This was a (very pleasant) shock and remarkable. While there are some great episodes from the latter seasons, the show did become particularly hit and miss from Season 6 onwards and too many of the episodes (especially the worst of Seasons 9 and 11) seemed to forget what made 'Criminal Minds' so great in the first place.
"Foundation" didn't feel like a (relatively) late 'Criminal Minds' episode, and is up there with the best of them. It actually feels more like an episode from Season 2-5, which is a huge compliment. The case itself is refreshingly complex for a late episode, without being too convoluted or certainly not falling into the trap of being incoherent with enough explanation given to everything, which was remarkable for so much packed in.
Not only is there great tension and suspense, but the storytelling is both disturbing and emotionally devastating, which is helped by that the subject matter is equally horrifying. Also found the true identity of the unsub a complete shock, didn't see it coming in a million years, definitely has to be up there with the show's most shockingly unexpected reveals. Profiling is plenty and it's intelligently done and serves a point.
Love the team dynamic between the team and how well the personalities are fleshed out. Morgan's chemistry with Angel and his empathy for the situation is particularly well done, without it becoming too personal. Prentiss' rapport with the daughter was touching and sympathetic. The conversation between Reid and Hotch is great. Garcia is much closer to the mature and ray of sunshine character of the earlier seasons (bringing welcome humour to a dark case expertly interwoven) instead of the annoying caricatures of too many episodes of the latter seasons. And the ending with the team is how to do team bonding correctly.
Production values as always are very high, and the music is haunting and melancholic. The script is intelligent and thought-provoking. The acting is very good from all the leads (though would have liked to have seen more Reid, though at least he's present) while Jonathan Castellanos gives one of the show's best child performances as Angel, up there with the child performances in "The Big Wheel" and "Coda".
Overall, so good that it is hard to fathom that it is a latter season episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox
"Foundation" didn't feel like a (relatively) late 'Criminal Minds' episode, and is up there with the best of them. It actually feels more like an episode from Season 2-5, which is a huge compliment. The case itself is refreshingly complex for a late episode, without being too convoluted or certainly not falling into the trap of being incoherent with enough explanation given to everything, which was remarkable for so much packed in.
Not only is there great tension and suspense, but the storytelling is both disturbing and emotionally devastating, which is helped by that the subject matter is equally horrifying. Also found the true identity of the unsub a complete shock, didn't see it coming in a million years, definitely has to be up there with the show's most shockingly unexpected reveals. Profiling is plenty and it's intelligently done and serves a point.
Love the team dynamic between the team and how well the personalities are fleshed out. Morgan's chemistry with Angel and his empathy for the situation is particularly well done, without it becoming too personal. Prentiss' rapport with the daughter was touching and sympathetic. The conversation between Reid and Hotch is great. Garcia is much closer to the mature and ray of sunshine character of the earlier seasons (bringing welcome humour to a dark case expertly interwoven) instead of the annoying caricatures of too many episodes of the latter seasons. And the ending with the team is how to do team bonding correctly.
Production values as always are very high, and the music is haunting and melancholic. The script is intelligent and thought-provoking. The acting is very good from all the leads (though would have liked to have seen more Reid, though at least he's present) while Jonathan Castellanos gives one of the show's best child performances as Angel, up there with the child performances in "The Big Wheel" and "Coda".
Overall, so good that it is hard to fathom that it is a latter season episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox
