The best of Season 10 for me is "Mr. Scratch", a contender for 'Criminal Minds' best episodes in a long time and is also one of the show's creepiest and most chilling.
"Nelson's Sparrow" is another one of the standout episodes, a close second best to "Mr. Scratch". While this reviewer understands why one may not be totally enamoured by "Nelson's Sparrow" but to me it was a beautifully done tribute to Gideon, and a worthier send off than "In Name and Blood". That did have a touching scene with the letter addressed to Reid, but Gideon's departure always did seem abrupt as a result of Mandy Patinkin's departure also being abrupt and unexpected and leaving on bad terms, so that was inevitable in a way.
It's not a completely perfect episode. It is agreed that the melancholic music score does get over-the-top at times (not usually a problem with 'Criminal Minds'). More problematic is the unsub's reasons for his crimes, they didn't make much sense, other than that the unsub was delusional, and seemed too disconnected from one another.
However, "Nelson's Sparrow" looks wonderful, stylish, beautifully filmed and with a lot of atmosphere. The theme tune is hypnotic and haunting. The script is tense, very emotionally affecting and tightly structured, and the story throughout is engrossing with a suspenseful shoot-out between Rossi and the unsub, there may have been a feeling of vengeance but it seemed to me that that was not the reason for the scene ended as it did and not a case of turning vigilante (trying not to give it away here), he was saving his own skin and saving himself from being yet another victim of the unsub (which it would have happened that way if Rossi hadn't reacted quickly).
What made "Nelson's Sparrow" so well done and satisfying were the many little character moments, like Reid's emotionally devastating grief, Hotch retelling a story that Gideon told him about the snowstorm (which saw a rare light-hearted side to the usual sober and serious Hotch), the numerous flashbacks revealing Gideon and Rossi's younger selves, Rossi telling Reid of the BAU being nicknamed the BS unit and trying not to laugh, the ugliness of the torture that the unsub put his victims through (who cannot fail to flinch at the sound of dislocating the legs of his last victim?) and the ending reference to the Euripedes quote initially said by Gideon in "Broken Mirror" repeated by Hotch.
Great acting also all round. Joe Mantegna and Matthew Gray Gubler particularly stood out of the regulars, fitting because they were the ones affected most by the situation. Ben Savage as younger Gideon was incredible, getting even the mannerisms spot on which must not have been an easy feat. Robin Dunne shines too, while the unsub is one of the most loathsome in a long time.
In conclusion, "Nelson's Sparrow" is one of the standout episodes of Season 10, close second best after "Mr. Scratch" and compares extremely favourably with the later seasons of the show. 9/10 Bethany Cox
"Nelson's Sparrow" is another one of the standout episodes, a close second best to "Mr. Scratch". While this reviewer understands why one may not be totally enamoured by "Nelson's Sparrow" but to me it was a beautifully done tribute to Gideon, and a worthier send off than "In Name and Blood". That did have a touching scene with the letter addressed to Reid, but Gideon's departure always did seem abrupt as a result of Mandy Patinkin's departure also being abrupt and unexpected and leaving on bad terms, so that was inevitable in a way.
It's not a completely perfect episode. It is agreed that the melancholic music score does get over-the-top at times (not usually a problem with 'Criminal Minds'). More problematic is the unsub's reasons for his crimes, they didn't make much sense, other than that the unsub was delusional, and seemed too disconnected from one another.
However, "Nelson's Sparrow" looks wonderful, stylish, beautifully filmed and with a lot of atmosphere. The theme tune is hypnotic and haunting. The script is tense, very emotionally affecting and tightly structured, and the story throughout is engrossing with a suspenseful shoot-out between Rossi and the unsub, there may have been a feeling of vengeance but it seemed to me that that was not the reason for the scene ended as it did and not a case of turning vigilante (trying not to give it away here), he was saving his own skin and saving himself from being yet another victim of the unsub (which it would have happened that way if Rossi hadn't reacted quickly).
What made "Nelson's Sparrow" so well done and satisfying were the many little character moments, like Reid's emotionally devastating grief, Hotch retelling a story that Gideon told him about the snowstorm (which saw a rare light-hearted side to the usual sober and serious Hotch), the numerous flashbacks revealing Gideon and Rossi's younger selves, Rossi telling Reid of the BAU being nicknamed the BS unit and trying not to laugh, the ugliness of the torture that the unsub put his victims through (who cannot fail to flinch at the sound of dislocating the legs of his last victim?) and the ending reference to the Euripedes quote initially said by Gideon in "Broken Mirror" repeated by Hotch.
Great acting also all round. Joe Mantegna and Matthew Gray Gubler particularly stood out of the regulars, fitting because they were the ones affected most by the situation. Ben Savage as younger Gideon was incredible, getting even the mannerisms spot on which must not have been an easy feat. Robin Dunne shines too, while the unsub is one of the most loathsome in a long time.
In conclusion, "Nelson's Sparrow" is one of the standout episodes of Season 10, close second best after "Mr. Scratch" and compares extremely favourably with the later seasons of the show. 9/10 Bethany Cox