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Criminal Minds: Distress

by Jonathan Toomey, posted Feb 22nd 2007 7:32AM

Mandy Patinkin(S02E17) This was a bit of a different case for Gideon and the team. For once they weren't really hunting a true criminal, but rather a poor guy who had gone off the deep end largely due to circumstances that were completely out of his control.

It's kind of interesting if you think about it. There's a huge range of cases that this team probably gets called in for and we'll never know about it simply because it might not make for dramatic TV. However, someone suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder definitely fits the bill and it earned the BAU team a trip to Houston.

The un-sub in question was actually a United States war veteran and his combat experiences caused his brain to, well... snap. His environment contributed to it as well. Houston's Fifth Ward has become a hotbed for vandalism and drug activity and the city is making an effort to revitalize the area. As a result, all the jack-hammering, bull-dozing, and building demolition makes the area sound like a war zone. Enough that it would make anyone who's seen combat remember things they probably don't want to.

I did find it a little hard to believe that the team realized the un-sub was a war veteran so quickly. After they found his S.O.S. distress call on that building top, Prentiss immediately suggested the veteran status. I'm not saying it isn't a logical guess, but they arrived at it with very little info. It did keep the story moving and I suppose that's more important though.

Reid's story is continuing to tick me off. It's still following the same path that Elle did before she left the show. There was no indication this time as to whether or not Reid is using Tobias's dilaudid, but he's definitely entered the grumpy/leave me alone stage. He's rude, abrupt, and doesn't want assistance from his co-workers. Yeah, yeah, yeah... we've seen this before. I hope there's a twist in store. Maybe he'll go off the deep end by season's end and become the team's target? Can you imagine if Reid snapped and became a serial killer... he's so smart.

All in all, a very good episode. Very different. There was still plenty of humor. Garcia asking Morgan if he was wearing chaps was priceless. There really was a hidden message under all the drama though. We owe it to ourselves and those who serve our country to take care of them when they return home from the service. It's too bad that we have to get that message from a fictional episode of a TV show though.

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amanda

OMG! Dr. Morgan is so hot! he should be voted the number one SEXIEST man ALIVE. OH and Reid OMG they both should be voted the SEXIEST men ALIVE. Garcia adn Dr. Morgan should sogo out, I think they make teh CUTEST couple i would ever see!! luv ya

March 27 2007 at 7:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
KHD

does anyone know the name of the song played at the end of the episode aired on March 21 2007, about the arsonist, and the father with lukemia?

March 22 2007 at 1:10 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jaya

Does anybody know the piece of instrumental music thatw as played when the Sergeant was shot? It was beautiful and familiar but I could not place it. I think it was by a known artist or composer.

March 05 2007 at 6:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jaya

Does anybody know the name of the piece of instrumental music that was played when the Sergeant was shot? It was beautiful and familiar...I think it was a known piece of work.

March 05 2007 at 6:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dana

I think the quote you are looking for is from Thomas Paine - 'If there must be war, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace'

February 24 2007 at 5:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shawn

Does someone have the exact quote that was used in the episode? It was something like, "If there must be war, let it be during my time so that my children could have peace". Anyone know who it came from? Thanks.

February 23 2007 at 4:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dan Chichian

I enjoy the Garcia character. She is the comic relief of the show. She also acts as a mirror for the audience, it is often Garcia who shows the shock and sometimes horror that we feel over many of the unsubs.

I hope they do not set up Prentiss to be the one to out him as for many it is already hard to like her character.

February 23 2007 at 2:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ken

While I agree it's frustrating, I can appreciate the way Reid's story is playing out. I don't think it's at all surprising that he has become angry and distant and I agree with Angela that his symptoms so closely mirroring the unsubs was very intriguing. Victims of violent crime suffer for years with anxiety and fear, I imagine those who have been tortured have a much harder time. It would be a disservice to the viewers to 'fix him' quick and easy. Also, I am impressed that this story line did not simply turn into the 'cop on drugs' theme that seems to happen on every crime drama eventually. I am willing to be patient for an intelligent conclusion. I think Dr. Reid is one of the most interesting characters on TV now, let's hope the writers don't turn him into a cliche'.

February 22 2007 at 8:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
LadyOracle

*Continuing Reid rant*

Here is my big issue right now. The writers, or perhaps the actor, are portraying Reid's reaction angrily. With Elle, who had anger issues starting off, it was natural that she deal with her problems with anger. However, Reid's greatest character flaw has always been his overwhelming guilt. I would think he would be defensive and withdrawn, not turning into a raging, sniping loon. Maybe its the drugs, but I feel like they are dealing with this in a way counter-intuitive to the way they have developed this character.

Saying this, if they are developing the story like they did with Elle, WHY HAS NO ONE IN THE TEAM SAID ANYTHING. You would think given the fact that Elle went crazy and shot a guy that they would be overly cautious and protective of him. Hotchner even said in the infamous episode that he regretted never teaching Reid how to deal with the emotional side of the job. Why isn't he doing it now. I say argh and grrrr to the writers and ask that they get their act together before the season finale.

Now that I am done ranting, from a construction point of view I have to appreciate that this episode was significantly more cohesive than last weeks and was less jarring to sit through. The cohesiveness between scenes and consistant behaviors through the whole episode was a return to the quality I have come to expect from this show.

For those who are insulting Garcia, while I agree that in most cases the dialogue is overtly pointless, she serves a very real and necessary purpose. Those Garcia scenes are pivotal in breaking up some of the tension generated by the show. Without them I believe that the show would be too depressing to sit through. It reminds up that there is a world and a life outside of all the death for these characters. I vote Garcia stays.

February 22 2007 at 6:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Angela

I enjoyed the episode and also feel they could have taken down the un-sub without killing him. I think Reid suffering from PTSD mirrored the veteran's story in a way. These people can understand what the vet is going through and yet don't see what's going on with one (actually two) of their own. It shows how little we really grasp PTSD even though it's well documented. It also in some ways (for me) keeps me thinking that the other victims the team saves won't just walk away and restart their lives and Reid's story reiterates this. It kinda shows how much everyone wants 'victims' to get back to normal so that life can go on and it shows that even those who know better still are uncomfortable dealing with the aftermath of situations they can't fully understand.
Kari, heartfelt blessings to you and your family.

February 22 2007 at 4:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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