‘Criminal Minds’ season 11, episode 21 review: Frances Fisher shines in creepy ‘Devil’s Backbone’

Ever since the departure of Morgan on “Criminal Minds,” we feel like the show has tried to distract us as much as possible with either big stories or big guest stars. First, we had the return of Paget Brewster; then, we had a story that was very personal to the Rossi character.

On Wednesday night’s “Devil’s Backbone,” we had a heck of an appearance from Frances Fisher as Antonia, a brutal UnSub who had connections to the past and to the Gideon character. As it turned out, Antonia was needed in order to solve a new kidnapping, and the BAU helped to get a deal with her: In exchange for her help, they would potentially transfer her to a more welcoming prison. She helped stopped Claude the kidnapper, but at the same time there was obviously some sort of hidden motive in here.

When it comes to Hotch, he is actually the person who made the biggest discovery of all as to what she was really up to. He realized that Antonia was wrongfully profiled, and that she may have had a son many years ago. She wouldn’t confirm that news to him, but she did warn him that a “storm” was coming … and based on previews that we’ve seen, this storm may impact him dearly.

From all of the individual scenes with Fisher to the piecing together of the mystery to the big reveal of the end, this was easily the best “Criminal Minds” episode of the post-Morgan era. We do still miss him, but we’re not going to deny that this was creepy, and an effective use of a two-part structure to lay the seeds for something great. Grade: B+.

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