Saturday, March 8, 2014
CRIMINAL MINDS Season 9 - Happy Birthday, Matthew Gray Gubler!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
CRIMINAL MINDS Season 9 - 917. Persuasion - Comments Thread
Hope you've enjoyed today's episode, and remember that next week we'll have again a brand new one!
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
CRIMINAL MINDS Season 9 - 916. Gabby - Review
First we learned your child only needs 7 seconds to walk away from you on their own volition, to get out of your sight.
Now we've learned your child only needs to be alone 4 minutes, in what may look like a controlled situation, to be taken from you.
And it doesn't matter if you live in an affluent, urban setting, or a rural, slightly rundown one. Oh, joy...!
The initial atmosphere of the episode couldn't be calmer, more relaxed, nearly sleepy, and appropriately the reunion between kid, mom and aunt is full of giddiness and warm feelings. Because the aunt, Sue, is obviously young, discovering that she had made sure to acquire a new toy for the niece, Gabby, she was to babysit for the duration of the mom's vacation trip, but hadn't bought several essentials like milk or juice, didn't come as a real surprise. Other than that, she was careful and mindful of the child in her charge, wasn't she?
Have to say that for a fleeting second it rubbed me wrong seeing where she had parked her car; promptly forgot all about it thanks to the creepy guy, the fearful look on Sue's face, and the resulting rushed shopping she engaged in. Was so distracted that I thought Gabby would still be in the car thanks to her speediness.
The feeling of utter despair I was served with so soon after that won't be forgotten, ever. Because we've been told countless times the first 24 hours of a kidnapping are crucial, my stomach did an Olympics-worthy somersault when I saw the hooded man throwing a covered body over the bridge rail. Learning the area was full of sexual offenders sent my stomach to my feet in a free fall.
Add to my anxiousness was finding out that dad is a drug-addict, he is in the area but nobody knows where he has been for at least 72 hours... One of the two options is misdirection, and I only care because I want the monster who "killed" Gabby caught, badly!
Sue's despair was fake, and again I missed the clue in first viewing: she cries a lot and she does so without shedding a single tear.
Hotch gets too the punch and the pun; provoking Sue was intended, being punched for his troubles was not. Rossi's smartass remark was unavoidable, even if very welcomed by this viewer.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Impeccable. If it has faults, after several viewings I've yet to find them.
"Gabby" is the epitome of a classic Criminal Minds episode, contains everything needed to achieve one: misdirections, profiling, a cameo by the writer, profiling, complex characters, profiling, balanced team dynamics, profiling, false leads, profiling, each agent tapping on their expertises, profiling, and an incomplete happy ending...
Standing ovation. Have to highlight, though, several characters' details, and actors:
Got the impression this director knows Criminal Minds, its spirit and its main characters really, really well, would go so far as to say inside and out...
Jokes aside, Thomas Gibson, once again, showed to the world that, on top of being a fantastic actor, he is an equally fantastic director. Not a single scene was superfluous; not a single close up was for show, but all were very much needed; the rhythm of the episode was on point with the nature of the case; the night scenes were easily visible (dark show, as Criminal Minds is described, doesn't equate impossible-to-see-anything scenes); and last, but not least, scenes so rich in detail, that re-watching this episode is a joy, and will continue to be so probably forever.
~~~~Sir Elyan the White
Now we've learned your child only needs to be alone 4 minutes, in what may look like a controlled situation, to be taken from you.
And it doesn't matter if you live in an affluent, urban setting, or a rural, slightly rundown one. Oh, joy...!
Have to say that for a fleeting second it rubbed me wrong seeing where she had parked her car; promptly forgot all about it thanks to the creepy guy, the fearful look on Sue's face, and the resulting rushed shopping she engaged in. Was so distracted that I thought Gabby would still be in the car thanks to her speediness.
The feeling of utter despair I was served with so soon after that won't be forgotten, ever. Because we've been told countless times the first 24 hours of a kidnapping are crucial, my stomach did an Olympics-worthy somersault when I saw the hooded man throwing a covered body over the bridge rail. Learning the area was full of sexual offenders sent my stomach to my feet in a free fall.
Sue's despair was fake, and again I missed the clue in first viewing: she cries a lot and she does so without shedding a single tear.
Frantic is the adjective I apply to this case, and the one I'm sure will forever come to my mind when thinking of "Gabby".
- Frantic were Sue's actions at the mini market.
- Frantic were Garcia's pleadings for more parameters to fine-tune her searches.
- Frantic were JJ and Morgan while restraining themselves when talking with Sue for the first time.
- Frantic were Reid and Blake and Rossi while studying the tiny bits of new information that were being discovered.
