Wednesday, March 30, 2011

CRIMINAL MINDS SPOILER THREAD FOR "WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE..."


Criminal Minds spoiler thread for "With Friends Like These..." starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler and Kirsten Vangsness.

**Beware! There will be spoilers in the comments :)

507 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   401 – 507 of 507
gubegirl said...

Jeez, guys, I step away for a couple hours and you are at it again. Of course, we can't really fast forward thru her scenes or we would miss something; on CM, it's easy to miss a few words and upon a re-watch, you catch interaction integral to the show/plot/character development, whatever. That's why we replay so many scenes if not the entire show, they are just detailed and involved.

We just WISH we could fast forward thru them, right, guys? Puh-lease, one more time: let's talk about something positive and get this blog back on track the way it used to be - having fun, enjoying each other.

I hate it when this feels like a high school debate class...

Brenda said...

I know that have done original scores for the show, well, at least in the Lauren episode. I think I saw something about them creating music for that episode.

Anonymous said...

I'm afraid you're fighting a losing battle, gubegirl. People can't help themselves. That was my whole point.

Brenda said...

It is sad and something that I wish would stop because it is so negative and that is not good in any respect.

Maggie said...

I'm going to be completely honest and say that I really don't miss Prentiss.
Especially after her last story arc.
Sorry, but that was way too much of her for my liking, and it was so out there, so unbelievable and so dramatic, that really made me get tired of the character fast.

To me, if Emily were to come back, it would be one episode or two, just to give the rest of the team closure and that's about it.

And it's been so long since JJ, I don't think she can fit in anymore.

The thing was, this episode was so good! So, if they keep this level of quality in the writing, I guess I'm willing to let them both go and give the new girl a chance. Even if she doesn't fit because she has no experience.

I'm willing to keep watching and I'm staying as long as I like what I see.
And I know a lot of people disagree, but I just wanted to tell my opinion on this.

Maggie

Caridad said...

Huh.. yes, I agree that the Prentiss spy stuff was over the top for my liking, and yes, JJ has been gone from the scene for some time, but neither of those things minimizes the loss of their presence on the show for me. If anything, for me, Seaver highlights how badly a JJ and Prentiss type character are needed on the show, preferably, specificially those characters.

The length of time that JJ has been gone from the show and the vigor with which people still call for her return to the show are a testament to the strength of that character. The same, I suspect, will happen with Prentiss. The opposite in my opinion is true with the Seaver character.

Helen said...

JJ and Prentiss are definitely needed, wanted, and would absolutely fit right back into the show. The Seaver character can leave right now for all I am concerned and I wouldn't bat an eye lash.

Part of my continued viewing is the hope that CBS and CM will develop some brains and get AJ and Paget back. With Paget it is up to her because of what may happen with her comedy pilot, if it gets picked up and she decides to star in ot, AJ, I think is open to coming back and I would totally be happy about that and welcome her back.

Anonymous said...

This is my vote for S7:

1st choice:
Hotch
Reid
Rossi
Morgan
Garcia
JJ
(Would love to have Prentiss back but I think her pilot is going to be picked up. Maybe if they get AJ back she would come back too.)

2nd Choice:
Hotch
Reid
Rossi
Morgan
Garcia

Above all, no Hotch, no watch. So please renew Thomas Gibson's contract whatever it takes.

Anonymous said...

I've got a theory that the people who are most adamant that Prentiss or JJ should come back are the fan fiction writers or the people who have built up shippy loyalties through reading fan fiction. Just a thought. Makes sense because those people lose something that has life in their heads and not just on screen, and that would explain the level of anger. Not implying that EVERYONE who holds those views is in that category but it would make a sort of sense.

Helen said...

Anonymous, I second that about season 7. Getting AJ back is a matter of CBS and CM taking their heads out of the sand and asking her back. It seems like she would totally be on board to coming back as I think many fans would totally welcome her back on board.

With Paget, there are a lot of pilots in the works at NBC and their are limited spots, maybe just 2. The one sure shot, from what I read, is Chelsea Handler's pilot which by the life of me I don't know why because Chelsea Handler, well, let me leave it at that. Apparently, she has a big following and a best selling book. I don't like her, but whatever. Anyway, whether it gets picked up or not, it is up to Paget what she wants to do. I'll support her a 1 million percent in whatever she decides but definitely hope she comes back to CM. Yes, they had better work out the contracts for both TG and SM!!!

Anonymous, what??? I have never written or read any fan fiction. I'm not interested in it; no offense to anyone who is or who writes it and I definitely do not want to see any type of romance develop between any of the team mates EVER!

Janet said...

Really people, let's stop wishing that Paget's pilot won't get pick up, please.

She decided to keep her option open for pilots, she did it, so she wants to try new things, so can't we all wish the best for her?

Because saying things like "there are like 100 other pilots at NBC right now" is kind of wishing that hers won't get pickup.

If I'm wrong, I guess I'm wrong, but that is the vibe I'm getting from a lot of people here.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous,

I don't know about fanfiction, but I do think a lot of people imagine things about the characters that aren't necessarily portrayed on the show.

For example, the whole thing about the team as a "family" is a bit of a stretch. From what I've seen, they're more or less professional colleages. They spend a lot of time working together. They occasionally share personal issues with each other, and once or twice they've hung out outside of work. That's pretty similar to my relationship with my co-workers, yet I would not call them "family."

Milo Samson said...

season 7

Hotch
Rossi
Seaver
Morgan
Reid
Garcia (can take a hike for all i care)

Paget is gone she will not come back

Helen said...

Janet, I am not saying that at all. I am just saying that there is a lot of competition at NBC for a comedy pilot spot for what appears to be limited spots as people say that it is a given that hers will be picked up.

I am with Paget in whatever she decides to do. In reality, the pilot could get picked up and she could opt not to do and still not come back to CM or vice versa. It is up to her and I am with her in whatever she does. I've said that multiple times and that is what I mean. If that is how you took what I said, well, then I'm sorry, but I think I was more than clear. I would never wish anything for Paget that she didn't want.

Helen said...

Anonymous said...

"For example, the whole thing about the team as a "family" is a bit of a stretch."

Did you watch the Lauren episode? Reid said "We are her family.." referring to Prentiss.

Anonymous said...

I know that's what Reid said, I've just never really seen it shown.

Helen said...

That is a bit odd since that is probably one of the number one things people say that they miss about the show, the "family" type of interaction between the characters. Not that they are literally functioning as a family, but rather that the closeness between them, at least the way it was written in the past, cast that auora around them and it is something I think they were tryig to stress with Reid's comment during that episode.

Laurie said...

I gotta side with Anonymous here.
If they such a family, how come Morgan had never gone to Penelope's apt until the episode with her name? Why JJ never told at least the girls about Will? Why didn't she tell them about the baby? Why we never see them hanging out anymore? Or at least hear them mentioning? How come no ones realizes Reid is really sick?

They can call each other family all they want, but all they show us is that they are coworkers, who sometimes confide in each other and get cut off to go back to work. That's it.

Helen said...

The closeness that they have doesn't necessitate that they go to one another;s home. They have been through some sketchy stuff on the field, they spend more time with each other than their real families. They've been through thick and thin with one another. It is that closeness that led Morgan to speak with Reid in th ebathroom, that closeness that between the two that triggered the need for him to speak with Reid, much like in Elephant's Memory. I don't know, this is all very odd to me that people don't see that family element, but whatever, to each his own.

As far as the music, I would love for them to play "You Found Me" by the Fray.

Helen said...

The JJ stuff was explained in those episodes. The other stuff you mentione Laurie is a symptom of the writing that we have seen since they let a majority of the old writers who knew the characters go from the show. It is something that has been discussed here over and over, and unfortunate situation.

Helen said...

If not "You Found Me" then "How to Save a Life," lol, I am on a Fray kick :)

Laurie said...

For that Helen I say, what is missing is the perfect team that once was:

The good, fair and professional team leader: Hotch has been in the background too much, and making way too many bad decisions (Garcia as a liaison and Seaver)

The second in command: to me, that is Morgan, but he has been overstepping lately.

