Hope you've enjoyed today's episode, and remember that next week we'll have a brand new one!
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
CRIMINAL MINDS Season 10 - 1005. If The Shoe Fits - Comments Thread
Hope you've enjoyed today's episode, and remember that next week we'll have a brand new one!
Ok... what I liked.... Rossi, Reid and even Kate .... all were convincing and gave me chuckles.. I absolutely LOVED Reid telling JJ about what Fairytales were really supposed to be for... :D
ReplyDeleteWhat's up with Reid calling her Jennifer vs. JJ????
Didn't like the amount of 'unsub'... way way way too much...
Didn't like 'so little' Hotch, but #1. Reid brought him coffee and donuts and 2. TG was actually prepping for what we saw last week.
Over all just from what I watched, will watch again... I'd give it a 6 out of 10.
That was such a great episode to me. I really loved the focusing on JJ & her sister's suicide, showing how it effects the family relationship. Jennifer's acting was brilliant tonight & so AJ's tbh, I really liked the conversation between her & Reid and also Reid's acting with Clair while JJ's having his back behind. He did it AMAZING. Also, the scenes between AJ & Mekhai were absolutely ADORABLE this episode, AJ's is such a loving & warm mom to him, you can see it. It makes me so emotional to see how much he grew up through the seasons. The ending was such a great closing for this episode, it brought me to tears. I am glad they didn't put JJ's sister suicide subject aside but keep developing it sometimes.I also loved how they brought her family members as well - Mom, son & even Will (probably) on the phone to help her go through this. Another brilliant episode - writing & directing - from my favorite TV Show of all. They never disappoint. I loved. The only thing that disturbed me was the UnSub tbh.. I mean, I found her acting a bit childish at times & it was kind of annoying :| Next week's episode seems awesome. Bring it on.
ReplyDeleteI thought JJ was ok in this episode.. More back to what I had come to love about her in years past. I did like how between her Mom and Reid she was pretty much slapped with 'if you stick your head in the sand you make problems not solve them' attitude...
ReplyDeleteThe case??? Was ok, nothing to really scream YAY about.. but not anything to hiss at either... My biggest problem was 'too much' unsub.
Episode was ok. There was things I did really like, Reid was pretty good in this one, was about time Spencer got some screentime! Love all his scene with Rossi. MGG and JM works well together.
ReplyDeleteI liked JJ in this one but I fail to see why the writers went back to her dead sister. Was good to see her mother and Henry again. He is growing so fast!
I also liked Kate in this one, I like how snarky she can be.
Not much Hotch but TG was busy with 'Boxed in' so can understand him spending most of his time at the police station.
The case was weird. I know this was all about the cinderella fairytale but I don't know something didn't work for me. The actress was believeable, and she had a child like quality that made her a good fit for the role but maybe I need to rewatch to see what didn't work for me as I cannot pinpoint what it was.
The ending with Reid was a bit corny but Reid played on her fantasy, only way to really deal with her.
Not a favorite of mine and after last week great episode I will give this one a 7 out of 10.
CMRT, The thing with her (JJ's) sister is, from what I can see, a lead in to her inability to show emotion in scenes where she is, or should be, personally fragile. I think it's a set up for the PTSD episode that I'm not looking forward to. If it is, okay. If not, then where is her ability to cry? What sold me on JJ originally was the episode of "Amplification". During a good 1/3 of her scenes in that episode, she was red eyed, and if not crying, on the verge of it. You don't see that anymore in the "new and Improved" JJ.
DeleteI liked the lead in of the unsub. It showed through backstory, and lead in, just how disturbed the woman was. Frankly, I sometimes wonder how come there aren't more women like her.
It was a well conceived, and acted episode. The writing is better. This episode rates a 7 out of 10.
I absolutely loved this episode.
ReplyDeleteThere was wonderful balance in screen time. Each character brought something unique and had important contributions to the investigation, and no one disappeared - everyone was thoroughly present.
The scene where Reid told JJ about the fairy tales was adorable, and I loved how he got to take down the unsub. I am really loving Kate, too - she's feisty and funny, and I think she fits in very well with the team. Rossi had some nice one-liners as always :)
This episode did a wonderful job of making a 42 minute episode seem much longer. I looked up at the clock, expecting it to be almost over, when it was just over halfway through! I liked how the team put together so many different pieces in order to figure out who the unsub was. Also, the scene where the boy pulled back the vines on the grave to reveal an old woman's grave thoroughly creeped me out. Congratulations.
I will say though, someone needs to help CBS figure out these promos. There was very nice set up by the writers and directors to lead us to thinking that the guy in the park was the unsub, but I wasn't surprised because they had already made it painfully obvious in the promo who it really was. Otherwise, I would've been truly shocked and it would've all come together nicely.
Finally, I absolutely loved JJ's storyline. It didn't dominate the episode, but it still felt complete. I really felt for her in the last scene, and it was so nice to see Henry walk in with "Bedtime for Baby Star" - throwback to season 7 :) JJ's scenes were adorable and heart wrenching at the same time, and I thought that they were perfect. AJ is such an amazing actress.
Great job CM. A+.
good point about how the team was used and no one just dissapeared.
DeleteAlso, hope someone at CBS will read your comment about promo, they give away way too much!
Yes the JJ storyline did not dominate the episode and I like how she is in season 9.
I should go to bed or reread myself before posting....I mean season 10 not season 9! :D
DeleteHmmm…that’s my initial reaction. It’s sort of weird (and I’m not just talking about the psychopathology of the unsub). This was an episode with WAY too much unsub, but at the same time, I felt there was a ton of team doing the team stuff I like. I mean, the action was rather minimal, and there was a lot of talking among the team. Talking about the case, the unsub, wargaming possibilities. It was actually nice to see. For the most part, it didn’t feel like the team members were short changed (unlike in “Boxed In” when half the team disappeared halfway through the episode).
ReplyDeleteAnd while Bruce’s episodes are definitely hit or miss for me, I have to say that he is capable of writing good Reid. Last year, his “In the Blood” was one of the few episodes I really liked from season nine, and I really liked what he did with Reid then, and it’s the same in this episode. I liked his little bit of trivia during the round table, and I liked the fact that even though she was amused, Kate indulged Reid and didn’t roll her eyes at him or make fun of him or make any weird faces. I would like to see their friendship developed further. And while I could do with a big break from JJ (which of course this episode didn’t provide), I did like the conversation between Reid and JJ over fairy tales. It was nice that JJ was willing to open up to Reid (to a point, since she danced around the real reason for the tension with her mother), and didn’t tell him that he couldn’t possibly know because he doesn’t have children. And even though I call a little bit of BS at the ending (I mean, Claire just so willingly fell for Reid’s ruse), I will give it a pass, because if Reid (or hell, even Matthew) showed up suddenly and gave me the same speech, I’d probably run off with him as well. It was nice to see a non-violent takedown, and it was good to see Reid being effectively used for his gentle compassion. If you need to gently talk down a delusional unsub, he is the right (and frankly only on the team) man for the job.
