I am watching this episode for the second time and again, I am overwhelmed by the amazing performance of both Jane Lynch and Matthew Gray Gubler. Never I have seen such an accurate depiction of what it means living with a loved one suffering of such an hideous illness as dementia, and alas I am speaking from personal experience.
Then I agree with another reviewer that this episode is too much unbalanced towards the personal problems of Reid.
4 Reviews
Not that much tension here
TheLittleSongbird10 June 2017
In its prime (Seasons 1-5, with Season 4 to me being the best and most consistent season with a lot of classic episodes and even the weakest episodes being far from awful) 'Criminal Minds' was one of my favourite shows. From Season 6 it did become hit and miss, with the odd gem, but a lot of average episodes and some stinkers.
Season 12 so far has been nowhere near as bad as feared, all things considered with its significant changes and troubled behind the scenes. Nothing exceptional yet but no low-points either. While better than "Taboo" and "The Anti-Terror Squad", "Surface Tension" is one of the weaker episodes of the season so far. Not a low-point (none of the Season 12 episodes have reached that level yet), but "Surface Tension" is a long way from classic 'Criminal Minds' and as far as Season 12 goes thus far it's no "Elliot's Pond" or "Mirror Image".
One thing that immediately stands out is that Reid is back after being sorely missed in the previous two episodes. He is utilised brilliantly, even if his subplot with his mother takes up a little too much time of the episode. 'Criminal Minds' has always worked far better when there is an ideal balance of case and personal life, there is too much somewhat too much personal life and not enough case. With that being said, Reid's subplot is far more memorable than the case and is really quite wonderfully done, it was often very moving and tackled a very difficult subject with sensitivity and tact. Matthew Gray Gubler and Jane Lynch's (once again proving that she is as good in drama as she is in comedy) tour-De-force acting helps enormously.
Visually, the episode is very well shot and lit and is overall stylish, gritty, classy and atmospheric. The music is moody in the haunting and melancholic sense and fits well, without either enhancing or distracting from it. Direction is also good.
Acting across the board ranges from very good to great, Gubler and Lynch taking the acting honours. Eric Henry impresses too as Bryce.
Sadly, the case itself does bring "Surface Tension" down. It has far too much of an odd atmosphere and has a tendency to be very confused, raising a lot of questions that could have been much better answered. There is a complete lack of tension and suspense as well, and creepiness is sacrificed by too much weirdness going on. The unsub's motive is incredibly flimsy and one of the most confusing things about the episode.
While the team work cohesively and solve the case without baseless conclusion jumping or Garcia providing too conveniently the answers, one can't help thinking that they take too much of a back-seat. Rossi has the most screen time but some of the rest seem underused. Alvez this said has settled in nicely. This cannot be said for Walker who is still rather bland and doesn't gel yet. The script is good in Reid's subplot but patchy with the case.
In conclusion, loved Reid's subplot but the case left me underwhelmed. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Season 12 so far has been nowhere near as bad as feared, all things considered with its significant changes and troubled behind the scenes. Nothing exceptional yet but no low-points either. While better than "Taboo" and "The Anti-Terror Squad", "Surface Tension" is one of the weaker episodes of the season so far. Not a low-point (none of the Season 12 episodes have reached that level yet), but "Surface Tension" is a long way from classic 'Criminal Minds' and as far as Season 12 goes thus far it's no "Elliot's Pond" or "Mirror Image".
One thing that immediately stands out is that Reid is back after being sorely missed in the previous two episodes. He is utilised brilliantly, even if his subplot with his mother takes up a little too much time of the episode. 'Criminal Minds' has always worked far better when there is an ideal balance of case and personal life, there is too much somewhat too much personal life and not enough case. With that being said, Reid's subplot is far more memorable than the case and is really quite wonderfully done, it was often very moving and tackled a very difficult subject with sensitivity and tact. Matthew Gray Gubler and Jane Lynch's (once again proving that she is as good in drama as she is in comedy) tour-De-force acting helps enormously.
Visually, the episode is very well shot and lit and is overall stylish, gritty, classy and atmospheric. The music is moody in the haunting and melancholic sense and fits well, without either enhancing or distracting from it. Direction is also good.
Acting across the board ranges from very good to great, Gubler and Lynch taking the acting honours. Eric Henry impresses too as Bryce.
Sadly, the case itself does bring "Surface Tension" down. It has far too much of an odd atmosphere and has a tendency to be very confused, raising a lot of questions that could have been much better answered. There is a complete lack of tension and suspense as well, and creepiness is sacrificed by too much weirdness going on. The unsub's motive is incredibly flimsy and one of the most confusing things about the episode.
While the team work cohesively and solve the case without baseless conclusion jumping or Garcia providing too conveniently the answers, one can't help thinking that they take too much of a back-seat. Rossi has the most screen time but some of the rest seem underused. Alvez this said has settled in nicely. This cannot be said for Walker who is still rather bland and doesn't gel yet. The script is good in Reid's subplot but patchy with the case.
In conclusion, loved Reid's subplot but the case left me underwhelmed. 6/10 Bethany Cox
More suffering with Reid
cpritchard6 August 2017
The Reid story line was already hackneyed and tired before we got here. It's just getting worse. There's no reason they have to keep this up, but they are wasting what appears to be the last season of this show. And if it's not the last season? It's not for want of effort to destroy the show by its producers. Love the characters...hate the "Arc". Go back to solving heinous crimes, folks.
Surface tension
coti-095531 February 2017
Criminal minds surface tension
Since this is criminal minds "come back" it should start off with a bang and yet again fooled by season twelve thus igniting a spark that wearys an audience into a bigger frenzy of wait what happens anyways let's move on to the episode
The episode starts off slow like season twelve usually has been doing except for a couple of episodes but that doesn't exactly count and the episode shows what you would see in criminal minds just a little annoying at first some good scenes were shown however I said some that means not all Moving on to the likable parts the likable parts include Mr Henry who plays Bryce his character was intriguing which is really all this episode shows that is worthy of even passing another good thing about this episode is they somehow brought back mr gubler who had a personal interest to deal with so he was gone for awhile
So with that in mind this episode wasn't even that close of passing do better next time criminal minds.
Since this is criminal minds "come back" it should start off with a bang and yet again fooled by season twelve thus igniting a spark that wearys an audience into a bigger frenzy of wait what happens anyways let's move on to the episode
The episode starts off slow like season twelve usually has been doing except for a couple of episodes but that doesn't exactly count and the episode shows what you would see in criminal minds just a little annoying at first some good scenes were shown however I said some that means not all Moving on to the likable parts the likable parts include Mr Henry who plays Bryce his character was intriguing which is really all this episode shows that is worthy of even passing another good thing about this episode is they somehow brought back mr gubler who had a personal interest to deal with so he was gone for awhile
So with that in mind this episode wasn't even that close of passing do better next time criminal minds.
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