note in Rossi's speech. It's thought-provoking and Garcia has some great lines. The team seem to function far better here, more cohesive, and they do a much better job with their interaction and investigating. Garcia is a delight and bringing Prentiss back is one of the best decisions the show has made in recent years.
On top of that, the story is creepy, sometimes suitably bizarre and moving, with the best executed twist of the season so far. The kids' rescue and the characters themselves bring tears to the eye and the unsub is the most loathsome of the season yet. The acting is strong.
In summary, the season is back on track in its best episode yet. 8/10 Bethany Cox