I thought the team was well represented and all had something to contribute. I am glad to see Kate not waxing enthusiastic about beating down an unsub, because that is extremely tiresome and I hope it stops. I liked Morgan and Kate’s conversation that teased out the unsub’s likely history with her father. Morgan may have even been thinking of his own history, but he didn’t have to bring it specifically up. Rossi and Reid at the crime scene was good. Reid just seemed more in the game for this episode than the others we have seen so far. I do have to give some side eye to Penelope’s line about fitting snugly into Morgan’s arms because that is just damn unprofessional and ridiculous to say in front of a group (but what else is new), but since that was her only inappropriate line, I won’t dwell on it.
I have mixed feelings about the JJ subplot. I get where Bruce was going with this by showing that hiding the dark truth from children doesn’t really do them any good, so the subplot didn’t just feel tacked on like we have seen from other episodes. And AJ’s acting wasn’t overwrought or anything. It’s probably just because we have seen SO much of JJ this season, and it sounds like we will see much more, that I can’t really embrace it. But I’m not really going to hate on it either. Though I will say, I looked at bit askance at JJ saying that she finally realized that while she lost a sister, her parents lost a daughter. I have a hard time believing that JJ is so narcissistic that she never thought of that in the past.
Why are you complaining about Garcia being unprofessional? This is a TV-show, not a FBI-instruction movie. Humor is an important thing in a TV-series.
Deletetotally agree with you,Liv, garcia is a good proffesional, smart and a great character to watch. Humor is important too, and creepy scenes and drama. I seriously miss Garcia interacting more with the rest of the team lately. Don't mind if she has to be funny or just too professional , but she used to have a great chemistry with the others and i don't see much of her and that chemistry lately.
Deleteagreed, yes in the real FBI someone like Garcia would be ask to stop the comments about Morgan but this is a TV show and they are allowed creative licence. Garcia is the snippet of humor that the show need otherwise it would way too grimm.
Deletetotally agree with you criminal minds round table. This a show the most complete show in a a tv ; creepy, suspense, tension, a team working together that has a chemistry. This is a show not a real life, you don't see a profiler catching unsurbs (this is not their "real" job) but we enjoy watching it,But even in real life people at their jobs has some licence to be less stress and some humor are aways allowed and wellcome (sorry but in real life this is happening too, specially in jobs with a lot of stress ...of course people outside that agencies, places etc don't need to know ) because humans aren't robots, cops doctors etc . If you watch a documentary then you never see that part of their personal lifes and camaraderie just people working. I like drama, but i agree too much drama it would be way to grimm. I love Garcia she is profesional, but she can be a fun character too. Still i repeat: in real jobs, (even in goberment or public jobs) people are very proffesional but also they have relaxing fun moments to release that tension, of course you don't see that unless our are an insider.
DeleteThis episode is going to go in my books as one of the worst ever. That was such a lame, ridiculous ending with Reid.
ReplyDeleteI did love kate and Rossi.
SMH.
I really enjoyed that both Reid and JJ's mom gave JJ (in different ways) the lowdown on that it's not good to over shelter kids. I have to say, I enjoyed the ending with Reid. He was able to diffuse the situation without shooting or anything like that. I know some people didn't like that but that's OK. To each our own.
ReplyDeleteSorry about above. I signed in but not sure what happened to my name.
ReplyDeleteIn a sentence: this episode wasn't the greatest, but it wasn't bad either. And if you think I'm done, guess again. :D
ReplyDeleteHaving got the luck of the draw of being the CMRT guest reviewer for two of Bruce Zimmerman's written episodes last season, I've sorta developed an insight into his writing style. Point #1: Bruce is not going to write a "WOW" episode ala Sharon's "A Thousand Suns". It's just not his style. He is sneaky and sublime. I note him as "the thinking CM fans' writer". Because that is what he wants you to do. Which brings me to Point #2: he usually shows the unsub early because he wants the viewer to understand what is driving the unsub. Or in this episode's case, the total devolving of the unsub. I don't particularly like it; but I get it. I agree with a previous reviewer that the casting job of the unsub was not good.
Given that, this episode did have its merits. I totally loved the mixing of the different partners throughout the episode. Contrary to pattern, they interchanged through the episode and I really enjoyed that. Rossi and Reid were wonderful with the sleep habits convo; Morgan with Kate after her interview was brilliant for me. And just as I was getting antsy for my boy Hotch to get out of the PD, shazam! And yes, I understand that TG was getting ready to direct "Boxed In" so I wasn't going to complain. So that came as a wonderful surprise for me.
To the JJ subplot. IMHO, Bruce tied it together in a very pretty package in the end with JJ telling Henry a story. Like the unsub's delusion of the Cinderella story, JJ had her own story to tell. And btw, the end scene, with Henry moving to put his around JJ? Priceless. It was very obvious to me (already knowing) that wasn't actors. That was a real mother and son. And I have to add after the last two episodes: holy heck are our two BAU sons growing up! And I love Mekhai's hair cut. *ducks*
To Barb's comment about Reid calling JJ "Jennifer" fit for me; although like her I did raise my eyebrows at first. After all, JJ does call him Spence. And I'll be the first to admit: starting in Season 1, I was not a Reid fan; at all. But as the character (and MGG for that matter) have matured, I like Reid more and more. So it fit for me to have him role play as the Prince with the glass slipper, looking for Cinderella, with her coach awaiting. And may I add, great call Hotch on having him do that.
This one is "Rock" solid B.
RockHotch, My guess to Reid's calling JJ "Jennifer" is a carryover from the season 9 episode when JJ kept Prentiss's existence away from him, and he went off on her. They haven't been nearly as close as they have in the past, and their could still be some hard feelings there.
DeleteI actually don't think it meant anything that they changed Reid calling her "Jennifer" instead of "JJ"
DeleteAnd my read is that relationship has healed, given that he asked her what was going on at home and she told him. Just my thoughts and highly respect yours RTF.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this one for the most part. Too much unsub throughout but the story flowed pretty well and there was plenty of the team talking things out and working it out. And lots of Reid and Rossi for a change - so nice that Reid didn't disappear half way through! I thought it was pretty improbable that the unsub who was tiny seemed able to haul the bodies around without any problem but I let that go. I thought the ending showed Reid's empathy nicely and it should have brought up memories for him of trying to talk down Diane. Could have done with more Hotch but I know he was working on his directing for Boxed In.
ReplyDeleteAs for the JJ issue, there was once again far, far too much. They have destroyed the character completely for me but at least in this episode most of it was tucked into the bookends so I can easily rewatch and cut those out. In another time, in a season long,long ago I may have tolerated them dredging up her sister's suicide again but not after last season. I fear that she is irredeemable. The only positive thing I can say is that at least her hair looked realistic this week and not as though she had a stylist trailing her around making her red carpet ready for every scene.
I give this a B+.
