Wednesday, June 06, 2007

CRIMINAL MINDS: "THE BIG GAME" : SPOILERS


Criminal Minds: We started this thread when "The Big Game" first aired. It is still my favorite episode, although "Distress" is almost tied for the spot. What are you thoughts on this Criminal Minds episode after rewatching it?

45 comments:

Anonymous said...

well where i am, the game isn't over yet. but i'm soooo excited for the new episode!!!!! i saw a promo and it got me pretty excited.
i'll definitely tell ya what i thought of it when i see it.

slashgirl said...

SPOILERS SPOILERS (please excuse any typos, I'm typing like the wind.....)

Okay, opens with all of the team, except Gideon, at a bar, including haley and Hotch (in casual clothes *faints*). Unfortunately, we say way too bloody much of Morticia (I mean Prentiss) in that her boobs are hanging out of her top. *shudder* she's so disgusting. Um, anyhow. Morgan is dancing with a group of fine young things on the dance floor...Garcia is just STARING at him. Morticia brings the drinks over and sets them down; Garcia says Morgan moves like a cat; Morticia says more like a dog. Garcia is indignant, says that those girls asked HIM to dance; so Morticia says, okay cat, to which the bitch, er, I mean Haley, adds "Alley Cat". Oh, when Prentiss first comes over with the drinks, Haley asks how they're treating her at the BAU and HOtch says "SHe means am I being nice to you."

Then Hotch grabs haley's hand, looking at the dance floor and says, Let's show them how it's done. Cuts to AJ playing darts (and winning) with Anderson from FK 1 and another guy; shows Reid with an unknown couple playing STar Trek trivia.

Gideon is at the Smithsonian looking at prints from Audobon (bird guy) specifically the mocking bird.

It's cool that they almost all hang out together...*g*

Overall, I really enjoyed the ep and am soooo looking forward to Wednesday...how many days/hours???

The crimes are creepy and I figured out the unsub(s) were doing the 7 deadly sins. I will say that Jezebel's manner of death is the one that has disturbed me the most, ever, on an ep.

As for the cliffhanger? JJ and Reid get sent out to what turns out to be the unsub's (Henkel's) house because he's on file as having reported a burglar at the first murder scene a month before.

The team back in Atlanta, watching Jezebel's death and the State cop recognises the dog and gives the name...and Hotch realises he's sent JJ and Reid there. We cut to the guy's farm...and the two of them asking him aobut the report. He says he made no report, must be a mistake.

They go to leave, Reid realises that Henkel was testing the cops response time. He goes around the side of the house to look in the window. Henkel sees him and runs outside to the barn. Reid and JJ follows.

Now, honestly, I think Reid might've made a mistake splitting them up, esp after they can't use the cell phones to call (middle of nowhere, no service). He goes around back, hears Henkel in the cornfield...JJ goes into the barn and finds Jezebel's crimescene and the dogs. They cut to Reid in the field just as a dog jumps for JJ, he hears the shots (she fired at the dogs) and runs to get her but Henkel punches him, gets his gun...and Reid realises something about the unsub...(won't spoil it all if you haven't seen it) and we pull out on the scene in the corn field...ack!

I thought this was a good ep, I haven't looked forward to an ep this much (and been this hyper) since FK 1. And I wasn't disappointed. I found it very well done and enjoyed it immensely. *G*

My only minor complaint? NOT enough Hotch/Reid interaction. Maybe if I'm lucky, Hotch'll be one of the ones that rescues him next week. *g* A slashgirl can hope.

How long til Wednesday?

Anonymous said...

i'm just curious if anyone knew the song that was playing at the bar in the beginning of the episode.

Catty Lizzie said...

That was really something! It's tough to know what to think until we get Part 2, but this was a really interesting cliffhanger.

Why is Morticia, I mean Prentiss, wearing a sleveless dress in Washington DC in February? It's 20 degrees or so here in DC tonight. Sheesh!

But little continuity issues like that aside, I think this was as well-written as anything we've had recently.

And Gideon looked flat-out gorgeous. *fans self*

AJCookRocks said...

I loved it!!!
It kept me in the edge of my seat as well as my 12 year old brother.
yeah, we watch CM together!
we were screaming at the TV and my mom was like "shut up!"
hehehe

Anonymous said...

I really liked the episode but I think it may have been just a touch too violent for those viewers watching the show for the first time. I can't wait until part two later this week. My only complaint was how stupid Reid was for separating from JJ.

Criminal Minds Fan said...

I need to watch it again tomorrow before I write my final thoughts of the episode but on first watch I liked it. I think it was strong enough to bring in new viewers.

Way too much Prentiss but for some reason the writers haven't caught on or do not care that the die hard fans simply dislike this character and really dislike how prominent she is in all the episodes. She needs to be mellowed and eased in much slower than this. It is a constant complaint in every episode lately.

Guest stars were really good. Reid screwed up but we all know that takes us to part two so I guess that is okay for now.

Gideon in the museum every Super Bowl. Yet another question about Gideon we need answers to.

I would give the show an A-. Lets pray for great ratings now. :)

Anonymous said...

