Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds “The Pact”
Season 8, Episode 2
by Smiley Gidget

Hey everyone, I have had an absolutely insane weekend working at the Armageddon Expo in Melbourne and so I was unable to do a full write up of the latest Criminal Minds episode, I will however write up a brief review as I did thoroughly enjoy the episode, more great TV done by the Criminal Minds team.

First off nice quick little first scene, I especially liked the little spelling fail during the text message writing, very very realistic to everyone who has an iPhone! I have to admit also though, there was a lot of iPhone noises happening in the start of this episodes, phones going off all over the place, crazy stuff. Even though it has been done before in many different shows I still liked the body being dragged behind the car, it’s interesting!! I still miss Em, but I did enjoy the team banter at the beginning, but next to Prentiss, Rossi and Garcia are my favourites so this bit I liked! I love Rossi’s “This is my ‘I don’t care face’” and JJ’s comment that it’s his normal face, just some fun team banter always good for the beginning of an episode, also loved the whole thing about Rossi and his vacation days, something that went on for the whole episode until the end but worked into it all, very well done!! Also, totally creepy moment when one of the victims has the exact same name as a cousin…

Liked the scene with the team on the plane when Reid is able to give basically the exact GPS directions to a place to prove that it could be done it a specific time limit and Blake’s “Wow” was perfect coz even though we all know what Reid is like after eight years of watching you would still find yourself wowing at the things he says and does, least I still do sometimes even if I find the character incredibly annoying! I also really loved the UNSUBs in this episode, again it’s not something new but it was done so brilliantly well I really enjoyed it, the two ladies taking out the bad people as revenge… OMG could not NOT comment on Garcia, I looooooved when she spoke to Hotch and said “This is why you are the boss and I am the minion who types things” she cracks me up so much, I was just laughing so hard… and then it went straight back to being serious, but I love how Garcia breaks it all up like that, it’s perfect!!!

I really liked the montage of images from the UNSUBs pasts as the team gave the profile, seeing the different clips of the trauma’s that they went through in regards to their killed children, very well collaborated and fit so well into the episode, great work! I really did love this duo as UNSUBs it was great, they were a good team one angry and one hesitant, I also REALLY enjoyed the last part of the episode with their last victim, how he is a psychopath the entire thing was done so brilliantly the victim/UNSUB being a psychopath and how he tries to get one of them to kill some stranger just so he can show the other to where her daughter is buried, so manipulating and cruel, but so well written and executed! The guy was so excited by the kill whilst the lady who did it seemed momentarily freaked before stoic again and the other just freaked out completely. This episode was pretty emotional, when he digs up the body to reveal the skull and the mother finds out he had chopped up her daughter, going spastic and killing him with the shovel… also liked that we got a little bit more insight into Blake, very cool!

I very much loved the way the Mexico scene came from a postcard brought to life, brilliantly done, I thought it was amazing work! Also liked this part when we got to hear the two women talk about how they feel about everything and what they did… For an ending where we really didn’t get to solve and catch all the bad guys I really liked the ending of this episode with Rossi showing up in Mexico and arresting one of the UNSUBs whilst the other escapes in the bus, I was not so upset that they didn’t get both like Rossi said I had mixed feelings I liked the scene where the one in the police car saw the other on the bus and she nodded her approval and smiled, it was a nice touch I thought! Again another brilliant episode by an incredible team, can’t wait for more… sorry the review wasn’t more thorough, but hope you’ve enjoyed anyway!

Comments

I really don't know what to expect, but I'm hoping that I can still watch the new Season with the same interest, am going to miss Prentiss though, such a brilliant character!

(Posted on 2012-05-14 02:24:00 by SmileyGidget)
Fans, how will the show be without Prentiss?

(Posted on 2012-05-13 13:26:00 by havenshine)
This weeks ep was outstanding. It also makes you wonder how many kids that were here illegally have been abducted.

(Posted on 2012-03-23 18:24:00 by havenshine)
This weeks ep was outstanding. It also makes you wonder how many kids that were here illegally have been abducted.

