SSAHotchner

It really ticks me off that people here are better writers, or at least put more thought into the plots, than those who are being paid to write Criminal Minds. And when viewers call the writers out on these obvious flaws, the writers get all pissy on social media instead of doing a better job the next time they write an episode.

I have thought all along that Mr. Scratch should have been dealt with the first season he made an appearance. They blew it then, and every attempt they've made to reintroduce the character since has been a fail for me. But I did like that they finally gave Reid something significant to do.

I haven't been watching this season, but I watched this one because I love Reid. I thought he did a wonderful job. As for the CMBB crossover, their part was so limited that it didn't bother me. Not sure how necessary they were, but at least they didn't take over the case or take focus away from the (giant now) team. I'm not sure where they're going with this and I'm certain, as usual, there are plenty of plot holes as some of you have pointed out. But MGG made it worth tuning in.

I have long suspected that Erica is incredibly dense.

Oh, Franky, I'm so sorry about your mom. It is harder to watch them suffer than to lose them, but the loss and despair are still great. Bless you.

My dislike of Garcia has nothing to do with her size and everything to do with how infantile she's become over the past 5 or so years. Also her own arrogance. At one time she was one of my favorites.

That was my take. No way could she have survived being oxygen deprived for that long and was probably on life support. So very sad. I have always loved Debbie Reynolds. She's had so much crap in her life, granted much of it due to poor relationship choices she made, but to lose a child, even a grown one, is the worst thing to go through. I'm sorry for Carrie's daughter. I hope she is a strong woman. Carrie had her problems. She may not ever have gotten awards for her acting. She struggled with lots of demons but she was so honest and genuine. I've always loved her. I have some of her books. I wish her peace now and I pray that her daughter does not develop any dependence on substances and that she has a strong support system to help her in the days ahead.

I know! That's the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw the banana outfit. After all the distasteful comments Nina has made about other unfortunate placements on outfits, she should have been the one to call that.

I liked some of his looks but I think that Saran Wrap fabric looks very cheap. It reminds me of cheap vinyl raincoats. Also what was with the orange shoes on every model? They really looked awful with some of those blue and purple fabrics.

We had a horrible year in 2015. Knee surgery for both my husband and me and then we lost both his parents within 6 weeks of each other. So we thought 2016 could not possibly be as bad but there were some difficult things for the family and we lost our sweet kitty, Callie the Serial Killer Cat . But like I did for so many years with Criminal Minds, I find myself saying, "next year has got to be better." I think we have to remain as optimistic as we possibly can just for our own spirits and will to go on. Right now I'm awfully grateful I live in the south and am not experiencing the kind of cold and ice and snow our two kids who are still northerners are experiencing. I'm grateful for my job which is only part time. While I'd love to have more money, the time off at my age feels pretty good. I'm paid well enough for the hours that I do work. I have enough to get by. I just hope my husband and I can retire while we're still able to get around and enjoy ourselves. Even if it's only a year or two, and then we die, that would be okay. I know that sounds morbid, but he has worked his butt off for our entire marriage. Even when he taught, he'd take grad courses during his breaks and take on all the freelance writing he could handle. I'd like for him to have a chance to relax and do what he'd like to do. The only way I can get that man to relax is to get him on a cruise ship. Anyway, I hope that we get through the next year with some idea of what direction our future will take. And I hope all of you will have a wonderful new year. I wish you good health, safe travels, good health for your pets, great job opportunities and the love of friends and family.

Thanks, Franky.

I can understand them not wanting to mention Hotch because of the difficult situation they're all in. I can even understand them wanting to do everything they can to promote a sense of well-being among the team for the viewers' sake. I just needed to say that it bothered me because I really miss Hotch and I hate how the whole situation was handled so that nobody really got a sense of closure. None of us can do anything about what has happened, but using that quote from Marilyn Monroe to suggest that things are even better without Hotch just really pissed me off. I don't begrudge any of the new actors on the show their roles. I'm not pissed that they made Prentiss the unit chief. I understand why TG was fired. I just don't want them to suggest that the team is better off without Hotch. It didn't need to be said. That's all.

