When on form, and even better at its best, 'Criminal Minds' is one of my most watched and most re-watched shows and is a personal favourite. It is nowhere near as good now, but there are still good to great episodes made every now and then when the show doesn't forget what it's about, but Seasons 1-5 was its prime period.
"Hope" is not one of the best or worst episodes of Season 7. It is instead an in between episode and somewhere in the middle, with things to admire and other elements that could have been done better. It is not as good as "True Genius", "The Foundation", "Dorado Falls" and "The Company", but almost on par with "Self Fulfilling Prophecy", "From Childhood's Hour", " Epilogue", "Proof" and "Unknown Subject" and much better than "Closing Time", "Divining Rod" (and especially), "I Love You Tommy Brown" and "There's No Place Like Home".
There are things that could have been done better. It is cliché ridden and not much new, with things that have been done before and much better and some of the earlier parts being run of the mill, though am not going to hold that against the episode too much. The butterfly metaphor and intervention were a touch heavy-handed and while the unsub is creepily unsympathetic at times in terms of development he is a bit vanilla.
Really didn't like that Hotch's role was so limited, when there have been times before and since where he has been an interesting character with some scene gems but too many of the post-Season 6 episodes side-line to practical invisibility and Hotch deserves a million times better than that. More profiling would have been more welcome too.
Loved however what was done with Garcia, really felt for her in this episode, her story was interesting and affecting and her chemistry with JJ (not as overused or horribly out of character as in too many Season 7-9 episodes) is wonderful. Reid, a fan favourite for good reason, is very funny and a joy to watch.
As for the case itself, first impressions was that of uncertainly but it got significantly better the creepier, more disturbing (though not gratuitous) and poignant it got. Some wonderfully scary details such as with the pictures, table and ring (the last one really making the stomach churn), and the victim and her friend (who has one of the highlight scenes) add a real poignancy to the story.
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. Much of the script is thought-provoking, tightly structured and well-balanced.
As ever, the acting all round is very good, Kirsten Vangsness being terrific.
In conclusion, decent without being one of the best or worst. 7/10 Bethany Cox
"Hope" is not one of the best or worst episodes of Season 7. It is instead an in between episode and somewhere in the middle, with things to admire and other elements that could have been done better. It is not as good as "True Genius", "The Foundation", "Dorado Falls" and "The Company", but almost on par with "Self Fulfilling Prophecy", "From Childhood's Hour", " Epilogue", "Proof" and "Unknown Subject" and much better than "Closing Time", "Divining Rod" (and especially), "I Love You Tommy Brown" and "There's No Place Like Home".
There are things that could have been done better. It is cliché ridden and not much new, with things that have been done before and much better and some of the earlier parts being run of the mill, though am not going to hold that against the episode too much. The butterfly metaphor and intervention were a touch heavy-handed and while the unsub is creepily unsympathetic at times in terms of development he is a bit vanilla.
Really didn't like that Hotch's role was so limited, when there have been times before and since where he has been an interesting character with some scene gems but too many of the post-Season 6 episodes side-line to practical invisibility and Hotch deserves a million times better than that. More profiling would have been more welcome too.
Loved however what was done with Garcia, really felt for her in this episode, her story was interesting and affecting and her chemistry with JJ (not as overused or horribly out of character as in too many Season 7-9 episodes) is wonderful. Reid, a fan favourite for good reason, is very funny and a joy to watch.
As for the case itself, first impressions was that of uncertainly but it got significantly better the creepier, more disturbing (though not gratuitous) and poignant it got. Some wonderfully scary details such as with the pictures, table and ring (the last one really making the stomach churn), and the victim and her friend (who has one of the highlight scenes) add a real poignancy to the story.
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. Much of the script is thought-provoking, tightly structured and well-balanced.
As ever, the acting all round is very good, Kirsten Vangsness being terrific.
In conclusion, decent without being one of the best or worst. 7/10 Bethany Cox
