Season 3 started off strong with "Doubt", but the next couple of episodes (including, and especially this) suffered from having to work around Gideon's departure which caused a good deal of unsettlement behind the scenes and on screen, before returning to form with "Children of the Dark".
The third episode of the season "Scared to Death" is not among the best 'Criminal Minds' episodes, but is still a solidly done episode. It does feel somewhat rushed in places, as a result to tell a lot of story and cram a lot in which means that the mystery doesn't take time as it should do and parts could have done with more explanation.
Wasn't completely crazy about the ending either, which seemed melodramatic and anti-climactic with a rather too convenient comeuppance for the unsub. Lastly, this reviewer still hasn't warmed to Strauss, she is more tolerable and less bitchy than in the previous two episodes but she still isn't gelling and still comes over as a little cold.
It's in particular the character interaction that makes "Scared to Death" a solid and enjoyable episode, such as Reid struggling to come to terms with Gideon's departure being the most affected, the moment with Hotch at the start, the scene in the elevator between Reid and Morgan (which was a refreshingly humorous moment), the interaction between Prentiss and Reid and that of Hotch and Morgan at the end. The character moments and the interaction are always what makes 'Criminal Minds' such a pleasure, and "Scared to Death" doesn't let the viewer done.
As for the mystery, it is a decent one with some disturbing murders based on the victims' anxiety disorders which the unsub takes advantage of and preys on, and the way the team go about solving the case with the profiling and psychology is satisfying enough if more intelligently done and creative in other episodes. The unsub is not the most interesting or most well developed but he's still an effective creep and it's easy to hate him.
Visually, it's stylish, audacious, atmosphere and suitably moody, while the direction is solid and the music is haunting and fits with the mood well, while not enhancing the action it never distracts either. The script is thought-provoking and tight, and the acting from all the leads is very good and Michael O'Keefe is effectively creepy and does convey some menace.
On the whole, solid episode if a little disappointing at the same time. 7/10 Bethany Cox
The third episode of the season "Scared to Death" is not among the best 'Criminal Minds' episodes, but is still a solidly done episode. It does feel somewhat rushed in places, as a result to tell a lot of story and cram a lot in which means that the mystery doesn't take time as it should do and parts could have done with more explanation.
Wasn't completely crazy about the ending either, which seemed melodramatic and anti-climactic with a rather too convenient comeuppance for the unsub. Lastly, this reviewer still hasn't warmed to Strauss, she is more tolerable and less bitchy than in the previous two episodes but she still isn't gelling and still comes over as a little cold.
It's in particular the character interaction that makes "Scared to Death" a solid and enjoyable episode, such as Reid struggling to come to terms with Gideon's departure being the most affected, the moment with Hotch at the start, the scene in the elevator between Reid and Morgan (which was a refreshingly humorous moment), the interaction between Prentiss and Reid and that of Hotch and Morgan at the end. The character moments and the interaction are always what makes 'Criminal Minds' such a pleasure, and "Scared to Death" doesn't let the viewer done.
As for the mystery, it is a decent one with some disturbing murders based on the victims' anxiety disorders which the unsub takes advantage of and preys on, and the way the team go about solving the case with the profiling and psychology is satisfying enough if more intelligently done and creative in other episodes. The unsub is not the most interesting or most well developed but he's still an effective creep and it's easy to hate him.
Visually, it's stylish, audacious, atmosphere and suitably moody, while the direction is solid and the music is haunting and fits with the mood well, while not enhancing the action it never distracts either. The script is thought-provoking and tight, and the acting from all the leads is very good and Michael O'Keefe is effectively creepy and does convey some menace.
On the whole, solid episode if a little disappointing at the same time. 7/10 Bethany Cox