I stumbled upon CM about a year ago and I have generally reveled in every episode. This one was no exception. I don't watch any other crime series so any stolen ideas or plot lines would be new to me and I don't care if they stole this from that. I loved the svelte Forest Whitaker (svelte for Forest Whitaker, anyway) and thought he did an excellently believable job. He added a swagger to the show that has been missing since Manny P departed. I like pealing away the subtle layers of Hodge but hey, every once in a while I like been assaulted by characters as I was with Cooper and his team. The villain, his resources, and his devious scheme were fresh enough to keep my interest for 40 minutes. The sexual tension between members of the two teams was a nice little side of salsa with the whole enchilada. The ending, a happy one for once, ruled. All in all, bravo!
18 Reviews
Looking forward to the spin-off
katm-769-26728618 June 2010
I gave an "optimistic" 8 out of 10 because I am looking forward to seeing what becomes of the spin-off. I personally think that the director has done a really great job on the 2 criminal minds episodes he has directed and hope that his style continues in the spin-off. I find that most c.m. episodes tend to be dark in lighting, etc. and find that S.1 Ep.1 and this episode are very distinct and "lighter" which make the episodes more intriguing for me. Regardless I will continue to be an avid C.M. fan but would love to see a spin-off. I think the characters have potential and it will be another adventure to follow a new group. -Optimistic
Better than the original
MbK-39 April 2010
They need to spend the summer smoothing out the rough edges. But the characters from this potential spin off are still far more interesting than the current crop. This batch actually has personalities!!!! They'll need to work on how a Brit is working for the FBI. That MarySue from NCIS (Siva?) is trying that and it isn't flying. Also need to clear how a felon was let in. But their slightly renegade approach is pretty damn appealing. And they don't all act like cookie cutter cutouts. I'm a bit concerned about their story lines. Hopefully they won't feel the need to go the dark, depressing route the parent show does. But I'm optimistic. So, unless then hire some twig know-it-all with a Little Lord Fauntleroy haircut, I'll be happy to give it a go.
A good break from the norm
hotplantmike-0554324 February 2024
I personally really like Forest Whitaker and found the new team and the relationship between them and regular team very enjoyable. I really do not understand.
The negative reviews I can see somebody. Maybe not Viking the show as much but thought. The cast Jed a wonderful job. And I do look forward to sing them. Do other shows. I will be looking for the spin-off. I read that there was going to be one. This is my second time actually sitting through criminal minds. I do feel that they could have made a bigger deal over the loss of Hailey when they killed her off. So far even though it is my second time I am enjoying the show.
The negative reviews I can see somebody. Maybe not Viking the show as much but thought. The cast Jed a wonderful job. And I do look forward to sing them. Do other shows. I will be looking for the spin-off. I read that there was going to be one. This is my second time actually sitting through criminal minds. I do feel that they could have made a bigger deal over the loss of Hailey when they killed her off. So far even though it is my second time I am enjoying the show.
Don't listen to the low scores
maia_lechat20 April 2020
Now beats "Hopeless" as the worst episode of Season 5
TheLittleSongbird24 November 2016
Used to introduce the spin-off 'Criminal Minds: Suspect Behaviour', one of the biggest problems with "The Fight" is that it doesn't feel like 'Criminal Minds' at all, one of the few Season 1-5 episodes to have that problem (even the previous lesser episodes didn't make this mistake.
It is more like 'Suspect Behaviour', except even worse than the show itself and less compelling. Considering that 'Criminal Minds' is actually a great show at its best and that I was never able to get into 'Suspect Behaviour' and do think that it is one of not many short-lived shows where its early cancellation was justified, this is very much a bad thing.
There are things that just about salvage it from being completely execrable. Do love the chemistry between Hotch and Prentiss, and think that Thomas Gibson and particularly Paget Brewster give the best performances in the episode. Jason Brooks is also effective as the unsub, and the rest of the BAU though underused are good. The pathology and the unsub's story have intrigue, even though much more could have been done with them. The scenery is quite nice and the music is haunting enough.
However, the acting of the 'Suspect Behaviour' team is poor, with only Michael Kelly trying. Forrest Whittaker is terribly and shockingly inconsistent, at points he goes completely through the motions (slurring words and all) and at other points he clearly over-compensates for the poor writing, the authoritative personality is overdone and then any empathising or emotion is delivered with a face of stone. Again, this is not a good thing due to that they dominate the episode while the BAU mostly are sidelined with Reid, Morgan and JJ barely in it.
