Have been a big fan of 'Criminal Minds' for a long time now. It is nowhere near as good as it was pre-Season 6 admittedly this said.
When 'Criminal Minds' was on form in Seasons 1-5 (which it was more often than it was not), and even better at its best, the episodes in question were some of my favourites for any show, seen in episodes such as "The Fox", "Riding the Lightning", "LDSK", "The Fisher King" episodes, "Elephant's Memory", "Lo-Fi", "Lucky", "The Big Wheel", "Zoe's Reprise", "Conflicted", "Minimal Loss", "The Instincts", "Memoriam", "100", "...A Thousand Words", with "Revelations", "North Mammon", "The Boogeyman" "Profiler Profiled", the "No Way Out" episodes, "Seven Seconds", "Omnivore", "The Uncanny Valley" and "Mosley Lane" coming close.
Season 6 onwards has seen a number of good to great episodes, though not many classics ("Entropy", "Mr Scratch", "Foundation", "True Genius", "Gabby", "The Caller" and "Nelson's Sparrow" being the handful of classic latter season episodes). However, there have been even more average or less or bad (such as "200", "The Black Queen", "The Thirteenth Step", "Breath Play", "Till Death Do Us Part", "The Bond", "Awake" "If the Shoe Fits", "Inner Beauty", "Internal Affairs" and "Future Perfect") ones. Sure, Seasons 1-5 had some not so good episodes, like "Machismo", "Honor Among Thieves", "The Fight", "The Performer", "Parasite" and "Hopeless", but not to the extent of the worst episodes of the latter seasons.
Talking about "Carbon Copy", as far as Season 8 episodes go it's somewhere in the middle rather than being one of the best or worst. It's not as good as "All That Remains", "The Lesson", "God Complex", "The Good Earth" and "Alchemy". But it is much better than the likes of "Magnificent Light", "Through the Looking Glass", "The Replicator", "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Magnum Opus".
"Carbon Copy" has its faults. Despite being initially suspected as the re-curring serial killer/stalker of the season, it was too obvious early on that the suspect was not who they were looking for. "Carbon Copy's" biggest fault though is that, despite some lovely team interaction, character moments and chemistry, there are points where the team are shown as not just stupid but also negligent. This is especially true with not questioning (the obvious misgivings being practically ignored) Bidwell's culpability, leaving him alone when given a false pretences excuse that the viewer immediately sees through and the whole business with the medication which was just sloppy writing. Still too reliant on Garcia giving the answers all too conveniently.
Blake and Strauss' chemistry may have resonated with me if the two characters did much for me, though their talking about the past exchange was nice. Blake grew on me in Season 9 and had her moments in Season 8 (especially with Reid), but there were too many times in Season 8 where she came over as disconnected and "just there". Rarely did care for Strauss even in the early seasons, just too cold and dictatorial and was never able to understand her unexplained problem with Hotch. The Replicator story arc was intriguing and had moments of creepiness (which makes it even sadder that it was wasted in the season finale), but to me other criminals posed more of a threat to the team, such as Frank Breitkopf and especially George Foyet, as well as in episodes like "Lucky"/"Penelope", "Lo-Fi" and "The Fisher King" episodes.
On the other hand, the team interaction is delightful and there are some really well-done scenes and little moments (both big and subtle). The ending gave me epic chills as did the Hotch headshot on the body, while the arrest and interrogation scenes and the abduction of Shannon had some tension. A few fun parts such as Rossi and JJ's exchange, especially Rossi's sassy but truthful response, about being replaced, Rossi commenting to Rizzo about needing a hug and Strauss' stalking list (especially the line delivery of "flowers sent").
Visually, the production values are without complaint. It's very well shot and lit and is overall stylish, gritty, classy and atmospheric. The music is moody in the haunting and melancholic sense and fits well, without either enhancing or distracting from it. The direction keeps the momentum going but lets the case breathe and the script is one of the tightest and focused ones all season.
On top of that, the story is intriguing with the right amount of suspense and tautness, with a creepy enough unsub. All the acting is very good, can't fault the regulars and Scott Grimes does a very good job in a creepier role than the usual put-down-upon loser one he's played.
