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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Elliot Panek

CRIMINAL MINDS follows a team of FBI psychological profilers as they track down mentally disturbed serial killers. Mandy Patinkin plays Jason Gideon, the ostensible leader of the group, who is recovering from a mental breakdown he suffered when a previous bust went horribly awry. In their detective work, the profilers use some traditional methods, such as interviewing suspects and the now-omnipresent forensic techniques made popular by CSI. However, the hallmark of this group is their encyclopedic knowledge of the human mind and patterns of behavior. Through hard work, the use of new technology, and plenty of lateral thinking, they are able to read the minds of the killers, predict their next move, and foil their plans, all while learning a lesson or two.

Is It Any Good?

2

All of this should sound pretty familiar. The show is quite derivative of other procedurals, namely CSI and the other CBS nerd-as-hero detective drama, Numb3rs. There are some good values here -- the show lauds diligence, teamwork, and book smarts. However, it could cultivate an unrealistic fear of a violent world full of psychopathic killers.

The recurring characters fail to be compelling; their relationships are underdeveloped and their dialogue isn't much more than a pastiche of witless banter and hackneyed truisms. Even Gideon isn't really fleshed out enough to elicit sympathy. The show is too busy feeding us new puzzles and shocking us with grisly violence to bother with complex characterization. While the show provides the suspense and shrewdness expected of a crime procedural, its lack of unique characters severely limits its potential to engage an audience.

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