Criminal Minds (TV Series) Sex, Birth, Death (2006) User Reviews

SUPERB performance by young Anton Yelchin

[joeperrysbabe · 10/10 · 22 June 2009]

***********Contains Spoilers***************** I just watched this episode and was completely blown away by Anton Yelchin's performance. His character, which on the outside appears to have a introverted and sensitive side, reveals his cold blooded side in a dark and terrifying cry for help. Anton Yelchin plays tormented Nathan Harris, a Washington DC teen who reaches out to Dr. Reid in hopes he can help him come to grips with his dark fantasy: killing prostitutes. In the meantime, the team have their hands full in dealing with a serial killer killing a string of prostitutes. At first, young Harris is considered a suspect, but they soon learn that he's not the killer...at least not yet. With the help of Reid, Harris begins to reveal his demons and struggles with his fantasies, but he finds it's getting harder and harder to control. Dr. Reid soon finds himself drawn to the terrified Harris and endeavors to help him before it's too late.

As usual, the cast is awesome to watch, but Yelchin's performance stood out among the rest in this episode. One of the best ones i've seen so far. A 10! :)

R.I.P. Anton

[fabfrenchy-25342 · 9/10 · 3 March 2021]

This episode shows what a remarkably talented young actor Anton Yelchin was. Such a tragic death. He had so much more to give.

Disturbing, thought-provoking and emotional- a 'Criminal Minds' classic

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 5 February 2017]

One of my favourite episodes of Season 2 along with "The Fisher King Part II", "Revelations", "Profiler, Profiled", "North Mammon" and "The Boogeyman". This said, Season 2 was a strong season, one of the better 'Criminal Minds' seasons in general, where only "Honor Among Thieves" was average at best.

What immediately drew me in with "Sex, Birth, "Death" were the story and the performances of and chemistry between Matthew Gray Gubler's Reid and Anton Yelchin's Nathan Harris. The story is one of the season's most disturbing (along with "Revelations" and "North Mammon"), but it is also one of the most thought-provoking and most emotional, also one that is not as obvious as one would think. A wonderful job is done exploring Harris' inner struggles and Reid's insights and instincts to help him, and it is easy for the viewer to empathise.

The chemistry between Gubler and Yelchin was crucial in making the episode work and that their chemistry is so riveting, so empathetic and tense is one of "Sex, Birth, Death's" many allures. The character of Reid and Gubler's acting were always one of the high points of the show, and helped make underwhelming episodes watchable, Reid is a sympathetic and likable character here and Gubler's acting is fantastically nuanced. Yelchin's performance is indeed gut-wrenchingly superb, being scary and heart-wrenching.

Despite the strong emphasis on these two, the rest of the characters are by no means neglected. The chemistry and dynamic within the team is adorable and charming and Garcia and Hotch are interesting too.

Visually, there is much style, class and atmosphere, while the direction is taut and accommodating and the music haunting and melancholic. The script is thought-provoking and beautifully balanced and the story compelling in its suspense and emotion. The acting is very good, with Gubler and Yelchin dominating.

Concluding this review, classic 'Criminal Minds' and one of the best episodes of Season 2. 10/10 Bethany Cox

The best episode??? Yes

[ojgrether · 9/10 · 1 August 2020]

I have watched almost 10 season of this show, and I can't think of an episode i love as much as this one. I'm gonna make this quick so I don't go on a tangent. The main focus on Reid, Anton Yelchin's amazing acting, the ending! This is the only episode i've watched 4-5 times and enjoyed it each time.

Sex, Violence, Death

[amckee-64063 · 16 September 2017]

A great episode! Nathan Harris is an incredibly engaging character, evoking pity for both him and for his potential victims. Ronald manages to be a wonderfully destestable villain in the few scenes he has. I also enjoyed seeing the arrogant Steyer knocked down a few pegs--she may not have killed anyone, but she was willing to sacrifice innocent lives to further her own career. The ending, blood-soaked as it it may be, was thrilling and satisfying in equal measure.

Reid and Harris are amazing together, and the episode does a great job of delving into both characters' unusual psyches. I would really like to see an episode where Nathan returns, knife in hand and a trail of corpses behind him. He has the potential to be a magnificently complex villain, even by the standards of this show.

Almost perfect

[lottiemarshalllm · 9/10 · 10 August 2020]

Disclaimer:I am no expert reviewer, I just need a show to binge watch and I'm going to Write a review for every episode I watch.

I really loved this episode. I've mentioned before that I have kind of a soft spot for Dr. Reid so maybe that's why I like episodes where he is more developed but this episode was particularly great.

Getting to see Spencer's empathetic side and his need to desperately help this teenager just shows how great all of the acting is on the show.

I was genuinely shocked by the ending and how crazy it got. I felt like the plot twist of Nathan hurting himself was not to out of the blue but genuinely unexpected and the relationship he developed with Reid was really written and acted.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this episode was we get to see Prentiss have to stick up for herself again which I feel like it is much more accurate than what they did with elles character in season one where if she was just accepted in to the BAU.

There were a couple reasons I didn't get this episode a 10 out of 10. First I thought that the main unsub it was rather under developed and that the Nathan plot line was far more interesting. And I also thought they could've went a lot farther with the congresswoman threatening hotch at the beginning. Yet that plot line just kind of fell off after she realizes she knew who the murderer was which I didn't think was the best writing.

Overall incredibly well acted episode between Gideon Spencer the creepy teenager Nathan, and even getting to see more serious acting from Garcia in the ending scene but had some plot line issues.