Washi_Washi Reviews

Lovestruck in the City (2020– )

Easily a part of my all time favorites!

[9/10 · 13 February 2021]

As I'm writing this, the series finale is yet to air. With what I've seen so far though, I have high hopes that I'm sure will be met. I absolutely love this drama!

The plot is a very interesting take on modern romantic relationships. It addresses topics that are usually avoided in most Korean dramas (casual sex, cohabitation, etc.) and does so tastefully. The individual characters are woven into couples and friendships with ease, and each relationship dynamic fills you with warmth. The show does a great job of making every character vulnerable and endearing. You see them at their worsts and their bests; you can't help but feel invested in their happy endings.

The direction and camera work is top notch. The shots are beautifully done and the background music does not overwhelm. I really enjoyed that in some scenes, background silence is used to an almost deafening level; it serves to height anticipation and nervousness appropriately.

"Lovestruck in the City" does something fresh with how it conducts the show: In between flashbacks, we follow the characters in a series of interviews where they voice their sides of the story. The comic elements are expertly handled, never breaking the flow.

This definitely satisfies the long wait for Ji Chang Wook's comeback to romantic comedies.

Flower of Evil (2020– )

Worth it 100% - particularly for Lee Joon-Gi playing a dad.

[10/10 · 31 January 2021]

"Flower of Evil" is easily one of the best dramas that came out in 2020 and if that year was good for one thing, it was the quality of the series coming out of the Korean entertainment industry.

Since the star of this drama is in the expertly crafted moments of thrill, all I'm saying on the plot is that I loved how it kept me guessing. Excellent work by the actors involved (particularly Kim Ji-hoon!). This is one of those series you binge at a stretch because of what a fun ride it takes you on.

Criminal Minds: And in the End (2020) Season 15, Episode 10

A disappointing but almost expected end to a series that had slowly been losing its touch.

[5/10 · 28 January 2021]

Honestly, this series finale was a bit of a let down. There was a lot of throwback to earlier characters and we did get to delight in C. Thomas Howell and Jayne Atkinson's brief returns to the screen. However, a good chunk of the episode just went by in flashbacks from earlier episodes. The writing felt too cheesy in a bid to have an emotional end to the show's 15 season run. Of course given that it's the end of the show there was bound to be a change to the team roster, but the focus of the episode randomly shifts too much onto Garcia, and it feels a little forced that her and Luke get put together romantically.

The last ten or so minutes of the episode turn into the Garcia show and while I can see the intent behind writing this episode, it doesn't bring the signature Criminal Minds' charm that the team has had in their casual interactions.

Everett Lynch makes for a fitting bad guy to end the show on but given that everything about this episode was just so off, the culmination of the chase to bring him to justice was... eh. I suppose the story only went where it could to the end.

In my opinion, the whole flashback with Reid possibly dying, would've mattered so much more if they'd managed to bring Gideon in for a cameo, instead of Maeve - a relationship I could never really get behind in the first place. The continuity of the existing storylines is completely ignored, and I was left feeling cheated that the writers had put such little thought to how they wanted to end this long run.

All in all, a disappointing end to a show that has in its hey days, been one of the best crime/procedural dramas in the last decade. Given where things went post season 11 however, this feels like a stab at redemption. Simply knowing that the journey is over makes me want to give it, which doesn't say much for the show anymore.

Criminal Minds: Face Off (2020) Season 15, Episode 9

Season 15 finally redeems the last three seasons of Criminal Minds.

[9/10 · 28 January 2021]

FINALLY, we get a good episode this season, one meeting established Criminal Minds standards of old. It is well shot and directed, and I loved the throwback to Gideon (although I did miss Mandy Patinkin). I appreciate that Everett Lynch is a well written antagonist. One things the writers have gotten right about the past two seasons has been his character development. We get more insight into how this character became the disturbing criminal that he is, and we understand Roberta better.

This episode has a bittersweet end. Yes, the good guys prevail, but once again it came with costs. Given that "Face Off" seems to be the penultimate episode of the series, it's ends on a cliffhanger and we're left to wait and see how the show ends itself.

Criminal Minds: Saturday (2020) Season 15, Episode 4

This episode is like a brownie that's all warm and gooey inside.

