There comes a point where a show simply isn't watchable anymore. I've put up with a lot of the crap over the years for the chance to catch one special episode on occasion, but Criminal Minds is quickly wearing thin. There hasn't been a standout episode this season, and on top of that, the past two episodes have been horrendous.
"25 to Life" is total mess from the beginning. The concept of the episode is perfectly fine, except the logic falls apart instantly. It's like no one--the director, writers, actors--cared what was in the script and let every illogical part end up on a television screen.
Here's the evidence why the politician is guilty: His campaign slogan is the same as something he said on the tape (LOL!), businessmen are psychopaths (slander), and he used to own the house (only legitimate evidence). Morgan also comes up with more ridiculous logic. The politician is tough on crime, so when he gets into office, he'll be in position to keep tabs on Sanderson. Obviously, Strauss strikes this down, but the writers want to make the viewers think this is some real analytical thinking and that Strauss is being a bitch again. It's so stupid it makes Tom Friedman look coherent.
And the final confrontation is just sad. Maybe it's okay for a consultant like Cal Lightman to barge in and confront someone on a whim, but for a federal agent like Morgan, definitely not. The sad thing is that Morgan doesn't really push the killer too much, and the killer randomly snaps.
If there's someone to be mad at, it's Morgan. First, he assumes Sanderson's innocence too early, despite evidence to the contrary. By following up on leads unrelated to Sanderson and using specious arguments, Morgan covers his own ass by drawing attention away from Sanderson, culminating with the barging in. Of course, Morgan is correct in the end--by design of the show only--but his behavior is outright shameful and self-serving. The problem is, the writers think he's some kind of hero for protecting the innocent guy and catching the real bad guy. Excuse me, but shouldn't the evidence fit the conclusion?
Lastly, why the hell is Seaver staying? This isn't some testing ground where newbies can make mistakes. The team frequently deals with complex cases involving dangerous people. Clearly, Seaver doesn't fit in. The writers aren't making a concerted effort to make her seem needed, if that was possible. She's just hanging around, soaking in the information without much useful input.
Score: 4.0/10
