Despite being quite negative lately towards 'Criminal Minds' it is not because of disliking the show. In fact, when it was in its prime 'Criminal Minds' was a huge favourite, and although it has gone vastly downhill there is still just about enough to warrant me still tuning in.
"The Black Queen" really isn't an example of 'Criminal Minds' at its best. In fact, from personal opinion, it is one of the show's worst episodes and of the Season 9 episodes only "200" was worse. A few things redeem it. It is very well made as always, very stylish and classy as ever and very nicely shot, the music is a nice mix of atmosphere and melancholy and the performances despite underwhelming material are still good.
On the other hand, there is a lot that didn't work about "The Black Queen". May be criticised for being nit-picky, for not accepting change and hating it when things done differently. The last two cannot be further from the truth, the problem is when doing something differently is done badly. That is the case with "The Black Queen". Garcia's story could have been really interesting and could have seen some great development, but it does take up far too much of the episode and is heavy in continuity gaffes and contradictions which strongly suggests that the writers have completely forgotten about the earlier seasons.
As a result of this the rest of the team take a complete back-seat, so much so that you barely see them at all and they are all forgettable at best, with the sole exception of seeing a more heroic Reid. The case also feels like an after-thought and feels very disjointed with Garcia's story and a case of too many ideas tossed in with not enough development. The unsubs are well-performed but not very interesting, the second unsub suffers from being a rather too convenient and thrown in Deux Ex Machina so poor Jeffrey Coombes has very little to do.
Garcia has been more likable too in earlier seasons, this was at a point where she did become annoying and like a caricature. The problem is not to do with Kirsten Vangsness, who is very good actually, but the writing. The sexual harassment talk just felt out of place within the story and the Morgan and Garcia banter was in serious need at this point of the show of a toning down and being used far less because it was unrealistically over-familiar, almost creepy, and sometimes cringe-worthy.
In conclusion, not as bad as "200" but almost on the same level. 3/10 Bethany Cox
