“A Family Affair” – When the BAU travels to Atlanta to investigate the murders of women, the clues lead them to look for an unsub who is not working alone, on CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Feb. 29 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Guest stars include William Russ (“The Ex-List,” “Boy Meets World”) and Kathy Baker (“Picket Fences,” “Boston Legal”) as parents Donald and Linda Collins; Merle Dandridge (“Sons of Anarchy”) as Agent Lynn Brooks, who assists the BAU in the investigation; and Fiona Gubelmann (“Wilfred”) as physical therapist Erika Taylor.
Talk about this episode in the comment...
Careful in case you haven't watched the episode yet... comments might contain ***SPOILERS***
50 comments:
First! Hah, I've always wanted to say that...:))
Can't wait for the triathlon, and Beth, and our little G-Man! I do like Beth&Hotch and their slowly developing adorable story.
And if there's also an interesting case and lots of team profiling, nothing can go wrong. ;-)
I agree with Tiecollector. And since I used to live in Atlanta, I'll be looking to see if the area that they film in looks like Atlanta, and what area the crime(s) are supposed to be happening in.
But the bottom line for me is Hotch. Looks like he'll be in shorts for the triathlon. Makes me happy!
Kathy Baker and William Russ make it worth watching, but again we know the unsub(s) before it airs. Which removes an element that used to be key in the show.
I cannot wait for this episode. Case looks really creepy and Hotch in the triathlon...what's not to like?
I think i might give this episode a miss!
I hope they get rid of Beth. Love seeing Jack. I just don't like her but I like seeing Hotch smile. I will tape but I,too, may not watch this episode at all.
I'll be missing this episode as well...refuse to give them the point for a contrived storyline that I abhor.
God, you people are all such downers! Looking at this board you would think the show was on a deathbed or something. I mean everyone is entitled to their opinion, but come on, it's not perfect this season but it's not as bad as last year, not even close!
I plan to watch with pleasure. Yes, knowing the Unsub in advance takes a point off, but otherwise this one looks creepy and good. Kimberly Harrison is one of the better writers, in my opinion, so I think it will be a good one.
And as for Beth I like her, and I like that Hotch has something good in his life. I think they're handling it quite well, just little bits and bops here and there, not overwhelming at all. I'm looking forward to seeing the marathon.
The only thing I'm going to say about it is that Hotch is on relationship #2 over the course of the show, Rossi unfortunately suffered a loss this year, and Garcia and Kevin are getting closer. Now how about some attention for Morgan and Reid, please. That's all.
- RF
Hey RF...glad you're enjoying it and there are many others like you who are enjoying it...but there's a subset of us who are not....Criminal Minds has been sub-standard this season...and fankly it does not even live up to season 6...every episode this season the profiling has been rushed, in some instances we've had little to no profiling...but yet the producers made time to show case one character (Hotch) private life....this is a procedual that was solid and did not need all of the outside emotional entanglements to make the show work...they knew how to keep "all" there fans satisfied...and yet every board you go to now...there are rumblings....and even though the rating have dropped off a bit.....the fans are still loyal.
If fans don't voice their displeasure about the show then the producers and writers will continue to give us sub-standard drivel....and cases that and eight year old can poke holes through.
Anon above - how is Hotch being showcased? How is his private life any more centralised than Rossi's this season? How is Morgan in a towel any less showcased? I agree with you that i like my CM a shade darker and there's nothing in the world i enjoy more than CM doing great myseteries with well-integrated storylines, personal tidbits organically weaved in. Like you, i see the problem, but the only difference is that i see the same problem with Reid's headache storyline, or Carolyn's death — just not going the distance where real problems could be dealt with in the messy human way they used to be on this show. But i'm hangin' in there, and i loved 'a thin line', "true genius", "unknown subject" and i have thoroughly enjoyed the 5mins of Aaron/Beth i've seen till now.
Looking forward to another great episode. Hotch in shorts - yummy.