[8/10 · 27 January 2021]

By Criminal Minds' standards, "Saturday" is a very laid back episode. There's multiple storylines with sub-units of the team and most of it is either heartwarming or funny.

The show doesn't take away from the mystery element however, and there's a very creepy stalker situation unfolding with Garcia at the helm. That being said, how the situation was resolved felt a little too convenient. But given that there were so many more casual team interactions, it flipped the script and brought a welcome change from all the drama and just poor writing of most of this season.

All in all, I liked that this episode detracted from the usual formula and I enjoyed it.

Criminal Minds: Spectator Slowing (2020) Season 15, Episode 3

Simmons is your MVP.

[4/10 · 27 January 2021]

This episode fell decidedly below average on the scale. Simmons' sub-plot was so pointless that it detracted from the search for the UnSub. It feels very much like he was given this personal focus simply because everybody else got one. There was nothing particularly engaging about the family dynamics even though Daniel Henney tries quite hard. I think this is largely to do with the fact that there's no real story there besides "Dad's on duty while Mom gets some rest!" I will say however, Henney has a very easy charm on screen. Of all the new team members, I fell immediately into place with Simmons because his character was written like a place holder. Brought an interesting set of skills and an established background but no real insight into him as a person (except for the one episode where his wife was taken hostage). He's relaxed, charming, smart and talented, on top being very easy on the eyes. But that's it. As a result, his sub-plot that focuses on him as Matt and Dad was just a wasted opportunity.

Though the case was based on an interesting premise, given how quickly this team has put clues together before, the deduction just did not come close to the expected mark. I definitely zoned out of the episode a few times because I was just plain bored.

Season 15 does not seem to be doing that great.

Criminal Minds: Awakenings (2020) Season 15, Episode 2

A strong episode that really should've been season 15's opener.

[8/10 · 27 January 2021]

Okay first things first, we need to address the Reid and JJ situation (which really feels like the main plot point for this episode). Now, the writers definitely heard the criticism for the sudden declaration of love. It was well deserved. However, how they've chosen to address it in "Awakenings" can be interpreted in two ways:

1. Like many other reviewers have said, as doubling down on the awfulness and making the whole thing cringey.

2. That this shows character growth for Reid and more insight into JJ.

I ascribe to the second one and here's why: I don't think you can clearly define romantic love or attachments. Emotions are messy, and consequently so are relationships. You can be best friends with somebody and even harbour some romantic love for them without acting on it. It becomes a question of what kind of presence you want them hold in your life. We've seen JJ and Will's marriage evolve through the span of the show. The two of them work for a reason, but that doesn't mean it would have been out of character for JJ to wonder about what kind of life she would've had if she had decided to pursue a relationship with Reid. They're incredibly close and she's a fairly open minded person (given the nature of her job). As the show constantly reminds us, how we act on our feelings define our choices. JJ recognises that she might have been happy with Reid but in my opinion, I think she realised long ago that she needs Will as her partner (which she states as much to Will). JJ is definitely a strong character but given that her role in her friendship with Reid has largely revolved around taking care of him, she would want somebody to lean against when she needs to. Will gives her that in a way Reid would not be able to. She realises that, which is why she kept it to herself.

While having this whole wrench thrown into the dynamic was unnecessary in the first place, I think the writers managed to mitigate the worst of the damage.

The real gold in this episode is how Reid has grown. I don't think it's out of character for him to hold onto the idea of a future with JJ. I say this because she's the only consistent close female relationship he's shown to have. With his mom's illness, seriously cursed love life and abandonment issues (Dad, Gideon, Maeve, PRENTISS?), I don't think it's inconceivable that he would idolise JJ in a romantic light. He's content to have her in his life however he can and isn't forced to question the dynamics of their relationship. His romantic love for her had been (to his knowledge) unrequited. That changes with JJ's admission, which is why I think she says that it's not fair. Now he's forced to confront his feelings, which is compounded by what's going on with his mom's health. Reid has long been portrayed to have a certain degree of emotional immaturity. Processing his feelings is difficult for him, and I think the show has hinted every now and then that he might be on the autism spectrum. With his mother's prognosis, a turning point has popped up where he needs to figure out who he is if not her son, or the boy wonder thinking of a future with JJ.