James van der Beek was wonderful. I was pleasantly surprised by his performance tonight. I thought all the actors were terrific. Kirsten was particularly good in both the bar scene and her reactions to watching the videos. The writing was tight. No continuity problems in this episode. Great job by cast and crew.

Anonymous said...

Loved it. I hope the press and nielsen ratings love it like I do.

Anonymous said...

wow reid screwed up. good show.

Anonymous said...

The scene with the dogs was chilling. We didn't even actually see it and I still think I am going to have nightmares. I really liked the episode. When my friends wanted to leave after the game was over I made them sit their asses down and watch with me and I know the show hooked a couple of them. I love CM converts except for the fact that they started asking me a million questions about the cast when the show was over. I told them if they wanted to come watch with me on Wed I would make fajitas and margaritas. I am not beyond bribing people to become fans of the best show on tv.

Anonymous said...

omgness.
omgness.
great great GREAT episode.
i seriously want it to be wednesday so i can friggen watch the 2nd part to this!!!!
i was rather upset...actually VERY upset seeing the previews for wednesday.
poor reid <3!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm wondering exactly how much Reid technically screwed up. I mean, yes, ovbiously it ended badly, but -- if it had been Morgan and Hotch there instead of Reid and JJ, wouldn't they have done exactly the same thing?

I finally got my husband to watch an ep with me, and at least now he understands my obsession. (He doesn't share it, alas!)

Anonymous said...

Oh, and I have to check the tape but ... in the bar when Hotch gets upo to dance, I would have sworn he called his wife Elizabeth. Huh?

Anonymous said...

Steve: The song was "Push it to the Limit" by Rick Ross.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait until Wednesday. Everyone at work that saw the show for the first time is saying now that they understand why I have been talking about the show for so long. I feel VINDICATED!

Anonymous said...

I thought the episode was great although I must admit if I didn't already watch the show I don't know if it would have "pulled me in". I thought it was completley out of character for Reid to want to chase down an Unsub..and that really bothered me. I hate when writers change a characters traits just to fit a story line. I liked Prentiss in this episode, she was very "diplomatic" to Haley regarding how mean Hotch is to her. What the heck was up with Garcia and Morgan..am I the only one who had no idea that she actually had a thing for him? I thought they just played around.

Lee

Anonymous said...

Great so far! Can't wait until Wednesday.

Anonymous said...

I think we have always seen an undercurrent with Morgan and Garcia. Whether the writers take that one step further is up to them but I highly doubt it from what they have said in past interviews.

Anonymous said...

Touchdown! Criminal Minds scored! Now every critic can bend down and kiss the writers' asses. Awesome show!

Anonymous said...

Why wasn't Gideon with the rest of the BAU unit at the bar? It was nice seeing the unit out and partying together.

The storyline was chilling. I was glued to my chair watching. Couldn't move. The scene with the dogs was so intense I think I actually started shaking. I can't wait until Wed.

Anonymous said...

"Lin said...
Oh, and I have to check the tape but ... in the bar when Hotch gets upo to dance, I would have sworn he called his wife Elizabeth. Huh?"

I just rewatched it and he says "Come on Hale, let's show them how it's done." He might say HaleY, but it sounded like Hale...no Elizabeth.*G*

Anonymous said...

I thought it was really excellent. I am wondering how JJ is going to get out of the barn unharmed with those vicious dogs coming at her!

At the beginning as they are showing all the team members at the bar, I was wondering if Gideon was going to be there and thought it would really funny if he was there being that he seems to be such a private person and not someone who runs with the crowd.

I can't wait to see how everything is resolved.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the clarification. Maybe I heard "Haleylet's" and mushed it in my mind. I was in shock over his lack of tie, after all. Hee!

Oh, and I totally loved Reid playing the Star Trek trivia game. That was so very him!

Anonymous said...

Does anyone else think Reid was being slightly stupid when he split off from J.J.? We already know he's not great of a marksman from the L.D.S.K. episode, nor as physically trained as say Hotch or Morgan, yet he doesn't wait for back-up, splits off from his partner, and then wily-nily chases the UNSUB into the corn fields? Did Reid have a brain-fart just then?

I know it's a plot device, but couldn't the writers have done it another way where the character is at least consistent with how's he's been portrayed? Is someone, supposedly as intelligent as Reid is, and who usually proceeds logically in his tinking, gonna do something as stupid and irrational as chasing after a dangerous unsub through a cornfield with no back-up?

You still could have had the Reid Kidnapping and JJ in danger scenario by either having them both proceed into the barn where the dogs attack JJ and Reid gets knocked out and dragged out of the barn or you could have had the unsub be able to get behind both agents and blitz attack them, or something like that. Any of those scenarios would have been more logically consistent with the characters as they're protrayed. Unless for some reason Reid just had a gung-ho moment and went charging into the field because of it.

Just some quick thoughts. I liked the episode.

Anonymous said...

Yes BW I totally agree with you about Reid...not a character trait of his by any means, he is scared of the dark for goodness sakes! :)

Lee

Anonymous said...

