In its prime (Seasons 1-5, with Season 4 to me being the best and most consistent season with a lot of classic episodes and even the weakest episodes being far from awful) 'Criminal Minds' was one of my favourite shows. From Season 6 it did become hit and miss, with the odd gem, but a lot of average episodes and some stinkers.
Although Season 12, although inconsistent (with no classics but no low-points either) has been better than expected, "True North" has been one of two of the weakest episodes of the season so far. The other being "The Anti-Terror Squad". As has been indicated a few sentences ago, not every episode has been average or less, "Elliot's Pond", "Mirror Image" and especially "Spencer" from personal opinion were very good.
Let's start with "True North's" good things. There is one good scene, a quite powerful one, that scene was the interview between Reid and Tara Lewis. That's one of the few times when a character that usually does nothing for me is not a problem in any way. Great chemistry and acting from Matthew Gray Gubler and Aisha Tyler.
Visually, the episode looks great as to be expected. 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 is alert, tense and accommodating.
The acting is very good, considering what the actors had to work with.
Unfortunately, the writing is some of the weakest of the season so far, it's very stilted and there is very little that provokes thought, entertains, moves or taut or smart. Basically it's a blah at best script and at other points pretty bad.
Despite being impressed by it in "Spencer", "Collision Course" and "Alpha Male", where it was harrowing and poignant, Reid's prison subplot is not particularly interesting anymore, apart from the surprise of the gender of the person responsible for the crimes Reid's in prison for, and really needs to be wrapped up before it runs out of more ideas. Although the team do show concern for Reid, Prentiss seems to be the only one concerned with catching Mr Scratch, another initially interesting but drawn out by now.
Generally the team are underused. The case itself is very plain and nothing special, with far too gratuitous and overly elaborate murders, a lot of questions left unanswered and a not particularly interesting unsub, who doesn't have enough menace to be scared of him, and not enough to make us feel sympathy for him, regardless of a nasty piece of work of a mother.
In summary, very lacklustre with one good scene and a few other good points. 4/10 Bethany Cox
Although Season 12, although inconsistent (with no classics but no low-points either) has been better than expected, "True North" has been one of two of the weakest episodes of the season so far. The other being "The Anti-Terror Squad". As has been indicated a few sentences ago, not every episode has been average or less, "Elliot's Pond", "Mirror Image" and especially "Spencer" from personal opinion were very good.
Let's start with "True North's" good things. There is one good scene, a quite powerful one, that scene was the interview between Reid and Tara Lewis. That's one of the few times when a character that usually does nothing for me is not a problem in any way. Great chemistry and acting from Matthew Gray Gubler and Aisha Tyler.
Visually, the episode looks great as to be expected. 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 is alert, tense and accommodating.
The acting is very good, considering what the actors had to work with.
Unfortunately, the writing is some of the weakest of the season so far, it's very stilted and there is very little that provokes thought, entertains, moves or taut or smart. Basically it's a blah at best script and at other points pretty bad.
Despite being impressed by it in "Spencer", "Collision Course" and "Alpha Male", where it was harrowing and poignant, Reid's prison subplot is not particularly interesting anymore, apart from the surprise of the gender of the person responsible for the crimes Reid's in prison for, and really needs to be wrapped up before it runs out of more ideas. Although the team do show concern for Reid, Prentiss seems to be the only one concerned with catching Mr Scratch, another initially interesting but drawn out by now.
Generally the team are underused. The case itself is very plain and nothing special, with far too gratuitous and overly elaborate murders, a lot of questions left unanswered and a not particularly interesting unsub, who doesn't have enough menace to be scared of him, and not enough to make us feel sympathy for him, regardless of a nasty piece of work of a mother.
In summary, very lacklustre with one good scene and a few other good points. 4/10 Bethany Cox
