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| Okay, JJ going to talk to the friend by herself wasn't the smartest thing. (And, it was her decision. She wasn't sent. The only other team member there was Reid and she turned down his offer to go with her) She could have taken one of the local cops.
But, I really hope people who are saying she was dumb for not figuring out that she was at the home of the unsub are saying it because they didn't catch that she didn't hear the profile. She left before the profile was presented to the police and Reid wasn't sharing his thoughts while he worked on it. So the older poorly maintained home? JJ never heard the unsub would live in a home like that. Living with an older female relative? Nope, she didn't hear that either. The only thing she did get was that the unsub was Schizophrenic, but she didn't know that Gina was. I'm sure Garcia found out with her digging, but again, JJ wasn't there. Garcia said she'd get back to them with the info and JJ left. Again, the only thing JJ should have known better about was going to do the interview alone.
And there's no way that JJ should have anticipated someone sneaking up behind her with a shovel. Because there was nothing in the profile to suggest a second unsub. She doesn't have eyes in the back of her head. It's conceivable that since he saw her car outside he would have approached quietly enough not to make any noise. And, she wouldn't be the first team member to be hit from behind.
If JJ knew the profile, the house should have given her pause. And, finding out that Gina lived with her grandmother. But she didn't. And, I refuse to think that the way Gina acted at the door should have been a clue, because mentally ill people don't always = killer, as they've shown before.
And, it looked like when the obvious sign was apparent - the containers of blood, JJ was reaching for her gun when she got knocked over the head. So when the only clue that JJ should have latched on to presented itself, she reacted. Just not fast enough, but I still maintain that she doesn't lose points for not anticipating a shovel to the back of her head from someone who arrived after she got there.
And, I seriously don't get the problem with the laughter at the end. It was fun and felt natural. The only thing that makes sense is finding it off because Reid wouldn't have been unaware of the movie. But, the idea that they could all find it funny if it was something he was clueless about doesn't seem that far fetched. I seem to remember them all finding Gideon's worry that Garcia would think he was sweet on her in season 1 funny as well.
I don't know. I mean, I said I didn't find this a great episode, but I was thinking in terms of it not giving any emotional punch in the gut or really great moments of the team doing their stuff. With the profiling (although the profiling was spot on when it came down to it) and stuff. But, I didn't feel the episode was bad. Except for Reid's ignorance of pop culture, and JJ not taking someone with her, I didn't find anything out of character. And, there's still nothing dumb about JJ not jumping to the conclusion that ratty messy house contained the unsub. Because I'm sure it's possible for someone to live like that without being a killer. And, wouldn't it actually be too cliche to assume the creepy house has the unsub? Especially if all you have to go by is creepy house and odd person and didn't hear how they specifically fit the unsub. Without the profile, basing your view on those things sounds more like basing it on slasher/horror movies. An agitated girl and a torn down house should have clued her in? That's silly.
Eh, I'm not objective with this show. I can handle people not liking different episodes, but it riles me up when I hear the show itself is getting bad. And, it especially riles me up when team members (minus Rossi, people have free rein to bash him - and I said I wasn't objective) are insulted.
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| This wasn't a deep or insightful episode and the profiling of the mastermind was non existent. But, they did get the other half of the pair right - just the sex wrong. Which is exactly what happened in Somebody's Watching. But, despite not being a great episode, it was a fun episode. About as light hearted as a CM episode gets. It's the kind of episode to simply enjoy for the fanservice and character stuff.
They were kind of off on what they remembered and what they forgot. People have made a convincing argument that Reid not knowing about A Clockwork Orange (horrible movie) was OOC, since he's a scifi fan. But, despite that, I found him very Reid like. The knowledge of Dracula, of course he'd know, what with the Halloween connection. And, they mentioned Lila. (So no excuse that the episode writer only joined last season if she had that info but not that Reid would have heard of ACW, even if he never saw it. I've got nothing to say on Twilight.) And, I like that he sounded pleased to talk about Dracula without sounding overexcited, because no matter how many times it happens it always sounds odd and not Reid-like. They also remembered Prentiss was a goth in high school, but had her attending Georgetown, not Yale. (Seriously, do they get a bonus check every time they say a team member went to Georgetown? JJ was also retconned to it. But, at least Prentiss' changed backstory didn't include Rossi playing a part - she just mentioned it to him. Hmm, did JM go to Georgetown and now he gives up his salary for every episode where a team member says that's where they went?) Morgan trying to be professional with Garcia, because he's in charge now. (And, really, when the time comes that Hotch should get his job back, I'll be annoyed if he doesn't. Understatement. But, as of now, Morgan is in charge, so fussing because he's trying to maintain a professional attitude just seems silly. Especially since it gives another fun moment. Garcia's amusement that "baby girl" comes so naturally)
Not much Hotch in the episode, but a few cute moments. I noticed Lt. Kim (continuity - sometimes a strong point. At least with returning law enforcement) called him Agent Hotchner and the others were JJ, Morgan, and Reid. (Lt. Kim, nice looking, btw) It was also fun that he remembered how they worked and had everything ready. The other cute Hotch moment later.
