Criminal Minds Review: Hot For Teacher

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Despite the admittedly disturbing topic this week, I really enjoyed Criminal Minds. Teri Polo did a fantastic job portraying a woman obsessed with "Teacher Love." She pretty much nailed the psycho thing. Even though, as we say nearly every week, we knew who the UnSub was straight away, there was still something interesting about watching the action unfold. Or maybe it's just our own morbid fascination with watching a train derail, who knows...

In "I Love You, Tommy Brown," the theme of teachers sleeping with their students - which splashes the headlines fairly often - came to the forefront. Even though most of us can't fathom ever entertaining such a setup, the writers did a solid job of explaining the maternal issues and Teacher Love syndrome that drove our villain to act so erratically.

But even though that part of the episode was explained, the thing that I found slightly preposterous was that the BAU team didn't immediately detect the link between the first victims. Sharing a church isn't like sharing a grocery store, it seems like a pretty obvious overlap, so when it didn't come to light right away it felt a bit unrealistic.

Teri Polo on Criinal Minds

There wasn't much else in the way of profiling until the very end, when we learned that this wasn't our UnSub's first time at the rodeo. The revelation that there was another student before Tommy was a fun twist, albeit a creepy one. I can't imagine how it went unnoticed that the UnSub's sister purchased the house of her former victim, but then again, this is TV. And speaking of which, the detective's comment that nothing like those murders happens in their town, it's more like "one of those cable shows" gave me a good chuckle. Touche, CBS.

On an un-profiling related note, the Garcia drama this week has to be discussed. Sorry, readers who hate to hear about the non FBI stuff, but this is too good to overlook. How adorable was Kevin asking Morgan for advice in how to propose to Garcia? He was like a charmingly bumbling idiot, but then he pulled it together when he brought Penelope dinner and her favorite red velvet cupcake. He was really trying!

I was genuinely surprised when Garcia revealed that she wasn't ready to get engaged. Do I think it has something to do with Morgan? No. Do I think they'd make a fun couple? Yes, but it'll never happen. I'm interested to see where things go from here, though. Poor Kevin. I'm not sure how he's going to bounce back from this.

There wasn't much worth mentioning in the way of JJ, Prentiss, Reid, Hotch or Rossi this week, but if the previews are any indication, next week will be enlightening on the Morgan front. Maybe he revisits some demons from his past, or maybe he just gets a little more screen time. Either way, I'm all for it.

What do you, the Criminal Minds faithful, make of this week's pedophilic double standard? (Admit it, no male teacher would ever get out so quickly, people would riot). And of Kevin's rebuffed advances? Where does Garcia go from here? Discuss away, I'm all ears.

I Love You, Tommy Brown Review

Editor Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
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Criminal Minds Season 7 Episode 17 Quotes

Dr. Reid: You know these crimes seem to lack the emotionality that we typically see in personal cause homicides.
JJ: Most executions are criminal enterprise related.
Dr. Reid: But the probability of these couples being involved in the exact same illegal activity is kind of low.
Agent Morgan: There's no way these were random victims of opportunity.

Kevin: Look, I know you're Penelope's boo and she's your baby girl. And what I'm about to embark on involves the keen insight of somebody who knows her inside and out. And no matter how much therapy I've gone through trying to understand your relationship, I know you're that person.
Agent Morgan: OK Kevin, land your plane.
Kevin: I want to propose to Penelope, and I need your help.