In previous reviews for previous episodes of 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders', it was said by me that the show never improved and that there wasn't a single good episode. It seemed like that for most of its run, especially in the terrible first season. Season 2 was better but still had a vast majority of the same problems to before and executed them almost as badly. Still continued to watch the show for curiosity's sake and to give it a fair share and on the most part it is not a good show at all and at its worst was awful.
After re-watching "La Huesuda" recently, as a result of being told by somebody that loved the episode to give it a second chance, what was said in my reviews for prior episodes is partially incorrect. While standing by my feelings of 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders' not having a good episode in its run, the show did show improvement with "La Huesuda" (though brief). The first and only halfway-decent episode and not just the best episode of Season 2 but of the whole show. It is sad though that the episode was a fluke and the show went downhill for the next six episodes.
"La Huesuda" has good things. A good deal more effort seemed to have gone into the production values, the setting being colourful and atmospheric and the photography is slicker to usual (though rushed looking still in parts). The script is intriguing with the dialogue sounding more natural and less stilted than the rest of the episodes, it also doesn't patronise anywhere near as much. Do agree too about the cultural aspects being more tasteful than the rest of the show's episodes, this aspect tends to be executed in an offensive fashion in 'Beyond Borders' but not here in the only episode to be informative in this regard.
While the story is a long way from perfect, there were parts that were very interesting, it is a lot less careless than the other episodes of the show, has a plot that actually makes a little more sense and it is one of the few episodes to have some degree of emotional investment. As well as some degree of character development from a team member, development that illuminates and engages. Garrett was never more interesting than here, even in "Paper Orphans". Some of the show's best acting, by far, is here, nobody is annoying and nobody sleepwalks (the only episode to have that effect).
There is still a good deal wrong though. The story did tend to lack tension and suspense, a common problem for 'Beyond Borders', from being too over-familiar. In an effort to be more careful in the plotting, there were times where it did drag. The responsible is another fairly standard and vanilla character, the menace and sympathy factors not being there.
Did think too that there could have been more team interaction, and team interaction that had more cohesion and had less of a disconnect with more procedural work (that wasn't too safe). While the production values are an improvement, the editing still looks rushed, and the music is forgettable at best.
Overall, surprisingly not a bad episode but far from great. By 'Beyond Borders' standards, it was a pleasant surprise. 6/10
After re-watching "La Huesuda" recently, as a result of being told by somebody that loved the episode to give it a second chance, what was said in my reviews for prior episodes is partially incorrect. While standing by my feelings of 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders' not having a good episode in its run, the show did show improvement with "La Huesuda" (though brief). The first and only halfway-decent episode and not just the best episode of Season 2 but of the whole show. It is sad though that the episode was a fluke and the show went downhill for the next six episodes.
"La Huesuda" has good things. A good deal more effort seemed to have gone into the production values, the setting being colourful and atmospheric and the photography is slicker to usual (though rushed looking still in parts). The script is intriguing with the dialogue sounding more natural and less stilted than the rest of the episodes, it also doesn't patronise anywhere near as much. Do agree too about the cultural aspects being more tasteful than the rest of the show's episodes, this aspect tends to be executed in an offensive fashion in 'Beyond Borders' but not here in the only episode to be informative in this regard.
While the story is a long way from perfect, there were parts that were very interesting, it is a lot less careless than the other episodes of the show, has a plot that actually makes a little more sense and it is one of the few episodes to have some degree of emotional investment. As well as some degree of character development from a team member, development that illuminates and engages. Garrett was never more interesting than here, even in "Paper Orphans". Some of the show's best acting, by far, is here, nobody is annoying and nobody sleepwalks (the only episode to have that effect).
There is still a good deal wrong though. The story did tend to lack tension and suspense, a common problem for 'Beyond Borders', from being too over-familiar. In an effort to be more careful in the plotting, there were times where it did drag. The responsible is another fairly standard and vanilla character, the menace and sympathy factors not being there.
Did think too that there could have been more team interaction, and team interaction that had more cohesion and had less of a disconnect with more procedural work (that wasn't too safe). While the production values are an improvement, the editing still looks rushed, and the music is forgettable at best.
Overall, surprisingly not a bad episode but far from great. By 'Beyond Borders' standards, it was a pleasant surprise. 6/10