Honestly? I'll buy it. It's the only way they could have salvaged that travesty of a plot twist.

Meanwhile, the chase for Lynch continues with some unexpected plot twists. I liked the pacing of this part of the episode (that really felt like a sub-plot) and Lynch makes for a great villain. Grace's character is also fleshed out well, and I appreciated the deeper insight into both of their relationships with Roberta.

All in all, a good effort; definitely better than "Under the Skin".

Criminal Minds: Under the Skin (2020) Season 15, Episode 1

Too many plot holes get under your skin.

[5/10 · 27 January 2021]

This last season of Criminal Minds opens in continuation of season 14's "Chameleon" to a strong start. The plot seems compelling and the story appears to have promise with its tribute to the classic Silence of the Lambs.

Unfortunately that doesn't quite go the way one would hope. The writing falls apart midway through the episode, and a lot of tactical decisions not only seem implausible, but for profilers that study human behavior, it feels downright stupid to not anticipate some of the clues that quickly become apparent to us as viewers. The team's progress relies on convenience once again and consequently, the episode's potential to be good drops significantly.

The nail biting end of the episode is a good attempt at recovery. Criminal Minds has often been criticised for reverting to either becoming the JJ show or an entire season of "How Best Can We Traumatise Spencer Reid Next". Having gotten quite sick of the fall back tropes, I have hope that this season does not stoop to relying on it. As far as season openers go, this is not the show's best and it remains to be seen how the final season conducts itself.

Criminal Minds: Truth or Dare (2019) Season 14, Episode 15

A Hail Mary Effort at Drama: The Failure.

[2/10 · 27 January 2021]

Season 14 had promise. There were a few great episodes and I expected that the cliffhanger from "Camouflage" would tie into the finale. What we got however, was a disappointment.

The UnSub was underdeveloped, the case was poorly written, and the whole thing with JJ and Reid at the end was so far out of character I was hoping to see that JJ was bluffing. The charm their relationship held was the fact that their friendship seemed so sweet and genuine. To suddenly bring up these long buried feelings that were never even hinted at during the show previously, felt like an effort to cheapen their camaraderie. A last ditch effort to bring some drama about. Given everything we got to see about JJ and Will's marriage? This just does not fit.

"Truth or Dare" felt more like an episode you'd see mid-way through a season and definitely was not what I wanted out of a finale as far as the case went. The only thing that really did fit with the kind of milestone you would expect of a season finale, was Rossi and Krystall's wedding. Even though the whole ceremony felt a little tainted by the wrench that was thrown into the JJ-Reid dynamic, there was also a decidedly awkward air around the event itself.

All in all, easily one of the worst Criminal Minds episode of all time in my book. The only positives about this episode are the direction, the production, and the sweet moment with Simmons, his wife and baby number 5.

Criminal Minds: Sick and Evil (2019) Season 14, Episode 14

One of the low points in Season 14.

[4/10 · 26 January 2021]

"Sick and Evil" opens with Gubler absent from the cast once again.

Despite the case being set in a town "that could be the setting for any horror movie ever made", the creep factor is underwhelming and almost cheesy in places. When compared to the much better direction in "Night Lights" or "Hamelin", "Sick and Evil" consistently ruins how the thrill of anticipation/fear builds in scenes where the UnSub strikes.

The UnSub's motivation for the crimes feels weak and underdeveloped. As a result, the plot seems to rely on convenience more than actual deduction. Rossi's trauma from the previous episode is peppered through the sub-plot without any real purpose, and the feeling that this episode is interim in the lead up to the season finale doesn't go away.

All in all, an interesting premise that could have met far better execution.

Criminal Minds: Chameleon (2019) Season 14, Episode 13

A look at the Man behind the Mask: David Rossi

[9/10 · 26 January 2021]

One of my pet peeves with how the individual storylines for the team are fleshed out is the fact that from the original team in the hey days (until season 7) of Criminal Minds, Reid, JJ and Prentiss get their turns for character growth on screen, whereas Rossi has had more of an off screen evolution following his early days with the BAU.