Mary; IMO, JJ is playing the role of "Fem Fatale" of CM. With AJ Cooks' contract up for renewal this year, and EM learning from past experience, They are trying to break the back of the fan base who support AJC on the show so there isn't a repeat of the 2010 fiasco. This could account for all the " face time " for her this past calendar year. Between 200, The Wonder Woman saga, and the two reported episodes centering around her character, one of which, because of the "Closed Set" this past week, smells suspiciously like a nude scene, may be the straw that will break the back of the support AJC has on the show. I sincerely hope CM doesn't go down that road. This woman, like her or not, has given her heart and soul towards the production of this show. For the management to compromise her Christian moral beliefs, and, in support of that, her long stated refusal to do any nudity, would be wrong. My reasons for thinking along these lines are few, but based on, a red carpet interview she did at the 10th Anniversary pink cancer runway, and her detached nature towards some of the interviews she has done this year in promotion of CM. There is also the question of the closed set. Why? In all the years of CM, I've never heard of this. With episode 10-11 being publically stated as her PTSD episode, it leaves me openly suspicious of their intentions. RTF
DeleteGood Grief! If what you say is true it just makes me even more glad I'm skipping the PTSD episode. I'm JJ'd out sadly. My own view is that EM would like AJ and JLH to lead the show into future seasons - especially as Shemar has stated he is leaving and Matthew seems to be distancing himself from the show. If it goes into Season 11 it will be interesting to see which of the cast sign up for it. Whatever happens, when MGG goes then so do I. I'm not a fan of the action movie vibe that EM likes so much. I loved CM from the start because it was so different and looked at the psychology of crime and that seems to be secondary now to the standard cops-with-guns crime action drama.
DeleteI actually think the closed set is to keep the guest stars secret. I expect they will get Paget back amongst others.
DeleteRoberttheFrost,
DeleteWhen CM did filmed the shooting scene where the Reaper shot at Hotch in Hotch's apartment, that scene, from the moment Hotch gets in his apartment to the fade to black and the shot we heard, was all done in a close set.
To everybody
DeleteCM has closed set more than once. Most of "100" was filmed under that premise, if not the full ep, this same season one full episode was too, "A Thousands Suns".
EVERY show does that when they want to make sure there are no PLOT leaks.
Mary
Paget won't be back. Casting news aren't kept under wraps, they can't shut up the actors agents and would be a waste of time even trying.
I thought I would come back and explain why this is going to be the worst episode ever for me.
ReplyDeleteI will start with the idea that the writer was too lazy to explain how this tiny woman managed to get these bodies to where she had them. For me it is a matter of physics. I am a big girl with a physically demanding job and even back in my physically fit years I would have had an issue with getting the body of a large male out of the house and to a dump site. That, in and of itself did not ruin the story for me.
Next, how did she get that house? Relatively very young, a low paying job at a dry cleaners and yet she can afford a house with a garden around it. Even renting it by herself was implausible. Wow, I want her to make up my budget.
I saw the Cinderella thing coming a mile away when the watches were set at midnight. Good grief.
I feel sorry fr actors sometimes. Seriously sorry for them and last night was no exception. I enjoy MGG. I think he is a very sweet young man and is very believable in the role of Reid. I love the character of Reid and lament the fact that the ball is frequently seriously dropped with him. There is so much potential there yet the writers seem unable to come up with decent story lines for him. So last night I was thinking that it was nice that Reid had a few more lines than usual. Then he is subjected to the indignity that was that slipper scene. I was so embarrassed for Gubler. He is a good actor and deserves better than this. Contractually obligated, he has to perform this manner of ludicrous dreck.
I considered this an insult to the fans, who the writer apparently thinks has a collective IQ in the low 70's and an insult to Gubler.
I give it a big, fat, red ink F. The only thing that saves it from an F- is that they handled Kate and Rossi very well.
I COMPLETELY agree with you about the "ball being dropped" always when it comes to Reid. So much potential is sooo wasted. And I was as well embarrassed for MGG, he does deserve WAY better. It makes me so frustrated
DeleteI did enjoy Kate as well and I still would like to see more of her!
It was nice to finally see a little bit of Kate! I like her. Though, the scene where she spilled the coffee and suddenly came up with the clue about the dress seemed a little fake. But she's funny and I look forward to seeing more of her.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to JJ I thought it was sort of weird that they brought up her dead sister again. I mean, its super sad and all, I actually cried at the end of the episode, but I'm wondering why they're not focusing on something more "up to date" like a trauma from 200 or something. I always found it weird that she didn't get more traumatized after.
I thought this episode was great! The connection within the team was excellent. Latly I've had a feeling of actually missing the team a bit, and I felt we saw more of the unsub than the team, but not in this episode.. It was nice,. Though I sort of agree with "Zayrina," Spencer always gets this kind of childish cases to deal with, still, I found myself smiling at the screen. Reid is kind and gentle, I love that about his character.
But what made this episode so great to me was that it was so calm.. It was peaceful but it still remained interesting. That way we got to spend a little more time with the team, like the earlier seasons.
for me the real team are the entire cast: Hotch reid, rossi morgan callahan jj and garcia, i wish Garcia can connect more with the rest of the characters, like in previous seasons not just with morgan.
DeleteYes, I totally agree with you Carrroll
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ReplyDeleteActually the whole premise of the show is (or was) the BAU minds profiling the criminals and working out why they act as they do. We should see the BAU work out the unsubs actions rather than see the unsubs themselves at great lengths.
DeleteGee whiz Meowser by your reckoning Jeff Davis CM's creator as will as the writer of 'Extreme Aggressor', along with the show's former show runner Ed Bernero and former writers, apparently also must have missed what the whole premise of what the show was suppose to be about.
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ReplyDeleteAt time it makes sense to have lots of the unsub, when well done you have a Frank Breitkopf or Randal Gardner or George Foyet but what made those vilains so interesting was not seeing then kill people and tell us all abouit it but seeing the team figure out what motivated them. The show is about those very smart people figuring out what is wrong with some of the most twisted minds. When we have the unsub tell why/show us what they do then why have the team? Just to either cuff them or shot them?
DeleteCM is at its best when we see the team display how brilliant the profilers are.
I wish you hadn't deleted your comment Meowser. You had a valid question and since you asked the question some people replied to your question. I fail to understand why you deleted your comment(s).
DeleteSome like having lots of unsubs, after all writers loves to write about them and some do not like having the focus on the unsub. Your opinion is as valid as mine or anyone else. Too bad you decided to remove your comment.
agree and the profiler and the smart IT colaborating to discover the unsurb, their backgrounds, studying that "mind" (Gadner : great job Reid Garcia and Reid' s mom.)
DeleteThe whole premise of the show is to show the men and women who 'chase' these criminals.. NOT glorify the crime... By showing the unsub and what they are doing and why via their eyes, you're lessoning the fact that these profilers have to think, use their heads, connect the dots in front of them to catch the bad guy. In other words, they've turned this supposedly elite team of profilers into nothing but cops following evidence... You don't show the intelligence and dedication it takes to look into these psycho's minds and figure it all out....
ReplyDeletelove when they are studying more the pychos minds than the evidences.
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ReplyDeleteIt doesn't glorify it all the time but at time it does. Look back at 'Proof' this was all about glorifying what the unsub did. Everything was viewed from his point of view. He even had a cemera where he would record all he did and talked to us the viewer telling us why he did what he did.
DeleteFor us the viewers, we already knew why he killed BEFORE the team figured it all out. THe whole time felt the team was one step behind what I knew. I felt the team was not really needed except to cuff or kill the guy. Same with 'The Thirteenth Step'.
CMRT, Maybe I'm wrong in this. But I think the BAU in the two episodes you mention, was brought in to try and get ahead of the unsub. In one of the 1st two seasons, Gideon mentioned to Hotch that the unsub was ahead of them. It has been a recurring theme since the show began.RTF
DeleteQuestion: where'd they get the hair sample Morgan had checked?
ReplyDeleteReid was Reid. I loved that scene at the end because THAT is something he would do. And he liked doing it. He didn't want to have to hurt her because he knows what she is going through, or can suspect. His empathy shone through so clearly. I only wish he'd been the one to think of taking the slipper (as much as I like Hotch, I wish Reid thought of it himself.)