Further disadvantages include trying to cram far too much in too short a time, making things severely underdeveloped and confused, and having too many characters that are either uninteresting or given short shrift. Hated the insufferably annoying British character Mick, a strong contender for the single most annoying character of any Season 1-5 episode, with Matt Ryan winning the dishonourable award of giving the episode's worst performance. As well as his rapport with Prentiss, with saw some truly cringe-worthy dialogue.
"The Fight" saw a rare case of an early season episode to have really sloppy and often embarrassingly bad writing and to have jumpy and amateurish camera work and editing (almost as bad as that of "The Thirteenth Step"). The story is erratically paced, with parts being rushed due to doing too much and many others dull due to being impossible to invest in or engage with it. Much of it is convoluted too while good ideas are not given anywhere near enough development, while the direction is disorganised and heavy-footed.
All in all, while "Parasite", "The Performer" and especially "Hopeless" were not good episodes of Season 5 "The Fight" is worse than all three. At least the first two didn't make the mistake of not feeling like 'Criminal Minds' at all, while "Hopeless" wasn't quite as badly affected with one of its biggest mistakes being that it was unsub-heavy and done pretty poorly. 4/10 Bethany Cox
It is more like 'Suspect Behaviour', except even worse than the show itself and less compelling. Considering that 'Criminal Minds' is actually a great show at its best and that I was never able to get into 'Suspect Behaviour' and do think that it is one of not many short-lived shows where its early cancellation was justified, this is very much a bad thing.
There are things that just about salvage it from being completely execrable. Do love the chemistry between Hotch and Prentiss, and think that Thomas Gibson and particularly Paget Brewster give the best performances in the episode. Jason Brooks is also effective as the unsub, and the rest of the BAU though underused are good. The pathology and the unsub's story have intrigue, even though much more could have been done with them. The scenery is quite nice and the music is haunting enough.
However, the acting of the 'Suspect Behaviour' team is poor, with only Michael Kelly trying. Forrest Whittaker is terribly and shockingly inconsistent, at points he goes completely through the motions (slurring words and all) and at other points he clearly over-compensates for the poor writing, the authoritative personality is overdone and then any empathising or emotion is delivered with a face of stone. Again, this is not a good thing due to that they dominate the episode while the BAU mostly are sidelined with Reid, Morgan and JJ barely in it.
Further disadvantages include trying to cram far too much in too short a time, making things severely underdeveloped and confused, and having too many characters that are either uninteresting or given short shrift. Hated the insufferably annoying British character Mick, a strong contender for the single most annoying character of any Season 1-5 episode, with Matt Ryan winning the dishonourable award of giving the episode's worst performance. As well as his rapport with Prentiss, with saw some truly cringe-worthy dialogue.
"The Fight" saw a rare case of an early season episode to have really sloppy and often embarrassingly bad writing and to have jumpy and amateurish camera work and editing (almost as bad as that of "The Thirteenth Step"). The story is erratically paced, with parts being rushed due to doing too much and many others dull due to being impossible to invest in or engage with it. Much of it is convoluted too while good ideas are not given anywhere near enough development, while the direction is disorganised and heavy-footed.
All in all, while "Parasite", "The Performer" and especially "Hopeless" were not good episodes of Season 5 "The Fight" is worse than all three. At least the first two didn't make the mistake of not feeling like 'Criminal Minds' at all, while "Hopeless" wasn't quite as badly affected with one of its biggest mistakes being that it was unsub-heavy and done pretty poorly. 4/10 Bethany Cox
Ermagawd
davidsmith9077 March 2018
Possibly the worst episode ever.
Who wrote this episode?
This was awful in every way.
The complete opposite of what usually Criminal Minds is.
My wife said to me at the end "Was that a spoof episode?"
The casting is terrible/story is from some action movie/plot holes galore/lack of any criminal psychology etc
Going to take something strong to wash this tripe down.
Poor Casting choices
tstrot448 April 2010
I am a huge fan of "Criminal Minds". The "spin-off" episode was the worst I have seen. Whitaker was flat and I don't think he works well in the character, He may be acclaimed, But a poor choice here. His "team" was far less than intriguing or even cohesive. It is not even remotely possible or believable that a team of convicts and mercenaries would be allowed on a high profile and elite FBI team/section. I know....Television!!! The entire concept seemed contrived. Agents popped in and out for no reason. Introduction of characters short of proper without certain reason and attempt to match old and new into something that is far from acceptable for the normal series format.The camera work was even lousy, close-up shots on the plane and in the vehicles looked like something from a high school media project. Choppy shots of the action/chase scenes. and what looked like edited footage just spliced in. Simply Pitiful Bar-none it was by far the worst single episode produced. CBS don't screw up the best series you have, It worked with CSI but not here.
