Criminal Minds: "Lessons Learned" on Wednesday, August 22th at 9pm et/pt. This Criminal Minds episode starred Shemar Moore, Thomas Gibson, Matthew Gray Gubler, Paget Brewster, Kirsten Vangsness A.J. Cook and Mandy Patinkin. Written by Jim Clemente and Directed by Guy Norman Bee. The Behavioral Analysis Unit has only 48 hours to determine whether or not a terrorist sleeper cell will strike within the U.S. and where. Episode info courtesy of cbs.com
This episode was very cool! I really liked seeing how smart Emily Prentiss was in this episode. It was obvious she had something of real value to offer the team.
Lessons Learned was an unexpected treat for me and was somewhat of a departure from the usual unsubs of serial killers, rapsits and arsonists being captured by the team. It was a frightening glimpse at what might be happening with the War on Terrorism in the US and that was a bit freakin and totally scary. Loved this one.
They gave Paget her first meaty part in the series in this episode. Her interaction with Gideon and Reid was a great foundation and a pleasant surprise.
The subject matter was disturbing because it is happening everyday and we know that. I thought they balanced the story with the fear people have about terrorism really well. That could not have been easy. Great episode and nicely done.
I was spooked by this episode. I found myself thinking about it for hours I watched it. I think that is what a really superb episode is supposed to do. Loved it. Looking forward to rewatching it.
Golden episode and well acted by everyone. The writing was great and the topic was terrifying. I think Prentiss and Reid were a great match to go with Gideon but neither of them proved to be as smart as he was.
IMHO, the best written episode of the season. Riveting, and I never suspected the ending. Gideon at his best. I will be sad, for the obvious reason, to see it again.
One of my favorite Hotch moments, when he returns home at the end. Is his character really so unemotional?
I have to agree about how awesome this episode was. I was glued to the couch through the whole episode and we rewatched it a few days later. Really a great one.
I think the episode clearly showed everyone's greatest fear about the world we live in today. It was so in touch with currect events. The writing was simply some of the best CM has had and that is saying a lot since the writing always excels.
It was certainly our big intro to Paget's character. I thought her and Reid played off of each other very well. She held her own with Gideon but still showed she had a lot to learn. I do agree with the person who stated that she showed she was smart but I was more interested in knowing that she wasn't "perfect". Awesome episode.
I really agree that it had to be a really hard one to write. It was a very sensitive issue and people seem to be quick to freak over this subject matter. It also spoke directly to the fears the world feels now about terrorists and just how intelligent and ruthless they can be. I think this episode handled all the issues in a sensitive but almost educational manner. It was really great.
This was not one of my favorite episodes but we can't all always agree. The subject matter was a tad too much for my family. But it is great that everyone else who has commented so far loved it.
That is the great thing about CM. We can agree to disagree!
Frankly I loved it but my boyfriend felt exactly like you did. He was very iffy about it for the reason you already stated. I think it is great that everyone has their own favorites.
I so absolutely loved this episode but I do see why some people might not have cared for it. I think there are some topics that are hard for one or the other of us to watch. The nice thing about CM is that the topics change so if one is uncomfortable for you then you always have next week to look forward to!
We were split in our family as well about the episode. My teenager loved it and thought it was one of his favorite episodes. My husband thought it was okay and I liked it. I thought the acting and the writing were really good. The subject was where we seemed to be divided in our house.
Loved the episode but I had to watch it a second time to change some things. It was somewhat confusing to me the first time. When I watched it again I was up to speed with things other people caught the first time.
I thought it was a very gutsy storyline to do an episode with. There were so many ways that it could have offended massive amounts of viewers but I thought they did an incredible job. I thought it was a great episode.
I liked seeing the team out of their main element and doing something different. This was very different. The scenes at the end were very moving. Thomas Gibson is a wonderful actor.
There were so many intense scenes in this episode. I liked it but Gideon used God to out wit someone who was commited to acting violently in the name of God. Then there was the terrorist angle. It was a harder episode to get into.
I enjoyed the episode but it was not one of my favories. I don't like to think about any type of crime even though I love crime shows like CM but terrorism did not make it one of my favorite episodes. I thought the cast did a good job though and it was obviously very well written. It was just not one that I would watch again.
I thought it was a very timely episode and that they were as sensitive as possible to those who have been effected by terrorism. I loved the scenes with Hotch and Morgan.
I think the reason I did like this episode so much was the subject matter. It was so intuned to the problems of today. The acting was top guns imho. I liked seeing Prentiss working with the team. It was just a really solid episode.
One of my all-time favorite episodes. I totally missed the game they were playing with what time of day if was. Great episode.
ReplyDeleteThis episode was very cool! I really liked seeing how smart Emily Prentiss was in this episode. It was obvious she had something of real value to offer the team.
ReplyDeleteLessons Learned was an unexpected treat for me and was somewhat of a departure from the usual unsubs of serial killers, rapsits and arsonists being captured by the team. It was a frightening glimpse at what might be happening with the War on Terrorism in the US and that was a bit freakin and totally scary. Loved this one.
ReplyDeleteTotally great episode. It thought it was one of the best. It was totally edgy and kept me rivoted to the tellie.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone. It was different than the normal episode and very cutting edge. The writing was just incredible.
ReplyDeleteThey gave Paget her first meaty part in the series in this episode. Her interaction with Gideon and Reid was a great foundation and a pleasant surprise.
ReplyDeleteAwesome episode.
ReplyDeleteThe subject matter was disturbing because it is happening everyday and we know that. I thought they balanced the story with the fear people have about terrorism really well. That could not have been easy. Great episode and nicely done.
ReplyDeleteI was spooked by this episode. I found myself thinking about it for hours I watched it. I think that is what a really superb episode is supposed to do. Loved it. Looking forward to rewatching it.
ReplyDeleteEpisodes don't get much better than this one. It was great.
ReplyDeleteI thought the storyline was wonderful. It was a very intense epi and I like those the best.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I discussed the episode for hours after watching it. It was so relevant to the situation in the world today.
ReplyDeletegreat episode
ReplyDeleteJim Clemente's writting was brilliant.
ReplyDeleteGolden episode and well acted by everyone. The writing was great and the topic was terrifying. I think Prentiss and Reid were a great match to go with Gideon but neither of them proved to be as smart as he was.
ReplyDeleteIMHO, the best written episode of the season. Riveting, and I never suspected the ending. Gideon at his best. I will be sad, for the obvious reason, to see it again.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Hotch moments, when he returns home at the end. Is his character really so unemotional?
-DD
P.S. Thank you, Shemar! ;)
I have to agree about how awesome this episode was. I was glued to the couch through the whole episode and we rewatched it a few days later. Really a great one.
ReplyDeleteI think the episode clearly showed everyone's greatest fear about the world we live in today. It was so in touch with currect events. The writing was simply some of the best CM has had and that is saying a lot since the writing always excels.
ReplyDeleteMy favs are this episode, Ashes & Dust and Revelations. I love this one.
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly our big intro to Paget's character. I thought her and Reid played off of each other very well. She held her own with Gideon but still showed she had a lot to learn. I do agree with the person who stated that she showed she was smart but I was more interested in knowing that she wasn't "perfect". Awesome episode.
ReplyDeleteThis episode was soooo ripped from the headlines and I loved it even thought is was so frightening a topic. I thought it was very well done.
ReplyDeleteThe time and day game went right over my head as well. I loved the suspense in this episode.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to have the chance to finally tape this episode. I didn't properly set the tivo last time. This is a great episode.
ReplyDeleteI really agree that it had to be a really hard one to write. It was a very sensitive issue and people seem to be quick to freak over this subject matter. It also spoke directly to the fears the world feels now about terrorists and just how intelligent and ruthless they can be. I think this episode handled all the issues in a sensitive but almost educational manner. It was really great.
ReplyDeleteLoved it! Even out repeats are great!
ReplyDeleteThis was not one of my favorite episodes but we can't all always agree. The subject matter was a tad too much for my family. But it is great that everyone else who has commented so far loved it.
ReplyDeleteThat is the great thing about CM. We can agree to disagree!
Jolie,
ReplyDeleteFrankly I loved it but my boyfriend felt exactly like you did. He was very iffy about it for the reason you already stated. I think it is great that everyone has their own favorites.
I so absolutely loved this episode but I do see why some people might not have cared for it. I think there are some topics that are hard for one or the other of us to watch. The nice thing about CM is that the topics change so if one is uncomfortable for you then you always have next week to look forward to!
ReplyDeleteWe were split in our family as well about the episode. My teenager loved it and thought it was one of his favorite episodes. My husband thought it was okay and I liked it. I thought the acting and the writing were really good. The subject was where we seemed to be divided in our house.
ReplyDeletePersonally I loved it but that is cool if some didn't.
ReplyDeleteLoved the episode but I had to watch it a second time to change some things. It was somewhat confusing to me the first time. When I watched it again I was up to speed with things other people caught the first time.
ReplyDeleteI always recommend this episode to someone who has not seen the show. I slap the vhs in their hands.
ReplyDeleteThe precision interrogation of the unsub terrorist was fascinating to me. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteI liked this one a lot. Reid was awesome.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that Prentiss was sent with them when she was so new.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a very gutsy storyline to do an episode with. There were so many ways that it could have offended massive amounts of viewers but I thought they did an incredible job. I thought it was a great episode.
ReplyDeleteI liked seeing the team out of their main element and doing something different. This was very different. The scenes at the end were very moving. Thomas Gibson is a wonderful actor.
ReplyDeleteGreat epi!
ReplyDeleteI thought the whole episode was great but I do agree that the final scene was priceless.
ReplyDeleteI liked the episode a lot. I thought the plot was terrific and the acting was great. I can't remember the name of the guest star but he was terrific.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great episode for Emily Prentiss. Almost center stage in her second episode.
ReplyDeleteThe underlying God theme and good vs. evil was very interesting. I thought it was a good episode.
ReplyDeleteI liked the episode. I liked seeing them work on a case that was different than the cases they usually work on.
ReplyDeleteI loved when Shemar Hotch to break the rules and call his wife. It was nice to know that Hotch had his priorities right.
ReplyDeleteThere were so many intense scenes in this episode. I liked it but Gideon used God to out wit someone who was commited to acting violently in the name of God. Then there was the terrorist angle. It was a harder episode to get into.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the episode but it was not one of my favories. I don't like to think about any type of crime even though I love crime shows like CM but terrorism did not make it one of my favorite episodes. I thought the cast did a good job though and it was obviously very well written. It was just not one that I would watch again.
ReplyDeleteI loved this episode.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a very timely episode and that they were as sensitive as possible to those who have been effected by terrorism. I loved the scenes with Hotch and Morgan.
ReplyDeleteI would rate the episode a B+.
ReplyDeleteThe summary for this episode should read written by Jim Clemente and directed by Guy Norman Bee (not "produced by Guy Norman Bee").
ReplyDeleteThank you for catching my error. I fixed it. :)
ReplyDeleteThis was a thinking episode. You really had to try to figure out what Gideon was doing and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI think the reason I did like this episode so much was the subject matter. It was so intuned to the problems of today. The acting was top guns imho. I liked seeing Prentiss working with the team. It was just a really solid episode.
ReplyDeleteLove this episode. Rivoting.
ReplyDelete