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#1hotchfan |
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#1hotchfan |
1. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 17 2008, 10:25 PM EST
All I can say to tonight's episode is "wow." I am glad I didn't read any spoilers in advance. I was not prepared for the final scenes when Hotch, Rossi and Todd went into Norman's home. At first I thought the smell was the body of his dead daughter but it blew my mind when they revealed what the smell was. I wondered when they showed him practicing shooting in his garage, why his wife and children didn't hear the shot going off. Or his neighbor's for that matter.... how did they not hear all those shots????Hotch was quite direct when dealing with Todd. She clearly is not cut out for handling JJ's job! While we had a really great, touching appearance by her in the end, it's sad she won't be back for a few more episodes! I thought it was cute how Morgan wanted to hold the baby and said he was smiling. I laughed when both Prentiss and Garcia said "Gas" at the same time! I have to say, this was a great episode done by Andrew Wilder. I didn't see some of what happened coming.... not even from the Promo's I saw. It was also interesting and thrilled to see the "car chase." Makes me wonder.... it is rare we have seen one. Was this the first one? I'm wracking my brain but don't ever remember seeing a car chase like this one! 4 out of 4 found this valuable. Do you? |
BrunettyBB |
2. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 17 2008, 11:05 PM EST
Gas! That's all I can say! But no really, it was a great episode. I love Mitch Pileggi! He's such a great actor, and he really added to this episode! There definitely wasn't as much team fluff that you and I have come to love, but this case was so.....fascinating, that it didn't matter. It needed 80% of the episode, although I am missing the backstory fluff and such. Rossi calling Jordan "kiddo" suddenly made me like him a bit more. I really have never warmed to him, but something in him showing some genuine affection for another team member makes him move up a notch. Who knew one word could redeem him? GAS! 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
majormaster01 |
3. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 17 2008, 11:08 PM EST
I agree. I think it was a great episode that kept me on my feet till the end. And when it did end it was a SHOCKER!! Hope time can go by fast so we all can see some more Criminal Minds. Keep up the good work
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Bessie_Mae |
4. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 17 2008, 11:19 PM EST
I knew he was just imagining his family in the car after Hotch, Jordan, and Rossi were opening doors and obviously smelling something terrible. I also believe he had already killed them when he was practicing in the garage. I don't buy the "kiddo" thing. I don't think anyone on the team would call another team member "kiddo" Morgan would call Reid "kid" but that's it. The only time I could believe the word "kiddo" coming out of the mouth of anyone on this team is possibly if they were talking to JJ's baby. I believe there was a car chase (well, car and motorcycle chase) in Psychodrama, but it wasn't the main point of the story there like here. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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BrunettyBB |
5. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 17 2008, 11:41 PM EST
"I don't buy the "kiddo" thing. I don't think anyone on the team would call another team member "kiddo" Morgan would call Reid "kid" but that's it. The only time I could believe the word "kiddo" coming out of the mouth of anyone on this team is possibly if they were talking to JJ's baby. "When you say that, do you mean I made it up? Or you thought it was weird that he said it? I'm pretty sure he did, but once it comes out on Surfthechannel, I'll know for sure. I'm up to being proven wrong......ha ha. I might have imagined it, maybe it's wishful thinking Do you find this valuable? |
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Freem06 |
6. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 17 2008, 11:47 PM EST
What a great show; This show just gets better and better.
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batgurl88 |
7. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 12:00 AM EST
"When you say that, do you mean I made it up? Or you thought it was weird that he said it? I'm pretty sure he did, but once it comes out on Surfthechannel, I'll know for sure. I'm up to being proven wrong......ha ha. I might have imagined it, maybe it's wishful thinking"I think Bessie_Mae meant it was weird that he said it (I thought so as well). But he definitely did say it. It didn't really think it fit with the relationship Rossi has with Jordan (or the rest of the team, for that matter). Just seemed out-of-place IMO. On that note, I wasn't fond of the Jordan substory in this one (must we have so much about a character who'll only be here another few episodes? She was really starting to annoy me in this ep), but I think that is my only real complaint. The writing was good in this one, and the case was good as well. I don't think they ever got around to explaining why he had the shotgun in the car with him to begin with (I assumed it was because he was planning on killing his wife at her promotion party, but I don't remember them saying this out loud). I knew there was something going on with 'Jenny Princess', but like Bessie_Mae, I didn't catch on until Hotch/Rossi/Jordan were reacting to the smell. I was actually yelling at the wife on-screen for saying they all blamed him for Jenny's death, but then I realised she was just another delusion. Good twist, though. Reid should not be on high-speed chases. Shouldn't he have just memorized the entire map and given directions that way? lol. When the unsub crashed his car, I thought for a split second he'd hit the SUV, and it looked like the side where Reid was sitting, so I freaked out for a split second before I realized it was a cop car. Good chase scenes in this one. I liked JJ's cameo at the end. I really miss her on the show. Loved the girls pestering Morgan about holding him, and JJ calling Hotch on his smile. Two episode appearances, and already Henry's a magical being of happiness for everyone who encounters him lol. ...And now, we're on hiatus, right?...sigh... 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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BrunettyBB |
8. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 12:05 AM EST
It's somewhat weird that he said that, but maybe he feels the isolation that she feels by being the newest member (the same isolation that Prentiss related to as well). I thought it was cute....but maybe I'm just a weirdie! LOL
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batgurl88 |
9. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 12:14 AM EST
"I thought it was cute....but maybe I'm just a weirdie! LOL"Nah, you're entitled to your opinion. I've had a prickly view of Rossi in the past, but to me the line just didn't fit with his character (or, at least, his character's view of Jordan). Part of my mild annoyance was because I don't remember Rossi ever using familiar-sounding nicknames with anyone else on the team, so why Jordan? I can't remember him ever saying a word to her one-on-one on the show before this episode, so the familiarity of 'kiddo' just didn't sit right with me. Then again, the whole team following Rossi to Indiana and saying they cared "because you do" didn't sit right with me either at the time. I'm a characterization junkie, so sometimes I get miffed when things don't feel in-line with the character, but everyone sees characters differently. Do you find this valuable? |
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Bessie_Mae |
10. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 12:22 AM EST
"When you say that, do you mean I made it up? Or you thought it was weird that he said it? I'm pretty sure he did, but once it comes out on Surfthechannel, I'll know for sure. I'm up to being proven wrong......ha ha. I might have imagined it, maybe it's wishful thinking"No, I mean it was weird that he said it. I heard him say it, so I didn't mean that I didn't buy that he *did* say it, I don't buy that he *would* say it. It felt like they just wrote the dialogue because it sounded nice and supportive without considering, "would Rossi actually use that word?" Do you find this valuable? |
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Bessie_Mae |
11. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 12:32 AM EST
You know, I don't dislike Jordan, and I can even see how hard this job would be. Especially (and I think it's sometimes easy to forget) since she was thrown in with basically no training. But, the whole thing about whether she can do this job seems unnecessary. Because her doing the job beyond JJ's maternity leave was never in question. If JJ wasn't coming back, I could see a story like that. In that case, this could be a trial period to see if she could handle it when JJ retired. And, even if the answer was no, there would still be a point in her asking the question of whether she could do it long term. But, she and everyone else knew that she never had to wonder if she could do the job beyond JJ's maternity leave. Wasn't she always going to go back to counter-terrorism?