ReplyDeleteKate was great. It was awesome to see as much of her as you would of Prentiss. It did indeed feel like an earlier season, if felt alot like A Perfect Storm.
Meowser, I agree with you about Reid taking the non-violent approach to disarming an unsub. He has done it twice before. Once in L.A. with the actress stalker, and the other??? I need some help here? I'm getting old ... really? The point is he has done it before, with seriously positive results, doing the thing that Reid does. Using his head instead of a more violent takedown.
DeleteI also agree with you about Kate. She has a more acerbic wit about her, which will take some getting used to, but it is refreshing, and not altogether out of context with the rest of the team.
For reference, I to was a little intimidated by this blog format, but I've found it fun. (Although I'm sure some of the writers wouldn't agree.) I'm hard on the writers. With all of the background they have, as a unit, individually, and as cowriters, you would think they'd have a better grasp of the material by now. Maybe they need new blood. I don't know. However, something in the writers room needs to change. The scripts coming out of there now are short on what got CM to the vaulted pedestal it currently sits on. They're full of sensationalism have gaping continuity holes in them and are full of gratuitous violence towards victims.(Ep 200 specifically) If that's the best they can do, a change at the top may be in order. RTF
Maybe "Conflicted" (S4) RTF? Although that didn't give Reid the total peaceful solution he wanted.
DeleteAnd RTF; read my response to Barb further down in the blog. I'm not totally defending the writers; however I can see their POV. With my opinions of course. ;)
To RH31 & TammiLaura; Agreed to patching things up, but with reservations. After a betrayal such as what Reid and JJ went through, There will probably be residual feelings of mistrust. I doubt they will ever be as close as they once were. My question about the whole story arc with JJ and Prentiss, how is it that Morgan wasn't upset more? Given his Backstory, I would have thought he (Morgan) would have had a more visceral reaction.
DeleteI'm sorry, but I have very little respect for people who delete their comments because apparently they don't like the replies they're getting... If you make a comment, stand behind it... If you find that maybe other's have a better point then you, be mature enough to admit it... If you make a point that makes people see your point of view don't 'gloat' about it.... Simple internet etiquette goes a long way.
ReplyDeleteThis is a blog, that many people come to read and post comments about their opinions... ALL opinions are welcome. If you don't like someone's answer to your comments ask why? If they make a valid point solidifying their position, admit it...or simply ignore it? But the only one that is hurt when comments are deleted by the author is the person who deletes them...
It should be prohibited, once people have taken the time to reply to a posting.
DeleteDisagree. Sometime people will post something in the heat of arguments and then they wish they hadn't post.
DeleteI agree CRMT..... posters should never be 'banned' from deleting a post... But maybe it would be better if they replace it with explanation, as to why they deleted the post....Just a random thought for posters in the furture... :)
DeleteI made a decision to stop something that I felt was turning into an argument. I thought I was being mature because I've seen things like this snowball into much more, and I'm not talking about on here. I really thought that was the best decision at this point. Thank you for proving me wrong.
ReplyDeleteMeowser,
ReplyDeleteCMRT isn't like other sites.. Many of us have come here because we do know what you're saying about comment digressing into arguements... You won't find that here... No we may all 'not' agree. But we will answer and 99.999% of the time with facts that we think support our point of view. Maybe we're right and maybe we're wrong.. but it's kinda like the ole saying "Opinions are like A**holes, everyone's got one".... we just hopefully opine more respectfully...
Next time, if you're unsure whether people are being 'angry' with something you've posted.. simply ask.... :) :) :) :) We're all pretty good at listening even if our passions do get the better of us at times... :)
Thank you for that. I've never really gotten that many replies before and it did freak me out. It still seemed like a silly thing to be arguing over, even if it wasn't seeming like an argument to the others involved. Sorry for deleting them. Seriously, though. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteHey fans will argue about anything, even about Reid socks ;) :D
DeleteAs for getting rmany replies, you had a good question, those gets people talking.
You're very welcome... I don't know when you started watching CM... but if you have the ability, go back and watch some of the early seasons.... and see the difference... I think what people were trying to convey is that the change from writer's focusing on the 'team' vs. the unsub is what's bothering many.... Stories used to be told through the team's eye... now it seems that the writers tell the story through the unsub's eyes..... Alot of old time viewers like myself prefer it when the focus is on the team and not the unsub... :) :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Barb. I too don't like seeing the unsub so early and long for "the good ol' days".
DeleteHowever, (here it comes Barb *hehehehehe*) in defense of the writers I can understand it. It makes sense sometimes. Note that last word. Could the writers do a better job of blending that with the team working the profile? No doubt. But after 10 seasons, my feeling is the writers want to try to blow a "little fresh air" into their stories aka change things up a bit. Again, do they have to stray so far from the formula that worked in earlier seasons? No; but I've give them props for trying. Like you Barb, I just wish they re-worked that formula a bit better. Calling Dr. Reid! :D
And to Meowser: this is how we roll here at CMRT. Respectful discussion and comments to each other. And the more comments, the more discussion of our fav show!
Barb; I believe the first time they used the unsub lead was in "True Night". It was really well received by all concerned, including me. Maybe someone can come up with an earlier usage, if you do please let me know? :):) RTF
DeleteYou are right Robert, 'True Night' was the first episode that totally focused on the unsub and the ratings was one of the best of the series, second highest episode in ratings Live+same day viewing ( back then there was not much DVR usage) it got the same ratings as L.D.S.K 16.23m viewers. Highest rated one was 'masterpiece' with 16.38m viewers.
DeleteQuality wise; I hated 'True Night' still among my top five of worse episode. Was it badly written or acted? No. BUT I refer to this episode as 'the one where the cast of Criminal Minds got to be the GUEST cast on their OWN show!'
CMRT; Thanks for your prompt response. I liked it for the following reasons, It was NEW. Yes it portrayed the cast in a different role. I would have been more impressed with it had they taken the time to go over the board more slowly, (for those of us who don't read at the speed of Reid)! Most importantly, the Guest cast( their names escape me) were superb. I've worked in a prison setting in the past, ( San Quentin), and in my whole life, I've never felt empathy for an unsub ... Until then. Well done by all accounts. On a different subject, I've received a blog from a Rieke Peters. In it he states that neither, AJC, the stunt Technicians, nor the coordinators of the waterboarding scene knew how to do it. If this is true, according to what I saw on the show, AJC could be medically compromised. Is there any way you can consult your sources to find out if this is true? I responded to Mr. Peters. But I'm not sure he'll respond. I laid out the parameters of what I saw on the video feed. But if his source is wrong... Again, I look forward to your answer, RTF
DeleteCM employ a profesional stunt coordinator Tom Elliot http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0254657/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
DeleteMr. Elliot got three Emmy nomminations for his stunts on CM, he won a SAG award ( those awards are given by the actors union) and Mr. Elliot have worked on more than 500 features during his 35 years in the business. He knows what he is doing. If he for one second would have thought AJ or any other cast or stunt persons would have been in any danger he would have called off the shoot.
Again what was seen in the episode was all fake and no one was injuried if AJ had been a report of injury would have been filed, her agent and lawyer would have made a complain.
