The BAU investigates seemingly random fatal explosions throughout Kentucky and Tennessee.The BAU investigates seemingly random fatal explosions throughout Kentucky and Tennessee.The BAU investigates seemingly random fatal explosions throughout Kentucky and Tennessee.
Photos
Darielle
- Sophia Kirkman
- (as Darielle Dorsey)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThere is no closing quote in this episode.
- GoofsWhen the unsub has his first flash back, he hits the mirror next to him twice, destroying the bottom part, but when the camera moves, the bottom part of the mirror is still intact.
- Quotes
Emily Prentiss: [Opening Quote] Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect. Margaret Mitchell.
- ConnectionsReferences Popeye the Sailor (1960)
- SoundtracksUn bel dì vedremo
(uncredited)
From "Madama Butterfly"
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Lyrics by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
[The aria Matt listens to as he drinks wine and enters his and Kristy's bedroom]
Featured review
"Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect"
"Spectator Slowing" was admittedly another episode where expectations weren't high. Having not been very impressed by the previous two episodes of a generally disappointing Season 15, which was sadly the last season and 'Criminal Minds' did deserve a much better final season than this. Saw it anyway as a 'Criminal Minds' completest and to see how the final season to one of my most watched and re-watched shows (for a while) would fare, only to be mostly disappointed with all but two episodes.
There is no improvement shown in "Spectactor Slowing" compared to the previous two episodes "Under the Skin" and "Awakenings". With those three episodes, the season actually got worse with each episode. It is as bad as the worst episodes of Seasons 9 and 11, which is a category that nobody wants to be in (seeing as the worst of those episodes made the mistake of not feeling like 'Criminal Minds', something that none of the Season 15 episodes did but in terms of blandness and such it is also as bad), and in the lesser end of a season that was not worthy of a show that started off so strongly.
Is it irredeemable? Absolutely not. None of the lesser 'Criminal Minds' episodes are. It is still a well made episode visually, 'Criminal Minds' did style and atmosphere very well throughout its run with some exceptions and "Spectator Slowing" is not immune from that. The music is suitably haunting without over-emphasising.
Performances are all good, lead and supporting. Also felt that JJ's return was handled in good taste.
Unfortunately, "Spectator Slowing's" storytelling is weak. Both the case and the personal lives. The case here is even worse than the previous two episodes of showing that 'Criminal Minds' has now generally run out of ideas, there is next to nothing surprising and the suspense and emotional connection just aren't there either. It takes too long to solve, ridiculously so in my view actually, and the viewer is as at sea as the team, completely clearly out of their depth, clearly were in the episode. The unsub is neither menacing, sympathetic or even interesting, they felt underdeveloped and their motives needed to go into more detail.
For me the catalyst and lead up to the crimes seemed at first understandable but then quickly came over as too extreme and irrational for my tastes. "Spectator Slowing" is dominated too much by the family side story, good to see some development but it wasn't that illuminating and was too at odds with the case. Almost like filler in an episode that was already quite dull. The writing overall tended to be too soapy. Lastly the ending is ridiculous.
All in all, not good sadly. 3/10
There is no improvement shown in "Spectactor Slowing" compared to the previous two episodes "Under the Skin" and "Awakenings". With those three episodes, the season actually got worse with each episode. It is as bad as the worst episodes of Seasons 9 and 11, which is a category that nobody wants to be in (seeing as the worst of those episodes made the mistake of not feeling like 'Criminal Minds', something that none of the Season 15 episodes did but in terms of blandness and such it is also as bad), and in the lesser end of a season that was not worthy of a show that started off so strongly.
Is it irredeemable? Absolutely not. None of the lesser 'Criminal Minds' episodes are. It is still a well made episode visually, 'Criminal Minds' did style and atmosphere very well throughout its run with some exceptions and "Spectator Slowing" is not immune from that. The music is suitably haunting without over-emphasising.
Performances are all good, lead and supporting. Also felt that JJ's return was handled in good taste.
Unfortunately, "Spectator Slowing's" storytelling is weak. Both the case and the personal lives. The case here is even worse than the previous two episodes of showing that 'Criminal Minds' has now generally run out of ideas, there is next to nothing surprising and the suspense and emotional connection just aren't there either. It takes too long to solve, ridiculously so in my view actually, and the viewer is as at sea as the team, completely clearly out of their depth, clearly were in the episode. The unsub is neither menacing, sympathetic or even interesting, they felt underdeveloped and their motives needed to go into more detail.
For me the catalyst and lead up to the crimes seemed at first understandable but then quickly came over as too extreme and irrational for my tastes. "Spectator Slowing" is dominated too much by the family side story, good to see some development but it wasn't that illuminating and was too at odds with the case. Almost like filler in an episode that was already quite dull. The writing overall tended to be too soapy. Lastly the ending is ridiculous.
All in all, not good sadly. 3/10
helpful•84
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 19, 2021
Details
- Runtime41 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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