FBI just used a similar storyline in their episode on 10/2/2018 entitled "Green Birds"
5 Reviews
This plot stolen by new series
dziedzjl-558764 October 2018
Grabs Your Attention With Unique Opening
ccthemovieman-112 January 2007
Now here is a different kind of opening to a crime show!
We see a man in his car with his (about) 12-year-old son driving down a wooded road and, all of sudden, he sees a deer in the road, swerves and just misses it. His wise-ass kid never saw any deer. Then, they get a flat tire. While out fixing it, the dad hears noises and see bogeymen-type figures after him. He swings his tire iron wildly. The end result is that almost killed his kid and the fact is, there was no one there. The guy had been poisoned with LSD and was hallucinating.
The BAU team gets called into this case in Beachwood, New Jersey, when its revealed this guy and others were poisoned by the drug. Eventually, they deduce the guy is the "avenger" type poisoner and look for someone with a profile (too lengthy to go into here) and realize this was just a "test run." That means a lot of people could get hurt or killed with a big dose of poison. Since the drug was laced with another that made people conveniently forget where they were, it's harder to track down how and where this problem began.
As viewers, we learn about people who poison and, as usual these "profiles" are interesting. This guy is especially worrisome because it looks like he had someone poison some candy (which is how the people got sick) and then he killed her!
However, there are twists and turns in the last 12 minutes - the bomber consistently deceiving the BAU even after they catch him - that make this an above-average episode, by far the best in the last month.
We see a man in his car with his (about) 12-year-old son driving down a wooded road and, all of sudden, he sees a deer in the road, swerves and just misses it. His wise-ass kid never saw any deer. Then, they get a flat tire. While out fixing it, the dad hears noises and see bogeymen-type figures after him. He swings his tire iron wildly. The end result is that almost killed his kid and the fact is, there was no one there. The guy had been poisoned with LSD and was hallucinating.
The BAU team gets called into this case in Beachwood, New Jersey, when its revealed this guy and others were poisoned by the drug. Eventually, they deduce the guy is the "avenger" type poisoner and look for someone with a profile (too lengthy to go into here) and realize this was just a "test run." That means a lot of people could get hurt or killed with a big dose of poison. Since the drug was laced with another that made people conveniently forget where they were, it's harder to track down how and where this problem began.
As viewers, we learn about people who poison and, as usual these "profiles" are interesting. This guy is especially worrisome because it looks like he had someone poison some candy (which is how the people got sick) and then he killed her!
However, there are twists and turns in the last 12 minutes - the bomber consistently deceiving the BAU even after they catch him - that make this an above-average episode, by far the best in the last month.
Terrific episode, and came very close to being one of the very best of Season 1
TheLittleSongbird16 October 2016
Season 1 got off to such a promising start, until becoming inconsistent and lacking momentum in the episodes between "The Fox" and "Riding the Lightning" (which saw great episodes like this, "Natural Born Killer" and "What Fresh Hell" as well as disappointing ones such as "The Popular Kids" and "Blood Hungry").
Thankfully, after a proper step in the right direction with "Riding the Lightning" the season mostly ended very strongly, slumping only with the mediocre at best "Machismo" (the worst of the season, and one of the lesser 'Criminal Minds' episodes). "Poison" is one of the best episodes of the season's hit and miss slow-period after "The Fox" and before "Riding the Lightning", and while it is in the top half of Season 1 it came incredibly close to being one of the very best of the season.
It didn't quite. It is agreed that the scene where Elle (who has never been a favourite of mine and while she has definitely fared worse in episodes before and since the episode does nothing to make me warm to her) arrests a suspect is clunky and jars. Also, after such a fantastic opening (a contender for the best opening scene of Season 1) it was a shame that the episode didn't have a scene giving closure for the father and son featured in the beginning, to see their story unresolved felt somewhat of a cheat.
On the other hand, "Poison" starts off absolutely fantastically. Of all the first season's opening scenes, "Poison's" was the scariest and most nail-biting, will openly confess about it giving me nightmares for a while afterwards. In terms of how it was shot and in terms of atmosphere there hasn't been an opening scene quite like it in this particular season or even in 'Criminal Minds' history. Luckily, the rest of the episode lives up to it apart from one clunky scene and lack of closure for the father and son. It is so creepy as to how people can be affected by something so awful so easily in this episode, the suspense and tension mounts to pulse-raising heights and the twists and turns keep coming, surprising us constantly with a motivation revelation that one does not see coming.
While the type of unsub and his motivation are somewhat typical (both being familiar territory in this genre), they are still interestingly done and believable because the situation is so frightening. Also really liked that the story was a change of pace from the usual serial killer or kidnapping formula, along with "The Tribe" it is one of the season's most unique in its premise and ideas (it was from memory the first episode of the show to focus on the poisoning concept). The writing is thought-provoking and taut, with nothing feeling irrelevant, cheesy or padded.
You can't write about 'Criminal Minds' and not talk about the lead characters and the team itself, and by now (remarkable for a show so early on in its run) a vast majority of the characters are interesting and their personalities well established, especially Gideon. Only Elle doesn't do much for me. The team dynamic is close-knit and loyal and it's lovely to see. All the acting is uniformly good, pacing is tight and the direction is solid. As always, it's a very well made episode, with especially clever photography and editing in the opening that makes one really believe that the hallucination was happening for real, while the music is suitably mood-enhancing.