Worst Episode to Date
sjy8148148 April 2010
I am a huge fan of Criminal Minds and have seen every single episode at least once and most of the two or three times. I have to say this episode was the worst of them all. Forest Whitaker did a very poor job and portraying his character, and had little to no depth. I agree with the past post that said it is a very big stretch to see a team of ex-cons and others of the sort as an elite FBI team. This was a poorly casted, poorly written, and most of all poorly acted episode. The original characters all intrigue you because of the individual aspects they bring to the team and the show. The reason I enjoyed this show so much more is because it had a strong emphasis and in most cases a larger emphasis on the mental side of the crime rather than the actual crime and chase itself. This episode did not have this, it had a plot line that had close to no intellectual part to it, and the little it did have was done in a manner that ruined the twists and the build up. I suggest you remove all new cast members and resort back to the ones that made the show unique and successful in the first place. This felt like a third rate cop movie with chase em, catch em kill em plot. I hope you listen to this and do resort back because otherwise you have lost a loyal fan and I will never watch again. As I look at all aspects of this episode I give the plot a 4 since it did have the potential to build a great story considering the style of the crimes and all. I give the directing of the episode a 2 since the scenes were poorly shot and organized. Lastly I give the casting/acting a 1 Whitaker was the worst of them all and did one of the worst if not the worst job I have ever seen in a police movie or show, he should never have another job after this one. The other new cast had some potential but very little compared to the jobs we have seen over the years from the original cast. I hope they go back to the original cast and episode styles. Sincerely Disappointed Fan
BAU Meets the A-Team
championbc-99-500530 June 2015
So, for those who feel that the current BAU team seems a little too cerebral, and longs for the days of Hannibal, Mr T, and all the old gang, complete with helicopters, snipers, former prisoners, and foreign agents, we present to you a new, more 70s-style team.
The whole purpose of this episode is to serve as the pilot for a spin-off that did not last a whole season. Of course, we know they are the good guys because Hotch gives Sam Cooper a big ol' hug and lets us know that they have a long history of trust and mutual confidence. This was the technique also used to graft Rossi into the story, and it worked great with him; not so much this time.
Just in case you're not sure about the whole "A-Team" thing, the episode is called "The Fight," and using an old empty swimming pool, you have a fight-to-the-death arena where guys can beat other guys to death with their bare hands.
This episode had too little Spencer, a sparing use of Penelope, and did not feature the brilliant work that we are spoiled and accustomed to with this series.
On its own, "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" might have been good. Haven't seen it, but noticed it didn't last long. I actually like Cooper and some of the cast, though I really can't say that about all of them.
Well, we got this out of the way, and I am hoping that we can return now to the good shows. But get ready for some shoot-em-up rock 'em sock 'em action with a little "Face" charm thrown in.
If you skip this one, you will not miss any of the back story or current character development going on, so if you are short of time, this is 43 minutes you won't lose if you skip it.
The whole purpose of this episode is to serve as the pilot for a spin-off that did not last a whole season. Of course, we know they are the good guys because Hotch gives Sam Cooper a big ol' hug and lets us know that they have a long history of trust and mutual confidence. This was the technique also used to graft Rossi into the story, and it worked great with him; not so much this time.
Just in case you're not sure about the whole "A-Team" thing, the episode is called "The Fight," and using an old empty swimming pool, you have a fight-to-the-death arena where guys can beat other guys to death with their bare hands.
This episode had too little Spencer, a sparing use of Penelope, and did not feature the brilliant work that we are spoiled and accustomed to with this series.
On its own, "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" might have been good. Haven't seen it, but noticed it didn't last long. I actually like Cooper and some of the cast, though I really can't say that about all of them.
Well, we got this out of the way, and I am hoping that we can return now to the good shows. But get ready for some shoot-em-up rock 'em sock 'em action with a little "Face" charm thrown in.
If you skip this one, you will not miss any of the back story or current character development going on, so if you are short of time, this is 43 minutes you won't lose if you skip it.
Poor
darkest-hour200425 October 2010
Nothing like Criminal Minds previous episodes (and I hope future ones!) The new team were unlikable, the acting pretty poor and the case itself was run-of-the-mill. All of this combined to make an episode that when thinking back, actually angers me. Nothing psychological (or any behavioural analysis) here. Definitely skippable, and easily the worst episode to date.
The dialogue between some of the characters was laughable, in particular between Prentiss and the English guy (who, despite being from Newcastle, sounded a little Irish to me?), and the sniper sequence at the end was just the icing on the cake of cheese.