The old-timer who backs-up the team leader: Rossi is still Rossi, but with Hotch closed down, pretending everything is A-ok, is kind of hard for him to play that role.

The woman profiler: Seaver, really?

The computer geek: tryout as a liaison, really?

The genious at work: Reid was so grown up by season fiv,e but now he's back being the baby of the group, what a step back.

And our liaison: position that apparently was never needed, given the silly arcs we got this season.


So I don't know about family, but the team used to be perfect, now it's a mess and the positions are all confused and seriously, I'm starting to wish that Strauss shows up, overrule Hotch by firing Seaver, tell him to stop being silly and get a new liaison (maybe causing JJ to come back) and tell Morgan to go back to the bullpen where he belongs.

But with Hotch's statement from the last episode, apparently now Strauss wants Seaver to stay. Now she is the bad guy? really, cause who let her join the team in the first place, huh, Aaron?going to c

Laurie said...

I didn't buy JJ's excuse.
She won't tell them about Will.
She won't tell them she is pregnant.
But she makes Reid and Garcia her baby's godparents?
I wish those writers sat down together once in a while so the episodes wouldn't feel so different with the team's closeness.

Helen said...

Laurie, I'm sorry, I misunderstood what you were originally saying in your post. I see what you are saying now, and yes, I agree, the team is a mess.

Helen said...

With the JJ and Will siutation, the way I understood it was that she was afraid of saying anything because she felt that saying something would as she said "make it real" and mess stuff up. I think she probably had issues in relationships before, but they never explored that with her character. The pregnancy, I think she learned that shortly before they left for that case in NYC, so I think she probably didn't feel it was a good time to say something. That is what I am guessing anyway.

Anonymous said...

I agree with everything Laurie said about the team.

Helen said...

Yes, Anonymous, me too. I misunderstood in the beginning what Laurie was saying, I thought she was just referring to a specific thing, but everything she brought up has been out of whack for a while now. I'm just hoping that they can get stuff back on track.

Again, sorry Laurie for the misunderstanding on my part.

Katia said...

Janet, I didn't take that as what Helen or anyone else has meant when they bring up the number of pilots that are up for slots at NBC. Stating what is a real fact about the competition is not the same as wishing that someone doesn't get a pilot picked up. People are saying it is a given her pilot will be picked up, Helen and others are pointing out that this may not be so, but from what I've read they have also always said that it is up to Paget and they are going to support her in whatever she does whether the pilot gets picked up or not, and whether she decides to come back or not no matter what happens with the pilot.

Katia said...

Laurie, the team structure has been bugging me for forever!! Everything that you have pointed out is right. I hope they fix and sort all of this out for season 7, including the contracts for Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore. It would be a nightmare if any one of these men were not return to the show.

Eleven said...

Just rewatched 'with friends...". Gotta say that i didn't like it as much the second time. As many people have pointed out, there's too much of the unsub and too little profiling these days. For me, it's actually a result of lazy writing. Lots of situational music, head-grabbing, choppy/jerky shots, painful wincing and voila! you have an unsub story. Just not enough of the team. I think UK Viewer pointed this out earlier - the profiling is becoming more like magic. There is no slow, interesting, intelligent way of getting to the unsub while still making a few mistakes along the way. Every time it comes to the profiling, they seem to be running out of time given that there is so much of the unsub. Think of Revelations and Omnivore, for example. Tobias and the Reaper were so central to those stories and yet the narrative structure ensured they took nothing at all away from Reid and Hotch and the team. That was the superb balance of our magnificent seven written so well. Think of 100, even, very character centric but you remember every team member being in character and memorable, every last one of them. And Morgan now saying that Prentiss wouldn't have wanted the team to sulk? Sulk? you sulk when you don't get your fedora in the colour you want. you don't sulk someone's death. terrible writing. They didn't need to show the team sitting and mourning but their body language should have spoken volumes. Remember Prentiss looking for Hotch in Demonology when she'd just learnt of her friend's death? That stunned, slow walk, the strangely distracted way of speaking to Garcia, not tuning in to Garcia's humorous "oh i'm pretty sure he lives here" when she asks "is hotch here?". In 'With friends" there was NOTHING. They didn't need to focus on her death, but there are subtle ways of implying things. Ok, peeps, i'm going to watch my Season 4 episodes. See ya

Lin from Ohio said...

I love Eleven's comments about sulking. Dead on -- you sulk about that other girl crunching on your date, not about a death. Or, yeah, you sulk when two actresses you really liked are cast off a show you really liked. It sounded like the writer was talking directly to the fans: Stop sulking, embrace Seaver. Not even subtle, and it struck me as, well, rude.

I loved the Reid scenes in this ep, especially the very last delusional one. And I like how we've gotten back to a two-sided Morgan -- the action/tackling guy, and the one who's everybody's big brother. But overall I wasn't thrilled with this episode.

Ely said...

Lin, I would also add that it was pitiful. I saw right through that line and it rubbed me the wrong way and did nothing to advance their cause. Pitiful.

Eleven, love your comments about the writing. It is indeed lazy writing. Focusing so much on the unsub creates the opportunity for the lazy writing you have described. I really wish they would get back to the type of writing that led to an interesting and intelligent way of getting to who the unsub is and what possibly makes him or her tick; instead, of this overload on the unsub to the point like Pat brought up earlier that even the promo's lately focus almost exclusively on the unsub.

Anonymous said...

Anytime you have a recognizable actor like Kelly Williams as the unsub, you can bet the episode will spend a lot of time on her.

Eleven said...

Criminal Minds with the Stars. maybe they should add some dancing to it, too, while they're at it. The regular cast is amazing and a guest star should only enhance the cohesiveness of the team. Instead, the writers are writing for the guest stars to the detriment of the real stars of the show. Jsu finished watching Demonology. While many fans don't particularly like this episode, it is still far superior to most of what they've dished out in S6. Lots of Rossi in it - great. and here was Hotch taking one look at a withdrawn, hesitant Prentiss and asking what was wrong. You could see the change of mood in his eyes. And through this entire Lauren story arc he seemed as if he was on valium - absolutely clueless. What the heck is happening?! Although i took my marriage vows with Minds a long time ago - till death do us part and all that, HEY writers get your act together. Appreciate this great cast and what they are capable of and giive us some of the old magic back.

LaShawna said...

Yes, I do agree that I wish the show would do more shows in the format of the early seasons-where we didn't know who the unsub was, but had to figure it out along with the team. It definitely allowed for more profiling, as you could understand how the team made the assessments they did based on the unsub's actions. It is the danger of getting named guest stars. As much as I love SVU, they do the same thing, and the episode becomes more of a showcase for the guest actor than it does the main cast.

As for the "family" aspect of the team, I hate to admit it, but I agree that while the team talks a good game about being a family, their actions don't always back it up. Sometimes they do, particularly in the earlier episodes with JJ, Emily and Penelope bonding outside of work. Plus the team did rally around Penelope after she was shot, and Emily did around Hotch after the Reaper stabbed him. But the others seem to be on their own. Reid has continually been left to fend for himself when he's going through crises. He was left to deal with the aftermath of Hankel on his own, and only Emily was ever really willing to say anything to him. It's taken a while for anyone to notice that he's going through issues. Hopefully future episodes don't drop this now that Morgan knows what is going on. The team left Elle to deal with the aftermath of being shot on her own, and only Reid seemed to pick up on her distress.

And yeah, "sulking" is an odd word to use in the face of the death of a beloved friend and colleague. Those lines were definitely aimed at fans, and it seriously irked me. Don't try and evoke the memory of "dead" Emily to get me to like a character. A new character either stands on his/her own feet and can be accepted, or s/he can't. Just a curious question for those who plead for us who don't like Ashley to "just give her a chance." How many episodes do we have to watch before we can say definitively we don't like a character? She's been on eight episodes already.

