Criminal Minds (TV Series) Mosley Lane (2010) User Reviews

The directorial debut of Matthew Gray Gubler

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 15 August 2016]

When good or at its best, 'Criminal Minds' is one of my favourites. "Mosley Lane" is one of Season 5's best episode, and left a real impression on me, even when only seeing it once or twice it is difficult to forget it.

The procedural re-enactment of the crime scene is clumsily inserted and done and doesn't really add very much. More of a problem is that the episode could have provided a reason for why the unsubs were committing their crimes, that was never made clear.

However, Matthew Gray Gubler in his 'Criminal Minds' directorial debut does fantastically well, "Mosley Lane" is one of his most talked about and acclaimed of his directed 'Criminal Minds' episodes and it is not hard at all to see why, providing a genuine tightness, creepy atmosphere, suspenseful tension and truly raw and often heart-rending emotion.

Scenes with the unsubs are chilling, enhanced by the creepy setting and particularly the quite terrifying performance of Beth Grant, the profiling and procedural aspects are very intelligently done and the ending is bittersweet, harrowing and heart-breaking, one of the most powerful endings of the show easily with the moment with the parents of the latest victim finding out that their son could have saved if found a day earlier being one of the show's most emotional.

Writing is taut and thought-provoking, visually the episode is one of the most atmospheric and striking and as ever the music is haunting and melancholic while never intrusive or distractingly over-bearing. The acting is very good from all the regulars and the unsubs particularly Anita are third only to George Foyet and Billy Flynn as Season 5's most frightening unsubs. The parents are very movingly portrayed, especially David Youse and Debra Sullivan, and Brooke Smith and Ann Cusack really add to the urgency and emotional power of the story.

Overall, a more than promising director's job from Gubler and a truly powerful episode that stays with you for a long time. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Smart acting and directing

[winniee852 · 8/10 · 4 March 2010]

I love this episode. It's not bloody or particularly violent but the whole forty minutes just caught my eye.

Brooke Smith is great in this episode, and so are the others. Matthew Gubler's done some smart directing.

The last five minute broke my heart, with that couple learning of the tragic news. I especially appreciate the acting of the dad, Mr Shephard. He just looked...authentic.

Criminal minds's just getting better and better isn't it? I've been following this whole series from day one, and it never let me down. I'm glad Hotch is back, and the team is a team again.

One of the best Criminal Minds episodes ever made.

[fabian5 · 10/10 · 2 April 2011]

Mosley Lane actually aired on March 3, 2010 but I missed its first viewing and only saw it in early 2011 in a Criminal Minds (CM) rerun during season 6 of this series. After I saw this episode, I was stunned by the fact that this was Matthew Gubler's first outing as director of a CM episode. This episode was free flowing but exciting with an excellent pace. It was excellent and both emotionally powerful and gut wrenching at the same time. Such was the power of its script.

Basically, Sara Hillridge approaches the BAU to see JJ to find out any news about the kidnapping of her son Charlie 8 years ago. Sara still believes that Charlie is alive. JJ, however, knows all about the statistical odds that a child would be killed by an abductor within a 24 hour time period and isn't especially thrilled by Sara's visits whenever a child is kidnapped. Meanwhile the parents of a recently kidnappped girl are desperate to have their daughter recovered safely. Hence, the producer's line where JJ reads Nietzche's seemingly painfully accurate words near the start of this episode: "Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torment of man." Sara has heard news about the recent kidnapping of the young girl--Aimee-at a fair and tells JJ that her young son was kidnapped in precisely the same way that this new child was kidnapped (with a female unsub calling out for a child which distracts the attention of the mother thereby allowing the child to be kidnapped). The BAU team quickly realizes that this cannot be a random coincidence but rather the signature of a group of abductors--one to distract the mother and cause her to to loosen her hold on her child and the other to grab the child in an open public theme park, mall or public space. JJ arranges to have Sara remain at the BAU team's workplace for her input while the team starts to build a detailed profile of the unsubs who eventually turn out to be Roger and Anita who have been carrying out their crimes unmolested for at least 8 years and who have murdered 8 children along the way.

The ending was both joyful for three parents--including Charlie's mother, Sara, and father--and tragic for another set of parents who discover that their son was murdered the day before by Roger and Anita. Its a mix of emotions: joy and grief all at the same time. Sara's quiet approach to the BAU team and her question to them after Charlie was found--was genuine and heartfelt. It was a question which we all wanted to ask the team. How could they perform their dark and difficult jobs and yet live their lives knowing what they knew? Prentice's reply is a classic: "because of days like this" where other parents are crying in joy with their lost (and now found) children. JJ's quotation of Emily Dickinson's beautiful poem on hope was a wonderful way to close out this episode. What can I say: the script was above average and Gubler made an excellent directorial debut in Criminal Minds. The only thing lacking is that no clear reason was given for why Roger and Anita were kidnapping the children but since they owned a secluded boarding home, one can guess that they wanted some children under their control with new names and identities. I personally rate Mosley Lane as one of Criminal Minds top 10 episodes. It helped that JJ was still a regular in this season 5 episode when it was produced as she was forced to leave the CM series early in its 6th season sadly...though she made one effective comeback in 'Lauren'--another episode that Gubler also coincidentally directed. In a sense, this series was closely tied to JJ since she knew Sara, supported Sara's theory about the unique kidnapping methods of the unsubs over the initial skepticism of her BAU colleagues and found the secret basement compartment at the house on 2150 Mosley Lane where the children were hidden.

I Cried...

