Criminal Minds “Demonology”
Paget Brewster, who plays Agent Emily Prentiss, is the focus of “Demonology”
Wednesday night CBS is reairing “Demonology.” When this episode originally aired, I was excited to see what was revealed about Paget Brewster’s charcter, Emily Prentiss. Part of the reason why I like Criminal Minds so much is that I like the characters. I like seeing bits and pieces of their personalities and histories revealed as they work on cases. I think they strike a good balance between focusing on the cases and giving us some hints about the characters.
I know some Criminal Minds fans that want the focus to be on the cases. I have to say that I’m more towards that side - I don’t think it’d be as entertaining if it were some big soap opera whose characters happened to be with the FBI. I like delving into the twisted minds of the unsubs because they are so different from me. But not so different at the same time. As we saw in “Normal” and “True Night” (with Frankie Muniz), normal people can snap and become something they’d never have thought possible. The human mind is so complex; it’s interesting to see inside those minds that are different than “normal” minds.
I’d love to see a bit more about Hotch’s childhood because there were some things alluded to in the first few seasons that’d be interesting to know more about. But I like him because he’s kind of dark and mysterious and reserved. I don’t know if I want to know too much. What do you think? Do you think there should be more/less about the characters themselves?
July 6th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Keeping the show UN-soapy is very important. When “ships” become the focus of a show that is otherwise a mystery or a procedural or even a comedy, the writing of the episodes becomes ragged and torn between trying for plot and pleasing the “ships.” EXAMPLE The X FILES!!!!!!
Now, I love a bit of character exposition from time to time, even a tiny touch in each episode is nice. I would like to know if Haley was having an affair before she and Hotch split. I would like to know if Reid continued a relationship with the FBI Assistant Director who was in his rehab group and had faith in him, not to mention if he has used drugs since then. And, I would really want to know when Reid gets a girlfriend or scores for the first time; Morgan can do it with a couple of lines by teasing him as they sit down for the morning meeting, I would be okay with that!! Hotch’s supposed, hinted at background of childhood abuse would be very very interesting, but I can live without it for the sake of tight episodes and continuity.
I see this argument become active in almost every show over time. I think it is because we, the fans and viewers, become drawn into the character’s lives, as if they were neighbors or cousins – something a little distant from the core family, but not too far. After all, we see them once a week. I think we invent or presume the characters need more than we are given on the screen and the best way, not to mention the most titillating, is to give them dramatic back-stories and love affairs, the more far out the better. The best reality check is to look at the fandom’s fanfiction and see that 99% is romance and the other 1% is plotted stories about the actual business in the show. Sometimes I think if it is hard for us, the viewers and fans to hold back from assuming extra lives for the characters, the actual writers on the show must have to tamp down their urge to write lots of personality in each episode. Emotions, I think, are easier to write than serious plot and meaty stories.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I think you’re right that emotions are easier than the meaty stories - that’s a good way to put it. I hope season five has even better stories than we’ve seen so far. And a little about Hotch while they’re at it.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:37 am
Hey Katie, I stumbled upon this wonderful blog of yours and was so happy!
I started watching CM ever since the first season, which I don’t usually do because I’m usually a little slow on picking up shows right from the beginning. So CM is special to me. I guess it was the subject that lured me in at first - basically I’m interested in psychology. But then I really fell in love with the cast.
Hotch is my favorite character in CM, and one of my favs in all the TV shows and movies I’ve watched. I was so glad to learn that he’s your favorite too. He is darkly handsome, reserved, caring, soft-spoken (love his voice), firm, no-nonsense, loyal, dedicated…so many good things in one package! I was very happy to see those Hotch-centric eps in Season 4, starting right from the very first ep! And those are the ones I watch over and over again. That being said, I’m not sure whether I want to see his supposed childhood abuse background revealed. Maybe one day, but not yet. Especially since they’ve done that with Morgan. I think Hotch’s life is full of issues as is, we don’t have to delve into his childhood. It’s been used too much on other shows, too.
I also love Rossi very much, especially after Omnivore. Because it seems that he’s the only one who’s able to penetrate Hotch’s thick protective armor to reach in and help him. Hotch is too accustomed to internalize things. Rossi’s more open and fiery personality is complementary to that, and apparently, his dramatic streak
That scene with the two of them are absolutely my favorite!
(Sorry, I’m sort of blabbing out of happiness. I’ll shut up now :P)
July 9th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Hi Stella,
Thanks for writing! I’m glad to find a fellow Hotch fan. I think you make a great point that Hotch’s life is so full of issues that we don’t necessarily need to go digging in his past. I hadn’t thought of it like that but it makes sense. I started watching CM after my mother got hooked on it. She loves Mandy Patinkin and watched it for him. I thought it’d be another crime show and didn’t bother. But after she raved about it, I watched and became hooked myself.
Don’t worry, you can blab anytime!