"Truth or Dare" has to be a contender for the most controversial season finale of 'Criminal Minds', don't ever remember any of the other finales for the previous thirteen seasons had this level of controversy and neither in my view did the show finale (quite). It is also one of the worst reviewed episodes of Season 14, with a lot of hate for it for one criticism in particular. Really wanted to like "Truth or Dare", being someone that has followed the show from the beginning and who has gone against the grain numerous times.
Not this time sadly. Really do agree with those that disliked "Truth or Dare", though there is a lot more to the problem and more flaws than what is continually brought up as something that was and is still widely criticised by the fans. It has its moments and good things but the case just doesn't work and the biggest criticism the episode gets is more than understandable. It is a failure of a season finale, namely because it doesn't really feel like one, but it also doesn't work as a 'Criminal Minds' episode overall regardless of whether it was an opener, mid-season finale or overall finale.
As said, "Truth or Dare" has good things about it. It is well shot and looks slick. The music isn't over-bearing or too constant. The acting from the regulars is all fine with no exceptions.
Personally loved everything with Rossi, a side plot that was immensely charming and has an endearing light-heartedness.
However, the case was really lacking. The unsub was not very well developed and was very bland, detected very little threat or edge from them. For such an elaborate plan, the motive and catalyst were pretty weak and made the scheme seem rather extreme. The case lacked tension and suspense, the urgency in the latter stages just wasn't there, a lot of it was very predictable from being pretty familiar territory and the climax was both tension-free and silly with some pretty dumb decision making going on.
Other than some light-heartedness here and there, the script seemed rather fatigued and thin and this was the episode of the season where it was very clear that by this point the show had run out of ideas. Am going to have to agree with the whole JJ and Reid thing, not them as overall characters (absolutely love Reid) but the way their interaction is written here. Far too teenage romance-level, meaning very sentimental to a sickly sweet degree and cheesy, and felt so out of place within the episode. It does make JJ come off badly too. The direction is not incompetent but is pretty uninspired.
Summing up, mediocre and disappointing ending to Season 14 that didn't feel like a season finale. There were some good episodes in the season and three great ones, but of the fifteen forming it to me this was by far the worst. 4/10