300

Was a big fan of 'Criminal Minds' between Seasons 1-5, Seasons 3 and 4 were especially great. As said in some of my other 'Criminal Minds' reviews, the show did become hit and miss from Season 6. Some real highs, such as "Entropy", "Foundation" and "Mr Scratch" but also some lows like "200", "The Thirteenth Step" and "The Black Queen" (which didn't feel like 'Criminal Minds'). After a weak Season 11, Seasons 12 and 13 were inconsistent but worth watching. Season 14 is the same.

Season 14 gets off to a great start with another milestone episode "300" that promised a lot and delivers even more. One expects understandably a lot from a milestone episode and "300" didn't disappoint me, as far as the latter episodes go it's towards the top. It is as great as Season 5's tense and heart-wrenching "100" and a million times better than the hugely disappointing "200" from Season 9 when it comes to comparing it to the other milestone episodes of 'Criminal Minds'.

Actually didn't think that there was a lot wrong with "300", though maybe the ending was slightly rushed and not hard to figure out what was going to come. It does get a bit weird in spots, then again cult-oriented cases for any show has the danger often of being on the bizarre side.

Following on from the ending of the previous season's finale "Believer" (very good on a side note) and building upon how that episode ended, "300" is what a season opener should be and of the fifteen episodes forming Season 14 it's one of the best. It is slickly and atmospherically shot, which was not a surprise as 'Criminal Minds' was always a well made (with a couple of exceptions like Season 5's "Hopeless" and Season 6's "The Thirteenth Step") show. The music is haunting and doesn't overbear what is going on or over-emphasises.

"300" is thoughtfully scripted throughout with enough tautness, not being too wordy or unrealistically over the top (the latter being a big potential problem for anything involving a cult with a dominant leader). The case has a lot of tension that left me genuinely unsettled, with some neatly incorporated, thankfully not randomly spliced in or anything and interesting flashbacks to past cases. What the characters go through is quite horrifying. Also felt a good deal of emotion watching "300" too.

Not just because of how much one roots for Reid, which has never been hard for me as he is my favourite team member and the most relatable (a primary example being Season 3's "Elephant's Memory"). But also because of how close the team is, they are like family and don't seem disconnected from each other, and how much they care for each other. They also work very well as a team and are cohesive together, and their teamwork and the procedural work are not underused or too basic. Even when talking about them, the cult and especially Merva strike fear in the heart and don't feel too overused. A lot of latter season episodes struggle with executing all well and balancing them.

Loved the team and their relationships while the direction is tightly yet also sympathetically directed, the suspense not letting up. Cannot fault the performances, even Aisha Tyler has grown on me overtime (being somebody that intensely disliked her in Season 11). Matthew Gray Gubler's performance is a emotional tour de force and Michael Hogan is again chillingly Machiavellian.

In summary, great episode and one of the best of Season 14. 9/10