I have to agree with CM fans that are saying that this season is not as good as any of the past seasons of this show. I LOVE CM and have watched it since the first episode- which is why I feel a need to communicate how I feel about the quality of the show going down. The fact that the original cast is all back made me hopeful that the show would be great again. But for some reason, it seems that the writers/ producers have been slacking off. This season, the plots are boring, not believable, and rushed. I have to say that this is the worst CM season since the show's beginning. Case in point- the "Snake Eyes" episode. REALLY??????? Corny and boring! I think that if enough of us voice our disappointment, the writers/producers may try to get the show back to its original quality.
I also want to talk about Hotch's new girlfriend. Their interactions seem so awkward, don't they? She doesn't seem to be Hotch's type. She's too aggressive, and based on Hotch's character, I'd imagine he'd want someone more laid back like him. Couldn't they find someone better for him? It's great that he's moving forward with his life, but with HER???????? It doesn't make sense!
Miss Artsy,
I have to say, I don't think this is the worst season in all of CM. It's not as good as any of the 1-5 seasons, but look at last season. That season was terrible. The 13th step was way worse than any of these, in my opinion.
-Cole
I agree Cole. The 13th Step was horrific, that was the worse episode ever. Now while this season may not be as good as the first few nothing could be as bad as some of the drek that came out of Season 6. And some of the episodes this year have been outstanding.
For me it all comes down to the writers really. For example I am really enjoying Sharon Lee Watson's work, I'm glad they brought her on. But I really haven't liked anything by Bruce Zimmerman or Janine Sherman Barrois, I'm almost tempted to skip it every time their episodes come on. And I miss Andrew Wilder, Simon Mirren, and Chris Mundy so much, they did some amazing work with this show.
But it is much, much better this year overall, so I have hope for the future and for this episode, Kimberly Ann Harrison is another great new writer, so I expect this will be a good one. I'm looking forward to tonight.
- RF
Yeah, this was another one of those episodes that showed the unsub before the opening credits. However, the psychopathology of the unsub and his family did take the entire episode to explain. So it wasn't like you knew exactly what was going on just from the first scene. But I think part of the reason for showing the unsub early is to actually show the mindset of the unsub, rather than learning it third hand from the team. It's a technique, and I know it's a controversial one among the fandom.
Yeah, the unsub and his family were rather creepy. Or at least the mom was. I agree with Reid. The unsub definitely inherited his psychopathic tendencies from his mother.
While the unsub story dominated the episode, I felt what profiling we did see was good.
The team moments were nice.
Since I like Hotch and Beth, I thought their scenes at the beginning and end were cute. We haven't seen a Hotch this relaxed since season one.
We saw the aftereffects of girls night out (wicked hangovers for the ladies), though we didn't exactly see what happened. Let's just say it was lots of booze and all night long fun.
Uncle Dave and Jack were cute. I loved the end scene with the dudes of the team cheering Hotch on (Reid was so adorable when he was excited). And the team shared knowing looks when they saw Hotch and Beth together at the race.
My favorite tease was the fact that Reid volunteered to babysit Henry. And he seemed super excited to do it. THAT is the scene I would like to see. JJ swore up and down it would only be a few hours, but apparently girls night out when to sunrise. Reid has gotten much better around kids, and Henry is his godson after all. Though I think many females' ovaries would explode if they saw Reid nurturing a child.
So they preferred to show Beth meeting Jack than show us the girl’s night out! Nooo!!
Damn it!!
The guests stars, William Russ and Kathy Baker did a great job as their characters. The guy who played the son, did not.
The episode for me was just okay, as the rest of this season has been okay. Mediocre at best.
This is the only show on TV I watch anymore. Other than HGTV.
For a show that used to be a can't miss, now find myself bored and comparing to past, best seasons 3-5.
While I did enjoy the cute team moments, once again the main storyline made no sense to me, nor did the amateur-hour profiling. How the team made those leaps of logic was inexplicable, and as if to acknowledge that Hotch had to re-explain everything on the plane. No matter how many endearing little team or character moments the show has, if the plot isn't credible and the profiling is so thin it loses most of its appeal. It has become tedious to watch. I feel like I'm suffering through it just because I'm sentimentally attached to a once great show and a still great cast. NEW WRITERS NEEDED PLEASE!!! This show is doomed otherwise.