I think JJ could come back and be successfully incorporated back into the team. She didn't leave under a cloud of suspicion over a bad shoot or after an emotional meltdown. If she did come back, I think it would be interesting if she had taken all the profiler classes and wanted to be a profiler. It would be something different than the media liaison, but I would still rather have her present than the cases than Penelope. Other actors have come back to shows they've left before, so I don't see this has a hurdle at all to a successful return.

Anonymous said...

JJ is nowhere near ready to be a profiler. So if she comes back it will not be as a profiler it will be a press liason again

Blue Sunflower said...

gubegirl said...

Karina: I will def be on the lookout for more on that autism stat as it is a serious issue (WAY more serious than the above) and it has been raised on CM more than once, not to mention that MGG has hinted that he plays Reid based on a loose Asperger's interpretation. I have been intrigued by it for years.

Yes Yes Yes! My theory? Reid's just exhausted. He spends far too much time in a social world he's not naturally adapted for, and he's just near his tipping point. Boy needs a *serious* sabbatical - say, 3 month, conveniently timed for summer hiatus. :D

sdwally said...

Your assessment of Seavers’ style appears to be based on something other than what has transpired on the screen;

Hey, sdwally? I'd love to make out with your whole post, particularly the point you made above. Love ya!

Anonymous said...

She took on a job fully knowing it was in the middle of a heated controversy. She saw the risk and chose to accept it. This is the consequence of that risk.

Oh, word. I really don't have that much sympathy for RN. Ed said when they hired her she was "the world's biggest CM fan". If so, then she knew about AJ's leaving. The second she showed up on set, she knew about Paget's leaving. It really doesn't take that brilliant of a mind to know the fans wouldn't like that. And yet, what does she do when she gets the "Lauren" script? Tweet out Paget's last episode is going to be "Rad!". All kinds of stupid, IMO. The criticism she got for that was well-deserved.

It also shouldn't take that much of a genius to figure out the blowback from the fact they make her look so much like AJ. Someone really should have suggested she redye her hair red or something. Not to mention, make her wardrobe more distinctive. Someone on tumblr posted JJ/Seaver side-by-side pics where they're pretty much wearing the exact same clothes.

heyya said...

Bluesunflower, the only thing she has in common with JJ is blonde her and blue eyes, and the fact that the CM people try to make them look alike. They actually do look alike. But the similarities end on the surface. JJ is a strong, independent woman of substance, confident, assured, poised, graceful. Seaver, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. I've posted enough about what I think about this character, so not going to go into detail. She is utterly clueless, and will never be able to hold a candle to JJ, no matter how they try to spin it.
Someone brought this up in another thread and I'm putting it out here:
Over the course of the six years, all the main characters have had emotional jolts. Hotch had the Reaper arc, Morgan-the prince of darkness, Garcia and Elle got shot, JJ got attacked by rabid dogs and had to shoot them, Gideon's girlfriend got killed and he had a sort of breakdown, Reid has been through enough emotional stuff, Emily got beat up by Benjamin Cyrus, and had the whole Ian Doyle arc. I'm thinking now it's Rossi's turn. He has this creepy, weird relationship with Seaver, whatever you want to call it. If she dies in the field, I think he will feel more guilty than the others for pushing her on to the team, and he seems more attached to her than the others, the aftermath could be interesting, it would be interesting to see how he deals with the trauma, etc. It would be like killing two birds with one stone, Seaver will be gone, and it will also make for compelling story-telling.

Asian fan said...

Cheers, gubegirl & Jenna. My previous post is just there & if you think it would help & not start another frenzy if others get to read it, direct them there by all means :)

I was concerned for a while that my mentioning Seaver upon finally getting to watch the episode may have directed commenters' attention away from the more pleasant discussion about the music on CM, but it seems she'd been mentioned again before I did. & I really can't blame myself or the other posters here for continually mentioning her if some of us get to watch & comment on the most recent ep later than others, & still consider that she forms part of what may be amiss with that particular ep. Like most here, I don't have a personal grudge against the actress playing Seaver (she seems to be a lovely person to her Twitter followers) though I may prefer livelier acting from her, & while I'm unable to give the character a "chance" given how she's been written at present, I'd personally be willing to give her a chance if she comes back with better qualifications next season (I seem to be in the minority there though).

I regard the thoughtful criticisms leveled about the writing, Seaver, the firing of two strong female characters, etc., as marks of how much the viewers care about the show; if you didn't care, you'd all have just changed the channel. I also became aware via older blog entries of the financial assistance the fans relayed to the CM writers c/o this blog during the strike in '07(?), & the appreciation books that were prepared & given to the cast members for the 100th episode celebration (I hope posting about this is OK). I was beyond impressed by the concern & love the CM fans showed then. I hope the show's producers & writers who look at this forum will remember that & realize that the opinions being voiced here are in line with that concern & continuing best wishes for the show.

And so, to continue with the respectful & positive discussions :)

Reina said...

Asian fan, I think you may be in the minority who'd think that this character could credibly develop the experience and skills required to come back as a team member next season, not to mention, that this amount of time would still not be enough to qualify her for a spot on the team. Hotch said that they needed an experienced profiler and I hope by season 7 they get one and that at this time Seaver goes where probabtionary agents go upon completetion of their probabtion and that is a field office. Upon several years of being at that field office, someone in Seaver's position could apply along with many, many, others for a coveted spot on the team. I don't believe it would be wise or beneficial to the show to to continue on with this character into season 7. With that said, I can't stress enough how greatly I appreciate your tone. Thank for being yet another example of hpw to respectfully post a comment.

I hope that season 7 sees the return of TG and SM in their roles as Hotch and Morgan. It would be a grave mistake for CBS not to successfully hash out the details of the contracts with these men. They more than deserve what they may be asking for as they make up a vital part of what has made this show successfully and of what keeps viewers tuning in week after week. It is time for the network to show these actors the respect that they show countless of other actors in other shows. Moreover, I think that season 7 should open the door for CBS and CM to rectify the mistake of them having fired AJ from the show. I personally believe that it was a mistake to rid the show of this character as it did not enhance one thing but rather threw off some of the dynamics of the team structure in an unnecessary way. Concerning Paget, it was mentioned before not to place how much competition she may be up against at NBC as that gave the particular person the impression that in doing so that demonstrated some ill will towards her pilot. I did not get that sense at all as the posters immediately stated that although the competition was tough, and there is no telling what will happen, they are there to support Paget in whatever happens and whatever she decides to do. Paget is very talented and can withstand whatever competition is thrown her way because of that talent. It is no secret that pilots are tough to get ordered to series, but Paget is wonderful and on her part I know she is going to give it all that she has, just as she did on CM. I too will support Paget in whatever she decides. At this point, I think Paget may have resigned herself to the fact that she no longer wants to deal with the network, regardless of whether her pilot gets picked up or not, and for that I blame the network and CM for such faulty and careless decision making. On the off chance that Paget would return, it would be great if AJ were there too with some of the old writers and/or writers that can write in the style that some of us are desperate for the show to return to. A less unsub-centric writing style that places the attention the amazing cast of actors that have been there for years to work with, not guest stars. As Eleven said, the guest stars on the show should function to augment the cast, not overshadow them.

LaShawna said...

I feel that JJ is more ready to be a profiler than Ashley is. She worked with that team for six years and Hotch felt she was ready to take the classes back in season two. Of course I'd be content to have JJ back as a media liaison, but from a purely aesthetic perspective, it would be weird to have JJ and Ashley on the same team. I personally feel they look too much alike to be on the team at the same time.

Reina said...

Agreed LaShawna, there is no doubt in my mind that JJ is more experienced and prepared than Seaver to be a profiler. I would love to see her come back in any capacity, although, I would love it if she came back as the Media Liaison mainly to take over the role of presenting the cases to the team. I love Garcia but she is just not suited to present the cases to the team. It was wonderful to see JJ present the case to the team in the Lauren episode. JJ has such a professional, calm, and strong presence. I suppose even if JJ came back as a profiler she could still present cases. Again, whatever capaciy she were to return, be that profiler or Media Liaison, would be welcomed by me.

