‘Criminal Minds’ season 11, episode 20 review: Rossi revisits his past

We have already gotten through our first episode of “Criminal Minds” without Shemar Moore and we have to say it was really weird not having him on the show. There was a nice guest spot by Paget Brewster to help fill the void, but it just wasn’t the same.

Then again, at least we had Paget, since were it not for Rossi and some touching moments with his ex, we feel like Wednesday night’s new episode would’ve been somewhat of  a snoozer. It’d been a while since we had gotten an update on his personal life, and this was definitely a door that needed closing given that we have spent so much time watching him get to know Joy, and of course as a result of that want to see more about her mother. These two are now on better terms, and while we cannot predict the future, we’re at least pleased that they at least good have a good relationship once more.

As for the rest of the episode, it wasn’t bad per se to see a case all about an UnSub trying to replicate his injured wife by pretending that other women, following his own disfigurement, were them. Sure, it was horrifying, but all cases on this show tend to be. This was executed fairly well, and the chain of events leading to the end was compelling. It was just pretty ordinary by show standards, and when you have a giant void with Morgan not there, you need to think of some other ways to help distract us. Unfortunately, this case didn’t do that.

Luckily, the next episode is the first of a two-parter, and there’s a good chance there that something new will happen to move us into the next phase of the show. Episode grade: C+.

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