Criminal Minds season finales tend to deliver. They are usually good, like #4.25, "To Hell
And Back", and occasionally even 9/10 like #1.22, "The Fisher King: Part 1" and #3.20, "Lo-Fi". Of course, there is also the exception that proves the rule: the flawed #2.23, "No Way Out, Part II" (notice the inconsistent use of numerals). So how does the fifth one fare? The five-minute opening justifies it length, seeing as this is the first part of a two-parter. There is a nice montage that portrays the passing of decades, something that will be understood later. The unsub is kept out of view, his attack presented in still images. This too is not done because of style over substance (a common mistake in this series, and, ironically, the style chosen often does not even work). He preys in the dark, so he is kept in the dark. Plus, it allows for the later reveal of the actor performing the unsub.
It's clear that more effort was put into this episode than a typical one: we have Tim Curry, Robert Davi and Eric Close, all in fine form (though Davi, a regular on Profiler, could do this kind of role in his sleep). Curry naturally steals the show. He's aided by the script that, on the rare occasion that his character speaks, the lines are golden. Also, this is the biggest, baddest case Hotch's team has yet faced. And, three quarters in, there is a marvellous twist. To cap it all, direction, camera-work and music are on the level with the script.
There's only one flaw. No lessons were learned from #4.1, "Mayhem" – a character introduced in this episode is killed off and we are supposed to find it shocking. Unfortunately it's hard to mourn a character less than 40 minutes old. Not to mention the fact that ever since #5.9, "100", the credibility of Criminal Minds has been highly debatable because of the way Hotch's brutal actions in that episode were swept under the mat and his son seems in no way traumatized by the loss of his mother. Ever since that mess, the fictional world of Criminal Minds loses one star until Hotch is out of the series. Which is probably as long as the series runs. Too bad, since this would have been the third 9/10 season finale out of five, but the burden of continuity makes it only an 8/10.
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