All right. I don't like celebrity type episodes (where they deal with celebrity) because that seems too glamorous for CM. But, I like that there was a lot more of the team investigating then I expected and not too much (but a good amount) of watching the not unsub with screaming fans. I was afraid and think they straddled the line of them getting into Frankie Muniz territory, but there was quite a bit of team stuff. And, I like that Dante wasn't all celebrity egotistical or all mopey I'm so tortured goth type. I mean, he was down (and on drugs) but he had self awareness and was more normal. And, they didn't have too many scenes with lights and music and isn't this all cool type stuff. And a little over halfway into the episode, they had him in an interrogation room so it was back to normal episode stuff. Oh, and one more Reid thing. I don't see why Reid should react every time he mentions Schizophrenia. He grew up living with someone who has it. While not old hat, I do think that he's comfortable enough with it that just the mention of it shouldn't make him flinch unless there's some other connection to his mom. Plus he's had to run across other unsubs or people with it. I'm sure he can handle it.
On to JJ. Who actually did pistol whip someone! First, and I'll give this one to people because I missed it too, she never heard the profile. She was already on her way to interview a witness. And, I don't think distraught girl in messy home should be a clue to killer unless you've heard all the other details, which she didn't. Although you would think she wouldn't want to go talk to a witness by herself, since that's what she did with Tobias. But, I could see JJ not wanting to let that hold her back. So I don't think it was dumb of her not to know. And, it was cool to see her save herself. After getting hit with a shovel. And, it was also cool to see how fast the team mobilized into action when they realized she was at the unsub's house. (And, how they got there too late to save her, because she already had one unsub conked out and her gun trained on the other.) It was also cute how solicitous everyone was. Prentiss handing her a bottle of water, Hotch giving her a bottle of aspirin, Reid putting a blanket over her and saying he felt guilty that he didn't go with her. I guess he could have whacked someone with his crutch. I wonder how many people are annoyed that the team reassured Reid that it wasn't his fault and equated that to making it all about Reid. But, we did see them worried about her before and asking if she was okay, and Reid was looking out for her when he was guilting. So I don't think they made it all about him. And, it flowed right after into talking about music and obsession. And, the other cute Hotch moment. Finding out his favorite album was a Beatles album and him saying that Manson hijacking it shouldn't ruin it for everyone else. And, of course we get Hotch laughing. (Enjoy it now, because I figure he won't be doing any of that in the next two episodes)
So there are things to nitpick and probably doesn't stand up under deep analysis, but it was fun.
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| I'm assuming by the wording of a certain statement praising the upcoming story that Hotch doesn't die (or anyone else on the team). Because there could be various reactions to that. But, there is no way someone could read that thread and come to the conclusion that most people there would love any story where that happened. That maybe some (one person I can think of ) would, that some might be okay depending on how it was done. But, that most would love it? No, not that thread.
I can't even fathom what the argument (as in premise of their statement, not fight) is with the mention of how one of the directors told PB not to look like Prentiss was in love with Hotch in Mayhem. Something to do with shippers and Haley. That maybe Ed (if that was the director) had them redo the scene so the shippers wouldn't read anything into it, so the show could reunite Hotch and Haley. Possibly, but that doesn't make any sense. If they wanted to reunite Hotch and Haley, the shippers can't do a darn thing about it. And, since they wouldn't be able to do a darn thing about it, I don't think Ed would factor them into his directorial decisions. I think he told them not to play it that way because he saw it. And, that's the thing about looks. They can be misinterpreted. People thinking you look sad when you aren't or that you're upset but you're not. My guess is Ed saw something in PB's acting that she wasn't purposely trying to add (again the whole reading things that aren't actually there especially in facial expressions) but that looked like it to him. So he said redo it because the scene wasn't played the way he wanted it. Simple as that. I can't think of any reason to assume an awareness of shippers somehow factored in to how he directs his show. Especially since, if you're aware of shippers, you know there's no way to stop people from shipping a pairing. There are also always going to be people who assume that what they see is based on authorial intent. I remember the smoldering passion evident by the mere fact that after Hotch signed his divorce papers, the camera panned down to Prentiss - an entire floor below, not looking at, or appearing to have any thoughts about Hotch (or vice versa) at the moment. So again, it would be futile to redo a scene based on how shippers might read it. The most militant probably read it that way even with the changes. (not to mention the ones who read something that justified their pairings in other scenes)
As far as putting people in scenes together, I hope that's also based on what they feel is right for the story and characters. And, of course, I'd hate whether Hotch is the boss or not (these characters do not date each other), but if they went back on that, I would hope it's because this is the direction the show wants to go, not because it's a popular pairing. I hope that they never base major character story lines on how many stories there are on fanfic.net or lj communities for a pairing. If they do that, they might as well make Will an abusive partner to JJ.
