Season 11 has generally been one of the weakest seasons of 'Criminal Minds', only three or four of the episodes are excellent, with "Entropy" a contender for the best of the season, while the rest range from average to poor.
"The Sandman" is nowhere near the worst of Season 11, in fact it's a middling episode, but it is also nowhere near one of the episodes that show 'Criminal Minds' at its best. For example "The Fox", "Riding the Lightning", "The Big Wheel", "100" and "Mr Scratch" among several others, and there are episodes that hold genuine surprises like "North Mammon" and "The Boogeyman".
When it comes to the story it was mixed, though at least it feels like a 'Criminal Minds' episode, unlike Season 9's "200" (one of the worst of the entire show) or the previous episode "Derek" (which to me wasn't that bad if still disappointing). The pathology is pretty unique, especially as far as Season 11 goes, there is a real disturbing eeriness with some genuinely shocking murders, while not going overboard with the brutality like an episode like "Awake" did, and the unsub is perhaps the most eerie and sadistic one of Season 11.
However, there are a few dull stretches, parts that could have been better explained, there is a general lack of creativity the aftermath with Morgan feels glossed over and both rushed and drawn out. The "shock" ending even for a cliff-hanger is abrupt and also jars, and once the promo is shown it's not a shock anymore to the audience.
Joe Mantegna's direction is solid in most parts, but lacks creativity and feels uninspired in other places, he's no Matthew Gray Gubler whose episodes are much creepier and much more emotionally affecting and complex. And sorry but Lewis still is not doing much for me, she doesn't feel as out of place or shoe-horned in as Kate, but she is a dull character and doesn't fit in, Aisha Tyler's acting doesn't make me feel any better.
On the other hand, "The Sandman" has typically high production values if occasionally going overboard with the darkness. Just a word of caution, see this episode on TV, not on Youtube which has Season 11's episodes sped up and is so dark it's hard to see, am aware it's for copyright issues but still. The music is haunting and atmospheric, even if the melancholia is occasionally over the top. The dialogue is thought-provoking and well-balanced, if lacking the delightful little character moments that make even episodes that are just decent or good enjoyable.
The acting is still very good from almost everybody apart from Tyler.
All in all, a middling episode. Much worse has come out of Season 11, but "The Sandman" has some lacking areas that stop it from being up there with the very good or brilliant episodes. 6/10 Bethany Cox
"The Sandman" is nowhere near the worst of Season 11, in fact it's a middling episode, but it is also nowhere near one of the episodes that show 'Criminal Minds' at its best. For example "The Fox", "Riding the Lightning", "The Big Wheel", "100" and "Mr Scratch" among several others, and there are episodes that hold genuine surprises like "North Mammon" and "The Boogeyman".
When it comes to the story it was mixed, though at least it feels like a 'Criminal Minds' episode, unlike Season 9's "200" (one of the worst of the entire show) or the previous episode "Derek" (which to me wasn't that bad if still disappointing). The pathology is pretty unique, especially as far as Season 11 goes, there is a real disturbing eeriness with some genuinely shocking murders, while not going overboard with the brutality like an episode like "Awake" did, and the unsub is perhaps the most eerie and sadistic one of Season 11.
However, there are a few dull stretches, parts that could have been better explained, there is a general lack of creativity the aftermath with Morgan feels glossed over and both rushed and drawn out. The "shock" ending even for a cliff-hanger is abrupt and also jars, and once the promo is shown it's not a shock anymore to the audience.
Joe Mantegna's direction is solid in most parts, but lacks creativity and feels uninspired in other places, he's no Matthew Gray Gubler whose episodes are much creepier and much more emotionally affecting and complex. And sorry but Lewis still is not doing much for me, she doesn't feel as out of place or shoe-horned in as Kate, but she is a dull character and doesn't fit in, Aisha Tyler's acting doesn't make me feel any better.
On the other hand, "The Sandman" has typically high production values if occasionally going overboard with the darkness. Just a word of caution, see this episode on TV, not on Youtube which has Season 11's episodes sped up and is so dark it's hard to see, am aware it's for copyright issues but still. The music is haunting and atmospheric, even if the melancholia is occasionally over the top. The dialogue is thought-provoking and well-balanced, if lacking the delightful little character moments that make even episodes that are just decent or good enjoyable.
The acting is still very good from almost everybody apart from Tyler.
All in all, a middling episode. Much worse has come out of Season 11, but "The Sandman" has some lacking areas that stop it from being up there with the very good or brilliant episodes. 6/10 Bethany Cox
