JMO

I know there are some readers among us, so I'm sharing on an author who was recommended to me. I may be late to the dance on this one, as she's already won a Pulitzer and, last year, the National Book Award, but since she'd escaped my notice, maybe she's escaped yours as well. Marilynne Robinson wrote her first book in 1980, and her second 24 years later. It may have taken her almost a quarter of a century to grow her writing, but it was well worth it. I ended up reading the recent three in a mixed-up order, but it worked pretty well: Lila, followed by Gilead, followed by Home. I only wish I hadn't been reading them on a plane, because the people around me didn't understand my tears.

I kept flashing on this dream I used to have, which is apparently a common one. It's the end of the semester, there's a class I've completely forgotten to attend, and there's a term paper due, right now. This episode was so derivative of others in CM's history that it seemed precisely like that term paper produced with absolutely no notice. We've had the psychotic unsub talking to his delusions at least three times, vigilante themes (including psychotic ones) multiple times, and minor themes like the hooker hitting on a hapless Reid, JJ bonding over motherhood, etc. etc. It didn't feel like an original episode at all. Certainly not one of the writer's best efforts. I'm assuming we were supposed to notice that the hallucinations weren't visible in the unsub's full length oval mirror. I did appreciate that attention to detail, but I only noticed it because I thought it was bizarre that there was a mirror placed where it was. Clunky. I started shouting at my television when they realized their unsub was a young man who'd inherited schizophrenia from his mother and Reid didn't even blink. Shouted again when the genius had to be told to look under the dead bouquet lying all by itself out there on the lawn, instead of digging up the garden. I thought it strange that JJ and Morgan would be running together on a Saturday. Apparently JJ finds Will as unpalatable as I do. The JJ pregnancy issue is a nonstarter for me. So what if she knows in a contiguous episode? As with all pregnancies, there's that moment before the test, and that moment after. That moment before the first 'ooh, I wonder', and the moment after. Maybe we're just seeing her in her moments before. Next week we'll see the moments after. The Reid-meter: This is one of those episodes where he has some presence, but is done a disservice by the writing. So it's worth a fast-forward, because he is quite delicious, especially in his dark shirt. But keep the volume on 'mute'.

It was never my intention to spoil anyone's fun, so I'm sorry if my posts made anyone feel like you shouldn't express yourselves any way, or anywhere, you like. I do think things get pretty circular here, and I was responding to that. I don't know that a vent/rant thread is necessary, but it will be an interesting experiment. Primarily the board should be for enjoyment, and I'm sure we all have enough real life burdens to bear. This shouldn't be one of them. So, enjoy, have fun, rant, vent, praise, criticize-----it's all good.

Yes, as noted in my post, I was exaggerating (I hope) about the sentiments never to see JJ again. As to The Forever People and 200 being contradictory---this is my point, however poorly articulated: (the awful) 200 was a terrible episode--poorly conceived and inadvertently, through the use of flashbacks, opening a whole new can of worms. Since JJ had shown no signs of upset, let alone PTSD, for the prior few years, it was a mistake to retrospectively give her a trauma history. The show (which term I use to include any and all responsible at CM) was rightly criticized for it, and for the lack of depiction of fallout for JJ within and immediately following the episode. Since the trauma was historical, they couldn't very well go back and alter prior episodes to depict its fallout. But the mistake was giving her the history in the first place, not the lack of portrayal of PTSD leading up to it. So, yes, they made a mistake, one that they couldn't retrospectively rectify, and that was heavily, and fairly, criticized. However, if, acknowledging said criticism, the show decided to respond by creating an episode in which JJ's PTSD was finally portrayed, it seems nonproductive to then turn around and criticize them, again, for doing so. It's fair game to criticize how well they did it. But we've all seen posts criticizing the fact that they tried, largely because it meant another episode with focus on JJ. In that kind of circumstance, the show is damned if they do, and damned if they don't. It should surprise no one if they respond to that by clicking the 'off button' about fan response. Hey, everybody is entitled to gripe as much as they want about whatever they want. To each, his or her own blood pressure. But griping is easily ignored. Reasoned argument is not. Griping is why I eat lunch in my office.