Yes, the aesthetic nature of having both JJ and Seaver on the team would be off- putting to me and I think many others. I don't believe that is a can of worms the network should, or does, want to open.

Asian fan said...

Reina said:
"this amount of time would still not be enough to qualify her for a spot on the team"

Oh, I agree. What I had in mind would've involved a version of the theory of relativity & truly creative writing: something like having Seaver age faster than the rest of the team, thus be in possession of more qualifications than the real-time hiatus could provide. (Or else a time machine, but that would make it another type of show.) & to confess, all that is premised on the notion that TPTB absolutely will not let the character be written out or dropped. My wish is for S7 to surprise us with both JJ & Prentiss back; it's difficult for me to conceive a need for Seaver in that case.

I admire Paget a lot & I do wish her success...but I admit I'm still hoping she'll find her way back to CM. Prentiss gone is such a loss of a great female character & I miss her each time I catch her on the old episodes.

sf81387 said...

A good portion of this season has felt fragmented and somewhat incomplete. The episodes have been good and many had the potential to be very good, but the writers have been so focused on exiting two characters they've lost focus on what used to make this show so good.

This whole season has been either about JJ and/or Prentiss leaving or the aftermath of those exits and judging by the episode descriptions it's just going to be more of the same distractions as each episode is going to in some way deal with the loss of the Prentiss. You want to touch on that great, devote an entire episode to the team dealing with that and be done with it, but dragging it on over four or five episodes is just going to result in more of the same disjointed episodes that leave you feeling like something was lacking that we've seen the majority of the season.

The writers can't seem to handle a B-plot and also write an A-plot that doesn't feel fragmented and rushed. This season's episodes, or a great deal of them anyway, have definitely been lacking, they've not been terrible, but they've just felt simple on some level, as though there were six steps to get to a place, but we only saw step 1, skipped over steps 2 through 5 and went straight to step 6.

This really can't be blamed on CBS. It's EB and the writing staff who are solely to blame for taking a bad situation and making it worse. They've lost their focus. Instead of just exiting the two characters in the nice, neat, clean and final way that both Gideon and Elle were exited they've chosen to write the season around those exits and it failed in my opinion. That whole Prentiss arc was horrible. So horrible I can't even remember what the episodes A-plots were supposed to be about. The episodes following JJ's exit with Garcia attempting to do things she's not qualfied to do were bothersome and unnecessary. It added nothing to the episodes except distraction from the story they were attempting to tell.

I figure if Thomas and Shemar don't come back next season the good news will be that they will already be gone and we won't have to sit through some absurd exit arcs that completely retcons the characters we knew and loved and turns the episodes into fragmented rush jobs as they attempt to write an entire season around their exits.

What I'd like to in Season 7? I'd like to see something that looks similar to Seasons 1 thru 4.

Anonymous said...

They just shouldn't have messed with this show at all, not with the cast or the writers.

Anonymous said...

And another problem with guest star unsubs and the episodes' strong focus on them--it ends up doing what the show claims to not do--glorify the criminal.

I mentioned this earlier, but I will say it again because I want to hear your thoughts--is Reid headed towards a breakdown?

Michael said...

blu sun flower and heyya you two sound like two bitter people.

Couldn't you keep your bitterness to yourself, no need for us here at this board want to read what you have to say, all you two do is complain and complain. We on this board are quite sick of it. Move on we heard enough of your bickering and bitterness.

Anonymous said...

Kind of ironic that you would say that Michael as you have been less than a ray of sunshine.

Cindy said...

I think gubegirl and Blimey Limey have said that they think that they believe that Reid is headed toward a breakdown. I too think he may be headed down that road unless he gets some help. Maybe if he talks to someone regarding the fear and stress he feels over becoming mentally ill like his mother. I think having that bottled up inside all of this time is taking a toll and his belief that Prentiss is dead is not helping. First and foremost, he has to confront his fear of becoming mentally ill.

Michael said...

what are you talking about anonymous. I am not the one bickering and complaining over every move seaver does

Anonymous said...

Michael, they have made comments on the character in the episode itself and on the show in general. You stand ready to bicker and complain, as you said they do, toward anyone who disagrees with your judgment that this character is good. You can't have it both ways.

Optika said...

Sooooooo ummm,

I thought we were starting to campaign for a CM soundtrack? What happened?
I think that TG is right and that the next transition for CM would have to be the readdition of former cast members otherwise get rid of Seaver and leave the cast be.
I think Reid is headed for a breakdown as well, I agree with that. I will continue to watch CM despite its current errors just to see Thomas Gibson as Aaron Hotchner, but if he goes...so do I!

Cindy said...

I hope they intervene before it gets to the stage of a total breakdown for Reid. Taking him down the mental illness road, I think, would be a mistake. Assuming that after next season MGG wants to leave (or if the show doesn't get picked up for an 8th season), then I think that his character should be written out in a way that doesn't include him becoming mentally ill. Reid is a genius and I could see him transitioning into something fantastic that would use that genius for something awesome.

Optika said...

I have an idea for getting both Emily and JJ back on the show.
Someone finds out Emily is alive and tries to kill JJ and Hotch (both survive but display some badass self-defense moves), but it forces Emily out of whatever she's doing, hiding or hunting Doyle and for her to come back to the BAU as well as JJ and then the writers can take it from there...I guess its cliche kinda but "fingers crossed".
This person is more than welcome to kill off Seaver though.

Anonymous said...

I don't think that Seaver needs to be killed off in order to be written off the show. The fact that she is a probationary agent and once she is off probabtion should be sent to a field office as any other rookie agent would be is sufficient and plausible enough.

Anonymous said...

I wasn't thinking of a total mental/nervous breakdown for Reid--just a minor, emotional breakdown, to let out what he's bottled up and cleanse himself (the "ghosts" in his head).

I wrote this on an imdb message board, but I think it bears repeating here:

I think Reid is going to have an emotional breakdown toward the end of this season--I mean, JJ leaving the team, Prentiss "dead", his headaches, and the stress from all the cases and graphic images accumulated from his years working in the BAU stored in his eidetic memory is going to take a huge toll on Reid.

Somehow, I have this image of a promo saying "A Young Man...With the Most Brilliant Mind in the World...working in one of the most stressful jobs in the country.. but when will it all be too much... (cue quick montage of his parents, Elle, Gideon, JJ, and Prentiss, and scenes from "Revelations" "Minimal Loss" and "Faceless, Nameless", and his headaches, and graphic images)...for his mind?" Cut to Reid holding his head. Cut to short excerpts of the upcoming episode (for the case that will no doubt have heavy involvement from Reid), and then before the announcement of "All-New Criminal Minds. Next Weds @ 9, ONly on CBS" the promo shows an intense close-up of Reid in the middle of a supposed breakdown, screaming louding and grasping his hair tightly.

Just a theory.

Could it be a possible storyline?

After all that's happened to Reid in the past and this current season, with the departure of his two "sisters" (JJ to the Pentagon, Prentiss to her "death"), how much do you wanna bet that an emotional breakdown isn't too far away?

Mary J said...

I hope the show goes on long past Season 8, they have several issues they need to address but all can be successfully remedied.
Remedy:
1) Acquire writers who are able to provide psychologically thrilling scripts, written with intelligence and stay true to the characters. (borrowed from another CMFANATIC)
2) Keep TG and SM and bring back AJ and fingers crossed Paget too
3) Lose Seaver

This whole notion that the show needs a younger cast member just doesn’t make any sense to me. I know that much of the advertising revenue is aimed to the 18 – 49 audience; when will TPTB realize that there are a lot more folks working past 50 who still buy stuff, it’s insulting. When I was in retail we had “focus on the stuff buyers” shoved down our throats.
I’m wondering if the Reid situation will be part of their cliffhanger this year; hate to think they’d drag it out that long as I’d like to see things get back to some kind of normal. Totally dislike the idea of a “big name” guest star each week, that’s so not the answer.