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| I'm procrastinating, but it's always much easier to rant. As bad as the scene last week was, it didn't upset me. I found it bad and disturbing but I didn't want to throw things at the tv. I have to really care about the people involved. Have some investment and right now the people don't seem real enough for me to feel that way. Critical but not upset. So, I can easily conceive watching the show again as a time waster. That has had its few moments of interest. At least until it does make me want to throw something and feels like it's the general tone of the show or I'm just too bored to care.
What does upset me, as evidenced by the no's in my header? The arguments and defenses on message boards. I'm a glutton for punishment because Gateworld makes me want to scream. Now, while I totally disagree that your body isn't part of you (if you have every expectation of getting it back, it's your body and it's part of you, not just some shell that only has a connection to you if your conscious is in it) I can see that being one of those moral quandaries and debates that should have been part of the episode. But, when people say that the people on the ship did something bad so they're lucky -lucky!- that all that happened was they got laid, I want to smash something. First, that old grade school adage that some adults need to brush up on. Two wrongs don't make a right. You can't justify one act by saying the other person did something worse. And, then it's phrasing it as getting laid. Of course the writers are the puppet masters so if they say the person doesn't feel violated, then they aren't. But, it's that people can't grasp that someone might feel that way. And, then to call it lucky implies that even if you do feel violated it's not a bad thing. You're lucky that your violation wasn't worse. Doesn't anyone get how silly that sentence is?
Another thing that makes me seethe are the attempts to knock down the arguments. Not discuss, debate, or even disagree (this is of course not pertaining to those who do those things) but to deny a person has the right to be bothered. If you don't protest everything than anything you protest is invalid. People keeping tabs to make sure you get it all, and if you don't, then they feel you've lost credibility. Saying, "This situation seems to parallel the one that got you upset. Do you think it's as bad? Why? Why not? What's the difference if there is one?" is one thing. Saying, "Why aren't the people who protested that protesting this, and if they aren't than obviously nothing they said in the first case is valid" is a whole other thing. It's clear that it's not the argument that you're concerned with. It's knocking the people giving it down a peg.
And, consent shouldn't be assumed! Also, people take the risk? Well, unlike some people who think that equals that the other person can do whatever they want and hey you knew what you were getting into (except when it's the "bad guys" and then it doesn't apply), I say that if someone is willing to take the risk, and I was in that position, I'd have even more of a responsibility to not take advantage of that risk. And, again, it doesn't mean the other people were right for what they did. But it's not relevant and a total tactic of trying to derail things by saying what they did is a justification for what someone else in their bodies might do.
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| So, a few people were disturbed by the body swapping sex scene. And someone wrote a very good comment on Mallozi's blog. Going into precisely what I said. That someone using your body for sex is not just a bad thing if it ends up with a bad result (STD or unwanted pregnancy) but that a person's body is a part of themselves. And, the act in itself is a violation when it's not your conscious making the decision. And, it shouldn't just be that we have to assume that people have given permission. Funny, someone called him on the assuming argument, and he didn't say that they could have made it clearer. He told them to keep assuming. Just assume the most logical choice. Which to him is, of course they gave permission. And, that's one of the biggest issues. Because to me, and to a few people, that's not a logical assumption. I would think believably people would be very disturbed by the idea. At least some people would. And, I'm mixing comments. So, back to the person who wrote a good argument of how they would feel violated - he didn't respond to that comment at all. Because that comment couldn't be waved away with an "assume the most logical thing."
You'd think at least one person would have a whole lot of soul searching, would ask themselves are they comfortable with it and wouldn't just snap their fingers are say they were fine. You'd also think there would be people who would find the whole idea unethical. Who would argue that there should be stricter guidelines. But, who wants that? If you're going to do something controversial, who wants to explore the controversy? Better to just have a scene with someone jumping into someone else's body in the middle of sex.
And, the people on Gateworld who say that the producers must have taken all this into account? Based on what? Based on that they should have? So you assume they did? Even though there's nothing to support it? Since nothing was said and the issue wasn't brought up (in the episode, where it should be, rather than on someone's blog after people call him on it) it's also quite possible that they didn't take it into account. That they never even thought of it. Who wants to think of issues of consent on your "edgy" "dark" show?
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