"Criminal Minds" Masterpiece (2008)

Director:

Paul Michael Glaser

Writers:

Jeff Davis (creator)
Edward Allen Bernero (written by)

TV Series:

"Criminal Minds" (2005)

Original Air Date:

19 November 2008 (Season 4, Episode 8)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A serial killer turns himself in and challenges the team to find five people he has hidden somewhere before they die.

Plot Keywords:

FBI Profiler | Serial Killer

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Dec. 27	9:00 PM	AETV	Masterpiece	#4.8
Mon. Dec. 28	1:01 AM	AETV	Masterpiece	#4.8

Cast

Joe Mantegna	...	David Rossi
Paget Brewster	...	Emily Prentiss
Shemar Moore	...	Derek Morgan
Matthew Gray Gubler	...	Dr. Spencer Reid
A.J. Cook	...	Jennifer 'JJ' Jareau
Kirsten Vangsness	...	Penelope Garcia
Thomas Gibson	...	Aaron 'Hotch' Hotchner
Jason Alexander	...	Prof. Rothchild
Meta Golding	...	Jordan Todd
Nicholas Brendon	...	Kevin Lynch
Ali Landry	...	Kaylee Robinson
Paul Michael Glaser	...	Detective Garrity
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Quonta Beasley	...	Student 2
Davis Cleveland	...	Ricky
Tiffany Espensen	...	Samantha
Brighid Fleming	...	Jessica
Gina Garcia	...	Gina (as Gina Garcia Sharp)
Jamie Israel	...	Student 1
Kathryn Ruel	...	College Girl
Ellery Sprayberry	...	Chelsea Robinson
Nic Wegener	...	Harrison

Runtime:

Netherlands:55 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Company:

CBS Paramount Network Television

Quotes:

Dr. Spencer Reid: [Looking through glass at Professor Rothchild] I never have any normal fans.

Masterpiece

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The title really says it all, this episode is one of the best episodes of the entire season if not the series. From the moment the episode starts it earns it's name, the opening shot showing us the room where the children and their care worker are being held is so slow and precise, going into the room with the paintings. Everything about the short screams perfection.

The undeniable star of the episode though is Jason Alexander playing Professor Rothschild, a character that is so creepy and subtle that you'll forget all about George Costanza. His performance is subtle and brilliant, the shot where the throws the photos of some of his victims down the stairs is beautiful and creepy all at once. One key thing about Jason's character involves a plot point known as the Fibonacci sequence, or 1 1 2 3 5 and so on. At 2 points he does this action, most memorably with his thumbs during the interrogation but more subtly (I only learned this when I watched the special feature on the DVD) when he's talking to Reid and Rossi in the college his hands make the sequence. Tiny actions like this sell the character that is both brilliant and terrifying and easily one of the creepiest unsubs this show has had for a while.

As I said this episode is a masterpiece. The team show their intelligence and use every skill they have to try and best Rothchild's little game. As every minute went on I was glued to the screen to see what would happen next, every single second of this episode is in itself a masterpiece. A must see episode.