Reina said...

Mary J. it is indeed insulting. I am not saying that as someone in that age bracket, but nevertheless agree with what you are saying (not sure if you are in that age backet, you don't have to answer that question, ha ha). What is ridiculous is that the show didn't need to target a younger audience. Sorry, but that is just another smoke screen being held up as an excuse as to why AJ was fired and Paget's appearances were reduced. The show was not in any trouble before that it needed a change; it had been doing well in the demo target that it tries to reach prior to this "creatively refreshing" line that was touted by Ms. Tassler. All of the changes they have implemented are typically done to shows that are failing in the ratings, this was not the case with CM. Additionally, none of the changes, including firing the writers at the end of season 4, has done anything to enhance the show. Your list is definitely what they should do to ensure more seasons of CM past season 7.

I also don't want this Reid headache story line dragged on for too much longer.

LaShawna said...

I agree that the writers want us to think Reid is headed for a breakdown, but it all could be a red herring. However, if they did choose to go down this route, it would need to be carefully plotted out and written. Schizophrenia is completely off the table unless they are looking to get rid of Reid (unlikely) or they truly want to descend into a well of unbelievability. I guess the show could go with a "major depressive episode." That would not preclude Reid from coming back to the team when he is better (witness Gideon). If they did do that, I just hope it is well written and believable. However, part of me thinks the headaches storyline is a big tease and it will either taper off, because the writers don't know how to wrap it up properly, or there will be something completely different out of left field that most of us were not anticipating. We have five more episodes left in this season, so I am very curious what sort of storylines the show will have.

gubegirl said...

Last anonymous re: the Reid scenario: Pls, Lord, don't let it get to that point. Let Hotch or Rossi finally jump in there and help rescue Reid - it's them, the seniors, the leaders, that should be noticing his issues. For credibility's sake, I hope it doesn't have to be Morgan, because these G men stand just enough on protocol that intervention may be delayed if they keep waiting for his immediate supervisor to take steps to get him some help. Heck, Hotch needs some serious help himself, what am I saying, maybe they can get a two-fer? Just kidding - two totally dif issues tho' some therapy after Prentiss' death would seem to be in order, wouldn't it? That's another subject...

My concern is that if Reid suffers from a total and complete breakdown, he won't return and I'm selfish enuf to not want to see that, even if he steps in to do full-time directing as an option. That face and voice belong IN FRONT of the camera. Just MHO...

Back to the music. Everything I have heard on the Adele's new CD "21" is great - and what a voice. Also liking the sound of Amos Lee alot but am thinking I would like to see a couple of good indie artists that are relative newbies write some special material just for CM, customizing it for particular stories. There's a ton of talent out there.

Altho' I am sure there is no shortage of already published material out there. I think that they must pay residuals on these songs tho', eveytime they play, and at the rate we watch all the re-runs, the artists will be getting rich long after CM is no longer in production:) Hah!

And hey, Michael, what do YOU think about the music? Any ideas for the soundtrack? What kinda stuff do you like to listen to?

Cindy said...

LOL, gubegirl, the artists would become multi- millionaries at the rate some of us watch the past episodes, :)

You brought up a good point of having Hotch and/or Rossi step in and take the lead with helping Reid and what is troubling him. Eleven was right in saying that this season Hotch has been written as being almost non- existent, clueless. He needs to step in and get Reid some help before it gets to the total breakdown stage, if it gets to that stage as I think LaShawna may be right in that this whole headache story line could be a big tease that may taper off. If they are not able to properly write and wrap up this story line, then I would prefer it just taper off.

Optika said...

No Seaver doesnt need to be killed off but it could make for a powerful storyline and emotional impact the way Haley being killed off did, though that still needs to be addressed a bit more.
I think Seaver should be killed off in a way that can have her character redeemed. I wanted to like Seaver but I dont. Sometimes, character deaths have been written in ways that redeem the characters themselves so its an idea.

Also, more Lifehouse, Nine Inch Nails, Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson and such music should be included.
A great song that could be showcased on CM is Dead Heart Bloom'm New Messiah, for Reid or Hotch. Great song.
Has anyone mentioned the Johnny Cash songs that played in Elephants' Memory, Hurt and The man comes around or whatever. Also great songs for the CM soundtrack.

Mary J said...

Cindy,

LOL, gubegirl, the artists would become multi- millionaries at the rate some of us watch the past episodes, :)

They've already changed the soundtrack for a couple of episodes shown on A&E and ION, Extreme Agressor and Fisher King Pt 1 have different music than the originaly aired versions. I've asked around and no one I know has ever noticed this on other television programs, wierd.

Optika said...

Has anyone ever noticed that Emily is the one who endures most of Spencer's adorable ranting? She doesnt usually say anything either. She just has this expression of why did I ask on her face?
i love that!

gubegirl said...

Optika: just gave a quickie listen to Dead Heart Bloom: New Messiah. Really nice sound for CM, I like the frontman's kinda monotone voice but the words are cool: like his name not appearing "above fold!" Haven't heard that old newspaper term in decades... I don't like that he went with his name being Henry tho', we must change that or we'll start missing JJ even more. Saw other lyrics for their song "Listen" that looked interesting as well - do you know that one?

Re: Nat'l Autism Day and all the news/announcements I heard the other day. Those with Aspergers (Aspies) sometimes go undiagnosed because they are intelligent and so high functioning. They also have a tendency to ramble - which is kinda what Reid does: A Reid -rant is really more like a Reid- ramble because someone sometimes has to give him "the look", or an elbow or, in the case of a LE at the scene, a remark ("I see you brought your own computer"), to get him to stop. I am amazed that MGG is able to go on at the rate that he does, because he sounds so natural.

Karina: (from 4/2/10) The 1 in 88 military fams that have an autistic child is apparently due in part to the constant moving around with deployments in tandem with the rarity of finding appropriate treatment programs that their ins benes will cover. The nat'l statistic is closer to 1 in 90 to 1 in 100 and those numbers startled me even more. Many kids go undiagnosed when they have mild cases and are chalked up to ADD or ADHD and thus go untreated. Treatment these days includes computer based learning tools to enhance their communication skills as autistic people suffer this symptom in most cases. These kinds of programs aid the patient and their family tremendously and can make a huge difference in the emotional well-being and future success at integrating them into anything close to the everyday normal world.

I know this place is not the venue for PSA, but because we Reid freaks have always wondered, now that I have your att'n, pls spend five minutes and google or bing further info because I think it will surprise you to know that the problem is as widespread as it is and you may know someone who can benefit from your new found knowledge.

Enuf! Back to the music! Will it be Johnny Cash? AC/DC? a CD which I have listened to only the hits on and their may be other great stuff on it as well? Why is my iPod in the drawer collecting dust waiting for the kids to help me add songs? I try to remind my son every day, "I DO NOT listen to soccer mom music..." besides, I listen...er...watch Criminal Minds..."

Optika said...

gubegirl,

I did not know you had a son!
Anyway, AC/DC had the rock'n roll trian song for CM, you're right. And no I havent listened to anything else other than New Messiah. i love that song persoanlly. Maybe we should all just make a track list for how we would like to see the CM soundtrack and hopefully the producers will combine them and actually put out a soundtrack. my recent fave soundtracks are the Inception and Sucker Punch soundtracks.

gubegirl said...

Keep meaning to tell any of you Gargia fashionistas: read in last wk's TV Guide where someone wrote in asking where KV gets her glasses. She responds that she picks out and buys most of them herself at L.A. Eyeworks that she describes as "amazing."

Also on the same page in Ask the Editors, back on the autism subject, I guess the show "Parenthood" just did an epi on a couple (regulars?) who sat down and explained to their son that he has Asperger's and apparently was very well done and informative.

Milo Samson said...

They should kill of Garcia that would be a very powerful thing

Anonymous said...

They already did something like that with Garcia when she got shot and nearly died.

sdwally said...