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BrunettyBB |
12. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 12:38 AM EST
I agree that it does seem out of character to him, but maybe the writers are trying to bring in a softer side of David Rossi....who the hell knows? I will say I'm tired of Jordan's story line. I'm ready for her to leave. She seems somewhat whiny and self-centered. I also don't like the long drawn out "will they or won't they" with MorganYou guys made my night! This is really the first time that I've engaged myself in a discussion. Yay! Do you find this valuable? |
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firearrow |
13. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 12:42 AM EST
". I'm a characterization junkie, so sometimes I get miffed when things don't feel in-line with the character, but everyone sees characters differently."I'm an old Fed clinical psychologist. retired after 30 years working with seriously mentally ill, inmates, etc. I think it is in line with what the Rossi character would say, as was following Rossi to IN . When you are out in the trenches, there is a kind of caring and camaraderie that is not easily or frequently expressed. I remember being mortified when a younger colleague would be in great emotional pain and I would slip and call them "hon" in an effort to comfort, definitely not expected from an old hard a-- like me. As for your colleagues, their fight is your fight , even if you do not otherwise share "warm fuzzies". When a team member goes to a firefight, you go, too. That is the way it is done. No matter how abrasive his character may be at times, remember a BAU member must, first and foremost, emotionally connect. Rossi has to be able to do this to be a good BA U type, so this behavior IS consistent. I personally agree that Jordan is not up to the task and it was important for Rossi to point out that this work is not for everyone, and that is OK. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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batgurl88 |
14. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 1:12 AM EST
"I'm an old Fed clinical psychologist. retired after 30 years working with seriously mentally ill, inmates, etc. I think it is in line with what the Rossi character would say, as was following Rossi to IN . When you are out in the trenches, there is a kind of caring and camaraderie that is not easily or frequently expressed. I remember being mortified when a younger colleague would be in great emotional pain and I would slip and call them "hon" in an effort to comfort, definitely not expected from an old hard a-- like me. As for your colleagues, their fight is your fight , even if you do not otherwise share "warm fuzzies". When a team member goes to a firefight, you go, too. That is the way it is done. No matter how abrasive his character may be at times, remember a BAU member must, first and foremost, emotionally connect. Rossi has to be able to do this to be a good BA U type, so this behavior IS consistent. I personally agree that Jordan is not up to the task and it was important for Rossi to point out that this work is not for everyone, and that is OK. "Agreed. Working in a high-stress environment like the FBI would definitely lead to a faster and deeper connection with colleagues than you'd see in most professions. We've certainly seen this with other characters on the show. But a huge part of Rossi's character to begin with was that he wasn't so great at the emotionally-connecting part of being on a team. It was understandable - they hadn't had close-knit teams back when he'd started in the BAU - but it was still an issue. He's improved since he came back, but it's largely because of this that I raise an eyebrow whenever they randomly show Rossi as having a super-deep connection with members of the team (like in 'Minimal Loss' when he vehemently argued he couldn't be objective because he was emotionally involved due to Reid and Emily). It's not to say that he couldn't or wouldn't have an emotional connection with his co-workers (especially after all this time), but it seems like they never build up to the big moments with Rossi. Even the most abrasive of guys would give at least a small hint in how they act/interact with others, and for the longest time we never saw that with Rossi. IMO, the writers often show very little of his connection to the team until something bad happens, and then it's him being all "but we're so close!" as if it's common knowledge and he always acts that way towards them, and the others don't even blink. It just feels uneven to me, even if his character is intended to be a bit off-putting (which it is). But like I said, my opinions towards Rossi (though greatly improved since his first appearance) have been prickly to say the least, and everyone views the characters differently. And to BrunettyBB - yay for joining in! I always love coming back here for discussions, so it's great new people are taking part as well! This is a great community. Do you find this valuable? |
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Bessie_Mae |
15. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 1:24 AM EST
