"The Return" is nowhere near one of the worst 'Criminal Minds' episodes, being much better than the likes of "200", "Machismo", "The Thirteenth Step", "The Replicator", "Through the Looking Glass" and the worst of Season 11, also remember not caring for "Route 66".
However, "The Return" is also nowhere near one of the best episodes, when 'Criminal Minds' was good or at its best it was riveting television and compulsive viewing. Instead it is one of the average/difficult to rate episodes.
One of "The Return's" biggest flaws is that it all feels unbalanced, with too much focus on Morgan and Blake (JJ also plays a big role, but while there is a preference to how she was written in the earlier seasons her story is dealt with quite poignantly) and not enough of much more interesting characters like Reid, Hotch and Rossi (who are still a delight to watch but feel underused somewhat), which hurts the dynamic of the team. The more this viewer sees of Blake, the less she likes her. By all means she is a better Prentiss replacement than Kate and Tara, because her interaction with Reid does have some entertainment value. She is not as ill-fitting as she was in the 8th season, but still feels cold and disconnected.
Morgan and Savannah's (not one of the dullest or most forgettable love interests on the show but not very interesting at the same time, though she is played with decent charm) relationship also eats up too much of the story, is too soap-opera-like and can slow the episode down, also not playing to Morgan's strengths as a character who excels in empathising with kids and victims and being the tough guy. Plus while it has been worse in other episodes, Morgan and Garcia's unrealistically flirtatious and overly close relationship sees some quite cringe-worthy banter and feels out of place in such a dark story.
The main plot line of "The Return" did have potential, and did see some tense and poignant moments like the boy tearing up at the sound of his mother's voice, but there is a run-out-of-ideas and derivative feel, pacing is pedestrian and rarely gets going and suspense is too far and between, so there was not enough genuine threat and it didn't feel developed. Also felt that the personal lives of the BAU got in the way of using the story to its full potential. Neither did the unsub's motivations ring true, seeming rather extreme and over-the-top for such awful crimes. While other episodes do a worse job of not feeling like 'Criminal Minds' there is not enough of what makes the show so great at its best, like the profiling, psychological delving into the criminal's mind and procedural aspects or the little character moments that are so fun to watch.
Conversely, "The Return" does look great, stylish, appropriately dark and audacious, while the music is haunting and melancholic. As said there are some tense and poignant moments, the controlled children are believable and while he is underused the unsub is quite chilling and menacingly portrayed. The dialogue is taut and thought-provoking and the acting is very good from the regulars, Jeanne Tripplehorn does do her best also with material that's beneath her really.
All in all, this review does seem very negative and while it is a disappointing and difficult to rate episode it's not terrible and there is far worse in the show. 5/10 Bethany Cox
However, "The Return" is also nowhere near one of the best episodes, when 'Criminal Minds' was good or at its best it was riveting television and compulsive viewing. Instead it is one of the average/difficult to rate episodes.
One of "The Return's" biggest flaws is that it all feels unbalanced, with too much focus on Morgan and Blake (JJ also plays a big role, but while there is a preference to how she was written in the earlier seasons her story is dealt with quite poignantly) and not enough of much more interesting characters like Reid, Hotch and Rossi (who are still a delight to watch but feel underused somewhat), which hurts the dynamic of the team. The more this viewer sees of Blake, the less she likes her. By all means she is a better Prentiss replacement than Kate and Tara, because her interaction with Reid does have some entertainment value. She is not as ill-fitting as she was in the 8th season, but still feels cold and disconnected.
Morgan and Savannah's (not one of the dullest or most forgettable love interests on the show but not very interesting at the same time, though she is played with decent charm) relationship also eats up too much of the story, is too soap-opera-like and can slow the episode down, also not playing to Morgan's strengths as a character who excels in empathising with kids and victims and being the tough guy. Plus while it has been worse in other episodes, Morgan and Garcia's unrealistically flirtatious and overly close relationship sees some quite cringe-worthy banter and feels out of place in such a dark story.
The main plot line of "The Return" did have potential, and did see some tense and poignant moments like the boy tearing up at the sound of his mother's voice, but there is a run-out-of-ideas and derivative feel, pacing is pedestrian and rarely gets going and suspense is too far and between, so there was not enough genuine threat and it didn't feel developed. Also felt that the personal lives of the BAU got in the way of using the story to its full potential. Neither did the unsub's motivations ring true, seeming rather extreme and over-the-top for such awful crimes. While other episodes do a worse job of not feeling like 'Criminal Minds' there is not enough of what makes the show so great at its best, like the profiling, psychological delving into the criminal's mind and procedural aspects or the little character moments that are so fun to watch.
Conversely, "The Return" does look great, stylish, appropriately dark and audacious, while the music is haunting and melancholic. As said there are some tense and poignant moments, the controlled children are believable and while he is underused the unsub is quite chilling and menacingly portrayed. The dialogue is taut and thought-provoking and the acting is very good from the regulars, Jeanne Tripplehorn does do her best also with material that's beneath her really.
All in all, this review does seem very negative and while it is a disappointing and difficult to rate episode it's not terrible and there is far worse in the show. 5/10 Bethany Cox