Mary; I hope you're right. At my age (67) I view many of the characters (main Characters ... Not Unsubs!) as successful sons and daughters. Not as sex objects or tools to prove a point. IMO every show wants to be a trend setter, not many of them do. In the past couple of years, with the degradation of the writing being as it is, I'm concerned that desperation will take over. As for Paget, it would be a good story arc. However, in the past, guest stars were always advertised well in advance of the show. As evidence to that I offer Paget Brewster and the lead in to 200. How many weeks in advance did the P.R. department push her return? Or Meredith Monroe and her return in episode 9:05? It will be interesting, no doubt. I truly hope the writers don't chase sensationalism down the rabbit hole for the sake of ratings points and the corruption of a fine actresses reputation. Not only would it be wrong, it would be unforgivable. RTF
ReplyDeleteErica Messer has said it will be "a love letter for the fans" and In Messer language that means something improbably sappy and Disney that the tweens will squee over. We will find out very soon no doubt as they usually let slip all the details long beforehand. Whatever it is I have no interest whatsoever in seeing yet another JJ fest.
DeleteMary; Erica Messer has said things in the past that have been misleading, and in a couple of cases, just plain untrue. I know you don't like AJC on the show, I get that. But if what I've written is scripted by the CM writers, it could cost them the show ... ALL of the show. How pleased would you be about that? The backlash to an episode that would include a nude scene would be endless and unforgiving. This isn't HBO or Showtime, this is CBS. They wouldn't be able to put the genie back in the bottle. It would hurt CBS, The writers who wrote it, the actors who acted in it, and anyone else who had anything to do with a fiasco such as that in a family hour. ( CM is broadcast in the 8 PM time slot in both the Central and Mountain time zones.) Ms. Messer has shown, in the past, the inclination to push the edge of the envelope. If she's going to compromise the Moral integrity of an actress, who has said repeatedly in the past, that there would not be any nude scenes in her career, it would be beyond the pale. Like her or not, no one deserves to lose their reputation (or a good portion of their fan base) for the sake of an episode, or a show. IMO, God allows you to take two things with you to St. Peter's Alter. The first is what you think of yourself, ( not the public image, the personal one you have in your heart) and the second is what other people think of you. Whether you are a person of character and positive reputation. To Compromise either of those on the day of your judgment, for the sake of a story line, is wrong. I'm relatively sure that AJC has been pressured, in the past, into doing scenes she didn't feel right in doing. It would be a shame if EM put her into a position of compromising her job, or her morals. FYI EM has used that line to also describe the 200th episode. How well did that work out for them? Nine months after the show aired, they are STILL getting backlash from it. Just saying. RTF
ReplyDeleteI don't think you need to worry RTF. Erica Messer tends to veer more towards Disney and happy families and pleasing the very young set and I cannot see her ever going there! I am sure the closed set is just to try and rev up the mystery and keep guest stars under wraps.
DeleteMary; One can only hope. But if past is prolog, This could be a really distasteful experience. RTF
DeleteCMRT; The propensity of episodes lean towards open sets. Although what you say is true, past history leans toward the unexpected RTF
ReplyDeleteThey can close the set for many reasons; to keep guest casts a secret, a storyline they want to keep a secret, when a cast member is leaving( exemple: On the good wife they closed the set when they killed off the lead actor character), and yes sometime because of some sex scene.
DeleteKnow this Robert, ALL scripts are read and approved by CBS before they get the green light to shoot it. This is CBS, their idea of a sex scene is the one we had with Hotch and Haley on the couch with Hotch without his shirt on and Haley on top with clothes on. CM is NOT Sons of Anarchy or Game of Thrones ;) As for AJC, if she doesn't want to do a sex scene nothing will force her to do one. If they really would want to do one and she refuse, they can use a body double (done in movies ) or body suit ( Jenna Elfman did wear one in her scenes with TG on Dharma & Greg)
CMRT; Thank you for the response. It was appreciated. What caught my attention was an interview AJC did on the red carpet. In the interview, she was asked if there were any shockers coming. She said yes. She also said that after she read the script she said she "had to pick her jaw up off the floor" and added to that this, " I didn't believe The exec's would have signed off on this." I know that all actors have certain clauses in their contracts. That's not the problem. The perception as I read it was that anything could happen. This is disturbing to me. My reference to this is my belief, and I've seen nothing on screen, or in print to change this, That AJC was suggestively intimidated into doing the Torture scenes in 200. If you point to the BTS of 200 clip, I didn't believe a word from any of the people interviewed. Larry Teng couldn't, or wouldn't look at the interviewer or the camera. Rick Dinkle looked like the kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar. And AJC was offering up so much additional information as to make it feel forced. In contrast, I point to the interview done on "The Talk" on 2/5/14. In it, AJC's voice was much different. It sounded offended, hurt and in reference to Shemar Moore, betrayed. She laughed it off as being "So dumb" but the edge in her voice was still there. Coercion in Hollywood is not a hard sell, there are many stories to back this claim up. I just hope that CBS or CM doesn't fall into that rabbit hole.
ReplyDeleteAgain thanks for your response. RTF
I just have one quick question, did AJ cook want to do the torture scenes, or was she more or less pushed into doing them? Because I too watched "The Talk" and I agree with you, she did sound offended and hurt.
DeleteI dont know if you watched that youtube-clip, but when Paget Brewster and AJC are interviewed about the 200 episode, Paget Brewster says: "Its really a big JJ episode." Its seems AJC gets a little offended by that, and replies: "Dont say that. Its also about everyone! Dont say that, its not all about JJ." I think its sad that everyone hates on JJ now. I dont think AJC meant for it to end this way, its not her fault that 200 was about JJ. You know the 100 episode was pretty mutch about Hotch, Nobody is hating on him.
For all that 100 was focused on Hotch it was still very much a team episode centred firmly in the Criminal Minds world and therefore an excellent celebratory milestone episode. On the other hand, JJ being headhunted for the search for Bin Laden in 200 was not only laughable but the episode was almost solely about JJ and the team was incidental. As a special milestone episode about Criminal Minds it was an insult. However the damage regarding JJ had been done long before 200 with the way they changed the character completely and made her this icy paragon who was better at everything than all the others.
DeleteMary and Liv; Thank you for responding. Mary, I agree with you completely. As a "milestone" event, it fell way short of the mark. I believe the actors did an admirable job in their roles, but the writing fell way short. I understand that it was a collaborative effort among several writers. If this is true, it was the wrong approach. Not only do you need to interlace several different story lines, but you need to find an commonality in marrying them together. This they didn't do. I also agree that the character of JJ has been damaged by this. I don't much like the character they've displayed in the past couple of years, and maybe the PTSD episode may clear the air. If not, This may be her last season. Which IMO is what EM had in mind all along.
DeleteLiv, I don't think we'll ever have an honest answer to the question you ask about AJC being pushed into those scenes, At least in my lifetime. I did watch the Utube clip and agree with you on AJC being sensitive, even then, about labeling 200 the JJ episode. Again IMO if I had any say in this (which we don't, we are only venting) The person who's contract needs to go away is EM. She has made it very clear that she is the one running the show. She is the person responsible for what we see on our TV's on Wed. nights. Personally, I think EM will throw everybody under the bus in order to preserve her own job. She has shown this trait in the past, and I suspect nothing has changed. Again ladies, Thank you for responding RTF
Thank you for answering, RTF!