In my continually improving opinion of season 14, not only is "Chameleon" very much Rossi's episode, it is a well put together first part of an arc. I really appreciate the fact that not only did the writers give Rossi a life partner, they showcased an integral aspect to doing a job like his: taking care of your mental health and emphasising the need to talk about something difficult and traumatic.

I think a lot of why Rossi's character gets criticism in the show's fan base is because he's a difficult character to get to know. He's portrayed as this well-versed, brilliant man who is incredibly successful at what he does, but also not without personal demons. The show gives us this latter insight in sudden intense bursts that tend to overwhelm an otherwise fun-uncle typed character. Oftentimes, it feels like Rossi is either one of two things: an indulgent senior team member or a man haunted by loss and failure. This episode felt like a long awaited platform for Mantegna to wield his talents and he does it justice.

The story is paced and directed well, and the supporting cast do a good job. As expected, the episode ends on a cliff hanger. It does however bring a confusing, unexpected twist with a supporting character. I'm looking forward to the second part to see if the dust clears!

Criminal Minds: Hamelin (2019) Season 14, Episode 12

The Piper walks past the pond: Good direction undermined by subpar writing.

[6/10 · 26 January 2021]

With a nod to creepy child-based horror tropes, "Hamelin" starts off thrillingly. Even with the urgency usually felt in episodes involving child abductions, this particular one manages to up the creep factor unexpectedly, and for the direction I give props.

Unfortunately, the writing doesn't quite do the case justice. The premise behind the method used by the UnSub is an interesting one, but it is underdeveloped. You don't quite get a clear picture of the How and the episode skates past that connection to finding the UnSub. Too much information about the UnSub's motives and trigger is revealed in too short a frame, and the pieces don't fit together as organically as the show has proven to be capable of. The direction is undermined by the shoddiness of the story, and you're left feeling quite unsatisfied at the end of the case.

An element of Criminal Minds that I greatly enjoy is the look into the team's lives beyond their work. It has driven some of the best episodes of the show overall, and provides a much needed regular dose of levity through the seasons. While the subplots that revolve around either the team as a whole or members individually/in sub-units are a welcome window into their personal lives, a common criticism of the later seasons remains that far too much focus is given on a particular member. "Hamelin" thankfully, stays truer to form. It's an emotional look at JJ's personal trauma and how that impacts her relationship with her mother, and AJ Cook puts thought into her work: the attention paid to body language is clever. The sub-plot doesn't overwhelm but that might be more because it is the only well written portion of the episode.

Given that this season has been pretty Reid-starved, I liked that he got to show off a little physical skill for once. It tips a hat to his character development over the course of the show, and is a nice touch for a traditionally nerdy character!

Criminal Minds: Night Lights (2019) Season 14, Episode 11

Neither A Hit, Nor A Miss: A Decent Effort for Season 14.

[7/10 · 26 January 2021]

Criminal Minds has long been a favorite. A common criticism with the show however, has been the drop in quality of the later seasons (8 onward, in my opinion).

While the show has (even in the later seasons) displayed a delicate nuance in balancing the elements of psychological horror with the portrayal of the crimes - particularly the experience of the victims, "Night Lights" has had an odd sense of upset to it. The torture the victims go through is laid out excruciatingly for us to see, and it left a sense of... almost distaste in my mouth, to see the extent to which a TV show on cable television took it. Granted: there have been equally (if not more) horrible crimes with harrowing experiences of their own in the show's history. I suppose I might hold it a testament to the acting skills that this episode had me uncomfortable going towards the middle.

Having said that, I didn't feel the plot to be all that weak. I wouldn't call this one of Criminal Minds' best, but it is decent. This unsub was written to be a little messy but I appreciated that the episode left an empty feeling at its conclusion. It felt evocative of the kind of frustration I associate with Law and Order: Special Victims Unit - bleak reality.

On the lighter front of the episode, I'm glad that Garcia and Alvez's interactions have gotten fonder. I felt their relationship took a while to settle and I'm glad it's found even ground. Reid was a welcome sight (having been absent for most of the show), but the show does his character an injustice by reverting to the boy genius plot device in solving the case. Nonetheless, I loved that we got a nugget of the signature Gubler charm.