I have another plot hole -- we found two people murdered in Georgia an hour ago and we're calling in the BAU? When it's not part of a string or similar murders? Ummmm ... even with the 911 call, I don't buy it.

Anonymous said...

This show is great as usually. plot hole on tv show, isn't that common? It only 45 minutes to tell the story. I am okay with plot holes.

Anonymous said...

I almost forgot -- I totally loved the way JJ schmoozed the local into letting her look at the files. "Help me out here." Like anybody could resist. And then Hotch gives her this look like, never doubted you for a minute. Loved it!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh this was the best episode ever.

Anonymous said...

It is great episode!!! I'm going to make another VCR tape, since my sister won't give back my first taping...because she loved it so much!

What are sisters for? I guess to sacrifice to keep them happy!

JOYCE (ready to hit "record" again)

Anita^^ said...

This is the last ep we have could seen here on Spain, and I'm just praying for Friday to come yet...
I can't stand that more!

IT was really hard to see that the end was just Tobias pointing at Spence with his gun... >.< I think I'm not gonna survive this two days...

And just two hours ago I saw the promo from the ep... It has been even worse! Now I can't stop thinking bout Reid with his head full of blood... :'(


But, talking bout the ep, definitely one of my favourites! I was missing unsubs like those, and the last two chapters were amazing ^^ Frank really reminded me Hannibal Lecter, I think their quite similar...

But well, Tobias has become one of my favourite unsubs (though he's gone to torture Reid ¬¬), I really like personality disorders, specially... how do you say it in english? Bipolar disorder? I don't think so... xD In Spanish --> "Trastorno de personalidad bipolar"



So... waiting for Friday extremely excited and trying not to loose all my nails...

Anonymous said...

Anita bipolar disorder is correct!

It might be me but I noticed the sound on this episode had more intensity. Even the opening had a sharper rendition of the theme music. I guess it was for the big tv sound systems in use on Super Bowl night?

The music that was played as Reid and JJ went towards the barn was kind of humorous. It sounded like old Mission Impossible music...

Anonymous said...

The Big Game was as good this time around as it was the first time! I loved every minute of it!

I noticed one thing tonight that I didn't really notice before and it was in connection with someone's comments, somewhere. It stuck in the back of my mind.

That person was talking about the corn fields and it being unrealistic for them to be there because it was February--the middle of the winter.

I noticed that the corn stalks were all dead and dried up, so if no one cleared the fields, then that is what they would look like at that time of the year. And Tobias didn't seem to me to someone who cares about that kind of thing. I mean, look at the state of the barn and the house. They both look like a stong wind would blow them down!

On other thing is that Georgia is in the south, and has a much warmer temperature and their growing season is longer than it is in the northern states.

Elizabeth said...

I disagree with those who thought Reid rushing into the cornfield was out of character - I thought it was completely IN character.

Reid is very intelligent, granted, but this was not a situation that demanded intricate analysis of patterns etc. While he is a very bright lad, Reid is also impulsive, very keen to prove his worth, and, he is a boy. All of those things would lead him to go chasing after the unsub, despite it being a pretty stupid thing to do.

Reid has done similar things before - he takes a risk (which pays off) in Derailed, he nearly gets himself and the rest of the team blown up in the Fisher King and even in LDSK, he draws attention to himself and Hotch by running to get Gideon. So Reid has a history of doing fairly foolish things because they seemed like a good idea at the time. Only he has got a way with it until now.

Plus, he was expecting Hotch to realise who they were with and send backup. He wasn't expecting JJ to get stuck with the dogs either.

So, I think it was a good choice for the writers to have him do that, and boy, does he pay for that mistake.

Anonymous said...

I await the next episode with great anticiaption,this was one of the best so far,although each cm ep is wrtten well,it is good to see ohow each one outshines the other and makes us just want more each week.....

Anonymous said...

I'll be able to tell you after Friday ;-))

Anonymous said...

It finished 10 mins ago and I'm still speechless (that doesn't happen very often!). 'Spoilers' didn't (spoil it), as they couldn't convey the feeling of menace and suspense. I'm really glad much was left to the imagination (in true Alfred Hitchcock style)- I have a very vivid one!
I have, of course, recorded it so I can watch all the bits I missed when mother insisted on talking at me. Parents should be seen and not heard!

Anonymous said...

I loved it the first time and loved it even more the second time around. I have changed my opinion on Prentiss since the first watch and like her now.

Anonymous said...

James van der Beek blew me away just like he did the first time. I liked this episode and I was glad to watch it again.

Anonymous said...

The scene in the bar will always be one of my favorite CM scenes. Garcia was wonderful and Morgan is too pretty for words.

Anonymous said...

The scenes with Morgan and Garcia still have me confused. It seemed then and still seems to me now that Garcia was jealous.

Anonymous said...

I don't think she was jealous. I think they are just tight friends and she doesn't like people making fun of him. Loved the episode.

Anonymous said...

I loved it.

Anonymous said...

I rewatched it again today and I just adore this episode. The acting in this one was so perfect. No flaws.