Season 1 was incredibly bad. No good episodes, even the best "Paper Orphans" had plenty to criticise, and it was hard to pick a worst episode out of a mostly dreadful lot. Have not ever seen a season for anything with this many offensively bad episodes. Even those that are not easily offended and always make efforts to not be over-sensitive will severely object by the false and negative stereotypical portrayals of every country and culture explored throughout 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders'
One is undoubtedly going to ask "why watch Season 2 if you thought Season 1 was that bad?" Simple. Love the genre that the show falls under, am a fan of prime-'Criminal Minds' and even the hit and miss latter seasons had fantastic episodes and so much of me was really hoping that Season 2 would be better. The good news is that the second season is a marginal improvement over the first, not as many offensively bad episodes. Still didn't care for it on the whole though and this is epitomised in its first episode "Lost Souls".
"Lost Souls" is not a complete loss. The premise is an interesting one and it actually starts off promisingly and with intrigue.
That whole conversation within the team about how the people disappeared was thought-probing and summed up what the viewer is thinking at that point. And despite one questioning the point of her presence, it was great to see Garcia (and in character) and she is like a ray of sunshine and hope amongst all the dreariness.
Excepting Kirsten Vangsness (who is solid), the acting has not really improved at all. Gary Sinise, who sleepwalks through his role, and Alana De La Garza, who fares better but is not the bright spot that she was in most of Season 1 and has little to work with, are well above what they are given. The less said about the mega irritating and stiff Annie Funke the better. The unsub joins the long list of 'Beyond Borders' unsubs that make little impression and are neither menacing or interesting. Their motivations also could have been a lot more interesting and original and a lot less vague.
Neither have the production values improved. It still looks choppy and there is nothing authentic about the setting. The music could have been less in tone and placement and the direction lacks momentum and personality. Merely "getting the job done and going through the motions doing so" like. The team work lacks cohesion and there is too much of a disconnect, while the procedural work is underused and very ordinary. Too much of an over-reliance on Garcia too. The dialogue excepting one exchange is stilted and difficult to take seriously, and the story is dull and suspense-free. As well as sometimes not making sense, how so many people disappeared in the way revealed didn't ring true to me and in all honesty part of me was still feeling lost. Pacing is a problem, going downhill after a promising start, too often dull and then the denouement was rushed and forced.
Overall, better than all the Season 1 episodes combined but rather lacklustre still. 4/10
One is undoubtedly going to ask "why watch Season 2 if you thought Season 1 was that bad?" Simple. Love the genre that the show falls under, am a fan of prime-'Criminal Minds' and even the hit and miss latter seasons had fantastic episodes and so much of me was really hoping that Season 2 would be better. The good news is that the second season is a marginal improvement over the first, not as many offensively bad episodes. Still didn't care for it on the whole though and this is epitomised in its first episode "Lost Souls".
"Lost Souls" is not a complete loss. The premise is an interesting one and it actually starts off promisingly and with intrigue.
That whole conversation within the team about how the people disappeared was thought-probing and summed up what the viewer is thinking at that point. And despite one questioning the point of her presence, it was great to see Garcia (and in character) and she is like a ray of sunshine and hope amongst all the dreariness.
Excepting Kirsten Vangsness (who is solid), the acting has not really improved at all. Gary Sinise, who sleepwalks through his role, and Alana De La Garza, who fares better but is not the bright spot that she was in most of Season 1 and has little to work with, are well above what they are given. The less said about the mega irritating and stiff Annie Funke the better. The unsub joins the long list of 'Beyond Borders' unsubs that make little impression and are neither menacing or interesting. Their motivations also could have been a lot more interesting and original and a lot less vague.
Neither have the production values improved. It still looks choppy and there is nothing authentic about the setting. The music could have been less in tone and placement and the direction lacks momentum and personality. Merely "getting the job done and going through the motions doing so" like. The team work lacks cohesion and there is too much of a disconnect, while the procedural work is underused and very ordinary. Too much of an over-reliance on Garcia too. The dialogue excepting one exchange is stilted and difficult to take seriously, and the story is dull and suspense-free. As well as sometimes not making sense, how so many people disappeared in the way revealed didn't ring true to me and in all honesty part of me was still feeling lost. Pacing is a problem, going downhill after a promising start, too often dull and then the denouement was rushed and forced.
Overall, better than all the Season 1 episodes combined but rather lacklustre still. 4/10
