Not one of the best Season 2 episodes, being not quite as good as "The Fisher King Part II", "Revelations", "Profiler, Profiled", the "No Way Out" episodes, "North Mammon" and "The Boogeyman".
Better than "Honor Among Thieves" however? Absolutely. That episode was the one big disappointment of a generally solid season and in the top 10 worst of 'Criminal Minds' Seasons 1-5 episodes. "Aftermath", "The Perfect Storm", "Empty Planet", "The Big Game" and "Psychodrama" could have been a little better too, but they all managed to still be good episodes, whereas "Honor Among Thieves" was overall only average at best and parts even strained to be that.
"Open Season", going back on track, was a very good episode with signs of greatness. It is let down only by two things really. One is the acting of the victims, to me they seemed a little too indifferent in such a terrifying situation and rather too accepting of their fates. The other is that more could have been done with Prentiss knowing the woods so well, that was very strongly hinted at and given short shrift somewhat.
However, "Open Season" had a very tense and suspenseful case, helped by a genuinely frightening scenario and two intriguing and well-played unsubs. The team interaction is really enjoyable and they work well as a team, being caring about solving the case, being used well, well balanced in dynamic, serving a point and actually not acting clueless or slow on the uptake (it was the bungling of the team work and dynamic that was one of the biggest flaws of "Honor Among Thieves").
Two parts are especially great here. One is the opening bar scene, a very funny, hilarious even, and refreshing scene that sees some adorable bonding and brings some welcome humour to a tense case and a dark show. The other is Gideon's interaction with the dying youngest unsub, that was very touching and somewhat surprising too.
Visually, "Open Season" is still very stylish and atmospheric, with magnificent woodland scenery, the music haunting and melancholic and the direction taut but also accommodating. The script is nicely balanced and thought-provoking.
Apart from some patchy work from the victims, the acting is very good. Oh and that look that Morgan and Reid shared, reminding one of their brotherly and protective bond, is subtle and very sweet.
Concluding this review, a very good episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Better than "Honor Among Thieves" however? Absolutely. That episode was the one big disappointment of a generally solid season and in the top 10 worst of 'Criminal Minds' Seasons 1-5 episodes. "Aftermath", "The Perfect Storm", "Empty Planet", "The Big Game" and "Psychodrama" could have been a little better too, but they all managed to still be good episodes, whereas "Honor Among Thieves" was overall only average at best and parts even strained to be that.
"Open Season", going back on track, was a very good episode with signs of greatness. It is let down only by two things really. One is the acting of the victims, to me they seemed a little too indifferent in such a terrifying situation and rather too accepting of their fates. The other is that more could have been done with Prentiss knowing the woods so well, that was very strongly hinted at and given short shrift somewhat.
However, "Open Season" had a very tense and suspenseful case, helped by a genuinely frightening scenario and two intriguing and well-played unsubs. The team interaction is really enjoyable and they work well as a team, being caring about solving the case, being used well, well balanced in dynamic, serving a point and actually not acting clueless or slow on the uptake (it was the bungling of the team work and dynamic that was one of the biggest flaws of "Honor Among Thieves").
Two parts are especially great here. One is the opening bar scene, a very funny, hilarious even, and refreshing scene that sees some adorable bonding and brings some welcome humour to a tense case and a dark show. The other is Gideon's interaction with the dying youngest unsub, that was very touching and somewhat surprising too.
Visually, "Open Season" is still very stylish and atmospheric, with magnificent woodland scenery, the music haunting and melancholic and the direction taut but also accommodating. The script is nicely balanced and thought-provoking.
Apart from some patchy work from the victims, the acting is very good. Oh and that look that Morgan and Reid shared, reminding one of their brotherly and protective bond, is subtle and very sweet.
Concluding this review, a very good episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox