In the spin-off series Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, we are spared the trademark Criminal Minds voice-over recitation from some Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations-level philosopher. But we’re not spared the reason viewers by the millions tune in to the original Minds: To watch the suffering of the helpless, rescued by the earnest, the brave, and the eccentric.
In Wednesday night’s premiere, the helpless were little girls kidnapped and kept captive by a guy who’d set the girls up in pretty pink bedrooms; he had a motive, and a psychological problem, for doing this, but what comes pouring through the TV screen are the images of children terrorized — they overwhelm, block out, any of the real research or pseudo jargon the show ladles into the dialogue to have the viewer understand a senseless crime. Make no mistake about it: The Criminal Minds franchise is out to scare you, pure and simple.
Into this has walked Forest Whitaker heading up a new batch of FBI Behavioral Analysts. He brings with him a placid calmness combined, as we saw in the opening scenes, an interest in martial arts — kick-boxing, stick-fighting — which his character, Sam Cooper, says keeps “mind and body and spirit in balance.” It reminded me of Whitaker in the 1999 Jim Jarmusch film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, only without the delicate, poetic imagery. Cooper does that Criminal Minds thing of talking as though he’s the criminal, working through the evil one’s psyche and motives until he chats himself into a brilliant insight into the criminal mind.
Suspect Behavior introduced us to a new bunch of people who are going to use the phrase “UNSUB” a lot, including Janeane Garofalo, transitioning smoothly from her dramatic role in 24 to this crew. I’ve seen the second episode of Suspect Behavior, and Garofalo’s Beth Griffith has the easiest, most believable working relationship with Whitaker’s Cooper; I wouldn’t go so far as to call it chemistry, because Criminal Minds is all about intelligent isolators brought together solely by work.
A bridge between the two Minds shows is Kirsten Vangsness’ Penelope Garcia, the tech wiz who’ll toggle back and forth between the two shows, pulling up data absurdly fast while uttering chatty banalities like, “The Divine Miss G — out!“
Five seasons from now, when CM:SB is in syndication and a well-oiled machine, many viewers will have long forgotten one of the debut hour’s chief bits of business. Michael Kelly’s “Prophet” Sims once killed a child molester and so at the start of the show was a “special agent pending,” under close scrutiny as a guy whose temper might not permit him to make it onto the show’s team. By the end, however, he had his redemption scene — cornering the bad guy and saying, “I killed a guy like you before… [it] wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be” — and opting not to kill this man.
Sold! Prophet’s a keeper: He was upgraded to “full agent” status with the support of Whitaker’s Cooper and Richard Schiff as the group’s boss, Jack Fickler. Schiff seemed to hold himself back a little from his dialogue, much as Joe Mantegna does on CM, as though neither of them wants their images to bond too closely to these shows.
So: will you be adding CM:SB to your viewing list?
Twitter: @kentucker
I liked the first episode. The profilers are indeed earnest. It wasn’t too heavy on the psycho gore and madness that CM has a lot of–at least for now. I was actually able to eat something while I watched the end of the show. It’s on my viewing list.
Why are there so many Cop shows on television?
Is working as a Cop, Attorney, or in a hospital setting they have to offer on television? I hope they do know, there are other professions besides Cops, Attorneys, and Doctors.
Meh.I’ll stick to the original. I may watch next week’s episode, but I didn’t really love the characters as much as CM.
Totally agree. The original is much better, but I’ll give this one a few more episodes before making up my mind. The characters on this one seem so blah. No really connection or love for any of them after this first ep.
same here, wasn’t impressed with the first episode. the original is much more gritty / gruesome which makes the show so much more engaging. While child abductions are a very scary thing, why they chose that for the pilots storyline is a bit boring, that storyline has been played a million times in cop style shows. I hate it when guest actors for the bad guys are overused, I’ve seen the bad guy in this pilot on a dozen other shows recently which sort of ruins the experience.
not crazy about it, but pilots are never that great – go back and watch the CM pilot when it runs on A&E – not that great either. I’ll keep watching for a while til it finds it’s groove.
I agree as well. I thought the case was interesting but I didn’t care at all for the team. Maybe that’ll get better maybe not, I’ll probably Tivo a few weeks and watch it rapidly like NCIS LA, which I also had trouble liking initially.
I love Criminal Minds and This is about my second month watching it and I was hooked. I noticed some new people on the show and just kind of alright. When the old team was all together you could acually feel a part of what they felt and the love & respect for one another. Love that show never miss it, so time will tell all. Take Care and thanks for allowing the viewers to give there prospective about this show…
I can’t predict whether this will get better, but last night’s show was weak. And why Janeane Garofalo? She was fine in “24″ because she just played a role. But last night she was already pushing her liberal views, which means she has some control over the script – at least her lines. I almost turned it off. If her character gets too political, I’m out of here. If she, and the others, focus on just the crime, I may stay. Nevertheless it’s clear that like Law and Order: L.A., this shows producers have work to do.
When I see Janeane Garofalo, all I see is a clip of her spewing viciousness and hatred. She was downright scary. I’m not political but I don’t like hatred and meanness. The show wasn’t good enough to really block this vision from my mind. So I don’t think I really want to see her on a weekly basis. No, I won’t watch it again.
Seriously? She has control over her lines? You really have sipped the conservative conspiracy Koolaid. She’s a fine actress and I think she’ll be good in this show.
I agree with Sherry. Garofalo is a b…. in real life and really can’t act. She gets jobs because liberal Hollywood loves her radical leftist philosophy. She was horrible on “24″ and she’s no better here. I doubt this show will survive.
Agree 100%. Garofalo is not a fit for a serious FBI agent. I”ll take this off my CVR list and stick with the original.
I agree with Les — Janeane Garofalo is hard to look at especially with her libral views. Acting was terrible in first episode and writing was lousy too.
Your comment is right on! I too was so disappointed with the opener. I believe you need to be hooked the first show running, or I just won’t give it another shot.
I totally agree…the show was okay and I will probably keep watching it, but I didn’t feel a connection with the characters, or see a connection with the characters themselves. I still think that the original show is much better, except I miss JJ. Why did they take her off listing budget costs and then bring in another character to take her place. New girl is okay and I think we will see her more often, but she’s no JJ.
The cast is soooooo ugly. Why does CBS think I want to spend an hour watching them. they have no personalities, are creepy and should all be unsubs not agents. the plot would have been o.k. for the “regular” CM so why did the new “special unit” do it? Also, they are supposed to be profilers…I have children smarter and more emotionally controlled than they were. Give me a break this was soooo bad ditched it now.
I agree. The thing I like about the original Criminal Minds is that the profilers are interesting people I would enjoy hanging around with. I like their oddities and they aren’t so “out there” that they care creepy people. The new ones are pretty creepy. I wouldn’t want to go to lunch with them. Even Garofalo, who I usually like, looks like something the cat dragged in. And their office is in an old gym? They just all look scruffy and weird. I’ll give them one more chance and then if they don’t clean themselves up will watch Justified with my husband.
Wasn’t crazy about the new CM don’t think Janeane can act she wasn’t believable at all
Hey I know! Move the new unmemorable/can’t act blonde chick from the original CM over to the new one and then cancel it.
Hey CBS…quit fooling around. Get rid of the new writers you have who can’t write their way out of a paper bag and don’t know the characters on the show and get the “good” writers back. We want to watch the “team” solve the crimes, not watch the unsubs torture people…or maybe you’ve forgotten what the show is about. Just go back to the original CM the fans love it, quit trying to kill it off. Sign the actors new contracts and get on with it…and what happened to continuity. reid had blinding headaches and next ep he’s fine thank you very much? Do you guys even read the scripts anymore?
It’ll probably take me a little bit to get used to the characters, but this kind of show is my bread & butter, so I’ll keep watching.
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I do hope, though, that they’ll not use the opening narration explaining about the FBI’s “red cells” before the episode’s 1st scene plays. It sounded so much like a Law & Order style intro that my mind just went ahead and stuck the “These are their stories. CHUNGK-CHUNGK” at the end. I actually had to play it back to make sure it wasn’t actually there.
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It’s a big thing, but for the few minutes, it put me in a frame of mind for “L&O” which has a very different tone and feel than the “CM” shows, which then made it take a bit longer to get into the new characters. But that’s probably just me
Totally agree–these characters don’t do it for me. And, I’m still annoyed that CM got rid of AJ Cook (wonderful) to replace her with a girl that looks JUST LIKE HER! For shame, CBS! Pay your people, you’re making some bucks off them in syndication!
It doesn’t have it yet, but it will, trust me. I saw the cast talk about how messed up one of the episodes gets…I have yet to watch it, I lost the controller for my dvr, so I’mma have to get it from itunes.
I liked Forest Whitaker better back when he used to be a fattie.
I agree its just bad
Probably not. After one episode, I’m bored and can’t see myself caring about any of the characters, except for garcia. Spin offs are never as good as the original.
That’s my biggest problem. Can’t watch a show if I do not like the charectors
I was looking forward to see the show untill the first minutes into the show they had to play the racist card.It happens every time a leading black actor appears in the show
GREAT……BUT WHY JANEANE GAROFALO? SHE RUINED “24″ FOR ME BECAUSE OF HER POLITICAL VIEWS, I QUIT WATCHING. I WILL NOT WATCH HER IN YOUR NEW PROGRAM. SHE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN REALLY CARRY OFF THE PART. SORRY.