In conclusion, came very close to being one of the very best of Season 1, and while not quite reaching there it is in the top half of the season (with a terrific story and an example of how to do an opening scene well) and one of the best of the period where the season wasn't as consistent. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Thankfully, after a proper step in the right direction with "Riding the Lightning" the season mostly ended very strongly, slumping only with the mediocre at best "Machismo" (the worst of the season, and one of the lesser 'Criminal Minds' episodes). "Poison" is one of the best episodes of the season's hit and miss slow-period after "The Fox" and before "Riding the Lightning", and while it is in the top half of Season 1 it came incredibly close to being one of the very best of the season.
It didn't quite. It is agreed that the scene where Elle (who has never been a favourite of mine and while she has definitely fared worse in episodes before and since the episode does nothing to make me warm to her) arrests a suspect is clunky and jars. Also, after such a fantastic opening (a contender for the best opening scene of Season 1) it was a shame that the episode didn't have a scene giving closure for the father and son featured in the beginning, to see their story unresolved felt somewhat of a cheat.
On the other hand, "Poison" starts off absolutely fantastically. Of all the first season's opening scenes, "Poison's" was the scariest and most nail-biting, will openly confess about it giving me nightmares for a while afterwards. In terms of how it was shot and in terms of atmosphere there hasn't been an opening scene quite like it in this particular season or even in 'Criminal Minds' history. Luckily, the rest of the episode lives up to it apart from one clunky scene and lack of closure for the father and son. It is so creepy as to how people can be affected by something so awful so easily in this episode, the suspense and tension mounts to pulse-raising heights and the twists and turns keep coming, surprising us constantly with a motivation revelation that one does not see coming.
While the type of unsub and his motivation are somewhat typical (both being familiar territory in this genre), they are still interestingly done and believable because the situation is so frightening. Also really liked that the story was a change of pace from the usual serial killer or kidnapping formula, along with "The Tribe" it is one of the season's most unique in its premise and ideas (it was from memory the first episode of the show to focus on the poisoning concept). The writing is thought-provoking and taut, with nothing feeling irrelevant, cheesy or padded.
You can't write about 'Criminal Minds' and not talk about the lead characters and the team itself, and by now (remarkable for a show so early on in its run) a vast majority of the characters are interesting and their personalities well established, especially Gideon. Only Elle doesn't do much for me. The team dynamic is close-knit and loyal and it's lovely to see. All the acting is uniformly good, pacing is tight and the direction is solid. As always, it's a very well made episode, with especially clever photography and editing in the opening that makes one really believe that the hallucination was happening for real, while the music is suitably mood-enhancing.
In conclusion, came very close to being one of the very best of Season 1, and while not quite reaching there it is in the top half of the season (with a terrific story and an example of how to do an opening scene well) and one of the best of the period where the season wasn't as consistent. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Excellent plot and writing
lottiemarshalllm29 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Disclaimer:I am no expert reviewer, I just need a show to binge watch and I'm going to Write a review for every episode I watch.
I particularly liked this episode because of the amount of danger that was presented from the very beginning I think the plot twists were very well done and not too out of the blue like in some other episodes.
My only complaint is that we didn't really get a lot from her characters because the threat was so large that I didn't really have time to expand on any other plot devices. My only complaint is that we didn't really get a lot from her characters because the threat was so large that I didn't really have time to expand on any other plot devices. One thing that I do very well worth portraying each of their agents best qualities. Such as Reid intelligence and over analyzing. Hodges and gideons ability to talk to killers and Elles empathy towards the teenage victim
Very compelling story and a good ending that made sense but wasn't to easy to figure out.
Also I loved the bad ass music they played during the raid scene on the chemist garage.
I particularly liked this episode because of the amount of danger that was presented from the very beginning I think the plot twists were very well done and not too out of the blue like in some other episodes.
My only complaint is that we didn't really get a lot from her characters because the threat was so large that I didn't really have time to expand on any other plot devices. My only complaint is that we didn't really get a lot from her characters because the threat was so large that I didn't really have time to expand on any other plot devices. One thing that I do very well worth portraying each of their agents best qualities. Such as Reid intelligence and over analyzing. Hodges and gideons ability to talk to killers and Elles empathy towards the teenage victim
Very compelling story and a good ending that made sense but wasn't to easy to figure out.
Also I loved the bad ass music they played during the raid scene on the chemist garage.
Good concept but fails to hit the mark
moysant25 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
A bunch of people get poisoned with drugs that make them hullicinate while losing their memory. The team have to track down where and how the many victims got drugged so they can get a better idea of what category of poisoner they are dealing with, and hope to catch him before he strikes again.
The opening is very good (the hallucination someone has of 'scarey people' reminded me of a nightmare I once had) but then the episode gets messy as the team splits up to follow different leads. There is one terribly clunky scene (Elle arresting a suspect) which was so unconvincing that it jarred.
Only when I watched it a second time did I discover some facts that were mentioned in passing that were very important to the link of clues the team uses to solve the case. This episode also lacked the banter between the main characters which is the enjoyable part of this show.
OK, but it could've been better.
But I did like the motivation of the poisoner. Very real-life and believable.
The opening is very good (the hallucination someone has of 'scarey people' reminded me of a nightmare I once had) but then the episode gets messy as the team splits up to follow different leads. There is one terribly clunky scene (Elle arresting a suspect) which was so unconvincing that it jarred.
Only when I watched it a second time did I discover some facts that were mentioned in passing that were very important to the link of clues the team uses to solve the case. This episode also lacked the banter between the main characters which is the enjoyable part of this show.
OK, but it could've been better.
But I did like the motivation of the poisoner. Very real-life and believable.
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