'Criminal Minds' has always been one of my most-watched shows and was a personal favourite for a while. Seasons 1-5 was its best period, Season 4 was especially great. It did get hit and miss from Season 6 onwards, with a mix of good and more episodes and disappointing and less episodes. Season 11 was, apart from about 5 episodes, pretty weak. Season 12 was inconsistent but generally an improvement, its weakest episodes nowhere near as bad as the low-points of Seasons 6, 9 and especially 11.
Season 13 started off very strongly with "Wheels Up", a very tense and emotionally powerful episode. While it was far from a 'Criminal Minds' low point, it's much better than the likes of "200", "The Black Queen", "The Fight", "The Thirteenth Step" and the worst of Season 11, couldn't help feeling let down by "To a Better Place". There are a lot of good elements, but it also could have been much better.
It's the case that brings "To a Better Place" down. While creepy at times, the opening scene is pretty unnerving, and the unsub is creepy while also one one oddly feels a pang of sympathy for (it's Edith that one hates the most here, that is one loathsome character), it does lack tension and suspense. Would have liked a little less of the unsub and a little more procedural aspects instead and also felt they were revealed a little too prematurely. The biggest problem though is that it's pretty generic and predictable, with a lot of familiar elements that are lifted from previous 'Criminal Minds' episodes. Even though there are a few nice twists to the case.
The dialogue at times is on the awkward side, particularly between Helen and her friend. Also thought that after such an intense and tragic previous episode that the traumatic events in that were too down-played and almost neglected here.
However, the procedural aspects are well done and very interesting, how it's all solved is not overly reliant on convenience, the team still have plenty to do and the team interaction is a delight. Really appreciated that the show returned back to basics and didn't seem to completely forget what made it so great before. There are lovely little character moments, always part of 'Criminal Minds' charm, always look out for them myself, and something that lifted lesser episodes.
Rossi has some amusingly corny lines, the stuff with the germs was cute, Reid and Prentiss' chemistry and talk together was touching and they as ever do a great job with Reid. The unsub is an interesting one, despite the over-familiarity, and Edith does evoke chills. Simmons is settling well. All the acting is very good, especially from Matthew Gray Gubler.
Visually, "To a Better Place" is atmospheric and stylish. The music is neither too intrusive or too low-key with the ever memorable theme tune, some of it is suitably unsettling. The script, apart from the odd bits of awkwardness, and direction are mostly nicely done.
On the whole, decent episode but could have been better. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Season 13 started off very strongly with "Wheels Up", a very tense and emotionally powerful episode. While it was far from a 'Criminal Minds' low point, it's much better than the likes of "200", "The Black Queen", "The Fight", "The Thirteenth Step" and the worst of Season 11, couldn't help feeling let down by "To a Better Place". There are a lot of good elements, but it also could have been much better.
It's the case that brings "To a Better Place" down. While creepy at times, the opening scene is pretty unnerving, and the unsub is creepy while also one one oddly feels a pang of sympathy for (it's Edith that one hates the most here, that is one loathsome character), it does lack tension and suspense. Would have liked a little less of the unsub and a little more procedural aspects instead and also felt they were revealed a little too prematurely. The biggest problem though is that it's pretty generic and predictable, with a lot of familiar elements that are lifted from previous 'Criminal Minds' episodes. Even though there are a few nice twists to the case.
The dialogue at times is on the awkward side, particularly between Helen and her friend. Also thought that after such an intense and tragic previous episode that the traumatic events in that were too down-played and almost neglected here.
However, the procedural aspects are well done and very interesting, how it's all solved is not overly reliant on convenience, the team still have plenty to do and the team interaction is a delight. Really appreciated that the show returned back to basics and didn't seem to completely forget what made it so great before. There are lovely little character moments, always part of 'Criminal Minds' charm, always look out for them myself, and something that lifted lesser episodes.
Rossi has some amusingly corny lines, the stuff with the germs was cute, Reid and Prentiss' chemistry and talk together was touching and they as ever do a great job with Reid. The unsub is an interesting one, despite the over-familiarity, and Edith does evoke chills. Simmons is settling well. All the acting is very good, especially from Matthew Gray Gubler.
Visually, "To a Better Place" is atmospheric and stylish. The music is neither too intrusive or too low-key with the ever memorable theme tune, some of it is suitably unsettling. The script, apart from the odd bits of awkwardness, and direction are mostly nicely done.
On the whole, decent episode but could have been better. 6/10 Bethany Cox
