Season 2 was a mostly solid season for 'Criminal Minds'. Boasting great episodes such as "The Fisher King Part II", "Sex, Birth, Death", "North Mammon", "The Boogeyman", the "No Way Out" episodes, "Revelations" and "Profiler, Profiled", with almost all the episodes missing that very high standard still being strong. The only real odd-one out, meaning barely average, was "Honor Among Thieves".
It must not have been easy following on from one of the season's best episodes "Revelations". While it is not as good, being not as horrifying or as emotional, "Fear and Loathing" is a worthy following episode and is often very good. There is actually not much wrong with it. Like some fans, was expecting "Fear and Loathing" to explore the aftermath of Reid's ordeal and how he was coping but felt that while it was acknowledged that much more could have been done with it and that Reid was somewhat underused.
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 most of the pacing is spot-on apart from the climax.
The script is thought-provoking, tautly paced and structured and nicely balanced. The story is absorbing. Not just the case which does a very good job with themes of political intrigue, racial tensions and the good and bad of releasing profiles to the media (which has disastrous unforeseen consequences), and with a fair share of tension and suspense (liked too that the profile was spot on early on but that the motives for the crimes weren't what was initially suspected).
Also the team interaction, especially the sensitively done and touching brother-like bond between Morgan and Reid. This caring side to Morgan is him at his most likable, which makes it frustrating that this side wasn't written more and that his character writing generally lacked consistency. The unsub is not the most interesting or menacing on 'Criminal Minds' but still poses a good threat. The acting is very good, Shemar Moore giving some of his better acting on the show and Mandy Patinkin and Matthew Gray Gubler always being excellent.
In conclusion, very good and worthy episode of 'Criminal Minds'. It holds up well on its own, though it might be a good idea due to them being referenced more than once throughout to be familiar with "The Big Game" and "Revelations" beforehand. 8/10 Bethany Cox
It must not have been easy following on from one of the season's best episodes "Revelations". While it is not as good, being not as horrifying or as emotional, "Fear and Loathing" is a worthy following episode and is often very good. There is actually not much wrong with it. Like some fans, was expecting "Fear and Loathing" to explore the aftermath of Reid's ordeal and how he was coping but felt that while it was acknowledged that much more could have been done with it and that Reid was somewhat underused.
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 most of the pacing is spot-on apart from the climax.
The script is thought-provoking, tautly paced and structured and nicely balanced. The story is absorbing. Not just the case which does a very good job with themes of political intrigue, racial tensions and the good and bad of releasing profiles to the media (which has disastrous unforeseen consequences), and with a fair share of tension and suspense (liked too that the profile was spot on early on but that the motives for the crimes weren't what was initially suspected).
Also the team interaction, especially the sensitively done and touching brother-like bond between Morgan and Reid. This caring side to Morgan is him at his most likable, which makes it frustrating that this side wasn't written more and that his character writing generally lacked consistency. The unsub is not the most interesting or menacing on 'Criminal Minds' but still poses a good threat. The acting is very good, Shemar Moore giving some of his better acting on the show and Mandy Patinkin and Matthew Gray Gubler always being excellent.
In conclusion, very good and worthy episode of 'Criminal Minds'. It holds up well on its own, though it might be a good idea due to them being referenced more than once throughout to be familiar with "The Big Game" and "Revelations" beforehand. 8/10 Bethany Cox