DeleteLiv00859,
DeleteYes 100 was about Hotch but the story was told by ALL the BAU members and this is why this episode, among other things, was so brilliant. JJ, Reid, Rossi, Morgan, Garcia and Prentiss told the story, they were important part of the story, without their recollection we would not know what happened and we see how they all reacted to Strauss witch hunt and how they closed rank around Hotch. 100 was a celebration of CM, it was about them chasing down a serial killer, they had to profile him and take him down. and it was about them as a family.
With 200 it was all about JJ when she was OUT of the BAU. It had nothing to do with the BAU but what JJ and Cruz did when they were working for another agency. This is a big thing for me. a milestone episode should be about the show and its characterS.
Yeah, I know. I agree with you.
DeleteFor me the 'big' difference between 100 and 200 is simple... 100 was told through the eyes of the TEAM... each called into Strauss to justify what had by the time they were talking to her already happened.
ReplyDelete200 was told through 'JJ' and pretty much 'only' JJ..... As other's have said the 'team' was incidental. You could have used a DOD team to be looking for her, and the story would have still been the same. the BAU team was extrenuous...
Personally I think AJC was very much on board with all this... 'but' by the time those interviews happened the backlash to what she helped 'create' for the character was well and good disliked by many and the backlash had already begun.... She was backpedalling to attempt to salvage 'something' of what was going to happen....
If anyone wants to 'judge' which milestone episode is a CM worthy episode, just look at how many times each has been re-aired.... 100, is countless times on several different networks across many countries... 200 only once!
Barbara; Thanks for your response. I agree with you about the difference between 100 and 200. IMO 200 was one of the most difficult shows to watch in recent memory. I'm a BIG supporter of actor safety on the set. What I saw in 200 was an actress who trusted the Show Runner (E. Messer), Technical adviser (J. Clemente), the director (Larry Teng), and her friend and costar (Shemar Moore). While trusting these people, she got hurt on the set. That, compounded with the belief that she wasn't fully informed of what could happen to her in two of those scenes, is what caused the outburst on "The Talk". The one scene that bothers me the most is the electrocution scene. The way AJC's head snapped back when they applied the initial electric shock was hard enough to cause a spinal cord injury with symptoms like she described on "The Talk". This is a chronic injury among Truck Drivers. You open up the back of the truck, and get bombed with boxes that fall on you. Sometimes it's pillows, Sometimes it's something heavier. Your head snaps back, and your arm, or arms, in my case go limp. Either one could cause an injury to the C-5 or C-6 area of the spine. What AJC described is that injury. I believe the people she trusted made a mistake. In doing so, almost cost this woman her life by coming dangerously close to severing her spinal cord. Will we ever hear the truth? Probably not. They are to busy trying to "circle the wagons", so to speak. The whole point of this is to demonstrate how studios rarely, if ever, care about actor safety, or concerns. With them, it's all about the "money shot". The studio can compromise actor safety and concerns at will, even to the point of deceiving the actor into doing their bidding. Does CBS do this? If they do, it would be a big step down on the creditability ladder.
DeleteI also agree with you on the definition of the word Milestone. As a benchmark, high water mark, what ever euphuism you chose to use. 200 was a failure of the first order. Again, thank you for your response RTF
ok my first text vanished into the depths of the internet, so I will cut myself short now.
DeleteRTF I disagree with you. First of all they didn't electrocute her. It was acting. From that point, there is no way in hurting yourself that severe. Further she dangled almost an entire day from the ceiling to shoot these scenes. The shoulder is the cause of pain here, by nature it is mistakenly built, it is easy to hurt and to jam a particular muscle and bundles of nerves. Especially with that stance she had over hours.
I doubt seriously that AJ was hurt in order of the lack of security for cast/crew on set. She made the impression to me that she was not aware , and the crew wasn't either, how to shoot the waterboarding scene. It think they did it and in the end AJ would have rather been doubled or done it another way. That is the cause she was angry with herself (more than with the crew), why she called it dumb and was a little on the edge in "The Talk" . I don't think there was an incident at all. And even if, there happen injuries on set every day at even more ridiculous easier scenes. Like falling over a wire or something. Or getting cold and wet in the night on set and freezing their asses off. It was an intense work they have done to shoot that torture scene, yes. It was physical. but I think AJ is a n active person, who does a lot of sport. She will get over the fact, that her arm was numb/tingling sensation a couple of weeks.
Rieke; Thank you for your response. First, a couple of questions. Did you speak with AJC regarding the scenes in question? If so when? and Second, if you've had this information, why did you wait so long to bring it forward? I've been blogging about AJC being hurt on set since March of this year, first on Grubernation, and next on the TV Guide blog. I've personally seen nothing in print, nor broadcast media, to support your statements. I've heard nothing, from the cast, crew, or the writers involved, to clear up this problem with the scenes. A simple statement from CM could clear up this whole thing. To my knowledge, this blog has heard nothing from anyone involved. If you were involved, please state so. This show aired on 2/05/2014. It's now 11/08/2014. Why have you waited so long to present, so far, unsubstantiated facts? With all respect, I hope your right. But until I hear something more, My comments stand. To answer your statement about on set safety, in 2013 there were dozens of injuries to "A" list actors and actresses on set that required medical attention. The most serous of which happened to Kristen Chenoweth on the set of her movie. A light fell on her and fractured her skull. She spent one night in the hospital, and another week at home getting over the aphasia it caused. Accidents happen, all the time. For no one associated with CM stepping forward on this issue until now. Makes me wonder about the source of your information. In rereading this, another thing jumps out at me. How is it, that no one associated with CM knew anything about waterboarding? A simple online search reveals thousands of articles on waterboarding. And yet, you say no one knew how to accomplish this evolution. Why would AJC allow herself to be placed in a situation where, she had no control, put herself in a situation where the people performing the stunt didn't know how to do it, and last, by the reports I've seen, is dangerous. Even in experienced hands? Couple that with the choice of towel used, terry cloth, could have really serous repercussions down the road. according to the broadcast tape, AJC was sitting in an upright position in the straight backed chair. her feet were shackled to the grate in the floor, her arms were extended above her head, with her head bent backward over the back of the chair. In this position, AJC's torso would have been in a downward position, with her larynx and Bronchial tubes below her head. She would have filled up quickly, and when she was released from this position, instinct would have taken over, and she would have breathed in. With the towel that was used, and the propensity, terry cloth has for leaching fabric, she would have breathed cotton fibers into her Bronchial tubes and contaminating her lungs. This is called "Brown Lung Disease" It is problematic in both So. Carolina and China in the textile mills. For the sake of AJC, I hope your data is wrong. If not, AJC could have had, and still might be, in jeopardy by people who didn't know what they were doing. I look forward to your response. RTF
DeleteFirst I want to open Robert with your 'demands' of why Rieke 'hasn't come forward about anything. She isn't obligated to do that, nor is anyone else. Secondly it's nice you list where you've posted about things, but to assume that others here do so might be the wrong assumption.
DeleteThirdly,no one from CBS, Criminal Minds, it's cast, crew, cooks, or dog walkers is in any way responsible to 'explain' to any fans the what, where, whys and how's anything on that set works... To you it might be a problem, to them it's not. No one was actually hurt, no one filed any complaints, the episode was shot, aired and well then the backlash hit. Was it a strenuous shoot, absolutely I would say that. Was any of the cast including AJC in danger? I highly doubt that. AJC in her interviews might simply be reacting to having extremely long and strenuous days on set filming that episode. Never have I heard or read anything where AJC said she was physically injured doing that episode. I do remember her being surprised at the intensity needed to do an episode of that nature and I remember her saying she was glad she was as physically fit in real life as she is. But again, I've never heard or read where she was actually injured.
I will say this though. I've chatted with Rieke for awhile now, and I do know that she comes from a medical background. She would and probably does know the physiology that comes into play with this type of scripted scene.
One needs to remember that this is a TV show, and being such there is a great deal of so called 'creative' license taken regarding certain depictions. Take the Reaper's injuries for instance and the pics that have been displayed regarding them. In Nameless/Faceless it's stated that "Hotch was going to look just like him" and well if someone was stabbed like that Hotch's carpet would have had a whole heck of a lot more blood on it. And the odds are that at least 3 of the wounds would have been fatal within minutes of being inflicted, yet we all know 'miraculously' Hotch survived. What I'm trying to say is that by trying to overlay real life facts onto a depiction on a TV show might just be and effort in futility.
With respect - Barbara
Robert,
DeleteWhere did you get that ' I've been blogging about AJC being hurt on set since March of this year, first on Grubernation, and next on the TV Guide blog.'
I have not read anywhere that AJ was hurt on the CM set doing 200th. Also what problem was there with the scene? AJ was not hurt neither was Esai Morales. Actually no one was ever hurt on CM doing stunts. If anyone had been sites like Deadline Hollywood, TvGuide, TVLine would have all reported this. I have done a google search and have found nothing. I have been posting on CMRT since the blog started in season 7 and not once did I see or heard about any injuries. The FAKE waterboarding scene was just that fake. It look real, they did it to a point were it look real but not cast members were ever injuried on set.
Rieke is not posting unsubstantiated facts, it is true, no one was electrocuted or waterboarded or anything. All fake like the blood they use.
As for injuries on set, yes those happens but they are just that accidents. Injuries happens on any workplace. Yes Kristen Chenoweth was hurt on set when a light fell on her but again this was an accident. Only incident I am aware off where an actor was actually killed on set was Brandon Lee who was shot with what they thought was blank but turn out to be real bullets. That was years ago and security and safety on set have changed.
If AJ had any reasons to feel her security was at stake she could have asked at any moment to have a stunt double to do her scenes.
If you have proof, links to articles or video interviews where it is stated that AJC was hurt during filming of 200th then by all means post the links.
Ok, I do agree with you both, Mary and Barbara, but its not AJC fault that JJ has been made that way. She is only doing her job and I think the AJC/JJ hate has gone too far.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame AJC for pushing for more screen time and a bigger presence in the show - I am sure that we would all strive to get on in our career like that. But the way AJ and the writers have changed the character beyond all belief means that JJ has been ruined for me, and many others, and although they seem to be trying to soften her down from the arrogant princess she had become, she is still dominating the screen time to the detriment of other characters. As far as I am concerned the damage has been done and I cannot see me recovering my liking for the character however much they backpedal and try to whip up some sympathy for her. It's such a shame as I was one of those who petitioned for her to be reinstated! Be careful what you wish for.
DeleteMary; I personally think you need to direct the angst towards the writers, and ultimately, the show runner. They are responsible for what we see on the TV's not AJC. I remember a story from the 60's (yes, I'm THAT old :( ), Where Susan Lucci was actually slapped in the face while walking down a street, because of the role she played on one of the soap operas that were the rage then. She was never appreciated for the role she played on TV. But was a central character in the storyline. Am I advocating slapping AJC? NEVER ! She is portraying a character on a TV show we have ALL signed on for. And I also agree with you in that, I too, was one of the people who Petitioned Criminal Minds for AJC's return. For me, it isn't AJC's fault that the character turned out the way it did. It was the person who ended up in charge after Ed Bernero was let go; Erica Messer.
DeleteI hear what you say RTF. However, I have seen several interviews where AJC commented that she didn't like the earlier incarnation of JJ and wanted her to be more of a tough, edgy kickass character. She viewed JJ, media liaison as "meek" and wanted to change her up. I never thought of early JJ as meek and she always showed she was capable of being tough. I had no problems with them making JJ a profiler even though she had previously always shown no interest in becoming one. I did have a problem with them completely revamping the character into one I no longer recognised and I lay part of the blame for that with AJ herself.
DeleteRobert, When it came to the change in JJ both writers and the actress wanted that change. AJ said in interview that she wanted JJ to be closer to who she is. But yes, ultimately the changes are made by the writers and here they made some mistakes that they are trying to correct. So far i like what they have done with JJ this season.
DeleteMary and CMRT; Thank you for responses. As always, your input is welcome. I too saw the interview where AJC wanted the character of JJ to be more like her own personality. From what I've observed in the past, all ensemble casts want more screen time. It's the nature of the beast called TV. I also realize the delicate tightrope the writers need to walk when the assignment of lines occur without stepping on one character over another. Would you accept, or be open to, a compromise? Here is what I propose. Knowing that you dislike JJ for her past season, can you set aside what has happened in the past, for a more understanding and hopeful future? Or is the bell so badly rung, that you can't accept the past and move on into the future? This applies to me also. I have, for months, been ragging on the writing of CM. I will try to set aside the past in favor of the future. This isn't going to be easy. But for the sake of further relevant participation in CMRT discussions, it's important to be at least open to the possibility of change. The reason for this is something CMRT said. The writers May have made some mistakes in the past, and they are trying to correct the path. Lets give them the opportunity to do so. As always, I thank you for your responses, RTF
DeleteRTF you know there's a saying - Once you dislike someone, everything they do annoys you? At the moment even JJ's hair annoys me! I shall wait to read the views of people I trust when the PTSD episode is aired to see if I will risk watching all or part of it. Normally I do try to keep an open mind but we have been so overloaded with JJ this season and last that I'm not keen to watch yet more.
DeleteMary, Thanks for your response. I have heard that saying. It's why, almost directly, I pushed the compromise forward. I also understand your reluctance toward accepting the compromise. The unevenness of character development has skewed the show. Towards this end, I believe this may be a long year. With the missteps of 200, and subsequent episodes, there's a lot of story the writers are going to need to walk back. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to clean this up to your satisfaction in one episode. My fear is that you are putting too much emphasis on the shoulders of one script that has already been shot. I realize that you've had too much of JJ, but be open to change until the end of the season. Seeing as CM is in it's 10th year, and we've already invested so much of ourselves into these characters, don't you think they deserve, at least, that much time? I feel that your perspective toward the show may be tainted towards unacceptability to change. I welcome your responses RTF
DeleteRoberttheFrost,
ReplyDeleteRobert, 100 was written by all the writers who were still employed by CM back then, 200 was written by Erica Messer and some of it by Rick Dunkle. The celebratory episode for the 200 episode (!) is written by Erica Messer.
As for Erica wanting AJ out no way! JJ is one of her fav character. If AJ is pushed out, which I doubt she will be, it will be by either CBS or ABC.
