Criminal Minds season 3 *possible spoilers*

EdgarAllenPoo

Since the last thread vanished and I've just finished watching the first episode I thought I'd post this little tidbit on season three from TV.com.

Executive producer Ed Bernero makes casting announcement on show fan site; near-lock Keitel out after negotiations fail.

CBS's FBI extravaganza Criminal Minds is known for its intriguing look into the psyche of demented killers, but the show has managed to save some of its drama for the off-season.

Lead Mandy Patinkin abruptly left the show in mid-July, citing "creative differences." This left a gaping hole in Minds, as Patinkin portrayed the drama's lead Jason Gideon.

Buzz was quiet on replacements until late last week, when rumors sprang up that Harvey Keitel was close to signing on to the show. That speculation was short-lived--Entertainment Weekly's online branch reports that Keitel's demands over creative control and perks crumbled negotiations.



The Criminally Minded Joe Mantegna.
It didn't take the show long to move on to its next candidate, as Criminal Minds has finally found its lead. The show's executive producer, Ed Bernero, announced on fan site Criminal Minds Fanatic late Friday that Joe Mantegna will be joining the cast. However, those looking for details on Mantegna's role will have to do their own investigating, as Bernero's succinct statement gave no clues.

"We are very excited to tell you all that Joe Mantegna is officially joining the cast of Criminal Minds," Bernero told the Web site. "Thanks for hanging with us, everyone."

ixoy

On the premier episode - it was apparently one held over from last year as the result of the Virginia Tech shootings. They then can just insert a couple of newly shot scenes with Mandy and wrap it all up as a send off..

As to the first episode of this season's quality - I didn't like it and am beginning to question why I watch the show. Primarily it's for the characters whom I think interact well but even this is going to be unbalanced over the next few weeks.

However, the scripts I've found generally getting weaker and weaker - the psychoanalysis seems a bit trite and often just convenient in locating the killer. The dialogue can be extremely weak and clichéd at time (I've actually winced at it) and the monologue about darkness, etc. tend to lean more towards the laughable than the laudable. I think it comes from being unable to compare it to "Millennium", a far far better series that took us into the minds of serial killers.
"Criminal Minds" is far closer to "Profiler" and that, in having had an ongoing story-arc killer, was also better in a story sense.

I don't know - on the strength of this episode, and much of last season, I'm hesitant about bothering to continue especially when there's only so much free time that I have to watch other shows, see new movies, and read through the mountain of books near my bedside. Next week could be make or break for me, regardless of cast changes.

EdgarAllenPoo

I think this show suffers from the same problem as CSI. Namely what made the first series interesting by this point is repetitive in both show format and content.

Mr E

I like this show, but I thought the ending of this season's first episode was a cop out.... very out of character for Jason Gideon (I won't mention what happens for those who didn't see it - make up your own minds). Elle's exit last season was at least justified.

I'm interested to see where this storyline with Hotchner and Prentiss goes (from the S2 finale), but I think it'll fizzle out within 2 or 3 episodes and we'll be back to the good old baddie of the week formula.

ixoy

GDM wrote:

I think this show suffers from the same problem as CSI. Namely what made the first series interesting by this point is repetitive in both show format and content.

Agreed and I generally lose interest in such shows - "Without a Trace" is another example. In fact the only one to maintain my interest of the regular cop shows i "Numb3rs" because I think there's the geeky maths element and that I really like the family bond between the characters.
After that I generally prefer shows with some form of arc/progression or some more off-the-wall angle (e.g. "Medium").

is_that_so

I thought this suffered from the departure of Patinkin and gave me the impression of being hastily rewritten. Disappointing overall and quite a drop in standard from Season 2. As for formats, very few shows manage to keep it fresh. IMO it is a format is what attracts people to shows initially and it is good sharp writing that keeps them there. Criminal Minds will suffer from the lack of a character to hang it on and the sooner they get a replacement the better, hopefully Keitel as mentioned.

Mr E

is_that_so wrote:

... hopefully Keitel as mentioned.

Read the first post

Keitel wanted too much control, so they didn't hire him. Looks like Joe Mantegna is the man.....

EdgarAllenPoo

Am I the only one who thinks "Fat Tony" as a profiler is just wrong. I like Mantegna but it'll be weird.

is_that_so

TmB wrote:

Read the first post

Keitel wanted too much control, so they didn't hire him. Looks like Joe Mantegna is the man.....

Yes that always helps. Mantegna hmm, that could work. He has a bit of passion to him.