"Anonymous said...
sdwally
I am a longtime CM fan, and i got no problem with Seaver. So to say longtime fans got problems with her is not true. The once that got problems with her is people that are afraid of change."

I'm not afraid of change; as a matter of fact I've initiated many changes in my organization.

However, change should be smart, strategic. carefully planned and value-added; not reckless, ill-conceived and slipshod.

In my opinion, CBS wanted cuts, maybe AJ fired and Paget reduced; and Ed saw an opportunity to offer up a hybrid; a profiler in the mode of Prentiss, with the likeness of JJ. He simply merged the two characters in the role of Seavers. He had just created something similar in the spinoff. With the blank slate of CMSB, he simply added the character of Gina who already fit the bill.

As the creator of CMSB, and not CM, the character of Gina was developed by him and met that requirement; so why not duplicate her by merging AJ and Paget into the body of Seaver.

The problem with the Seaver character is she is not dynamic, unique, or special. Instead of making her vitally important and an instant contributor; the writers made her inexperienced, weak, whiny, ineffective and bland--instead of adding value, she detracted from the team and the significance of the BAU.

CM needs to bring AJ and Paget back. If that's not successful, they need to scrap Seavers and start from scratch.

I didn't start watching CM because of the Seavers character and will not stop watching because of her. I will only stop watching CM if Thomas Gibson/Hotch is no longer there. So if TG's contract isn't renewed, then CM is no longer worth watching for me.

Blue Sunflower said...

gubegirl said...

I know this place is not the venue for PSA, but because we Reid freaks have always wondered, now that I have your att'n, pls spend five minutes and google or bing further info because I think it will surprise you to know that the problem is as widespread as it is and you may know someone who can benefit from your new found knowledge.

Hey, gubegirl! I made a list of possible ASD symptoms Reid exhibits, as I'm fascinated by the subject as well. As someone else said, I google-fu'ed the heck out of it. Love your PSA! :D


Michael said...

blu sun flower and heyya you two sound like two bitter people.

Couldn't you keep your bitterness to yourself, no need for us here at this board want to read what you have to say, all you two do is complain and complain. We on this board are quite sick of it. Move on we heard enough of your bickering and bitterness.


Considering the source of this comment, it's hard to take it seriously.

Eleven said...

If you start to fix something that doesn't need fixing, it starts to have a domino effect on everything else. The writing deteriorated, they made casting chages that weren't necessary, the writing deterirated further to incorporate over-the-top exit storyllines and a 10% baked new character, the regular cast had fewer lines and screen time to work with, so they needed guest stars to fill the plotholes of insipid writing….and here we have Season 6, going from bad to worse. But as everything in life has to run its course, I'll let this run its. I only hope whatever good is left over (ie, the regular cast, the veiwers/fans) is resilient enough, and still emotionally and professionally invested enough, to survive it.

heyya said...

Lol..Michael's comment is laughable. Thank you Michael for helping me dissolve some of my bitterness, since you're such a ray of sunshine yourself, THANK YOU :D
Bluesunflower I read what you posted about Reid's ASD symptoms, and you know, it fits, and it makes perfect sense. My friend and I pretty much only discuss Reid when we get the time, and she is convinced that he is autistic. She is of the belief that it is impossible for him to be so brilliant without having some sort of autism. And after I read what you wrote, I think she has a point. I'd rather they develop the ASD storyline than the schizophrenia one, because if all know that if they make him schizophrenic there's no way back for him. ASD is more intriguing and I think that storyline has more potential too. Schizophrenia will be very predictable.
Gubegirl and Optika, those Johnny Cash songs in "Elephant's Memory" were fantastic! It is one of my favourite episodes, every thing about it was top-notch. The icing on the cake was that it was written by Andrew Wilder. Oh, what I'd give to him back. Johnny Cash is a legend, and when the song "Hurt" came on I felt like crying, I felt bad for Owen, and for poor Reid :( MGG did a great job in that episode too.
Milo Samson, if it's not too much to ask, can you point out the reasons why you seem to have such a strong dislike for Garcia? She's the only remaining original BAU female and I don't want to lose her at any cost.
And I agree with sdwally and eleven, it's not that I'm opposed to change. If if the change is not needed and illogical and is working to the detriment of the show, then of course, it's very difficult to accept. And so far, all the changes that TPTB have introduced in CM have worked to show's detriment instead of its benefit. And that is something that irks me, because CBS never gave the show its due, yet it brought in amazing numbers, the minute they showed an interest in CM, they butchered in, by making ridiculous decisions and incorporating senseless changes. It's not fair.

heyya said...

Sorry for the typos in my previous post.

gubegirl said...

Kill off Garcia? Immed after my fashionista glasses reference? Where is that coming from?

Optiki: greast work on the autism subject - I have printed it out in order to better read it and discuss with another friend who has the same serious interest as I do. I will let you know what I think - obviously you are seeing the headache thing tie in somewhere here totally apart from the fact that Reid has had it all along and it maybe never gave him these serious symptoms before? Oops, forgetting that this is only TV and the poor kid could be suffering every nite alone at home where he has no one to comfort him:)

A side note:
The cast if each other's family because they all are mostly in the same boat in that regard and they don't lead normal lives and are the closest things to family members each other has. JMHO.

Later.

I can hardly wait to read Michael's music ideas and I am glad that some others are having some fun talking about something as uplifting as MUSIC.

Optika said...

Thought of a few more songs to go on the CM soundtrack. Tv on the Radio's songs Wolf Like Me which was featured in Doubt and DLZ another great song by them which I first heard in Breaking Bad, another great show.
Another song is actually an instrumental called Tripped Hope by Andy Gahan.The only way to listen to it though is if you go to this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuykoAZ0JGQ.

It is actually a fanvid for Terminator The Sarah Connor Chronicles (yes I loved that show!) but its a great instrumental and suits CM's melancholic tone.
You can convert it to an mp3 as well. I really hope someone uses Tripped Hope to make a fanvid for CM because i dont know how to do it.
Does anyone know how to make fanvids? I've always wanted to...

Optika said...

Actually Tripped Hope may be by Jeff Harper instead of Andy Gahan, really not sure.
If someone else knows who it could be byt, let me know.

Optika said...

Atually you can get Tripped Hope off of itunes as well. As soon as I figure out how to make a fanvid, I am going to do one with Tripped Hope unless someone else knows how to do it.

gubegirl said...

Wow: in review here, I see I am making WAY too many typos: spelling "Garcia" GARGIA yesterday? Whoa, I must have been fresh out of caffeine at the dinner hour and again this AM, typing before having my java fix is such a mistake...

When I am referring to Reid's "having it along", I am referring to the Asperger's and saying, it would appear that the headaches and hallucinations are relatively new but Blue Sunflower (not Optika - sorry!) seems to be tying these together.

Which, BTW, since Optika has been a frequent blog visitor recently, I gave her credit for the autism research instead of you, Blue Sunflower -sorry about that! It's called STF (scrolling too fast.)

I have skimmed (NOT stimmed!)the material, but I am intrigued by the constant "stimming" Reid does, almost like an ADD or ADHD patient (thus freq. delayed diagnoses?)

It's funny that you mention us not feeling compelled to hug Morgan to comfort him while we Gube-nics find that comment completely necessary when describing an especially touching Reid moment!
His confiding in Morgan re: the bullying he suffered in H.S. where his voice quivered and tears filled his eyes stands out in my mind. ("Alexa Lisbon, easily the prettiest girl in school", what were you thinking? We Reid luv'rs would So-O-O kick your a-- if we had been there...LOL.

For those of you who are wondering about all this autism discussion, pls go back and USING THE LINK INSERTED IN HER POST dated 4/4/11 go to BLUE SUNFLOWER'S page where the many symptoms of Asperger's have been linked to Reid with numerous examples which you will enjoy reading and discussing.

I wonder if MGG found all this when he started playing Reid and this is why he so OWNS this character? Makes me wonder...

Great job, Blue Sunflower, I'm sure that was a TON of work and I, for one really appreciate it! Thanks again!