I sympathize, Old Dog. Although I've long since gotten my venting about (the awful) 200 out of my system, that doesn't mean it won't always remain a terrible episode, and that I won't always hold that opinion. I just don't find it useful in arguments about current things, as in (and please tell me I'm exaggerating here), "JJ had the whole episode of '200', so she should never be seen again!", especially when they've made some positive changes for the character. It happened. It was terrible. We told them so. We move on.

I completely agree with Saje on this. Part of the problem, I think, is that the forums are used by fans for dual purposes: venting, which is a perfectly legitimate use, and communicating back to those who create the show each week. It's important to remember that 'venting posts' and 'communicating posts' are two very different things. If you are simply venting about something, don't expect your post to be taken seriously by someone from the show. If you really want them to listen to you, communicate it differently. Two points to make: Firstly, and not to rain on anyone's parade (including my own), but the 'active fandom'----that is, those who are regular posters on the large CM boards, probably number under 150. And, given that many people post on multiple boards, that number is probably closer to 100. Out of 10 million viewers. Which is one thousandth of one percent. So, no matter how strongly 'the boards' feel, they may or may not represent the other 9,999,900 viewers. Unless those viewers speak up (and maybe they have, on Facebook), we'll never know. Secondly, and because of the above, if one wants to be heard, one needs to have a reasoned argument. Accusations of duplicity are not reasoned arguments unless one has actual, factual information. Hence, if anyone from the show were to actually read the boards, those would be the first posts they would dismiss. Similarly, once a positive change has been made, it is necessary to move on, and not keep going back to past grievances. Yes, I'm talking about JJ. You can encourage more change in that positive direction, but if you continue to be angry about something that is in the past---those posts will get dismissed as unreasonable as well, as in 'you just can't make some people happy, so why try?'

The thing I find most interesting about these word counts is that, except for some of the very obviously Reid-centric episodes, they don't really tell us anything about his prominence in the episode. It doesn't even hold for Reid-centric episodes----look at Revelations. And you can bet the count will be low for Nelson's Sparrow as well. It speaks to how well MGG conveys body language, and to how well-directed some of those episodes were, that he could have real presence without needing reams of dialogue.

Jumping in here. No one will ever be able to prove causality between media violence and aggressive behavior, because no human lives in a vacuum. But the associations, or correlations, are there. The original studies are over two decades old by now, from a time when the depiction of violence in media (and the sheer number of forms of media in which it could be depicted) was far more scarce than it is now. It's actually become harder to study, because depictions of violence are so pervasive to nearly every aspect of life. But I don't think it's simply coincidence that aggression has become such a characteristic of our society. We do know that exposure to violence, one of the characteristics of toxic stress, literally changes one's DNA. Literally. And not for the better---it's associated with a host of illnesses. So, while we may not be breeding a nation of psychopaths, we may well be breeding a nation where life expectancies are headed in the wrong direction (oh, wait, that's already happening). What we don't know, yet, is whether exposure to media violence can do the same. Don't know that we'll ever be able to tease that out. And, yes, I realize the irony of knowing that and still being a fan of a show about people who study serial killers. Maybe that's why the rest of my TV watching is 'heartwarming family fare'. Which i can only find in syndication.

For me, Saje, the issue with how they handled Diana was that it was done completely off screen. Who she was contributed so strongly to who he became that it deserved far more respect and exploration than it got. For all of the discontent with how some story lines (JJ) have been developed, in my book it's the missed opportunities that are the most disappointing. The recent seasons have been rife with them. Which has led to some wide open opportunities for fanfiction, but, truly, I'd rather have seen a faithful, well- written account on my television screen.

Despite a couple of bookends designed to help us get to know something about her character, I feel like I've barely met Kate, and I'm sorry about that. From what little I've seen of her, I've thought she might be interesting to get to know. The plotline about the niece has been hovering in the background all season, but it hasn't taken up much screen time at all, to date. Of course, we know that will change. But, up until now, since it hasn't really been front-and-center, I've had a hard time understanding why it's been the topic of so much discussion.

