Criminal Minds – Paradise

CBS

(Season 4, Episode 4)

If you’ve been playing along at home, you must have seen Jane’s interview with Wil Wheaton about his appearance on Criminal Minds. We finally got a look at his episode Wednesday night, and it seemed like a good one to toss out there for discussion. I’ll say going in that I consider myself a casual fan of the show. I always watch it, but it only makes it to the “watch live” list on occasion. I’m not actively internet stalking the cast, like I do with Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki from Supernatural. Just kidding … mostly. Anyway, my creepy internet habits aside, my look at the episode is after the jump.

Given that Wil’s involvement prompted me to write this post, let’s start with the casting. Of course, it was great to see him tackling such a different role, but it’s worth noting his partners in crime, William Mapother and Robyn Lively. They were both terrific as Ian and Abby, but I also found it amusing that that as a trio, these three are like the CBS All-Star Crime Team. Between them they have racked up appearances on CSI, CSI:Miami, CSI:NY, JAG, NCIS, Cold Case, and Numb3rs. And if we want to go old school, we can add in The District and Diagnosis Murder. You could even toss in Viva Laughlin, which was a crime of a different sort.

Getting to the story, there was a lot to like here. They got off to a nice start with the big semi/car collision. What really pulled me in, though, was the way they set up Floyd’s character. With nothing more than that curious eyeball for reference, we learned everything we needed to know about him as the team worked the case. The descriptions of what they learned from the bodies, and the resulting profile, painted quite a picture. That was also enhanced by a very good scene between Hotch and Rebecca’s father.

Meanwhile, back at Crest Cottages, the same kind of thing was going on. Floyd wasn’t physically torturing Ian and Abby and he was staying hidden, but it was terrifying all the same. I liked how the mood shifted with the banana pancakes, and then it just built as their situation got more desperate as time passed. By the time the real Floyd showed up, not the Wayne/Floyd that duped Hotch, the stage was set for his grand entrance.

And really, that’s where this episode ultimately sinks or swims. Can Wil Wheaton, the nicest guy in shoe leather, pull off playing a murdering rapist with a penchant for collecting the panties of his victims? I’m saying yeah, he got it. By the time Floyd was into his big scene, taunting Ian and then making his terrorizing speech to Abby, I was totally on board. He was creepy, and menacing, and a great villain. I come away from this episode rather impressed with Wil, and looking forward to more of these guest spots.

CBS

A few final thoughts.

I almost called the ending. When Floyd made a run for it and Morgan gave chase, you just knew that couldn’t end well for Floyd. Because really, Floyd in a foot race with Morgan is like Wil Wheaton in a foot race with Shemar Moore … I thought semi-truck, but was counting on all of that talk about trails and ATVs to finally pay off with Floyd racing away and getting taken out as he shot across the highway. Either way, justice, of the poetic kind, was served.

Man, JJ is really frickin’ pregnant. I liked the discussion with Reid about music for the baby. It was a very Reid thing. His never-ending knowledge of everything is fascinating and the dynamic of the team in those little scenes is one of the strengths of the show.

Finally, from the “I hope it’s not just me” department … Did anyone else have a Seinfeld flash when Floyd made his little dash into the room and left the panties on the chair? “The panties your mother laid out for you?” No? Just me? Dammit. For more on the episode, Wil will be posting his diary from the production in five parts over the next few days. You can find that at WWdN: In Exile.

Clacked by Brett Love
on Oct 23, 2008 @ 10:20 EST5EDT