The dialogue between some of the characters was laughable, in particular between Prentiss and the English guy (who, despite being from Newcastle, sounded a little Irish to me?), and the sniper sequence at the end was just the icing on the cake of cheese.
Awful
fabrisse27 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This was generally terrible from the idea of having a foreign national and a felon on an FBI team (both of which are forbidden by law), to the sub NCIS banter, to the setting -- seriously, a laundry room is where they set up? -- this was an unbelievable piece of claptrap which did a huge disservice to the original.
The point of the original series was to delve into the psychology of the criminal and to use that information to pursue the unsub. This team seemed more like a regular FBI or cop team, and having a sniper makes no sense if you don't know in advance where the bad guys are going to be.
The original team has always respected the victims even as they occasionally have to question them. I didn't see that with this group at all, although they were still better than any of the CSI series manages to be on that score.
I only gave it more than one star because the few interactions with the real time, including Hotch and Prentiss, were all right. Having Prentiss pick up the idiot ball to make the fake SAS new guy look better was not.
The point of the original series was to delve into the psychology of the criminal and to use that information to pursue the unsub. This team seemed more like a regular FBI or cop team, and having a sniper makes no sense if you don't know in advance where the bad guys are going to be.
The original team has always respected the victims even as they occasionally have to question them. I didn't see that with this group at all, although they were still better than any of the CSI series manages to be on that score.
I only gave it more than one star because the few interactions with the real time, including Hotch and Prentiss, were all right. Having Prentiss pick up the idiot ball to make the fake SAS new guy look better was not.
just plain bad.
annakousagi3 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
So bad I had to leave a review. Although I'm becoming a bit disenchanted with the series in general, this episode marks a total departure from any type of procedural realism that was at least somewhat present in previous episodes. The psychological profile of the 'un-sub' (a term which 5 seasons in is starting to grate. they're a suspect) does not sufficiently account for the lengthy web which is spun all episode. I feel like a lot of the actual substance was glossed over to make room for these 4 new characters who for me offer nothing but a bit of a laugh at how awful they are. Some generally nasty acting throughout, I've never been a fan of Prentiss but Alexa Nikolas as Jane the hostage daughter takes the cake this week. I truly thought that her character was supposed to be blind until the last 10 minutes when her inhuman eye movements had still not been explained. Lack of eye contact, blank staring... I was confused.
Speaking of eyes, I'm always up for a bit of Forest Whitaker but was SO disappointed by his band of outsiders. I guess having cast Forest they decided they'd ticked the diversity box and could get away with a team comprised solely of white people (oh wait the usual team is almost comprised solely of white people............uh... *eye roll*?), although this time we've added a 'Brit' for good measure... speaking of which, not sure why the British character couldn't have just been Welsh since the actor failed so miserably to lose his own accent. I also struggle to see how an agent working a 3 day missing persons case has time to bouffant her hair but somehow 'Gina LaSalle' managed it... 'Prophet' is similarly uninspired and frankly implausible. A little balding bloke managed to gain reputation at San Quentin? yeah... okay... This whole ordeal seems ripped from the pages of some other mission impossible sequel that was so bad it never reached our screens.
& lil spoiler alert, no FBI agent is going to stick her head over a ledge which a suspect has just disappeared behind until they know its clear (especially when there are utilisable helicopters and snipers who are specifically present in order to minimise risk). Another in a series of stupid moves by Prentiss which make her totally unrealistic as an FBI agent. I'm almost regretful that I devoted 45 minutes to this embarrassment.
If you're a bit overcritical and like your crime drama realistic, give this one a miss.
Speaking of eyes, I'm always up for a bit of Forest Whitaker but was SO disappointed by his band of outsiders. I guess having cast Forest they decided they'd ticked the diversity box and could get away with a team comprised solely of white people (oh wait the usual team is almost comprised solely of white people............uh... *eye roll*?), although this time we've added a 'Brit' for good measure... speaking of which, not sure why the British character couldn't have just been Welsh since the actor failed so miserably to lose his own accent. I also struggle to see how an agent working a 3 day missing persons case has time to bouffant her hair but somehow 'Gina LaSalle' managed it... 'Prophet' is similarly uninspired and frankly implausible. A little balding bloke managed to gain reputation at San Quentin? yeah... okay... This whole ordeal seems ripped from the pages of some other mission impossible sequel that was so bad it never reached our screens.