In summary, decent but unsatisfying at the same time. 6/10 Bethany Cox
When 'Criminal Minds' was on form in Seasons 1-5 (which it was more often than it was not), and even better at its best, the episodes in question were some of my favourites for any show, seen in episodes such as "The Fox", "Riding the Lightning", "LDSK", "The Fisher King" episodes, "Elephant's Memory", "Lo-Fi", "Lucky", "The Big Wheel", "Zoe's Reprise", "Conflicted", "Minimal Loss", "The Instincts", "Memoriam", "100", "...A Thousand Words", with "Revelations", "North Mammon", "The Boogeyman" "Profiler Profiled", the "No Way Out" episodes, "Seven Seconds", "Omnivore", "The Uncanny Valley" and "Mosley Lane" coming close.
Season 6 onwards has seen a number of good to great episodes, though not many classics ("Entropy", "Mr Scratch", "Foundation", "True Genius", "Gabby", "The Caller" and "Nelson's Sparrow" being the handful of classic latter season episodes). However, there have been even more average or less or bad (such as "200", "The Black Queen", "The Thirteenth Step", "Breath Play", "Till Death Do Us Part", "The Bond", "Awake" "If the Shoe Fits", "Inner Beauty", "Internal Affairs" and "Future Perfect") ones. Sure, Seasons 1-5 had some not so good episodes, like "Machismo", "Honor Among Thieves", "The Fight", "The Performer", "Parasite" and "Hopeless", but not to the extent of the worst episodes of the latter seasons.
Talking about "Carbon Copy", as far as Season 8 episodes go it's somewhere in the middle rather than being one of the best or worst. It's not as good as "All That Remains", "The Lesson", "God Complex", "The Good Earth" and "Alchemy". But it is much better than the likes of "Magnificent Light", "Through the Looking Glass", "The Replicator", "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Magnum Opus".
"Carbon Copy" has its faults. Despite being initially suspected as the re-curring serial killer/stalker of the season, it was too obvious early on that the suspect was not who they were looking for. "Carbon Copy's" biggest fault though is that, despite some lovely team interaction, character moments and chemistry, there are points where the team are shown as not just stupid but also negligent. This is especially true with not questioning (the obvious misgivings being practically ignored) Bidwell's culpability, leaving him alone when given a false pretences excuse that the viewer immediately sees through and the whole business with the medication which was just sloppy writing. Still too reliant on Garcia giving the answers all too conveniently.
Blake and Strauss' chemistry may have resonated with me if the two characters did much for me, though their talking about the past exchange was nice. Blake grew on me in Season 9 and had her moments in Season 8 (especially with Reid), but there were too many times in Season 8 where she came over as disconnected and "just there". Rarely did care for Strauss even in the early seasons, just too cold and dictatorial and was never able to understand her unexplained problem with Hotch. The Replicator story arc was intriguing and had moments of creepiness (which makes it even sadder that it was wasted in the season finale), but to me other criminals posed more of a threat to the team, such as Frank Breitkopf and especially George Foyet, as well as in episodes like "Lucky"/"Penelope", "Lo-Fi" and "The Fisher King" episodes.
On the other hand, the team interaction is delightful and there are some really well-done scenes and little moments (both big and subtle). The ending gave me epic chills as did the Hotch headshot on the body, while the arrest and interrogation scenes and the abduction of Shannon had some tension. A few fun parts such as Rossi and JJ's exchange, especially Rossi's sassy but truthful response, about being replaced, Rossi commenting to Rizzo about needing a hug and Strauss' stalking list (especially the line delivery of "flowers sent").
Visually, the production values are without complaint. It's very well shot and lit and is overall stylish, gritty, classy and atmospheric. The music is moody in the haunting and melancholic sense and fits well, without either enhancing or distracting from it. The direction keeps the momentum going but lets the case breathe and the script is one of the tightest and focused ones all season.
On top of that, the story is intriguing with the right amount of suspense and tautness, with a creepy enough unsub. All the acting is very good, can't fault the regulars and Scott Grimes does a very good job in a creepier role than the usual put-down-upon loser one he's played.
In summary, decent but unsatisfying at the same time. 6/10 Bethany Cox