Love the Original.. Don’t care for new people!
The first time I watched Criminal Minds was the “100″ episode when the Reaper killed Hotchner’s ex-wife. I have been an avid fan of CM ever since. On the other hand, I watched CM-Suspect Behavior tonight and WILL NOT watch it again. I didn’t like anything about the show – especially the cast. Sorry ’bout that.
i agree! if it werent for the irish guy, i would NOT have finished wathcing the first episode. The characters don’t mesh, a total mishmash of people, talk about “politically correct”
It’s a pass for me. Just doesn’t have the quality and intensity of the original. Forest isn’t strong enough to hold the lead. The writing is not even close to the original. There’s over acting everywhere. The team doesn’t have the right chemistry.
“Forest isn’t strong enough to hold the lead.” you do realize that he won a best actor oscar, right?
But not in a tv show week after week. He’s just not charasmatic enough to me.
I hated it. I couldn’t understand what Whitaker was saying half the time.
Completely agree. I like Whitaker, but he speaks too fast and mumbles. The Brit and the blonde are fine, but the original show is far superior. I only watch this one if there is nothing else on.
IT SUCKS I HOPE THEY CANCEL IT WHAT BAD ACTING
I agree, good god, what was this, acting 101? Talk about over-acting! Way over the top, except for maybe Janeane Garofalo. Writing horrible. I can’t stand the original series due to the over-the-top-in-your-face gore and violence so tuned in hoping w/the talented new cast, it would be better. Hugely disappointed. What a waste of talent, time and money. Give the show a quick death, please.
Once I saw Janeane Garafalo was on the show I turned it off. Why would you put a radical socialist who thinks that everyday people are idiots. She belongs on Laugh-in not a serious show. Will never watch again unless she is off
I won’t watch it again. The plot was a rehash from another series. The acting was uninspired.
I do agree.. This show continue’s on the weeks it airs New eps.. to bring only osaweme writing and great talent. Having the orginal 7, well, I honestly wasn’t too upset when Elle Left the show.Joe has done a pretty good job of replacing Mandy. Though I do miss him.. I am surprised that CM hasn’t brought Mandy back as some kind of deranged killer trying to get rid of serial killers. I don’t care for the way the writter have been changing the character of Reid, just let him have normal thoughts and not go nuts. I have watched ever show that CM has put out there, I will continue to do so as long as they air. Good luck CM’s you did a smart thing bringing J.J. back.
Nichols DID replace Cook: the fact that one young bdnole woman left and a few episodes later another young bdnole woman came on was not a coincidence. The job descriptions were incidental. In fact, it probably would have been better if Seaver HAD been a press liaison because then she might have been useful to the team.CBS can get away with letting Nichols go because (1) she hasn’t been on that long and a majority of fans either don’t like her or don’t care about her either way; and (2) she’s not really necessary now that Cook is coming back and she’s be even more redundant if they manage to get Brewster back too.
Frankly, I didn’t think the “Criminal Minds” episode tonight was great. (I personally miss JJ, she added a very humanizing element.) And I wasn’t impressed with the spinoff. Not much chemistry yet between the characters … seemed to be a LOT of “let’s make the music louder here so the audience knows this is intense.” Which was annoying. I’ll probably watch again but right now the jury is out for me.
I totally agree with ya on the JJ comment. The aspect AJ Cook brought to the show is def missing and the fact that the network fired her to get this show on the air just shows how idiotic CBS can be. The spin off was just plain BAD. It was bad last season when the network did the backdoor pilot and not one thing has changed since then. The cast not only has zero chemistry but it just plain sucks and is flat. I love Whittaker but soo not in this role. Criminal Minds never should have been spun off. It is not the type of show that can be and have it’s sister show be completely different. The main reason of that is because both take place in the same places as the original; it does the same things as the original, case in point Garcia being in both. The only difference besides the cast with the exception of Garcia is how unconventional the team is.
Unlike the CSI’s and NCIS’s this show is literally a carbon copy of its original. At least with the CSI’s and NCIS’s you have different cities with different surroundings and methods so to speak. Like I said the spin off does the same thing as original just by a different name. You can’t change the cast change the action slap a new name (which btw is extremly lame) on it and call is a spin off! While it may get better, I definitely don’t see it getting good enough to keep its viewers. I will definitely NOT be watching it again.
Agree about JJ. Then they bring in another blonde – like all bonde actresses are interchangeable. I like Criminal Minds, but don’t like this dumping of the two female leads.
I tried to watch the spin-off. The chemistry seems forced. I’ll try again. Maybe I need to warm up to it.
