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 8 was a wildly variable season, almost as much as Seasons 6 and 9 while not being as generally underwhelming as Season 11. It was a season with a sizeable number of mediocre episodes, but also ones that were very good and showing signs of greatness. "The Gathering" is to me an above average middling episode. Not one of the best of the season like "Restoration", "All That Remains", "The Lesson", "Broken", "The Fallen", "God Complex", "The Good Earth" and "Alchemy". Also not one of the worst like "The Pact", "Magnificent Light", "Through the Looking Glass", "The Replicator", "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Magnum Opus", with a few things stopping it from being one of the average and bland episodes like "Perennials", "Carbon Copy", "#6" and "Pay It Forward".
"The Gathering" had a case that had its run of the mill and formulaic moments, and while there are Season 8 episodes and episodes overall that do a worse job with prominent unsubs that the viewer knows so much so early before the team does take away from the suspense and fun as well as making one feel frustrated at how long it takes for them to figure out. While Garcia and Kevin's subplot was enjoyable, one could really have done without the cringe-worthy conversation about moobs, where it was hard to believe considering her position Garcia didn't know what they were.
As for the Replicator story arc (or more its effects) having a little time wasn't as distracting this time around, feeling justified considering the creepiness of the previous episode "Carbon Copy" (one of the standout moments of a generally nothing special episode), but even for someone who doesn't care for Strauss usually it didn't seem right to be so aggressive and rude as well as cold. Blake is still a bland and not particularly well developed character.
However, "The Gathering" does have creepiness and some tension and suspense, with some clever misdirection regarding the unsub(s) that helps lift a formulaic episode into an above average one. Also elevating are the subplots, Reid's was done very touchingly and his involvement at the end was atypical but logical while in contrast Garcia and Kevin's was sweet and like a ray of sunshine, one conversation aside.
Visually, the production values in "The Gathering" are without complaint. 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 the atmosphere. The direction keeps the momentum going but lets the case breathe.
The script is mostly thought-provoking and often leaves one moved and repulsed. The team interaction is delightful and cohesive, and Peter and Mark are interesting and well played characters that are not what they seem. The story is not perfect, but is diverting enough with a twisted nature that is suitably dark. Acting is very good as usual all round, apart from Jeanne Tripplehorn not completely registering with very little to work with.
Overall, above average episode that could have been both better and worse. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Season 8 was a wildly variable season, almost as much as Seasons 6 and 9 while not being as generally underwhelming as Season 11. It was a season with a sizeable number of mediocre episodes, but also ones that were very good and showing signs of greatness. "The Gathering" is to me an above average middling episode. Not one of the best of the season like "Restoration", "All That Remains", "The Lesson", "Broken", "The Fallen", "God Complex", "The Good Earth" and "Alchemy". Also not one of the worst like "The Pact", "Magnificent Light", "Through the Looking Glass", "The Replicator", "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Magnum Opus", with a few things stopping it from being one of the average and bland episodes like "Perennials", "Carbon Copy", "#6" and "Pay It Forward".
"The Gathering" had a case that had its run of the mill and formulaic moments, and while there are Season 8 episodes and episodes overall that do a worse job with prominent unsubs that the viewer knows so much so early before the team does take away from the suspense and fun as well as making one feel frustrated at how long it takes for them to figure out. While Garcia and Kevin's subplot was enjoyable, one could really have done without the cringe-worthy conversation about moobs, where it was hard to believe considering her position Garcia didn't know what they were.
As for the Replicator story arc (or more its effects) having a little time wasn't as distracting this time around, feeling justified considering the creepiness of the previous episode "Carbon Copy" (one of the standout moments of a generally nothing special episode), but even for someone who doesn't care for Strauss usually it didn't seem right to be so aggressive and rude as well as cold. Blake is still a bland and not particularly well developed character.
However, "The Gathering" does have creepiness and some tension and suspense, with some clever misdirection regarding the unsub(s) that helps lift a formulaic episode into an above average one. Also elevating are the subplots, Reid's was done very touchingly and his involvement at the end was atypical but logical while in contrast Garcia and Kevin's was sweet and like a ray of sunshine, one conversation aside.
Visually, the production values in "The Gathering" are without complaint. 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 the atmosphere. The direction keeps the momentum going but lets the case breathe.
The script is mostly thought-provoking and often leaves one moved and repulsed. The team interaction is delightful and cohesive, and Peter and Mark are interesting and well played characters that are not what they seem. The story is not perfect, but is diverting enough with a twisted nature that is suitably dark. Acting is very good as usual all round, apart from Jeanne Tripplehorn not completely registering with very little to work with.
Overall, above average episode that could have been both better and worse. 7/10 Bethany Cox
