So far with Season 12 there have not been any gems or classics, but none of the episodes so far (have just seen nine so far) have come close to being on the same level as the low points of Seasons 9 and 11. Although "Taboo" and particularly "The Anti-Terror Squad" were disappointing, after initially being nervous due to mostly being underwhelmed by Season 11 Season 12 mostly has been much better than anticipated ("Elliot's Pond" and "Mirror Image" being the best thus far).
"Profiling 202" is a pretty good episode with a lot of great things. It signifies the return of Tommy Yates (aka "The Womb Raider"), being introduced to him in one of Season 7's highlight episodes "Profiling 101" (far superior). Yates doesn't disappoint, he is as creepy and as much of a sicko as ever. Adam Nelson's performance is skin crawling and his back and forth with Joe Mantegna, who is just as amazing as he is in "Profiling 101", is perhaps the most intriguing element of "Profiling 202". Much of the acting is very good, though Damon Gupton is still a bit bland.
The scenes in the classroom are highly intriguing and fun to watch. Liked the scene between Rossi and Clark, and Prentiss' warm chemistry with Rossi was movingly done.
"Profiling 202" is 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 it. Direction is alert and sympathetic. Much of the writing is thoughtful and fun, apart from some lapses in continuity.
Not everything works. Like in three episodes of Season 11, Reid is absent and it's immediately noticeable and missed very sorely, just goes to show at how such a great character's (the best developed and likable character of the show and one of the main reasons for sticking with it) absence can bring an episode down.
Walker, in his second episode but the first where he gets any sizeable screen time, is not fitting yet and doesn't gel with the team. There are a few sloppy continuity errors that contradict what we have been told in previous episodes, especially regarding Rossi's birthday and what Prentiss did before joining the BAU. A few members of the team, while working cohesively, seem underused, especially Garcia.
Overall, pretty good but not great. 7/10 Bethany Cox