- Frantic were Hotch's interrogations of the badly burnt suspect.
- Frantic were the moves of all involved in the search of Gabby.
And the body is found...
SSA Canning: Who the hell is that?
SSA Morgan: It's our main suspect...
Me: What the WHAT???
And the blanket is found...
Hotch's fury is unleashed, even if still controlled.
And the mini market security footage is available...
Sue wasn't in such a hurry after all.
And Garcia unearths Sue and burnt guy's relationship...
Hotch's shows THE look. Uh... oh...!
The rest, as they say, is history.
About the Script
Impeccable. If it has faults, after several viewings I've yet to find them.
"Gabby" is the epitome of a classic Criminal Minds episode, contains everything needed to achieve one: misdirections, profiling, a cameo by the writer, profiling, complex characters, profiling, balanced team dynamics, profiling, false leads, profiling, each agent tapping on their expertises, profiling, and an incomplete happy ending...
SSA Rossi: Yeah, but how many more kids like them there are out there?
SSA Hotchner: It's a good question...
About the Acting
Standing ovation. Have to highlight, though, several characters' details, and actors:
- Julia Butters as Gabby Hoffer. This child is a gem, moreso being as young as she obviously is, and lacking any experience whatsoever. Gabby was truly alive, lively and sweet thanks to Julia.
- Sianoa Smit-McPhee as Sue Walsh. Sianoa basically played two characters during the episode: the deceivingly caring aunt, and Sue's true self, psychopathic and violent. Most actors in this situation, fail to give credibility to one of the parts, Sianoa succeeded.
- Ashley Jones as Kate Hoffer. Can't be easy to portray how cold, abject terror is gripping your insides while you still try to function and help. Ashley did it.
- Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia. Seeing the usual exuberant Penelope so tense, crying without hysterics, using short, clipped phrases, begging to be given more work to be able to help more... Kirsten gave us the real Penelope, and made me feel for her deeply.
- Jim Clemente: Those clothes and that wig... Speechless.
- Jennifer Jareau: JJ has been overused and misused since we got her back in season seven. In this episode she wasn't either, but I needed until the 3rd re-watch to notice that. Telling.
About the Directing
Got the impression this director knows Criminal Minds, its spirit and its main characters really, really well, would go so far as to say inside and out...
Jokes aside, Thomas Gibson, once again, showed to the world that, on top of being a fantastic actor, he is an equally fantastic director. Not a single scene was superfluous; not a single close up was for show, but all were very much needed; the rhythm of the episode was on point with the nature of the case; the night scenes were easily visible (dark show, as Criminal Minds is described, doesn't equate impossible-to-see-anything scenes); and last, but not least, scenes so rich in detail, that re-watching this episode is a joy, and will continue to be so probably forever.
~~~~Sir Elyan the White
CRIMINAL MINDS Season 9 - BTS: 920. Blood Relations
This post may contain spoilers, probably small, but they may be big too; proceed with caution!
This post will be updated when more images of our dear gang are shared from the set.
This post will be updated when more images of our dear gang are shared from the set.
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| Watching hockey game in Criminal Minds scout van. Go USA! - Photo by Harry Bring |
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| Look who's at our Readthrough today. - Photo by Ian Woolf |
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| It's tie day Tuesday for the EP#9x20 Read through #criminalminds #dapper - Photo by CM_SetReport |
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| CM gave me a cake today at the table read! Too cool! - Photo by Janine Sherman Barrois |
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| Guess who started directing Ep 920 "Blood" ??? - Photo by John Hatchitt |
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| Call back! On the set of #CriminalMinds 9x20 "Blood Relations", written by #BreenFrazier, directed by @GUBLERNATION - Photo by CM_SetReport |
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| Calm before the storm, please let it hold off till wrap. - Photo by John Hatchitt |
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| This is the doll we're NOT using. #criminalminds #bloodrelations - Photo by CM_SetReport |
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| Having fun on set with Director Gube! @GUBLERNATION @JoeMantegna - Photo by AJ Cook |
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| JJ's new gun. #CriminalMinds - Photo by AJ Cook |
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| ThomasGibson directed Cinnamon Magistrate tonight @CM_SetReport @Garcia_BAU desk love to commemorate! - Photo by Kirsten Vangsness |
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| Night time is Play time in the woods. - Photo by John Hatchitt |
| Die sucka Die!!! Criminal Minds behind the scenes... - Video by Shemar Moore |
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| excited to be directing the immensely talented and overwhelmingly beautiful adrienne barbeau. - Photo by Matthew Gray Gubler |
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| Ready for her close up. @Vangsness - Photo by Joe Mantegna |
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| Somebody looks thrilled to be filming at the cabin in the mud today.. Krish Ribeiro - Photo by Dayne Johnson |