"A He's improved since he came back, but it's largely because of this that I raise an eyebrow whenever they randomly show Rossi as having a super-deep connection with members of the team (like in 'Minimal Loss' when he vehemently argued he couldn't be objective because he was emotionally involved due to Reid and Emily). It's not to say that he couldn't or wouldn't have an emotional connection with his co-workers (especially after all this time), but it seems like they never build up to the big moments with Rossi. Even the most abrasive of guys would give at least a small hint in how they act/interact with others, and for the longest time we never saw that with Rossi. IMO, the writers often show very little of his connection to the team until something bad happens, and then it's him being all "but we're so close!" as if it's common knowledge and he always acts that way towards them, and the others don't even blink. It just feels uneven to me, even if his character is intended to be a bit off-putting (which it is). "I feel the same way. It's like they throw these things in. And, also, *how* he's understanding has to fit *Rossi* in particular, not just a BAU member. I think that anyone of the team could have had a scene like that with Jordan -but every one of them would be different, according to the individual there. Of course, that's one of the pitfalls of having a character start off abrasive and antagonistic, when you plan for them to be a regular. They can't stay that way forever, but tv shows don't know how to make the shift to the other side. They show one way and then the other without the in between. Were we supposed to think that before he killed her, the wife was nagging and making the unsub feel small and worthless? I assumed most of his perception of them was all in his head. Except what made him specifically target women that looked like his wife? Why not also drive around looking for cars with two girls in the back? Do you find this valuable? |
JBfromNJ |
16. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 7:38 AM EST
I was wondering *when* he killed his family. If the entire house smelled that terrible at the end of the epi, he must have killed him long before he began his wild car chase. Was it after the promotion party? Morgan can drive like whoa... I've driven in Cali and those roads are packed sometimes, and he somehow managed to bust a move without injuring anyone. Reid was funny getting tossed around in his seat. I'm done with Jordan. I forgot about her a few times in the episode and it was almost jarring when she appeared. I wonder how long JJ's maternity leave is that it's up in the air whether Jordan can do her job. I think she can tough it out for a couple of weeks, but I'm not too thrilled about seeing more of her. Do you find this valuable? |
wensmcg |
17. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 7:58 AM EST
I agree with you entirely. I haven't seen the episode yet but I absolutely think this would be something Rossi would say, especially to help another team member feel better. I can imagine him saying it. And interesting that he's the only one who calls Spencer by his first name. He uses a degree of familiarity that puts the others at ease, and it's one thing that makes him good at his job. Looking forward to seeing this ep!! Great post BTW. Rossi has certainly grown on me recently with watching with an entirely open mind. Wxx Do you find this valuable? |
MooreCriminalMinds |
18. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 8:47 AM EST
Okay so...I have to say this was my fav ep thus far. Haven't read through the other posts so if I just repeat what's been said sorry in advance :)I have never loved Rossi. By any means..but I can totally see him (or anyone) calling Jordan kiddo. Besides the fact that he's older than her and has tons more experience it just seems like Rossi is starting to open up. I think his compassion/him being worried for her made him a 100 percent more likeable. I think this was a huge scene for character interactions. Just the little things. Hotch is all about the team and until the end Todd was all about I. Their interactions were huge in defining this. The end was great..Hotch smiling and JJ noticing...gas....All I'll say is I'm glad we have Hotch back. As for the case, i knew the Jessica Princess was dead..seeing as how he never went in her room. I didn't know he was imagining his family in the car until the team went in the house...although i was wondering why the cops didn't radio that the family was in the car..it's not like the wouldn't be able to see. Okay..so that's my view...gotta go tho :) 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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batgurl88 |
19. RE: Discuss "Normal" here
Dec 18 2008, 9:28 AM EST
"I was wondering *when* he killed his family. If the entire house smelled that terrible at the end of the epi, he must have killed him long before he began his wild car chase. Was it after the promotion party?"I think it was supposed to be after the promotion party, since that's when gets up and wanders in his bathrobe to their rooms, and then saws off the shotgun and cocks it. Creepy, though, that he killed them and then continued on killing people that represented his wife as if he still needed an outlet for the real thing. I'm with you on Jordan - it was a bit jarring to keep having her run in. I know she's only around for another handful of episodes, but I could do without the focus on her. I don't really care about her character, so I'd much rather have the screentime go to one of the others on the team. Do you find this valuable? |
