Season 5 has had its ups and downs (though much less so than the succeeding seasons, with the exception of perhaps "The Fight" none of its lesser episodes come close to the low-points of Season 9 and 11).
Most of the season's episodes are decent to very good. There are disappointing episodes such as "Parasite", "The Performer", "Hopeless" and especially "The Fight" (the last one being a rare example of a Season 1-5 episode of 'Criminal Minds' that didn't feel like an episode of 'Criminal Minds' at all). At the same time, there are some great to outstanding episodes such as "100", "...A Thousand Words", "Mosley Lane" and this episode "The Uncanny Valley".
It is a shame that for my money a few of the BAU members are very underused, particularly Hotch and Morgan, particularly disappointing in the case of the former when from the IMDb summary you naturally assume that him struggling with work would feature more heavily. It is true also that the science is ludicrous, and while some will be willing to suspend disbelief (which was successful on my part) it is not hard to see why it won't be so easy for others.
All this aside, "The Uncanny Valley" strictly speaking is one of Season 5's best episodes. Particularly standing out here is the story, which is unsettlingly creepy but also equally sad that tearing up is guaranteed no matter how hard anybody tries to resist. Love the beginning and end scenes with the Reid and how the chess is incorporated. The episode also features one of the show's most sympathetic unsubs, despite her actions this is one that we do feel sorry for for her traumatic past and child-like and docile manner that makes one really believe that she is unstable and not that bad a person.
Production values as always are top-notch, with classy yet gritty photography. A huge kudos has to go to the make-up and costume department on the work they did on the victims, how they are made up is incredibly eerie and they actually do look like dolls. The music is one of the season's, and perhaps even the show's, most disturbing while also being emotion-filled being especially good at the end.
Writing has a great mix of eeriness and pathos, while the story is absorbing and rich in atmosphere. The direction is solid as rocks, doing nothing to hinder the tone and atmosphere of the storytelling, the pace is never rushed or dull and the acting from all is very good indeed. An ever excellent Matthew Gray Gubler (after not seeing enough Reid generally in the season it was wonderful to have him at the forefront, and the episode develops him splendidly) and an understated and moving but also somewhat chillingly psychotic Jennifer Hasty are the standouts. The victims are also wonderfully played.
To conclude, a creepy and sad episode and one of the best of the season. 9/10 Bethany Cox
