User Reviews

Season 4 is a strong contender for the best season of 'Criminal Minds'. One where the lesser episodes, such as "Demonology" and "Catching Out", are still better than the worst episodes of particularly Seasons 9 and 11, and where there are so many classic episodes that picking a favourite is like trying to say what your favourite ice cream flavour is.

'Criminal Minds' have attempted format breakers, changes of pace and doing things differently numerous times over the course of its now 12 season run, before and since "Roadkill". This said, success has varied, sometimes doing something different has worked very well, sometimes it is a noble attempt but doesn't quite make it and at other times it falls flat. "Roadkill" is an example of 'Criminal Minds' doing something different (with a very unique modus operandi that is very much new for the show) and it working.

Part of me however did want more development for the unsub, who we don't quite know enough about to properly hate or feel sorry for. Also, the climactic moment of the otherwise nail-biting climax (where one really does care what happens to the next potential victim and whether the unsub succeeds) is sloppily edited and sticks out like a sore thumb compared to how good the rest of the episode looks.

On the other hand, "Roadkill" looks great, as ever made with style, class and gritty atmosphere. The music is suitably haunting and moody, and the direction and pacing are taut.

"Roadkill" is tautly and intelligently scripted, probing thought and not making things simplistic or too complicated while including all the necessary ingredients that makes 'Criminal Minds' so great (in its prime that is). The story is gripping throughout, loved the unique modus operandi and that the viewer is pulled under the rug with a jolt at the point where they think that the case has been figured out. The murders have tense build-up and enough to make one squirm in their seats, though particularly standing out are the scenes with Gill Bonner, was really touched by the small scene between Gill and JJ, and the completely unexpected twist. The Garcia/Kevin moments have humour and heart.

The acting is as good as can be, all the regular leads are top-notch and love their close knit and tight chemistry together, and Dale Midkiff plays guilt-ridden Gill with a lot of poignancy, the character's guilt really resonating and the closure he gets is movingly done.

In conclusion, a different 'Criminal Minds' episode and it works. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Criminal Minds can be a frustrating series to follow unless you don't mind *huge* variation in episode quality. It's a bit unfair to say Criminal Minds is no The Wire, as they did not have the same restrictions as the makers of this series, but superb episodes like this prove there is no reason why *all* episodes shouldn't be this good.

As is expected for a series designed accessible for new viewers, episodes are usually stand-alone and character-plots - if any - proceed at a snail's pace. For example, Garcia's boyfriend, played by Whedon School of Gifted Ones graduate Nicholas Brendon, was last seen in #4.14, Cold Comfort, first airing almost *three* months before Roadkill. So it is mostly up to the Killer of the Week to deliver the goods.

And boy, does this deliver. The genius of this plot is easy to overlook, as it plays with the expectations of the audience, only to pull the rug from under the viewer just as they think they have it figured out. It's almost as if the writers had looked at the generic Criminal Minds episode plots and decided to lull even the most jaded viewer into false sense of knowing how the plot is going to unfold. Bravo! Only minor niggles pester this behemoth. Discussing them without spoiling anything is difficult but let's just say that when your heart starts pumping like mad (you'd have to be dead not to get excited at the climax), the most critical moment is disappointingly presented - some shoddy editing there. Thankfully, after that comes a moment, where a couple of the first shots are poorly judged, but the scene then rises to sublime heights. 9/10 - more like this, please!