I have to say this was a pretty good episode. Although we saw the unsub at the beginning, it was an interesting case with a twist that the team wasn't really expecting at the beginning, which was the three unsubs, and their relationship.
I think that the Hotch/Beth relationship is growing on me. At first I was unsure that it might sort of take up profiling/team time, which I think is very important, but of course, Hotch being 100% business at work, it's not. :) I think it's a good balance with the gruesome things seen on the show.
I think ladies night was very cute. It's nice to see that Emily is getting back to a normal life after everything. (So sad to see her leave). Let's point out this is Emily's second viewed hangover on the show!! :) Oh Emily...
Overall this episode was pretty good. This season has had its ups and downs thus far, and it's a little unexpected whether the episode is gonna be great or just ok, but so far, nothing has been flat out bad. :)
Looking forward to the rest of the season!
Quote from Anonymous:
"It has become tedious to watch. I feel like I'm suffering through it just because I'm sentimentally attached to a once great show and a still great cast. "
Ditto. Succinctly said.
Any reason why most of the almost constant dissenters are Anonymous? Just wondering
Maybe I'm weird but I liked this show. The interaction of the "boy" and his parents was interesting. I have actually liked most of this season.
I thought the end was very enjoyable. At the end of the race, the whole team seem to be happy and enjoying the day.
I shall stick around as long as CM is on.
Maybe I'm weird but I liked this show. The interaction of the "boy" and his parents was interesting. I have actually liked most of this season.
I thought the end was very enjoyable. At the end of the race, the whole team seem to be happy and enjoying the day.
I shall stick around as long as CM is on.
To be honest I didn't get the episode at all I am watching it but I am not understanding it. Who was the one driving the car that caused the accident with the guy was it his mother or father?
Again they keep showing the unsub at the beginning, you can show the killings but you don't have to show the killer themselves.
I think that's where the show looses its suspense by revealing everything up front. So to me the episode was okay, and again it could have been better. I didn't like the parts with Hotch and Beth something about her don't feel right. I know that this is the third episode that Beth has been in, but to me I feel like I don't need to see her, and I rather they show more of him and Jack spending time together than him with Beth.
I'm sure they are going to put her in a lot more episodes over the course of the season but I don't think that they showed Haley this much in the first season. She was on the show sporadicly throughtout seasons 1-5 and now they just showed Beth two episodes ago.
Honestly the show is having Hotch talk about and even show more of Beth than Jack, which to me its not right or fair. I rather see more of Jack than see anymore episodes with Beth in it. I guess secretly I wanted Jack to hate her but I know the writers are not going to do that. At least let there be some drama starting between Jack and Beth after he realizes that Hotch and her are more than just friends. Keep it intersting since your not making the episodes that appealing then make the drama start at home, instead of everyone liking each other and showing happy faces all the time.
To be honest I didn't get the episode at all I am watching it but I am not understanding it. Who was the one driving the car that caused the accident with the guy was it his mother or father?
Again they keep showing the unsub at the beginning, you can show the killings but you don't have to show the killer themselves.
I think that's where the show looses its suspense by revealing everything up front. So to me the episode was okay, and again it could have been better. I didn't like the parts with Hotch and Beth something about her don't feel right. I know that this is the third episode that Beth has been in, but to me I feel like I don't need to see her, and I rather they show more of him and Jack spending time together than him with Beth.
I'm sure they are going to put her in a lot more episodes over the course of the season but I don't think that they showed Haley this much in the first season. She was on the show sporadicly throughtout seasons 1-5 and now they just showed Beth two episodes ago.
Honestly the show is having Hotch talk about and even show more of Beth than Jack, which to me its not right or fair. I rather see more of Jack than see anymore episodes with Beth in it. I guess secretly I wanted Jack to hate her but I know the writers are not going to do that. At least let there be some drama starting between Jack and Beth after he realizes that Hotch and her are more than just friends. Keep it intersting since your not making the episodes that appealing then make the drama start at home, instead of everyone liking each other and showing happy faces all the time.
Sorry for my comment showing up more than once.
Eh, the team moments in this episode were great. The end scene, with Reid and the girls, was hilarious. But the overall episode, I just wasn't a fan of. I'm not saying I hate it, I just don't really like it as much as others. Oh well. Looking forward to the rest of the season. I feel like it's improving, slowly, from last season, and is still getting slightly better.
-Cole
Eh, the team moments in this episode were great. The end scene, with Reid and the girls, was hilarious. But the overall episode, I just wasn't a fan of. I'm not saying I hate it, I just don't really like it as much as others. Oh well. Looking forward to the rest of the season. I feel like it's improving, slowly, from last season, and is still getting slightly better.
-Cole
I get a funny feeling about the young lady. How about this for a twist? She works her way into the Hotchner scene and finally takes Jack on an outing just before ComputerLady discovers that she is the heretofore unknown niece of the Reaper.
Just another OK episode, the family was creepy and the profiling was ok too.
The team moments were the best, cute all were at the race supporting Hotch, nice touch with the hangover ladies but I agree it would have been nice to see what happened during the night or to see Reid with Henry (just brief seconds)... Hotch/Beth well, it was ok too.
I have to agree with other comments that this is one of the worst seasons (Season 6 was worst) the only thing that is saving it, and why we, some fans, are still watching is, because of the cast, the marvelous group interactions and the love we hace for the show
Okay, here's a non-anon dissenter. This show has gone way downhill in terms of quality since the network fired most of the writers. I miss Chris, Holly, Andrew, Dan and Jay. They knew how to write truly creepy episodes. They knew how to give us character depth without making it feel contrived or like it was pushing the crime element aside. I can't comment as to the lack of quality last season, I skipped it, but to me season five was it's low point. This season, though, is attempting to usurp the title.
As for this season, it irritates me beyond description that they have only this season left with Emily but they haven't even come close to addressing what she went through. Reid got to whine about the crappy thing that happened to her and how it effected him, Morgan got to have his anger issues, Hotch gets a girlfriend and Rossi gets a moving ex-wife is dead story. But where is Emily's time? A two minute conversation with a terrible therapist doesn't count as addressing anything. There is so much opportunity being ignored, again. I'm not sure I'm going to keep watching once Paget leaves. I've essentially been watching for her character since season five anyway.
I liked the last five minutes of this episode, with the team there showing support for Hotch as he finished his race. The Hotch, Beth and Jack moment was sweet. Been a big fan of season 7 but now that my favorite character is leaving again, i can't wait for it to end, sadly i will keep watching until Paget final episode. Don't much care if they cancel the show after that.
To Luvthejem,
I agree with you that since the season began the show has been talking about the struggle Emily had to go through with being away from the team and with what Doyle did to her. Everyone had their own chance at venting or dealing with it on their own about Emily, so it would be nice if we saw more than her talking to a therapist.
Maybe they can show some flashbacks of when she was living in Paris recooperating from the wounds that Doyle gave her. The show can give Emily a little storyline or an arc about what she did in Paris,so we can have a better idea of what she was thinking or doing. They can at least give us that before she leaves.
To the Anonymous above,
who mention a interesting twist to the storyline with I think your talking about Beth (the lady) that it would turn out that she was the neice of the Reaper, and Garcia ( the computer girl) would find out before Hotch does. I like the idea and she would be there to seek revenge on Hotch for killing him. By seeking revenge on him she coud take Jack like you said; and threaten to kill him because he took away someone important to her so she will take Jack away from him. Again I know that it was just an idea for the show but it was a good one. At least for me Beth would be gone.
My plot idea would be that Hotch is actually Mini Mouse in disguise.
I liked the episode, from now on, I will enjoy every episode until the end of this season, it will not be the same without Emily. And I think Reid and is ready for romance and why not, to be a dad. I do not want to spend 5 more seasons and see Reid alone. It's time you touch a joy, after the dog's life he has had.
I liked the episode, from now on, I will enjoy every episode until the end of this season, it will not be the same without Emily. And I think Reid and is ready for romance and why not, to be a dad. I do not want to spend 5 more seasons and see Reid alone. It's time you touch a joy, after the dog's life he has had.
