User Reviews

It is such a rarity to get a good episode featuring the relationships of the characters and this one was fantastic. Loved seeing Prentiss back and the plot was a solid too.

As a fan of 'Criminal Minds' and as someone, like most fans, who considers Prentiss one of the best characters on the show, this reviewer was so looking forward to seeing her return.

The good news is that Prentiss doesn't disappoint. In fact a couple of "Tribute's" best moments involve her. The not-so-good news is that generally she deserved a much better episode and case than this. There's worse in the show than "Tribute", and it's not even close to being one of the worst of Season 11 (for instance it doesn't fall completely flat like something like "Awake" does), but it is an example of promising more than it delivers.

One of 'Criminal Minds' best assets have always involved the dynamic within the team and the little character moments. The team's dynamic and chemistry is still great, the absence of Morgan is quite well-handled and it is clear that it has affected the team if perhaps a bit mournful, almost like he had died rather than left at his own accord. As ever as well, there are some standout character moments, especially the adorable end scene with the team, Prentiss' brilliant impersonation of Morgan and Prentiss' truly disturbing dream.

Production values are typically high, there's some haunting and suitably melancholic scoring only used when needed and some solid direction. There are some thoughtful moments in the script, and the acting from the leads is very good as usual, Paget Brewster being the standout.

With one exception however (leads-wise), and that is Aisha Tyler as Lewis. You know there is something wrong when the season has almost finished and you still haven't warmed to the character, Lewis just doesn't fit in or gel with the group and Tyler's acting is dull, cold and limited with all her lines delivered in an uninterested way. The case itself did benefit from some quite disturbing murders with some notable references to real-life murderers and intelligent but underused use of profiling, but not from doing little new with an over-familiar concept (copycat killing), erratic pacing, general lack of tension and suspense and for me a bland and less than menacing unsub which wastes the potential shown with the murders.

Standing out also is the climactic school dorm scene, which is really badly written and unintentionally comical.

Overall, disappointing but has its moments. It's just that with the promise it had it just didn't deliver as much as it should have done considering. 5/10 Bethany Cox