Wheels Up
- Episode aired Sep 27, 2017
- TV-14
- 43m
In the wake of a devastating attack, the BAU works with former International Response Team member Matthew Simmons to save one of their own from escaped serial killer Peter Lewis.In the wake of a devastating attack, the BAU works with former International Response Team member Matthew Simmons to save one of their own from escaped serial killer Peter Lewis.In the wake of a devastating attack, the BAU works with former International Response Team member Matthew Simmons to save one of their own from escaped serial killer Peter Lewis.
- Maya Walker
- (as Lauryn Kennedy Hardy)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDaniel Henney is the first actor from one of the Criminal Minds (2005) spin-offs to join the main cast of the parent series. Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016) was the second spin-off, canceled after two seasons.
- GoofsThis episode is supposed to take place hours after the Season 12 finale Spencer is still wearing the same suit, yet his hair has grown out a couple of inches.
- Quotes
David Rossi: You, go through my pants pockets and find my keys. Second, you, you're back on the team.
Dr. Spencer Reid: Not sure I should be. Has the Director approved that?
David Rossi: I'm making the calls now. I'll take the heat. You're back on the team.
Luke Alvez: [fiding the keys] I got 'em.
David Rossi: There's a little one there, to a file cabinet in my office. You following me?
Luke Alvez: Yeah. Following you.
David Rossi: Inside, there's Chicago Bears season tickets. When you get 'em, you call Matt Simmons. I promised him those tickets.
Luke Alvez: They must have given him something in the ambulance to make him loopy.
Dr. Spencer Reid: I'll get the doctor. We'll get him into surgery.
David Rossi: Just shut up and listen. Now, Emily is missing. Stephen is dead. As for you two ass clowns, you'll do me the courtesy of following my orders.
Luke Alvez: Your orders aren't making sense.
David Rossi: Follow my orders, and then I'll go into surgery.
Luke Alvez: [he and Reid turn to leave] This has got nothing to do with season tickets.
Dr. Spencer Reid: "Ass clown"?
- ConnectionsFeatured in Criminal Minds: Killer App (2017)
Luckily, Season 13 gets off to a very promising start with "Wheels Up", after feeling apprehensive getting round to watching the season with a little excitement. "Wheels Up" is not perfect or a 'Criminal Minds' classic, but it was definitely one of the better episodes post-Season 10 or so. A large part of it being its enormous emotional impact.
Would have liked a little more procedural aspects, being a huge part of why 'Criminal Minds' was so great and what it's all about. It's certainly there and there is more of it than a good deal of episodes Season 6 onwards. It just felt it wasn't as prominent as the aftermath of the events at the of the twelfth season's finale or the Mr Scratch storyline.
My biggest problem was the Mr Scratch climax. It felt rather rushed and anti-climactic and too easily and patly resolved, was expecting something more explosive to conclude such a big on-going storyline and it didn't quite do justice to one of the show's most chilling and memorable unsubs.
That is it for the problems though. "Wheels Up" begins where the finale of Season 12 left off, with a terrifying and heart-breaking opening (one of the show's most emotionally impactful openings). The aftermath was equally tear-inducing and tense. Even more harrowing is the Mr Scratch storyline, which simmered with uncompromising brutality and unbearable tension. Mr Scratch is even more chilling than in his introductory episode, Season 10's "Mr Scratch", one of the show's best latter season episodes. They feature prominently, but everything is balanced well, not too much of the other and it doesn't repeat the mistakes present in too many of the latter season episodes.
On top of all that, there are a handful of wrenching-the-gut moments (Reid's struggles and how he deals with it all, the references to Doyle), occasional humorous ones (Rossi), sweet ones (JJ and Will and Will and their chemistry, both of which tended to be bland previously, mentions of Hotch and Jack) and truly emotional ones (Monica in the morgue). The team member loss (won't spoil) is handled beautifully, with acknowledgment of their contribution to the team. Simmons makes far more of an impression than in 'Beyond Borders', settles in nicely and the team chemistry is spot on.
All the actors deliver, especially Paget Brewster, heartfelt Tracie Thoms and genuinely frightening Bodhi Elfman.
Visually, "Wheels Up" is atmospheric and stylish. The music is neither too intrusive or too low-key, with some haunting moments and great use of "Burden" in the funeral scene. The writing and direction are taut, it's never dull and the story is on point.
In summary, a very good episode, much better than expected. 8/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 4, 2018
Details
- Runtime43 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD