Criminal Minds Review: 300 (Season 14 Episode 1)

As a long-running show hits a major milestone on Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 1, “300,” beloved characters find themselves in some of the most dangerous stakes they’ve faced.

One has to wonder just how much trauma a single group of people can reasonably be expected to withstand, even in a risky line of work. The characters of this show have probably crossed that line several times over.

Nonetheless, the creative powers of Criminal Minds seem far from inclined to give them a break. If there’s doubt, it’s quickly eliminated when we open minutes from the kidnapping of Reid and Garcia.

Reid seems a favorite punching bag, largely because his gentle nature elicits a protective response. To have both him and our sweet, beloved Garcia taken…well, we at least know the team will stop at nothing to save them.

Through the episode, we see the impact on others. Our fears are reflected in the emotions of characters, and it’s one of the things that continues to make these stories engaging.

The downside is that, at a certain point, going through this over and over again becomes emotionally exhausting as well. Sometimes, it’s just plain frustrating. When will these deserving people get uninterrupted happiness?

Our answer to that may well be “never”, so we must make our peace with it. In the meantime, we can find solace in the proof of just how like a family the BAU is.

It also doesn’t hurt that we get the kind of twist that shows how, as bad as this show sometimes is at continuity (is Garcia an only child or does she have a ton of brothers?,) it can be great at it, too.

This isn’t the first time we’ve dealt with a cult, nor the first time that the dealings have involved a life-or-death situation. What we might not expect is for two major incidents to be so connected.

I do expect some “creative license” is being taken here that we could critique by re-watching that episode with Cyrus and his followers. Still, I’m happy to settle for the shock value of their revenge plan.

The use of flashback here, even if it is edited, is just enough to give let us understand the skin-crawling feeling of what the team may have missed before—and what that might mean now.

In the midst of complimenting both the drama and the rest of the team, we have to acknowledge just how awesome Reid and Garcia themselves are. Gentle sweet they may be, but they’re still agents through and through.

They are able to stand strong in the face of adversity, only wavering to save each other’s lives. They also communicate plans with disconcerting effectiveness and execute them almost perfectly.

Is it bad to admit that it’s rather satisfying to see Garcia all but mow down an attacker? (In my defense, she lives.) Even if it is, it’s not bad at all to acknowledge the shocked relief when she walks into the BAU of her own volition.

Left on his own, Reid shows that he has the intelligence to manipulate almost anyone he has to. It’s a bit of a dark side, and something else we’ve seen before, but he uses it for good.

In the end, we are rewarded for all we are put through with safe returns and loving reunions. We’ve seen time and time again how much this team will do for each other. That part never gets old.

As is typical for a season, we’ll likely settle into regular cases for a while, with the most intense drama saved for midseason and sweeps. When they do return, though, I will ask again: when will these guys ever catch a break?

What did you think of this episode of Criminal Minds? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Criminal Minds airs Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.

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