I’m really missing JJ and I’m totally pissed that Prentiss will be leaving too. I hate that Seaver character! Why couldn’t they just leave the show alone? They were a great ensemble cast the way it was. Now they are getting rid of all the females except Garcia (which I’d be done if she goes) and I really hope Seaver doesn’t stick around. They are messing up my favorite show. Just cancel this spin off and put the old one back together RIGHT.
Prentiss is leaving, too? What the crap?
PLEASE!!! The fans are begging to fix the real CM and lose the far inferior version!
I didn’t really like it either, not as good as CM. Neither my husband or myself could understand what Whitaker was saying, it was all a mumble. I’m afraid that I won’t be watching anymore episodes. I wonder why it was on as the same time as CM, even if CM was a rerun. Seems strange to run them both at the same time.
What are you talking about? Criminal Minds was on at 9pm Eastern Time tonight (original episode) and the pilot for the spinoff was on at 10pm.
LOL Joe. Jaycea is probably 90 years old, like most CBS cop show viewers. Her VCR is still blinking “12:00.”
OR she made a simple mistake. Just a reminder-you too will grow up, I mean grow old one day, and hopefully face the same idiotic attempts at humour.
Perhaps she meant running them back-to-back…which is something CBS NEVER did with the CSI sspin-offs, most liekly because they were all strong enough to stand on their own. This show was awful. Bad writing…forced characterizations…way too preachy and PC…I won’t be tuning in again.
I find it hard to believe that Joe Mantegna doesn’t want his image bonded too closely with Criminal Minds when he spends so much time on twitter sending out pics from the set, answering fans, etc. He is close with other cast members and in my opinion is very much a champion for the show. At any rate I didn’t watch Suspect Behavior nor do I plan to, though I love Criminal Minds original flavor (or at least I used to). I will continue to watch CM until Matthew Gray Gubler leaves and then I will write off the franchise altogether. IMHO the new show has only had negative repercussions on the old show (see Shemar Moore’s recent interview for more info).
EXACTLY (re:Joe). EW should get its facts straight. The cast members of CM (original) are VERY proud of their show and their connections to it. Just because it’s not “cool” enough for EW (which I will never understand, but whatever) doesn’t mean that everyone associated with it is ashamed of it. Quite the contrary, actually.
I love the original Criminal Minds and am going to stick to it. The Spin Off was boring, the characters didn’t really stand out, and the chemistry was forced. The only character who made the hour bearable was Garcia, and it was wierd to hear her being called “Penelope” (i know that’s her name, but i’m so used to Garcia on the original CM). I also feel that what sets CM apart from the other crime dramas is the psychological profilling which is done brilliantly on the original CM and which came too late in the episode in the spin-off.
It was so obvious…the Garcia bits were recorded seperately and just spliced in. She never personally interacted with anyone in this new show. And why aren’t they located in the FBI building? They seem to be hanging out in some gym.
I watched the second episode last night on my DVR and it was a bit better than the first one. I agree that the characters are not cohesive, but neither was the first team when they first started the show. I don’t not like how Garcia is involved with them, especially since you can tell that she is spliced in with them and not truly living up to the potential of her character. She is my favorite character of CM, but I’m a bit disappointed in this move. They should have used her boyfriend as I think he would have helped bring that team together as Garcia did for the first team. I will continue to watch the show as I think it may have potential, if the writers can bring the character together.
Forrest Whitaker was good, but i agree there isn’t even strong writing. There hoping Garcia fans will follow, but it still looks stale, no real chemistry.
that is exactly why the have Garcia on it! She is one of the most popular characters on Criminal Minds so they have her doing both because they hope her fans will watch because of her. Question is, how long will they watch it because of her regardless of how bad it is?
The fact that this garbage was one of the contributing factors to AJ Cook’s firing, is just atrocious. They should have kept AJ, and skipped this failure of a show. Also, Whitakers’ lazy eye alone is a major distraction and dealbreaker. You can also kiss Criminal Minds goodbye if Prentiss gets killed off. I’m astonished at how they took one of the best criminal shows on tv and did a 180 on it in a few episodes.
I agree with every word you typed.
They should have kept AJ and dumped the new show after the trial run.
I’m really questioning the management that would make a decision to let a quality show take a dive in the interest of spinning off a lame substitute.
And where are the sharp minds that were writing Criminal Minds? Have they all left or been fired also?
No kidding, CM is just about to jump the shark. Boring, pedestrian story lines. The blonds are NOT interchangeable. I won’t be watching SM again, although for all my dislike of Janine Garafalo, I did not find her the slightest bit annoying, other than the speech about the mother of Aisha who couldn’t get any help… which may or may not have been Garafalo’s input.