Reid wave....how sweet is that?

Just heard U-2's "One Tree Hill" now "Carnival" by 10K maniacs or Natalie Merchant by herself, and now Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die" (was that in a Bond movie at one point?) These sound like possibilities for our proposed list of music for future CM epi's - we really have two things going here re: music: Soundtrack for ALREADY used in CM epi's, and then good music selection for future use (That's the job I want and I will work for free...:)

lauren j. said...

On a more somber note, everyone go watch this video that the cast filmed in support of Japan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzM7hGz0_8Q

Optika said...

Gubegirl,

I was wondering about your typos too becuase i scroll too fast sometimes and i couldnt remember putting anything about autism on the forum.
Reid would have asperger's if anything but i see it only in shades. I think he's just very shy and his genius is too much for certain types of people to handle.

Michael said...

Lifehouse with the song Broken

Anonymous said...

I love CM and reading the blogs of others is quite interesting even if I don't agree with a lot of it. For instance, I was not in the beginning nor have I ever been a fan of Prentiss, I thought she was indecisive, a good follower but a lousy leader, her speculations were specius at best and she was the one who asked the questions that Seaver now asks when she first started. The only thing that I really liked about her was her ability with languages that really was a great addition that was good on the team. The rest of what she did was bland.
I enjoyed JJ the character however, for AJ to come back to the BAU would be a step back for JJ and not a very good thing. I don't think that she would be a great profiler, she got too emotional at times for the cool and collected way that it needs to be presented.
I have been unhappy a little in the writing and agree that it has been too unsub oriented and not enough profiling that is shown by our profilers. They haven't been showing the round table type of reaching that profile of what they are looking for. It just seems to come out of thin air. It makes it frustrating for watching. I watch the show for the profiling not for the criminals. I love to watch how they reach the conclusions and ideas that they come to.
I hope that they really deal with Reid's headaches and that he does shut down for awhile. I think that it would be a great acting challenge for MGG to do it and then come back from the brink.
I want more of Hotch but as a single parent he needs to focus on his son first and that I think is why he not as focused on his work 'family' like the others do. As the boss he must maintain a distance from them that as co-workers and partners do not have to do. I believe that is why he did not have a scene with Emily before she left. They did not have that type of relationship.
I have read some of the scenarios that others write and when I do a read soap opera not quality primetime shows.
I have to go but just wanted to let you know. I am writing as anonmymous right now because for some reason it is not accepting my account. So I will just sign off here.

Christy

Diane said...

Christy, when you sign back on can you please give examples of the types of scenarios that you say Prentiss asked similar questions to Seaver in the beginning. Sorry, but I absolutely do not recall any episode where that is the case. Seaver has asked questions that a complete novice (which is what she is) would ask. Prentiss had the wherewithal and experience not to ask those novice types of questions. God, I miss Prentiss! For me, every time I see Seaver it is a reminder of how desperately the team needs to get someone on board with the type of experience, strength, and expertise of someone like Prentiss. As soon as this season is over, God, I hope they write Seaver out as going to another field office which is what she is really supposed to do.

Also, I always got the impression that Prentiss was decisive and a leader in her own right and was not only a match for the men, but surpassed them in many instances. With regard to JJ, I also must disagree. Although I would like to see JJ return as the Media Liaison, I do not believe it would be a strecth for her to come back as a profiler, nor would it be a step back for her. JJ never wanted to go to the State Department, it was something that was forced upon her and there was no indication either in her last episode nor in the Lauren episode that she would not be willing to come back to the BAU. Time has past since then, yes, but JJ has never struck me as the type of character that would have some sort of elitist attitude about her position. When asked by Hotch if she wanted to be a profiler in the North Mammon episode she declined because she said that she liked her role as a Media Liaison. She was content in that role and I don't see anything at the State Department that would change that for her now. JJ is the type that would do anything to help out the people whom she considers family.

I agree however with your comment that the episodes are too unsub focused, much to the dismay of the dynamics of the show, the profiling. I watch old episodes now and the balance between then and now is off. In the older episodes, we see more profiling and more of the interactions between the team members in crafting a profile. Now, it is the unsub practically dominates the episode. the balance is off, way off.

Reid's headache story, they need to wrap that story up, or move on. It has dragged on for too long now and I wouldn't want it to continue dragging into season 7. I love Reid, but I think they need to move on from that story.

AJ/Paget fan said...

Morgon has become more suave and sophisticated and professional in the past couple of seasons than from the first season. Its in the way he dresses, styles himself and presents himself. i guess its becuase of all the responsibity and all the experiences he's gone through. Its a nice evolvution for him
I think it also shows in the season 5 cast chemistry. The actors are all like a family away from their family and it must be becuase of all the support they provide each toher and the laughs becasue of the serious nature of the show. Some of the suff on the show, a lot of it actually, is a serious wake up call for the darker side of life. I really miss the JJ and Emily. Really hoping at least one of them comes back and Seaver goes away.
The changes should be in the storyline, not the female cast members.

gubegirl said...

Michael: Saw your post ablout Lifehouse and "Broken." I think we all agree it was a tremendous choice for that episode.

Are you a Lifehouse fan" Have you listened to the new CD, "Smoke and Mirrors?' I think Jason Wade's breathy and sensitive voice and his troubled years growing up without his dad had helped him not only to write wonderful, touching music but to express himself in a very moving way. Do you agree?

Anonymous said...

AJ/Paget fan said...

Morgon has become more suave and sophisticated and professional in the past couple of seasons than from the first season. Its in the way he dresses, styles himself and presents himself.


Really? If I'm not mistaken, Morgan used to wear suits and ties in the first season. Now it's usually a crewneck and black jeans.

The clothes on this show are actually kind of interesting, and by interesting I mean "all over the map."
Hotch: Business professional (suit and tie)
Rossi: Business casual (shirt and jacket with slacks or jeans)
Morgan: Casual (shirt and jeans)
Reid: Hipster professional (sweater vest, shirt and tie)
Seaver: Business casual (collared shirt and jeans)
Garcia: ...Business Garcia.

I guess the dress code is just to wear whatever they feel comfortable in the situation they're in. But sometimes it's striking to see Hotch and Morgan next to each other- colleagues and yet opposite on the wardrobe spectrum. Oh and for those who think they're dressing Seaver the same as JJ...I'm not sure I ever really saw JJ wear jeans. JJ was definitely more of a business/business professional dresser (prob given her media job) while Seaver seems to be going down the Morgan road of casualness.

jenna said...

Diane,

I agree with everything you said.

jenna said...

I also agre with the anon above me who said that Morgan has become more casual and not more business wear. And LOL at "Business Garcia".

Count me in as another one that thinks there has been too much focus on unsubs. And as one who would like to see at least AJ return, if not both AJ and Paget.

jenna said...

ok one last thing. Sorry for the fragmented posting! Why has CBS not sealed the deal with Mr. Gibson yet. Get it together CBS and get our Hotch man renewed please. ASAP!

zagi said...

Morgan always wears a shirt and suit pants when they are in Quantico. He changes into casual clothes only in the field. And I wonder why CBS has not sealed the deal with Mr. Gibson AND Mr. Moore yet.

Karina said...

Yes zagi, I wonder why deals haven't been sealed for both Gibson and Moore. It is important that both men's contracts be renewed.

This is ridiculous! CBS had better get it together!!!

Lin from Ohio said...

The comments about Morgan's clothes are interesting, because A & E is running season 1 eps and you're right, he used to wear a suit and tie all the time. (And he looked oh so fine.)

I like to image that there was a time when Shemar said, "Look, you want my character to kick in every door and chase down everybody that runs, that's fine, but I am NOT doing it in this suit any more." Heh!

(Also, he still looks oh so fine. And this is coming from a Reid girl!)

Michael said...

Yeah Gubegirl i like Lifehouse but i have not heard the new album

gubegirl said...

Lin from Ohio: I am laughing because I always figure if Morgan is dressed in a suit, we won't see any "action!" And coming from a Reid luv'r, I would have to say he is one beautiful man. Oh, yeah. I have last year's Mens Fitness cover with him on it so I can enjoy it...right next to the Juxtapoz article with MGG, KV and MGG's art. So fitting, huh...
(Little Reid wave...)

Michael: You should listen to these tracks on Lifehouse's most recent CD: "Halfway Gone", "It is what it is" (poss for future CM?) and "Everything."

And Fray girl: I used to be a Fray freak until I descovered Lifehouse (via CM) go have a listen and both of you LMK what you think!

How about you, Milo, what kind of music do you listen to?

Going now to the new thread - see you all there later!

Denise said...

My opinion:
I don't mind the new girl so much anymore. Example: I don't feel like yelling "shut it, newbie" every time I see her anymore, so that's a good thing, I guess.
But I'm afraid that if i say "it's ok now, CM, keep going", I will miss an opportunity to actually say something that in the end, it means more to me than just to settle with the new so and so character and see what will eventually happen.
The thing is, it's still not ok, and if I woke up tomorrow with the news that AJ and Paget would be back, I would just gladly pretend this entire season didn't happen and come back for season 7 excited as always.
So, I feel that if I let CBS, the producers and writers off the hook, I will just miss an opportunity to actually say something that will make them fix everything they did wrong this season. Or at least, acknowledged what’s wrong.
So? Am I ok with Seaver? No. Is she enough to make me change the channel? Not anymore.
But do I still want AJ and Paget back and wish the network would stay far, far away from anything related to the show, wish the producers would get a clue and realize that this kind of success doesn’t happen very often in Hollywood and wish the writers would sit down for a marathon of this show to get it back on track? Yes.
The thing is, I’m an optimist.
And they did offer Paget her job back.
And according to Gubler, maybe AJ would be back too.
So all that is missing, is for Seaver to go bye-bye.
I say I was kind of ok with her now, but I certainly won’t miss her.

Lynda said...

I haven’t had a lot of time of late so late to the party and will keep this short, good episode overall, Seaver still grates on my nerves and I have to agree with those of you who say it is not just the character but RN too, I’ve got nothing against her and have not seen her in anything, but appearances in CM to date I think confirms why, she is just not a good fit with this ‘ELITE’ team & OUTSTANDING original CM cast that I have come to love.

Was nice to see a little more of Hotch/TG this episode … can never have too much of the Boss man and on a superficial note can I say how amazing he looked in the beginning of the episode, loved the striped shirt & tie …

Carrie said...

I got no problem with Agent Seaver.

Dont see why some would.
She still is particular new.
So cant see why anyone can already not like her and have such a strong opinion on her. I dont get it!

heyya said...

Carrie are you actually reading the posts other people who are opposed to Seaver are writing? I mean you can like her, I have no problem with that, I respect your opinion, but perhaps if you read some of the other posts maybe you will "get" where we are coming from with regards to our dislike for the Seaver character.

Anonymous said...

It's really not that hard to get why the Seaver character is problematic for many as there are many posts that outline the specific reasons. Hard to get, no, hard to accept I think is the better way for people like Carol to phrase their feelngs toward the serious issues posed about the Seaver character. It has been more than made clear what the issues are about that character so saying something like one does not get it doesn't cut it. Saying one doesn't accept it is more platable considering all of the posts written on this blog in relation to the issues with that character.

Carrie said...

No still dont get it because she is so new.
So there is definitely time for her to grow

Nanci said...

Carrie,

At the risk of opening another can of worms regarding this character - she doesn't GET time to grow!

Our whole point of contention with her is that the BAU is an ELITE team that has already GROWN to the point that they belong on the team. They have proven themselves over many years in an FBI field office and have earned their spot on the team.

Seaver has not earned nor is she qualified for her spot on this team. She is distracting to a painful point. She doesn't have any answers to any of the questions the team throws out during their profiling sessions. She is a drain on them in their pursuit of an unsub. She is useless to the team as she is.

Now - as an actress, I can say that I've given RN enough time to prove herself. She can't carry the character. You can call it bad writing or whatever you want. Even with bad writing a good actor will be able to produce something to look at on screen. She is not a good actor.

I'll give her time - on ANOTHER show - get rid of her on this one!

Now - hopefully, this won't open up yet another debate of why we don't like Seaver/RN. She will always be a poor choice for this series.

Carrie said...

That is some peoples opinion but not all. I respect your opinion.
So respect mine

Pat said...

Blue Sunflower,

Wonderful read, great work, thank you for that. You made some great points and I will now be more on the lookout for them.

I've been reading the talk about the team members' wardrobes and I thought of what you'd written about Reid not doing well with change. Reid's wardrobe never varies. Even when the team went to Alaska and even Hotch dressed down, Reid still wore his same cords, shirt, tie and sweater vest. Also when they were out at the Super Bowl party, all the others had different looking clothing but Reid looked exactly the same. Does he even own a pair of blue jeans I wonder?

I can also see some of the things you talked about in this episode. When, I forget who, mentions the older woman must have over fifty stab wounds, Reid immediately replies seventy-one.

Once again great work!

Blue Sunflower said...

Thank you for the comments guys! I appreciate you taking the time to read it. :D

heyya said...

ASD is more intriguing and I think that storyline has more potential too.

ITA, not to mention I think is more realistic. As fun as it would be to watch Reid arguing with an imaginary friend about whether the unsub is to the left or the right, I can't really see that as a storyline the audience would buy without MASSIVE suspension of disbelief. An ASD storyline is already in place, fully realized, and fits with the current Reid-headache plot they've done all season. Reid just needs time away from people. He's in a job that A) he's not naturally fit for, and B) it's even worse considering the *nature* of the job.

I think if Reid isn't already officially diagnosed, then it's because his parents refused to accept it (Mom: "he's perfect" and Dad: "I can change this attitude out of him") and/or Reid refusing to accept it. I think Reid struggles accepting he's "different" so a storyline where they basically force him to acknowledge that fact would be interesting IMO.

gubegirl said...

I wonder if MGG found all this when he started playing Reid and this is why he so OWNS this character? Makes me wonder...

I do believe MGG said he studied Asperger's when starting Reid. He certainly has it spot-on.


Pat said...

I can also see some of the things you talked about in this episode. When, I forget who, mentions the older woman must have over fifty stab wounds, Reid immediately replies seventy-one.

I got a kick that it was Reid's stimming that caught Morgan's attention during the profile and not just that Reid was all quiet. Also had a lot of fun watching the bathroom scene with Morgan basically staring down Reid, and Reid looking everywhere but at Morgan. :D :D :D

And heh about the jeans. [Me drools thinking about a denim clad Reid, yummmmm]

Anonymous said...

To all those who want RN out: she signed her contract for S7 along with MGG, JM and KV so I guess you all have to settle with her being on the show next season. Also Paget's gone for good: yes, CBS screwed with her on the first place, but she was given her contract back, she chose not to stay. (Which, personally, I can understand - she told CBS to go to Hell; anyway the result is this: she's gone)
Aj's return is possible (at least I drew this conclusion from your comments here) so a probable cast for S7 is: Hotch, Rossi, Morgan, Reid, Seaver, JJ, Garcia or a new member in case of AJ won't return.

Also I like Rachel Nichols very much - although I have to admit that her character has some interesting features. I think it would have been better if she was introduced as a special agent not a cadet. (Also I think it wouldn't change a thing for many of you here, you wouldn't like her anyway)

And I was just thinking if RN and AJ will both be on S7 I guess it's gonna be a huge problem for many male viewers to focus on the story rather than on the 2 beautiful blondies ;)

Carmela said...

Anonymous where did you get you information regarding RN and season 7 contract? I don't think anything has ever been said regarding that, also, if the network wants they can get rid of any cast member. There are clauses written into contracts, RN's would be no exception. Also, MGG nd JM did not sign new contracts, their original ones from before expire at the end of season 7. KV, I think, signed again, adding the spin-off.

«Oldest ‹Older   401 – 507 of 507   Newer› Newest»