You said ' I think EM will throw everybody under the bus in order to preserve her own job. She has shown this trait in the past, and I suspect nothing has changed.' PLEASE do not post stuff like this unless you know the person and can back this up. I have met Erica Messer twice and she is very nice and is dedicated to CM. May not agree with her decisions, that is ok to say you are against her decisions and everyone can argue here if those decisions are good or not, but no personal comments about any of the cast, crew and writers will be accepted. Basically, talk about what they do and say ( that can be veryfied by links to interviews) but no hearsay.
Thanks
CMRT; Thank you for your response. Your right, I had a poor choice of words in describing what EM would do. I apologize for that. Having never met the woman, it's wrong for me to say what she would do. That being said, and taking your advice, I don't agree with the direction EM has taken the show. 200 was a prime example of this. You should Never have shown, on screen, one of your main characters being tortured, unofficially, for over 27% of the entire show. With the holes in the backstory and continuity that exist, to this day, whoever was in charge of writing, Erica, Rick or another writer, would have better served the characters involved by adding to the backstory. As always I welcome your input. RTF
DeleteMy dear Merlin, just a small correction:
DeleteThe episode they've just finished filming, that was written by Breen Frazier, is their way to mark and celebrate the show reaching its 10th Season.
'headdesk' Thanks Sir Elysan The White....I had the CORRECTED version but posted the not corrected version....thanks for the correction!
DeleteRobert,
ReplyDeleteagreed about 200, the torture scene was not necessary to show us how tough JJ is but CM went there with Reid when he was tortured Tobias Hankle and The reaper definately did torture Hotch both physically and mentally. but those two instances was not as graphic as what was done to JJ.
As for the holes in the story and backstory totally agree 1000%! you could fly a Antonov AN-225 into those holes!
Hopefully the celebratory episode will be better than 200 and if CM ever get to a 300 episode(!) it will all be about the team and what they do not what one of them did when not employed by the BAU.
CMRT; Thanks for your response. One question. Only one Antonov AN-225? Personally, My choice would have been sailing the USS Enterprise CVAN-65 through. LOL I too am looking forward towards the future episodes. An epiphany? Yes. But at least there's light ahead instead of the unlit coal mine. I'm looking forward to future chats with you. RTF
DeleteI'm confused by everyone saying that the writers are trying to correct their mistakes this season. This season consists of JJ, more JJ, other things about JJ, too much JJ and finally JJ. Even Morgan is not getting airtime which is amazing. Last year it was JJ with Morgan as a supporting character. This year it is JJ and some quick camera shots panning over a few other people. I don't hate AJC. I've met her and she is a lovely person. However, JJ is a terrible character (now) and there is way, way, way too much of her. CM fans have tuned in every week for 10 years to see the BAU team - not to see the BAU JJ. I have invested so much into this show and NEVER would have thought that I would stop watching it but I just can't anymore. I feel like the showrunner and writers have been telling longtime CM fans to kiss off every week. I finally had to say, "Back at you!"
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear you say that HCMfan... I too was upset by the over use, and elevation to Wonder Woman that happened to JJ last year... However, this year yes, she's there. But she is toned down a whole lot. She is often paired with different cast members. If it is TPTB's intentions to soften her and pull her back more to what many fans originally loved about her I think they are doing a rather good job. JJ isn't grating on my nerves this year as she did last year.
DeleteSadly I think that fans who feel the same way you do, will not be able to ever again see JJ in a somewhat sympathetic view, no matter how hard TPTB try to correct what was done wrong.
I hope someday you can watch CM again whether live or in reruns and remember there were many many more excellent episodes then bad ones.
When I say that the writers are trying to correct their mistakes, I mean with JJ's attitude not talking about how much screentime she gets. Her attitude is now closer to the JJ I liked before she left the BAU.
Delete@Heartbroken: I am with you 100%. I keep hearing all this talk about how they are tuning JJ down. The problem is I am unable to appreciate that fact because they won't stop shoving her down our throats.I too feel like I've reached my breaking point. For the first time in a long long time I didn't watch a new CM episode in real time, although I do plan watching it On Demand sometime soon just to see Reid.
DeleteAnd just what is it with Erica Messer and her constantly given JJ these special episode.because since she has been back JJ has been given a 2 hour season finale, a huge milestone episode and now she will be getting a special episode that is going to celebrate the show's 10 anniversary that will deal with her PTSD.That is another episode I plan on skipping just in case it turns out to be another '200'. If it turns out to be better than I thought it'd be, I can always watch it later.
I'm with you both. It is true that they seem to be trying to soften JJ this season but the amount of screen time is too much. And the fact that the PTSD episode is a result of those extremely vocal young fans who have been clamouring for it since 200 just makes me furious. EM said that 200 was over and done with - so now we have more backtracking and have to suffer another special episode given over to JJ and the fallout from 200. I won't be watching it - at least not till later if there are reports of some of the other characters getting a look in.
DeleteI'm still hoping that the news is wrong that the special episode is centered around her PTSD. I've only been a fan since February but I've already am sick of the "new JJ." I hope that this post will show my handle "autumnamberleaves" but if it doesn't, that's who I am. I am trying to post more on here as it seems to be more mature than other places.
ReplyDelete@Autumnamberleaves:Unfortunately it is pretty much a given that JJ has been given this special episode to deal with her PTSD. Erica Messer called it a love letter to the fans. So it is being promoted as something for all fans not just JJ. However after they perpetuated that travesty of an episode known as '200' on us, I trust these people about as far as I can throw them.
DeleteIt's interesting what you've said about being a new fan and already being sick of the "new JJ" Since the show started airing on Netflix I have come across quite a few people who feel the same way you do in regards to this character. Some of these newer fans have been quite perplexed as well as put off by the changes in JJ, including her dominating the show so damn much, that they've come looking for answers from some of the long time fans.
And of course us long time fans try to answer these newbies' questions as best we can.
Btw I can see your handle "autumnamberleaves" just fine.
Thanks Debra. 200 was actually the first "new episode" I caught. If it hadn't been for the fact that just days before I had caught "the big game" and "revelations," 200 would have been my last watch of it. I'll admit that I seriously thought the 200 "JJ" was a totally different person and that I just thought "that blonde girl" in the other episodes was a different character. Lol...then I kept watching and low and behold...same person. I liked the JJ of earlier years...now..lol not s much.
ReplyDeleteOh and thanks, I've been having a hard time posting here and I came up as a random set of numbers.
Ugh...only been a fan since march not February. Sorry about that!
ReplyDeleteOOPS! It seems I need to make a correction. It appears that JJ's PTSD episode wasn't the episode EM was referring to when she called it a "Love letter to the fans" So I do feel better about that.
ReplyDeleteStill bummed about the Mary Sue getting that special anniversary episode.All that is left for EM to give her "Golden Girl" is a season premiere episode.
I enjoy all your posts. I have loved CM for some time but I haven't been as keen about the show since JJ suddenly became a kicking profiler who usurped Spencer Reid and outgunned the rest in the field and somehow the team is just not the same. I'm not sure about Kate yet but I like her spunky character and her lack of concern about her looks. I haven't liked a CM episode yet this season. I'm disappointed but maybe should have expected such as only the last two shows in season 9 felt tense and well to me just cool. Pacing then was on spot. Obvious point here is that I love Reid. I think Derek has aspects to his character not yet explored. And I adore Hotch and Rossi. Yes I left out JJ. Forgive me but she's always rubbed me the wrong way. Where's the team? Man, I'm nothing but a whiner ...I'm sorry!
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