Criminal Minds Returns: It's Good, But it's Not Great

After months of boring Wednesday nights resulting from the writers' strike, Criminal Minds finally aired a new episode on April 2, 2008. I was looking forward to it all day. I ensured the kids were in bed on time, put anything remotely resembling work, turned off my cell phone and settled down with a bag of snacks and a bottle of soda at 9:00 p.m. sharp. While I did enjoy the episode, I was disappointed in the overall execution of the show.

The biggest disappointment came from the resolution of the case that Rossi had secretly been working on for several episodes. For weeks, he had alluded to the case, sneaked around for the files, handled the bracelet, and showed flashbacks. Suddenly, in one hour, the entire BAU team found out and solved the crime he couldn't solve in 20 years. My disappointment isn't so much the way that they dumbly stumbled across a clue that led them straight to the "unsub" (I'll not spoil it for you), but rather, that a plot that has been developed for so long concluded so quickly.

I compare this plot to the miniature killer that was on CSI. On CSI, the miniature killer plot went on and on with various twists and turns. When you thought the killer was caught, another miniature popped up. This is what good TV is about-a plot that draws you in, hooks you, and toys with you. Just when you think it is the end, something unexpected happens and you start all over again. On Criminal Minds, this twisting plot suddenly came to an abrupt conclusion. There is nothing, other than my confessed addiction, drawing me into the next episode now that this big mystery is over.

However, the actual conclusion of the case was very interesting. The crime was so brutal that it haunted an experienced detective for 20 years. He had nightmares and still carried around a symbol of the case. I expected the killer to be the most brutal, sick, disturbing character yet. In a way, I suppose he was, but you almost pitied the killer in the end when he was in tears crying out for his Daddy.

I'm also disappointed that the show concluded with Hodge signing the divorce papers. I don't know-of all the characters, he was really the only family man. It was quite the contrast to the others and made for an interesting twist in long or particular brutal cases. It was just a disappointing contrast to seeing him roll up his sleeves in preparation to duke it out with a convicted serial killer, then roll over and signing uncontested divorce papers. Maybe a fairy tale ending isn't what the show is all about, but I would have liked to see them work it out.

Speaking of the whole interview with a serial killer sup blot, what was that about anyway? It was brief and really didn't fit in with anything else. There was a moment of excitement when you realized that Hodge and Reed were locked in with the killer. Then Hodge took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves and you were ready for a fight. Suddenly, Reed distracts the killer with some psycho babble until the guards opened the door. This was wasted air time that should have been spent wrapping up the Rossi case a little better-if, in fact the Rossi case had to be wrapped up in one episode.

In conclusion, I am still a die hard fan and glad to see a new episode after all these months. It was very entertaining, but from a creative standpoint, they could have probably done a lot more to get viewers hooked again after the long break. If this were the first time I watched the show, I'm not sure I would watch again next week.