DVD Review: Criminal Minds - The Second Season

Criminal Minds revolves around the Behavioral Analysis Unit ("BAU") of the FBI. Each week these people go to a new location around the country to get inside the head of some of the most sadistic criminals ever, in hopes of stopping them before they torture or kill again. Often, at least one gruesome event does happen on the team's watch before they can apprehend the "unsub." Criminal Minds can be downright disturbing, making the show far more gripping than many of its contemporaries.

The BAU is led by Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner (Thomas Gibson). A devoted family man, Hotchner is the humorless, by the book boss who tries to keep the rest of the group on task. Mandy Patinkin plays Jason Gideon. Gideon is a bit of a Renaissance man who loves cooking, chess, and art. However, underneath all of that, there is a sense that something is really eating at him. He is the unit's best profiler and the person who seems to be able to best understand the psyches of the unsubs the unit tracks down each week. Season two of Criminal Minds concentrates on giving the viewer more insight into the lives of most of the members of the BAU. Intertwined with the cases, we are given tidbits that give some clues as to why the BAU members may have chosen these particular careers.

Season two begins with "The Fisher King Part 2," the conclusion to the season one cliffhanger about a sadistic killer who seems to know a lot about the members of the BAU. In "The Fisher King Part 1," Agent Elle Greenway (Lola Glaudini) was shot and believed to be dead; part two reveals her to be barely hanging on to life. It is clear that she won't be a member of the BAU much longer. After half a dozen episodes she is replaced by Agent Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster). Interestingly, Kate Jackson played Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss, Agent Prentiss' mom in one episode.

Kate Jackson's appearance is a nice momentary trip down memory lane, given how disturbing Criminal Minds can be: a child is put up for sale via a 24-hour Internet auction and a pair of killers rape and kill women and then send DVDs of the acts to the victims' families. One of the best episodes of the season is "North Mammon" where three teenage girls (soccer stars, no less) are abducted and put into a cellar; they are told, "Two of you can leave when one of you is dead," meaning they must not only decide who will die, but which two are capable of killing. The ending is both surprising and heartbreaking.

My favorite character on Criminal Minds is Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler). He started out as just a know-it-all whiz with numbers, but Gubler plays his complex character with such ease he is a joy to watch. His talents are on full display in episodes like "The Big Game" where Dr. Reid is kidnapped by a schizophrenic serial killer (James Vander Beek). In "Revelations" a tortured and drugged Dr. Reid uses his knowledge of schizophrenia (his mother has the disease) to survive the ordeal. After that, Spencer begins to change. He is much quieter, less sure of himself, and shows a deeper degree of humility. The rest of the cast -- Shamar Moore, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, and Kirsten Vangsness -- all give solid performances which add to the strength of the show.

Criminal Minds is a great psychological drama. Paramount has presented the second season in Dolby7 Digital 5.1 surround sound with a clear picture in 16x9. Four episodes ("The Fisher King, Part 2", "The Perfect Storm," "Profiler, Profiled," and "Revelations") include interesting commentary tracks from various members of the cast and crew. Disc six offers up four featurettes: "Profilers, Profiled" is a series of interviews with selected cast and crew, including Patinkin, Gubler, Moore, and executive producer Edward Allen Bernero; "The Physical Evidence" takes a look at what the creative team has done to make the show different for season two; "Behavioral Science: Real-Life Criminal Minds" is a look at how accurate the show may or may not be; and "Meet Kirsten Vangsness" is a humorous meet and greet with the actress who plays Penelope Garcia. A gag reel is included, which is more amusing than the norm given the show's seriousness, and two deleted scenes.