Willowy

Not sure if I'll continue this one. I've already written the 2nd chapter but it needs something. I may decide Day Nine works better as a one-shot. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12698071/1/Day-Nine

Noooooo

Shelley DuVall wasn't scary at all in The Shining! :D

Just finished the first season of the new Netflix show Mindhunter. I can confidently say that a LOT of folks here will like it, possibly love it. It's a David Fincher- directed look at the origins of the actual BAU, base on the book. The lead character, Holden Ford, has quite a few "Spencer Reid" nuances about him, and the FBI boss reminded me quite a bit of Hotch. Holden's partner Tench is excellent, as are the actors cast as the serial killers. Anyway, CM comparisons aside, you should check it out if you get a chance!

Huge Criminal Minds fan here, so of course I'm going to be watching this. I liked it, though I thought some of the episodes were far better than others. Agree with mostly everyone about both the girlfriend, and Tench. One so awful, the other so amazing. Also agree that the girlfriend didn't seem to like Holden at all, so why bother with him? Freako Kemper (also amazing) sending Holden love letters, ew. I liked Wendy. I thought she was a strong character secure in both who she was and what she wants to do in life. I was nervous for her with the cat food. I thought she was going to get killed, leaving the window open and going back down there every night, but they didn't go there. Got a strong "Spencer Reid" vibe from Holden, which was tres appealing. Also got a "Hotch" vibe from the boss. He didn't come off as a bad guy to me, just a genuine "by the book" Fed who wanted to be kept in the loop. Reminded me of Skinner from The X-Files, too. I hope Tench gets an Emmy nom, Even if he doesn't get the statue, his work here deserves recognition.

Agree with Mysteyman, also how do we know that reduced Reid time isn't at Matthew's request or that he's absolutely fine with it?

I think that they are thinking about the fans. I think that they think about the fans a lot more than I previously understood. I too would like to see more Reid stuff during his absence. But it was really expensive. They had to set up an entire additional unit on days people were available, which was difficult to coordinate. Matthew even came in on a couple of his days off. Expensive. They had different directors, crew, and cast for his scenes. Everyone who worked both units got paid double. Expensive. As much as I love Reid and want to see him in every moment of every episode of every season... Matthew wants to be off. I can understand how it's not financially feasible for the show to do such an elaborate workaround every season. But they tried it, for us fans.

She ("Emily Rose") annoyed me on twitter, saying she "wasn't sure" if her CM episode was on tonight. Seriously, who "doesn't know" if their episode is on. Right, lady. You're too cool, I guess.

Also yes I know Reidfan, you don't ever want any team members together, especially my fave couple. ;P

I'm a huge Jencer shipper as several of you know, and I would love to see Will be off the page and Spencer be there for JJ, her realizing he has been all along and vice versa. I also am clearly aware that this will never happen. It's the only team romance I've ever conjured or wanted, and I would probably die of sheer heart-bursting happiness if it was ever canon. It won't be. I've always thought, though never really "shipped", that Morcia could be endgame. I can just so easily see them growing old together and loving each other through it all. I don't advocate for it or root for it especially, but I could see it and it would be the most natural thing in the world if it ever happened. In the real world, co-workers get together. I don't see it as being so FAR REMOVED from reality that it could never happen, and in fact I think it's kind of weird that it never has, with our team. But I respect the stance they've taken on it, and it looks like it's here to stay, so there's that.

I liked that Em didn't have to go it alone after all that, but I hope they don't veer into "EmiLuke". That just doesn't sit right with me. I do like that they are showing the rapport, and not every scene with a male and female alone leads to shipping... but I just wanted to put out my firm NO vote before this goes any further, which it will, especially on tumblr. Em and Fiona are a couple in my writing (at least until she finds out F was complicit in keeping Reid out of protective custody), and I don't want canon messing with that. How dare they. It's only THEIR show. ;) There was much good tonight, a truly enjoyable episode. The profiling was kickass, and once they determined the angle of the (drone) shooter, it was over. LOVE YOU, REID!

Early promo for Lucky Strikes:

Thanks for your comments, @Annber03! Do you mind if I repost them on the comments section of the interview? I'd like to be sure Erica sees them, too.

Thank you, CrimeFan. For what it's worth, the love-fest runs in both directions. In the years I've been doing this, there's been nobody who has even hinted at a discord with her. There is one ex-writer who has issues with her, but still likes her, even though they may resent some decisions. There's no fear, either. It's not like "Oh, big showrunner, gotta suck up". Everything is so laid back. She's created a working environment where people feel valued, and cared for. To hear them tell it, CM is the envy of network-produced drama. It's easy to scapegoat the person in charge when we don't like something. Sometimes there's another side that can be considered. :)

If we had a Bullpen still, I'd put this there, but this should suffice. My interview with Erica, featuring some of you! https://criminalmindsfans.com/exclusive-interview-showrunner-erica-messer-talks-past-present-future/

Erica's been working on the show for now 13 seasons. Odds are she grasps the concept just fine.

Actually, Hotchgirl, Erica didn't want Stephen to die, at all. It was a network decision.

Yes, that's what I saw too, Annber, that it was a network decision. Damon's heartfelt letter indicated similar.

That's right. That's actually the one they were shooting when I visited (but Jaime had finished the day before I got there, so didn't get to see him, and I didn't even know Shemar had been there, lol) *phew*. I'm still not straight about which ep Shemar will be in, though, as Lucky Strikes is NOW 13x06, not 13x05 as the article states.

Oh no... are they filming this now? Matthew isn't there, and won't be for 3 more weeks! If they ARE shooting Shemar's scenes now, that means no Reid/Morgan time. >:(

Poor Stephen... I still have mixed feelings about that one. While I was never attached to him at all, when he was let go I still felt really badly for him.

Oh I agree that the team is too large, but whether you agree on the "insurance" aspect of it or not, that is one reason the show is doing it, according to the people who work there.

I don't think Reid is there yet. He's surely rumpled and disheveled (not the dapper darling he usually is), but he did show his brain is back on-point, at least. I teared up when he started going off, just like normal. And loved it when Matt said "Or... just what Dr. Reid said." I wonder if episode after next, he'll be a bit more smoothed-out. Also, @MMC, I don't see scheduling purposes as an excuse. It's actually a reason. The show doesn't want to be put into the same situation like they were when they abruptly had to fire an actor. Big, gaping hole, then scramble to fill it. More actors, more insurance.

I've been over it a few times in my brain, but still don't know why this episode was titled Blue Angel. Shouldn't if have been Blue Siren? Did I miss something?

I loved it, so did Willow. She's the one who brought up "It's like old Criminal Minds, mom." and I loved that. Tristan hated that the guy was able to remove the knife from his own back, as she had sunk it in really deep and way lower, but he liked the twists the story took. I think Chris Barbour may be a very nice addition to the writer's room, and this is the second episode Sharat Raju has directed, his first being "Keeper", last season. I wonder if he's a CM fan? It seemed like it, to me.