3rd Life
- Episode aired Jan 9, 2008
- TV-14
- 42m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Two teenage girls go missing, one of which is soon found dead and freshly buried. The team soon suspects that the killings are related to the witness protection program.Two teenage girls go missing, one of which is soon found dead and freshly buried. The team soon suspects that the killings are related to the witness protection program.Two teenage girls go missing, one of which is soon found dead and freshly buried. The team soon suspects that the killings are related to the witness protection program.
Fredric Lehne
- Jack Vaughan
- (as Fredric Lane)
Gia Mantegna
- Lindsey
- (as Gina Mantegna)
Jon Barton
- SWAT Leader
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGia Mantegna (Lindsey) is the real-life daughter of Joe Mantegna (David Rossi).
- GoofsWhen Ryan is threatening Lindsey, and waving the knife, you can see the blade shake, letting you know it is a rubber knife.
- Quotes
Aaron Hotchner: Jack, every person in this room with the exception of him
[looks sharply at Pat Mannan]
Aaron Hotchner: is here for your daughter.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Criminal Minds: Unforgettable (2017)
- SoundtracksUmbrella
Written by Jay-Z, Kuk Harrell, Christopher Stewart and The-Dream (as Terius Nash)
Performed by Hayley McFarland
Featured review
Solid episode but not spectacular
"3rd Life" may be a lesser episode of Season 3 (which to me is a solid season and generally among the better ones of 'Criminal Minds'), "Birthright" being another. This said, even a lesser episode of Season 3 is leagues better than the worst of Season 9 and 11, those being among the show's low-points.
It is a solid and intriguing episode but not a spectacular one, that could have been better if some of the story was executed a little bit better. The motive for the unsub's crimes could have been made clearer and more expanded rather than being as vague as it was, so much so that it's hardly surprising that a lot of people missed it and questioned whether the episode provided one at all.
Even more could have been done with the mob lead, while somewhat clichéd it was a fascinating angle, it added a lot to the father character giving him a not-what-he-seems side to his character and was really starting to invest in it so when it was dropped it felt like it didn't amount to much. The US Marshall character was also an annoying, unpleasant and cold character, who didn't seem to give a monkeys for the case, which had real urgency and like a race against time for everybody else.
Much of the story however is very compelling. It begins very suspensefully, making one really care what happened to the girls and which one died and the details of the crime were shocking. Really felt for the parents here, while the climax (the most memorable thing about "3rd Life") disturbed me to the core and raised a number of moral questions. Reid questioning his actions gave a startlingly human side to his character, showing that even geniuses can make mistakes, he was developed very well too. The outcome and aftermath of the climax did seem unsatisfying and unrealistic at first, but after finding out the justification provided which was admittedly missed initially it was much easier to swallow. The father and the chilling character of Ryan were interesting characters, did feel sorry for the father while also being shocked by his past while Ryan is more and better developed than your typical teenage criminal.
Production values are high in quality as always, with a darkness and grit throughout particularly at the start. The music is haunting and melancholic, while the writing is tight and thought-provoking with interesting profiling (the climax dialogue, the team banter and Rossi wanting to play the voice mail with Prentiss protesting being highlights), great banter and the direction is solid, keeping the drama and tension alert while allowing breathing space. Character interaction is very strong here, with the team working really well as a team and the interaction between Lindsay and Ryan gives urgency and tension to the situation.
Acting is excellent. Not just from the leads, with particularly stellar acting from Matthew Gray Gubler but also from the support. Gia Mantegna is very good as Lindsay, while Frederick Lehne brings gravitas to his not what he seems role and Riley Smith's Ryan is chillingly played in a way that's not hammy or low-key.
Overall, solid episode but not spectacular. Proof that even a lesser episode to this particular season fares much better than those of latter seasons. 7/10 Bethany Cox
It is a solid and intriguing episode but not a spectacular one, that could have been better if some of the story was executed a little bit better. The motive for the unsub's crimes could have been made clearer and more expanded rather than being as vague as it was, so much so that it's hardly surprising that a lot of people missed it and questioned whether the episode provided one at all.
Even more could have been done with the mob lead, while somewhat clichéd it was a fascinating angle, it added a lot to the father character giving him a not-what-he-seems side to his character and was really starting to invest in it so when it was dropped it felt like it didn't amount to much. The US Marshall character was also an annoying, unpleasant and cold character, who didn't seem to give a monkeys for the case, which had real urgency and like a race against time for everybody else.
Much of the story however is very compelling. It begins very suspensefully, making one really care what happened to the girls and which one died and the details of the crime were shocking. Really felt for the parents here, while the climax (the most memorable thing about "3rd Life") disturbed me to the core and raised a number of moral questions. Reid questioning his actions gave a startlingly human side to his character, showing that even geniuses can make mistakes, he was developed very well too. The outcome and aftermath of the climax did seem unsatisfying and unrealistic at first, but after finding out the justification provided which was admittedly missed initially it was much easier to swallow. The father and the chilling character of Ryan were interesting characters, did feel sorry for the father while also being shocked by his past while Ryan is more and better developed than your typical teenage criminal.
Production values are high in quality as always, with a darkness and grit throughout particularly at the start. The music is haunting and melancholic, while the writing is tight and thought-provoking with interesting profiling (the climax dialogue, the team banter and Rossi wanting to play the voice mail with Prentiss protesting being highlights), great banter and the direction is solid, keeping the drama and tension alert while allowing breathing space. Character interaction is very strong here, with the team working really well as a team and the interaction between Lindsay and Ryan gives urgency and tension to the situation.
Acting is excellent. Not just from the leads, with particularly stellar acting from Matthew Gray Gubler but also from the support. Gia Mantegna is very good as Lindsay, while Frederick Lehne brings gravitas to his not what he seems role and Riley Smith's Ryan is chillingly played in a way that's not hammy or low-key.
Overall, solid episode but not spectacular. Proof that even a lesser episode to this particular season fares much better than those of latter seasons. 7/10 Bethany Cox
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 24, 2016
Details
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- Runtime42 minutes
- Color
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- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
- 16:9 HD
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