Like nearly everyone else, I thought it was a great episode. Here's why: The story---In contrast to some episodes which, to me, only seem complex, because they dart this way and that, this plotline was layered. We had the murderous victims who victimized their own loved ones, and will pay a life-long psychic price for having done so. Then we had their victimization at the hands of Peter Lewis, turning them into murderers. We had the victimization of all of them by the psychiatrist who elicited their false reports---and may even have been well-intended at the time. And we have the original victimization by Lewis' father, who scared the kids in his home with Mr. Scratch. (I took that part to be true, because there had to be a reason the kids were talking to the psychiatrist in the first place.) Wow. It forced me to pay attention--the intricacies of the plot kept my brain engaged, the performances of the guest cast were, across the board, excellent and sometimes riveting. There was never a lull in the action, so I never looked away. Been a very long time since that's happened with CM. MGG's direction---I love the way he lights faces, and I love the way he transitions from scene to scene. And I love that he knows when and how a scene needs to end abruptly. I know there are some critics who feel differently, but I love a good, dramatic gesture in film. For me, it's part of what makes it art. MGG draws excellent performances from his actors. He's said it's all in the casting, but I think he's probably downplaying his role. Oh, and his 'running around in the dark' scenes, contained light, so I was able to see what was happening. TG's performance---So, the entire regular cast was good. But TG was outstanding, especially in those final 10 minutes. We've seen him that intense before, but never that unstable. There was a vulnerability, and yet a fierce will to win, each competing for prominence. The hauntedness of his eyes in the final scene----I've always felt that MGG held the market on acting with his eyes, but TG was right up there in that scene. This is silly, but----I thought JM and SM 'died' very convincingly. SM particularly frightened me with that second strangled gurgle. All around, good storytelling, good acting, good directing---great episode. A little like watching the X Files, but making more sense. (And, PS, the parking garage meeting spot was in X Files, but it originated with 'Deep Throat', in Watergate.) Still, some questions remain for me. I understand how Peter Lewis used Mr. Scratch to scare the others, because he shared the same experience. I understand less how he knew what to do with Hotch. So, for the scene where Reid/Rossi/Morgan get shot: Were we supposed to think that Hotch told that story to Peter Lewis, when he confessed his greatest fear? (and why wasn't his greatest fear losing Jack?) Or were we to think that he hallucinated it and Peter Lewis somehow gleaned it and used it? If so, how? Or were we to think that he was still together enough to make up that story, so Lewis would try to use the team in his command to Hotch, and with Hotch planning all along to turn the gun on Lewis? I'm curious to read what you all think.

Well, I don't usually get involved in these things. But I feel like my intelligence has been insulted. And I never take kindly to that. I know it's all shades of gray, so I don't blame EM alone for the times when the show is inconsistent or downright disappointing. There's no reason a writer can't choose to write better, or remain in canon, or research history/character traits/ pertinent facts---in spite of her, if not because of her. And maybe she's just acting as the mouthpiece for a situation she can't change---who knows? BUT... one can't simultaneously admit to purposely straying from the reality at the heart of the premise of the show (male on female serial killers) and then defend the scripts by telling us that a former real life profiler vets each one. Because his 'vetting' apparently doesn't return the script to a more reality-based premise. If Jim Clemente is okaying scripts that are purposed as affirmative action programs for female serial killers, his 'vetting' counts for nothing. Which, of course, throws into question his defense of episodes like (the awful) 200.

Glad to hear it went well, SSAH. So, here's what you know now: You can do anything!! Who cares if it's on your butt? You'll find a way, and you'll get it done. Physical therapists are among my favorite people in the world. Good luck with yours!

Best wishes on a good surgery, SSAH.

It only bugged me because I haven't forgiven her for not letting him have a cookie after he got shot in the knee.

Yes, I agree with Ganya that we need to give credit where credit is due. When it looks like the showrunner and/or writer has been responsive to feedback, we should be encouraging. I do think we saw some of that. The thing this week was that, if not for the story of Hotch's father-in-law, I don't know that I would have liked the episode. I would still have enjoyed Reid, and the integration of the rest of the team (although the improvements in those areas made the unfortunate immaturity of Garcia more noticeable), but the main storyline wasn't cohesive enough for me. So, some thumbs up, some thumbs down, but overall a keeper for me.