There is something creepy, at least unsettling, about Beth. Maybe it's because she just popped up out of nowhere on the running trail. Scratch the surface and you read "unsub". Could be a plot feature of some sort in the works. Meanwhile, I hope the show catches its legs again. Maybe the uncertainty of cast at the first of the year led to not very well woven stories. They shouldn't tamper with what works.
Happy Birthday to Matthew and Paget. Love you both and thank you.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!! MAY YOU LIVE A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE!!!
No special place to post birthday greetings for our favorite geek...
Hope you have a wonderful birthday, Matthew! You are the reason I watch CM - I think you are wonderful!
You, too, Paget, we will miss you mucho, GF:(
1) Too much acting from guest stars and not enough from main cast
2) Plots are becoming too unbelievable
3) Too much Hotch/Beth - boring, conventional, too CW.
4) Perfunctory team interactions
5) Some writers on the show ought to be fired as they haven't understood the ethos of the show
"There is something creepy, at least unsettling, about Beth."
I totally agree with this comment made by one of the bloggers on this site. Either she just is not a convincing actress or she behaves that way because she has a hidden motive. Her interactions with Hotch are so awkward and unconvincing.
I also agree that they should show more of his son as opposed to Beth, since the son has been thru so much. Hotch and the son have a lot of bonding to do since Hotch never spent much time with him when the mother was alive.
I also agree with another blogger about Prentiss not getting much attention during the season regarding her feelings about her "death". That has such rich potential for some interesting TV, but the writers have not used it.
"Maybe they can show some flashbacks of when she was living in Paris recooperating from the wounds that Doyle gave her. The show can give Emily a little storyline or an arc about what she did in Paris,so we can have a better idea of what she was thinking or doing. They can at least give us that before she leaves."
I agree with this post by one of the bloggers. This would be the perfect way to incorporate Prentiss's experiences while she was thought to be dead.
I found it interesting that JJ said, that Will is away for a week ?.
I hope he has packed his bags and gone back to New Orleans for good, I've never liked his charactor and found him to be a whimp and weak person, he gives me the creeps just watching him.
I think the writers should turn Will into an unsub and get rid of this charactor this season that would be such a great story.
I would hate for Will, Reid, Prentiss or any of the regulars to become certified bad eggs. They can all develop their characters, but the basic premise of being the good guys who track down the bad guys should not be tinkered with. Too many shows jump the proverbial shark when they change their basic premise, and CM has flirted with that. A lot of fans have found this season's changes not to their liking. I am one of those. Greenaway broke bad, but there was a reason, and the fellow who was done in deserved it. The show can withstand cast changes if the stories and characater hold up. M*A*S*H is the example to look to there. On the other hand, Human Target was coming along with a solid following, and then changed from action to soap opera. Kaput!Don't need too many gimmicks - just good story telling.
Miss Artsy,
It was my blog where you got the portion of my comment from and I am glad that you agree with me about what they should do with Prentiss. I just think that they should write something or show something about what she's been through instead of just leaving it.
To me the show made a big deal about her return in season 7 that to me the first episode was too rushed, and the Doyle storyline ended too quickly. I personally thought that it should have went on for at least 2 more episodes.
And the part with Reid being angry at JJ for not telling him about Prentiss to me ended too quickly as well. I don't think that you can be so mad at someone to the point where you can't even look or be in the same room as them, and then by the end of the episode you two kissed and made up.
It not a sitcom (like full house)
I just think that they could have shown more of a growth with Reid and allow JJ and Hotch to see him more like a man and take him seriously, rather than the same old Reid who started out when he was 24. Stop making him so forgiving especially since he could have started taking drugs again. The way I see it its like they expect Reid to just get over things and move on and not have a reaction.
There was a lot of rushing around without a whole lot of thought at the beginning of the season. Again, maybe that was because of the contract situations and not know what or who the writers had to work with. I hope they settle down and give some thought to the quality of the product and the expectations of the loyal fans. Fans can accept most anything provided it is done well and is within the character of the program.
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