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| These Honey Badgers didn't give a shit, and look what happened to them. - Photo by John Hatchitt |
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| The bulletin board in my trailer - Photo by Joe Mantegna |
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| Behind the scenes of #CriminalMinds 9x20 w/ stunt person Joyce McNeal-Tolkan & Co-Executive Producer Breen Frazier. - Photo by CM_SetReport |
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| some of today's storyboards for the spooktacular criminal minds episode i'm currently directing - Photo by Matthew Gray Gubler |
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| #CriminalMinds writer's room swag. Thanks @trunkclub. - Photo by Virgil Williams |
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| Look who's working on Criminal Minds-Cedric Hardman from the 49'er's - Photo by Ian Woolf |
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| Stunt Coordinator Tom Elliott considers his handiwork. #criminalminds #bloodrelations - Photo by CM_SetReport |
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| Look who came to visit! Writer Breen Frazier, UPM Ian Woolf & DP Greg St. Johns w/ @EABernero #CriminalMinds 9x20 - Photo by CM_SetReport |
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| More playtime around the lake. - Photo by John Hatchitt |
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| Hairy Hyphenate! @GUBLERNATION prepares for his transition from directing to acting. #criminalminds #bloodrelations - Photo by CM_SetReport |
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| @GUBLERNATION is definitely one of the greats. Had a blast on @CrimMinds_CBS - Photo by Ronnie G. Blevins |
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| Groovin' on @CrimMinds_CBS this week. @GUBLERNATION @abarbeau @JoeMantegna @billoberstjr @Ronniegblevins @shemarmoore - Photo by Tobin Bell |
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| This memo was on the front of today's call sheet. And the beat goes on. - Photo by Harry Bring |
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| me and @officialtobin (one of the most fascinating actors i've ever had the pleasure of directing) - Photo by Matthew Gray Gubler |
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| today's storyboards #bloodrelations - Photo by Matthew Gray Gubler |
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| me and the fantastic flashback cast from the CM episode i just directed. - Photo by Matthew Gray Gubler |
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| @GUBLERNATION calls the shots on tonight's uber-creepy episode of #CriminalMinds - Photo by AJ Cook |
Monday, March 3, 2014
Message from the Criminal Minds Round Table Knights and Ladies
To All Our Loyal Followers:
Sometimes life doesn't cooperate: family issues, work schedule changes, illness,... Even if nothing is really grave, it can all pile up and sadly something has to give.
The Knights and Ladies of the Criminal Minds Round Table have suffered this fate lately. Due to Health issues, one of our Administrators had to step down and another had to be found to help out. Last week it looked like nobody would have the needed free time to keep this blog active, thus the message some of you got to read with our farewell.
Thankfully today our news are a bit better, a couple issues have been resolved and while not all our usual posts may be back for the time being, we, the Administrators of Criminal Minds Round Table are determined to keep this blog running to the best of our ability. However, sadly for right now the comments section will be open only in the Comments Thread posts for new episodes and the corresponding Reviews. This is not because we fear any fights breaking out if left unsupervised, but because too many spam bots are finding our blog and messing with it. With the limitations we have at present we have not enough time to moderate the comments section, hense our decision to scale back.
The good news is! Today we can announce to all of you that our quest to post all information available about our dear CRIMINAL MINDS will continue, so if you desire please, come back often for press releases, promos, articles, and interviews.
Sometimes life doesn't cooperate: family issues, work schedule changes, illness,... Even if nothing is really grave, it can all pile up and sadly something has to give.
The Knights and Ladies of the Criminal Minds Round Table have suffered this fate lately. Due to Health issues, one of our Administrators had to step down and another had to be found to help out. Last week it looked like nobody would have the needed free time to keep this blog active, thus the message some of you got to read with our farewell.
Thankfully today our news are a bit better, a couple issues have been resolved and while not all our usual posts may be back for the time being, we, the Administrators of Criminal Minds Round Table are determined to keep this blog running to the best of our ability. However, sadly for right now the comments section will be open only in the Comments Thread posts for new episodes and the corresponding Reviews. This is not because we fear any fights breaking out if left unsupervised, but because too many spam bots are finding our blog and messing with it. With the limitations we have at present we have not enough time to moderate the comments section, hense our decision to scale back.
The good news is! Today we can announce to all of you that our quest to post all information available about our dear CRIMINAL MINDS will continue, so if you desire please, come back often for press releases, promos, articles, and interviews.