For me, the most outstanding thing about the episode was Ed Asner's work. And, given that we got a decent amount of Reid, and some good Reid-deducing, that's high praise. I thought he (Ed Asner) pretty exquisitely portrayed a whole kaleidoscope of emotion---terror and helplessness at becoming aware of his condition, fear of what the future might bring, joy in being with his remaining daughter and grandson, anger at the man he blames for having lost his other daughter, frustration and fury at realizing he's now dependent on that man. And TG----this was one of those situations where his expertise at playing Hotch with such emotional restraint was truly powerful. I thought he did a tremendous job as well. I've always liked the character of Jessica, but never more so than in this episode. And I thought Jack was actually well played. I'm assuming Jessica does her software job from home. How else is she so available to Jack---and how else would bringing her father to live with her actually be helpful? As to the rest: Passed the Reid-meter, obviously, and he made important contributions to the case. But.....I don't understand why the BAU was called in, in the first place. They did a lot of 'detecting' (the job of the police), but I don't remember any profiling. And, while it was a little...different....to have the unsub give a blow-by-blow on how he'd killed, I still didn't quite get why he'd killed. It wasn't quite the look into the 'Criminal Mind' that it might have been. Very concentrated dysfunction in the family at the center of the case: homophobia, adultery, blackmail and then potential incest, all gathered around the dinner table. In the end, for me, this was the odd situation of finding the 'B' story, the personal one, far more compelling than the case. But the 'B' story was good enough that I didn't mind at all. And the promo! Looking forward to that one, first time in a long time.

I don't know that JJ has ever been portrayed as someone particularly in touch with her feelings. As to whether we were supposed to glean her PTSD symptoms as being of sudden onset, or just something that had built to critical mass, I don't know. But apparently her symptoms had become overt enough that Reid felt a need to push her on them. Of course, I like to thing he was scrutinizing her, and maybe giving her gentle nudges, right along. But that's a product of my imagination, and not something I saw on screen.

I agree with Russet that the "stop being you" line in The Forever People was about Reid being able to read her so well, and was made more out of JJ's discomfort about being found out than it was anything else. I didn't hear it as an insult so much as I heard it as a plea. I didn't think that entire exchange was written well. But I thought the line was delivered in context. Anyway, apart from that, I thought your post was spot on, Ganya. There's a distinct immaturity to some of the writing, and it never serves to paint our characters in a good light. I find it hard to tease out, sometimes, if they (the writers) are reflecting their own status, or attempting to write to an emotionally immature (not just chronologically--they don't always go together) demographic. I just know I find it insulting to the characters and to me, the viewer.

Thanks for the heads up, CoStar. Sorry that happened to you. What gall! I looked at the site----to me, it gives off the vibe of being one big virus waiting to happen. You have to register to find out if your country is one that can use it?! I'm only on FFN, so, for now, I guess my stories are safe. How did you even find out about it?

Yep, that's sibling fighting. Opening volley, inflammatory retort. They just needed to be sent to their rooms.

Or you could look at it as Reid finally having the confidence to challenge the beautiful girl, building on the information from Elephant's Memory. In that respect, I think his friendship with JJ helped him develop that confidence. The optimist in me wants to think that he trusted her not to hurt him, so he felt safe speaking out. Or maybe he was testing her, who knows. I think her response was a defensive one. They both owed each other an apology after that exchange.

I agree that JJ's comment about 'even guys like you' was unkind. But Reid started that one. In that episode, they were fighting like siblings. One JJ line I didn't like was the one she made to Morgan when they were in a clothing store: "It's very 'Spencer Reid'." It was all in the delivery. It could have been said with affection, but it wasn't.

Actually, Blake was right up there with her 'Asperger's' comment. Whether or not you come down on the side of him having it or not, it wasn't necessary for her to say. But at least she had the grace to apologize (as she well should have!)

Yay--the crocuses are up and blooming! Daffodils are being timid, but the tulips and hyacinths have decided winter is over. Of course, with everything being buried for so long, I'd forgotten that most of the bushes had gotten chopped to within an inch of their lives last fall. They were way overgrown, so it was the only thing to do. But, alas, that will make it a spring largely without flowers, waiting on a better one next year. But I may have to steal some of my neighbor's lilacs. I don't think I can live through a spring without lilacs.