(Posted on 2012-03-23 18:24:00 by havenshine)
I agree with your first sentiments. I loved the team interaction, especially the end.. and there were those mini moments in between the episode that i loved :). However, I don`t think it`s particularly one of my favorite episodes in regards to the case. It was actually really creepy to see a family like that and I did get a little bit bored during the episode. But, I just love this show and the main cast too much.. so I didn`t really HATE the episode either.. HAHA! In my eyes, they can do no wrong (except for firing AJ & Paget in season 6!!).
Your observation on the whole timeframe and accuracy was a good catch. I didn`t really pay too much attention to it, but when you mentioned it.. your observations & concerns are very valid. I don`t know what was up with that but I guess some things just need to be overlooked in order to go on with the stories/episodes and with how much they have to get done in the episode in 42 minutes.
I agree about Hotch and Beth. I absolutely loved their little light, sweet moments. It was rather cute. I love them! :). Also, I agree with you when you say that this is a big step in their relationship as Hotch seems ready and is happy to introduce Jack to Beth. That`s great that their relationship is moving forward in a good way. I like seeing Hotch all happy & smiles. He definitely deserves it after all his stoic, non-smiling faces for a while now. He needs to be happy as well, and I think it`s about time to spice up his personal life! ;).
There definitely was a LOT of unsub & his family being showed in this episode. But, I guess it just Haha! The dad was also the dad on Boy Meets World! It was nice to see him again. I felt bad for him. Oh, yes.. the mom was definitely creepy. I mean, I know that most parent`s have unconditional love for their children and would do almost anything for them.. but this just seemed like a little too extreme. I know my parents, my mom would never do those things for me. I think she would probably send me to jail or kill me before I even begin to ask.. LOL!
Yeah, the bloody woman trying to crawl to the door and saying HELP ME.. I was like, they sent you in there.. what makes you think they are going to help you? Then the mom locks the door and the dad drags here away. Oh gosh! I definitely agree with you when you say that this is one creepy family.. high on the creepy scale!! Their family dynamic is truly one of a kind :/. The crazy mom, angry son, & drunk dad... doesn`t get any better than that, now does it?!
Aww, I did miss the Media Liaison in JJ! Heheh! Yep, it does take some time and lots of facts and putting together the puzzle.. oh, and profiling to figure everything out. But, our BAU heroes always figure it out because they are the best at what they do! YAY for Garcia for finding the unsubs! :). I really did feel somewhat bad for the dad! He really did love his son & protected him till the end, but he just couldn`t take all of it anymore either! Woohooo for Rossi shooting the mom, then case solved!!!! :D.
Oh I know.. I did miss the team moments in the episode. But, it can`t be helped. At least what they did give us was pretty freaking AMAZING! :). The team moments like that are what really seal the deal for me on why I am in love with this show! :).
Hotch, Rossi, Prentiss, Morgan, Reid, JJ, Garcia, Jack & Beth are what made that end scene... INCREDIBLE! My favorite parts were: Jack`s 'Uncle Dave'; Derek carrying Jack on his shoulders; Hotch crossing the finish line; Derek asking Garcia what they drank on their girls night; Garcia telling/asking Derek he`s an FBI agent so could he tell the crowd to stop yelling; Reid overly enthused and going on and on about the girls said that their girls night would only be a couple of hours but they didn`t come back till sunrise; JJ saying why is he yelling; Prentiss saying make him stop; Hotch giving Jack his medal; the team praising Hotch on a good job for finishing; Prentiss betting that the swim would kill Hotch; Hotch introducing Jack to Beth; Beth interacting with Jack.
Hmm.. the only thing that bummed me out as well was that they never showed the girls' night out/salsa dancing & Hotch introducing Beth to the team & their little get together/getting food after the race. But, I`ll leave that up to my imagination! Haha!!
Overall, nice review!!! :). & a creepy & good episode!

(Posted on 2012-03-05 06:03:00 by gchan_s2)
Thank you :)

(Posted on 2012-03-03 15:29:00 by SmileyGidget)
Great recap and great show

(Posted on 2012-03-01 01:38:00 by Charlie)