CM5: Hopeless, Cradle and The Eyes
Mar. 5th, 2011 05:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sawylAfternoon of cycling after I finally switched to a new inner — something that took way longer than expected, thanks to skinny wheels and natural clumsiness — but I still found time to fit in some Criminal Minds.
Hopeless is brought to you by the spirit of A Clockwork Orange what with a bunch of home invaders who, while not quite as disturbing as guys in Children of the Dark, more than make up for their lack of creep with the old ultraviolence. There are some nice character moments and the guy playing the lead UNSUB gives a good impression of someone with a hair trigger temper who might boil over into violence at any moment. Plus, it featured a great resolution. Hotch and Em and Rossi know that they're riding towards a Butch and Sundance, but they choose to opt out — evil may flourish, but not by my hand — but Morgan, in keeping his recent slightly dodgy ethical decisions, stays. Which is why, when the team get back to the BAU, he doesn't get to join the grown ups for their after drink in Hotch's office.
Nice, tricky opening to Cradle to Grave: I thought there was something off about the birth, but I guessed that it was taking place in a prison until the reveal a minute or two later. It's good to see Erin Strauss is still around and as malevolent as ever — the disapproving look she gives JJ on her way out is great — with her visit apparently catalysing Hotch to drill Morgan like a total martinet. For the slow of uptake, Morgan name-checks Fritzl during the case discussion. I think we know where this is headed. The ME is cool, delivering his exposition with such aplomb and providing enough info for me to realise the Awful Troof — three years of undergrad chem FTW! The abductees are cool. The UNSUB has made the same mistake as the housecleaner back in Legacy, abducting women he thinks will be complient only for them to show serious autonomy when forced to fight for the survival of others — Maggie and Julie and Carol are definitely related in spirit. Monica Winmar's parents are also great: the way their instinctive desire for Monica's daughter morphs into something more nuanced means that they totally deserve their eventual win. And now we finally know why Hotch has been pushing Morgan.
Is the UNSUB in The Eyes Have It making an acetone slush bath to cool his gear or is he just sterilising his mellon baller? I suppose I should be grateful it isn't a spork. Nice misdirect in the carpark. Strauss again, this time giving Morgan the favour of her shark-like attitude: "I'll be checking in. I expect to be briefed." Man, she's scary. "Oooh, he's an enucleator!" I was happier before I knew their was a specific term for people who steal eyeballs. Matthew 5:29 for the quote, because it couldn't be anything else. I am so glad I don't eat eggs. I'm not convinced that a serious runner would need to stop and catch her breath like that during a training run — maybe she's a member of the Cherish Hanson school of fitness — and it's a bit unfair of her group not to stop and wait for her. Morgan is avoiding talking to the shark. Animal cruelty — we're expected to infer the rest of the homicidal triad. I can't help but think that taxidermy is totally creepy. And taxidermy with human eyes? Beyond creepy. Nice role reversal in the finale: Hotch rushes in and Morgan chews him out for it — how far we've come from Tabula Rasa. And Garcia has sorted Morgan with an office. Complete with secret fun zone. I am so jealous.
Hopeless is brought to you by the spirit of A Clockwork Orange what with a bunch of home invaders who, while not quite as disturbing as guys in Children of the Dark, more than make up for their lack of creep with the old ultraviolence. There are some nice character moments and the guy playing the lead UNSUB gives a good impression of someone with a hair trigger temper who might boil over into violence at any moment. Plus, it featured a great resolution. Hotch and Em and Rossi know that they're riding towards a Butch and Sundance, but they choose to opt out — evil may flourish, but not by my hand — but Morgan, in keeping his recent slightly dodgy ethical decisions, stays. Which is why, when the team get back to the BAU, he doesn't get to join the grown ups for their after drink in Hotch's office.
Nice, tricky opening to Cradle to Grave: I thought there was something off about the birth, but I guessed that it was taking place in a prison until the reveal a minute or two later. It's good to see Erin Strauss is still around and as malevolent as ever — the disapproving look she gives JJ on her way out is great — with her visit apparently catalysing Hotch to drill Morgan like a total martinet. For the slow of uptake, Morgan name-checks Fritzl during the case discussion. I think we know where this is headed. The ME is cool, delivering his exposition with such aplomb and providing enough info for me to realise the Awful Troof — three years of undergrad chem FTW! The abductees are cool. The UNSUB has made the same mistake as the housecleaner back in Legacy, abducting women he thinks will be complient only for them to show serious autonomy when forced to fight for the survival of others — Maggie and Julie and Carol are definitely related in spirit. Monica Winmar's parents are also great: the way their instinctive desire for Monica's daughter morphs into something more nuanced means that they totally deserve their eventual win. And now we finally know why Hotch has been pushing Morgan.
Is the UNSUB in The Eyes Have It making an acetone slush bath to cool his gear or is he just sterilising his mellon baller? I suppose I should be grateful it isn't a spork. Nice misdirect in the carpark. Strauss again, this time giving Morgan the favour of her shark-like attitude: "I'll be checking in. I expect to be briefed." Man, she's scary. "Oooh, he's an enucleator!" I was happier before I knew their was a specific term for people who steal eyeballs. Matthew 5:29 for the quote, because it couldn't be anything else. I am so glad I don't eat eggs. I'm not convinced that a serious runner would need to stop and catch her breath like that during a training run — maybe she's a member of the Cherish Hanson school of fitness — and it's a bit unfair of her group not to stop and wait for her. Morgan is avoiding talking to the shark. Animal cruelty — we're expected to infer the rest of the homicidal triad. I can't help but think that taxidermy is totally creepy. And taxidermy with human eyes? Beyond creepy. Nice role reversal in the finale: Hotch rushes in and Morgan chews him out for it — how far we've come from Tabula Rasa. And Garcia has sorted Morgan with an office. Complete with secret fun zone. I am so jealous.