I'm sure they "borrowed" that idea from Witness, not that we don't see stuff from films and TV shows repeated or embellished in other films or TV shows. But anyone who's seen Witness will never forget that silo scene which was done so well in the film but was entirely predictable and lack lustre in this episode. I did cave and watch this one because I wanted to see the scenes with Reid after hearing great comments about them from folks here and other forums. The thing that bothered me most about the episode was the quote at the end. "Some things fall apart so that better things can fall together." My irritation has nothing to do with any of the newer cast members. It just felt to me that the writers were trying to manipulate us once again. It felt like they were trying to say it will be fine, even better, without Hotch. While I didn't mind when they did this sort of thing when Mandy left, it really ticks me off here. I don't want to get into the whole "was firing TG justifiable" argument here. But since they hardly devoted any time to Hotch's departure I resent them doing the "we're all a big happy family and everything is going to be great even without Hotch" scenes. I know it's just my take on the scene, but I just wanted to put that out there.

I knew! I have always liked Anderson.

Well having Joe direct it is the kiss of death for the episode if you ask me.

I don't really like this episode, either, and I think it's just because I hate seeing kids hurt or killed. The killer kid being so cold and not even caring that his brother is dead is so chilling. To me it's worse than the killer kid in The Boogeyman. Maybe it's because I could tell that kid was acting, but the kid in A Shade of Gray just exuded coldness.

I agree. I think they probably tried to cram too much into one episode with announcing his leaving, Prentiss being made Unit Chief and then dealing with the case itself. I would have liked to have seen more sadness (yeah, I caved and watched this one to see what they did with Hotch), but they may have felt that would have diminished the team's happiness at having Prentiss back full time.

Haven't seen that interview, but if it's true, it makes me lose some respect for Paget. Now, I know she can't come out and say the writing sucks, but to gush about it? No. Better to not say anything. I agree. And that scene at the end of Mosley Lane makes me cry no matter how many times I have seen it.

I think they should have saved the announcement about the client also getting $25K until they announced the winner. The thought of missing out on that prize added to the close relationship the clients had with their designers made it tough for them to be really honest about how they felt about their looks. Had they waited it would have been a nice surprise rather than having the ones who knew they were in the bottom have to face losing that big cash prize while being judged. Anyway, I'm okay with the winner. I wish they'd get rid of Erin because she does make the same coat over and over and she's arrogant and bitchy, too. But I'm glad they gave the designers 2 days and for most of them you could see the difference in the quality of what they were able to put together. I'm glad Laurance was only safe because her client was so much younger and in better shape than the rest. It was kind of an unfair advantage.

I found Michelle to be so annoying and arrogant. I was hoping she wouldn't win. As for Damiano, anyone who has competed as much as he has should understand how the contestants are feeling and should give constructive criticism rather than say things like "it's terrible!" He needs to go.

Oh, I hear you. Believe me, I almost had a stroke yelling at the TV the whole time Seaver was on the screen in season 6. But the other females weren't bad. I actually liked Blake and was sad to see her go. I could not believe the vitriol spewed over JLH. She didn't deserve that. I didn't mind her character, just the focus they put on the niece who I found so annoying. Lewis is okay, but I just didn't warm up to her and I blame the writers and the person who came up with the awful wig she sported for the first half of last season for a lot of my ambivalence toward the character. But really, I just don't see the need to keep bringing characters in unless other regulars are going to be leaving. Frankly, I don't see the show lasting after this season, but then I'm always astounded by the folks on FB saying, "it was awesome!" when I think the episode was crap.

I wondered if them bringing in several new cast members this season is, as someone else had speculated, to have them there ready and in place when others leave, and also by having more than one newbie at a time, it could kind of spread out the hate that some viewers seem to spew every time there is a new character. I always liked to give a newcomer the benefit of the doubt, but some folks seem determined to rip them to shreds.

Yeah. Joe seems like a great guy, but as a director....NO.

No, I think those are weird gifts too, especially for millionaires.

He's a cute doggie.