& lil spoiler alert, no FBI agent is going to stick her head over a ledge which a suspect has just disappeared behind until they know its clear (especially when there are utilisable helicopters and snipers who are specifically present in order to minimise risk). Another in a series of stupid moves by Prentiss which make her totally unrealistic as an FBI agent. I'm almost regretful that I devoted 45 minutes to this embarrassment.
If you're a bit overcritical and like your crime drama realistic, give this one a miss.
Ouch.
my_goodness_jill_is_cool11 November 2010
Criminal Minds is such a good show.
What happened?
I'm somehow hoping the original will just go on forever... And this one will just, wilt away.
The acting, the plot, the casting. It was all so.. euh.
Maybe this is just off because it's a dry run, but I don't plan on watching it in 2011. And if I do, it's mainly for that gorgeous British man. Kudos on that, you can't go wrong with an accent.
Did I mention the acting? It took me back to my eighth grade production of Oliver Twist.
Please sir, we don't want any more.
What happened?
I'm somehow hoping the original will just go on forever... And this one will just, wilt away.
The acting, the plot, the casting. It was all so.. euh.
Maybe this is just off because it's a dry run, but I don't plan on watching it in 2011. And if I do, it's mainly for that gorgeous British man. Kudos on that, you can't go wrong with an accent.
Did I mention the acting? It took me back to my eighth grade production of Oliver Twist.
Please sir, we don't want any more.
Wow
samboitaliano10 May 2021
The worst
mariahjacobsen15 March 2022
Mick rawson is the worst flipping character of the entire series but the whole new team sucks. The writing is soooo cheesy and they're trying way too hard to make them seem cool. I always skip this episode just so I don't have to hear Mick rawson's voice.
too much like ncis
gs207 April 2010
well, let's see ........oh yeah....another episode with a completely uninteresting villain featuring incredibly weak character development.......one would think that anyone capable of this type of crime might be absolutely frightening........i'm no superman but i've knocked out guys 10 times scarier than this guy .....maybe part of it was an unknown actor with limited skills compounded by uninterested direction......i've actually seen the guy playing the father play a bad guy and he would have been a much better choice.......poor casting.........but what do i know...........a couple of other things that stand out for me are 1) blowing one's cover by actually putting your hand to your earwig while in visual range of a subject(you know who i mean) who even does that anymore?........even james bond scolded a rookie for that .........doesn't anyone on the show watch james bond?? 2) Gibson STILL, after all this time, holds his weapon like a 12 year old girl.....i'd like to see anyone try to fire a pistol with their elbows bent that much, its always pretty comical after everyone gets back from the emergency room.....bearing in mind that old marine master sergeants aren't known for their prowess with pistols i guess i understand why some actors look so goofy with their guns drawn. 3)while talking to a prison inmate in an attempt to identify their perp the inmate says due he spent the rest of his "term" in solitary, well, inmates might say "time" "bid" "sentence" but never "term"........college boys say term, politicians say term, but not inmates ......it sounded so odd to me, i just knew the writers were 30ish college boys who never met an inmate..........i think they need more realistic law enforcement technical advise..........and less self aggrandizing, what serious heroes we are tripe, from the good guys .........we all know they're the good guys......try to spend more time scaring us with some more true to life bad guys........there is certainly no shortage of models out there.
Loved this Episode
infolewan12 April 2010
Forest Whitaker added a new flavor to CM and do that am following all the episodes of CM from S03 and i love it, but this one by far the best on of them all and will stay in my memory for some time.
Started with a new case that's in two parts and Forest Whitaker ( Special Agent Sam Cooper ) meeting Thomas Gibson ( Aaron 'Hotch' Hotchner ) in a gym where they talk about the case in hand and moving to Whitaker giving Hotchner his theory about another case and that they are connected and going behind the back of Director Erin Strauss to see how far the two cases are connected moving to finishing the two cases.
There was some chemistry between some of the two teams members but i like to leave this to who will watch it.
I have a strong feeling that there will be a new CM starring Forest Whitaker and his team , it will be like NCIS LA. who knows ! lets wait and see.
Started with a new case that's in two parts and Forest Whitaker ( Special Agent Sam Cooper ) meeting Thomas Gibson ( Aaron 'Hotch' Hotchner ) in a gym where they talk about the case in hand and moving to Whitaker giving Hotchner his theory about another case and that they are connected and going behind the back of Director Erin Strauss to see how far the two cases are connected moving to finishing the two cases.
There was some chemistry between some of the two teams members but i like to leave this to who will watch it.
I have a strong feeling that there will be a new CM starring Forest Whitaker and his team , it will be like NCIS LA. who knows ! lets wait and see.
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