With 'Criminal Minds', some seasons are better than others and every season has a mixture of outstanding, great, very good, good, average, mediocre and bad episodes. This said, lesser episodes of Seasons 1-4 (with possible exception of "Machismo") are better than the lesser episodes of Season 6 onward.
Season 8 did see a sizeable number of mediocre episodes, but also ones that were very good and showing signs of greatness. As far as Season 8 episodes go while not one of the very best 'Criminal Minds' episodes "The Fallen" is in the top half of the season. It's not as good as "All That Remains", "The Lesson", "God Complex", "The Good Earth" and "Alchemy". But it is much better than the likes of "Magnificent Light", "Through the Looking Glass", "The Replicator", "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Magnum Opus".
Visually, the production values in "The Fallen" are without complaint. It's very well shot and lit and is overall stylish, gritty, classy and atmospheric. The music is moody in the haunting and melancholic sense and fits well, without either enhancing or distracting from the atmosphere. The direction keeps the momentum going but lets the case breathe.
Where "The Fallen" really shines is in the relationship between Rossi and Scott and the development of the two. Both are very interesting characters here, where their motivations are clear, and their relationship written in a way that hit hard and moved. The Vietnam flashbacks, with very well cast younger versions of Rossi and Scott, are harrowing and affecting. The tribute to Hernandez at the end brought tears to the eyes, and loved the gratitude shown towards the hard work and bravery of the military which was dealt with in an honest way.
The rest of the team are hardly neglected this said. Wouldn't have said no to more Reid (though his line about the woman not having any friends and thinking that only happened to him was hilarious), but the profiling, while not as memorable of the Rossi storyline, is by no means underused and sees the team functioning more cohesively as a team compared to many later episodes.
Case itself isn't quite as strong. There is certainly tension and suspense and a powerful climactic stand-off, but there is not much new and was expecting a slightly better developed and more threatening in demeanour unsub.
Scripting here is thought-provoking with a lot of tautness and emotion. The acting is very good, with Joe Mantegna and indeed Meshach Taylor being fantastic.
In conclusion, not one of the best 'Criminal Minds' episodes but as far as Season 8 goes "The Fallen" is one of the better ones. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Season 8 did see a sizeable number of mediocre episodes, but also ones that were very good and showing signs of greatness. As far as Season 8 episodes go while not one of the very best 'Criminal Minds' episodes "The Fallen" is in the top half of the season. It's not as good as "All That Remains", "The Lesson", "God Complex", "The Good Earth" and "Alchemy". But it is much better than the likes of "Magnificent Light", "Through the Looking Glass", "The Replicator", "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Magnum Opus".
Visually, the production values in "The Fallen" are without complaint. It's very well shot and lit and is overall stylish, gritty, classy and atmospheric. The music is moody in the haunting and melancholic sense and fits well, without either enhancing or distracting from the atmosphere. The direction keeps the momentum going but lets the case breathe.
Where "The Fallen" really shines is in the relationship between Rossi and Scott and the development of the two. Both are very interesting characters here, where their motivations are clear, and their relationship written in a way that hit hard and moved. The Vietnam flashbacks, with very well cast younger versions of Rossi and Scott, are harrowing and affecting. The tribute to Hernandez at the end brought tears to the eyes, and loved the gratitude shown towards the hard work and bravery of the military which was dealt with in an honest way.
The rest of the team are hardly neglected this said. Wouldn't have said no to more Reid (though his line about the woman not having any friends and thinking that only happened to him was hilarious), but the profiling, while not as memorable of the Rossi storyline, is by no means underused and sees the team functioning more cohesively as a team compared to many later episodes.
Case itself isn't quite as strong. There is certainly tension and suspense and a powerful climactic stand-off, but there is not much new and was expecting a slightly better developed and more threatening in demeanour unsub.
Scripting here is thought-provoking with a lot of tautness and emotion. The acting is very good, with Joe Mantegna and indeed Meshach Taylor being fantastic.
In conclusion, not one of the best 'Criminal Minds' episodes but as far as Season 8 goes "The Fallen" is one of the better ones. 8/10 Bethany Cox
