Season 7 has been an inconsistent season like most of the seasons from Season 6. With the worst episodes of the season, there are worse in the show's history but they are still lesser efforts.
With Season 7, there are some great episodes. Especially "Foundation", which bowled me over as to how good it was that it was difficult to believe that it was from a late 'Criminal Minds' season. There are also mediocre at best episodes, such as "I Love You Tommy Brown", which just made me feel uncomfortable and also really disliked Morgan and Garcia in the episode, and the strange and ridiculous "There's No Place Like Home".
"Closing Time" as far as Season 7 episodes go is somewhat middle of the road and feelings were very mixed. Not an awful episode (certainly nowhere near low-point category), but not a great one.
There are obvious good things here. "Closing Time", as pretty much always from 'Criminal Minds', looks great, very stylishly and atmospherically shot with an appropriate amount of grit in the production values in general. The music is both haunting and melancholic, without being intrusive, inappropriate or too much of one mood.
As for the case itself, it's pretty intriguing, with the right amount of tension and suspense, some decent profiling (not full of it but not neglected) and with a creepy unsub. Reid has a few nice moments, but should have been in the episode more. The acting is good too.
For all these good things, there were elements that were lacking, which were to do with a couple of badly done scenes and not enough little character moments in the team that one looks out for. Some may be excited by JJ's climactic fight scene, personally thought the excitement despite AJ Cook's valiant efforts was diminished by the combat being awkwardly choreographed and disorganised in editing, also feel JJ is too out of character when in action when she's much more likable as a liaison officer. The opening scene is draggy, forced and not particularly well acted.
Hotch's new romantic relationship could have brought some heart to the episode, if Bellamy Young as his new love interest wasn't such a dull actress, also although it is nice to see Hotch happy after so long the relationship just feels a little too hasty. Morgan is basically in the background, so much so that you question the point of him being there or his purpose in the episode.
Overall, very mixed on the episode. Not 'Criminal Minds' at its best, although there's much worse in the show too. 5/10 Bethany Cox