[Mehki_Girl · 10/10 · 22 April 2021]

When the dad, cried, "he was alive yesterday", I assume gonna lie, I lost it.

terrifyingly good.

[seherazmi · 10/10 · 29 January 2021]

I couldn't stop watching even for a second. MGG's direction was fantastic. Free flowing and beautiful to watch. The music, setting and the UnSubs were so haunting. One of the best CM episodes till date.

Hope

[Jackbv123 · 9/10 · 2 October 2019]

Oddly,, because of messed up cable scheduling of reruns on multiple networks, "Nanny Dearest" is the last episode I've watched, even just today, and it has some similarities.

Ann Cusack does a wonderful job as one victim's mother, actually a victim herself. Just like Tara in Nanny Dearest, Sarah works through crushing circumstances and her bravery triumphs when needed. She gives life to the story of the victim and of her emotions.

And JJ once again supplies her mother's heart to the team as a guiding beacon of hope for team and victims.

While I wasn't super impressed by detective aspects of the story, Cusack's character held my attention until the last scene or two when emotions were unleashed.

Great casting

[jennalfclark · 8/10 · 8 September 2014]

While this episode may not stand out from the rest of this series in other ways, the casting was fantastic. Bud Cort is not only associated here with a funeral home and a hearse, hearkening back to his role as Harold in Harold and Maude, but is also paired with Beth Grant, who will be familiar to most moviegoers and TV viewers for her many notable roles, and is perhaps best known for her part in Donnie Darko. Evan Peters has also gained fame since this episode first aired, and does a great job in a fairly unusual role. All the other characters are well- played by lesser-known but no less talented actors, particularly the father who loses his son, played by David Youse, whose performance is heartbreaking at the bittersweet ending of this installment. Matthew Grey Gubler's direction seems competent, though the typical pitfalls of the show still exist.

Great acting

[bachnielsensimone · 10/10 · 12 April 2023]

This episode made me ugly cry. The actors were amazing, especially Charlie played by Evan Peters and Charlie's mother played by Ann Cusack. Most Criminal Minds episodes are great, but this one is outstanding. Even the children were phenomenal actors. But when you watch this, have tissues ready. I rarely cry over tv, but this episode really got to me.

This is also the first episode directed by Matthew Gray Gubler, which he did extremely well.

Usually I play Sudoku on my phone while watching Criminal Minds, but this episode got me to put my phone down and watch the whole thing. Beautifully made and extraordinarily painful.

Great episode missing important detail at end.

[jackcole-96859 · 9/10 · 4 October 2019]

Think this is one of the more compelling episodes of the series and my favorite from the season. The one detail missing is who the 3rd in the operation is I know the women screaming for her child at the festival wasn't the old hag who tried to burn children, but who was it? Anyone know?

Can't Watch Its That Good

[sophiesaunt · 9/10 · 26 June 2018]

Excellent episode. It's just that one of the kids kidnapped; reminds me of my Niece. She looks almost exactly like her. I can't watch this particular episode, yet. This episode is THAT good. Especially the ending. Don't miss it!

Good Direction, Great Performance

[KnewItAll · 8/10 · 28 October 2016]

Matthew Grey Gubler's direction was good for a first timer. The locations were OK but a bit weak. I like that in season 5 the unsubs were revealed early on like some other good crime shows. It tends to let us in on the unsub's character and allows him/her to develop properly. It gives a weight to the creep of the moment and allows us to appreciate the return scene at BAU. This episode had the added advantage of Ann Cusak's wonderful performance in humanizing the tragedy but Gubler's direction here failed to distinguish between her drunken state and later, when she was sober. More clarity would have been appreciated. One other thing about this episode is that unlike all the rest of them there was no clear reason that was stated or inferred as to why the children were abducted to begin with. A clear departure from what makes CM stand out against other shows of this type. All in all I gave it an 8 because of Cusak's really good performance and the structure that was built in to that final bitter sweet scene of the reunion at the end that confuses happiness with sadness. One of the best yet.

Oddly weak episode

[lufts · 3/10 · 21 March 2011]

I'm a huge fan of the series, but the acting, from normally fine performers here was odd to say the least. The emotions seemed to have no relation to the script or situations, and would change at the drop of a hat, but not in the way one would expect. Just flat recitation of lines. Particularly the Brooke Smith character who seemed not particularly upset at her daughter's disappearance, and not at all disturbed by her husband's blame.

Sadly, I have to lay the blame on Gubler's direction. He may be just a bit young and inexperienced at this point to direct effectively.

Just as problematic was that there was absolutely no exploration of the cause of the kidnapping, or the psychology of the "unsubs", both the things that set CM apart from the typical crime drama. This is just one of the indications of a particularly weak script for this normally powerful show.

Does anyone think that

[lescass · 8/10 · 11 December 2011]

the death of the character played by Bud Cort was in any way an homage to "Harold and Maude"? One of Harold's simulated suicides was by hanging as well..I don't remember if Harold was wearing a suit in that scene, the same way that the CM character wore one. Would love to know if others thought the same! Thought that Matthew did a great job directing- very professional. Everyone did the usual above-average job in this one.I have come to this show late, but like it that way. I can get a concentrated dose by indulging with many episodes in a row instead of having to wait a week (or a season) in between. I really most wanted to comment on this "Mosely Lane" episode but was compelled to write just a bit more!

Memorable , touching episode.

[kellielulu · 10/10 · 2 October 2022]

Hope and despair are often so close to each other we can feel both at the same time. This is what Sarah Hillridge's life has been like ever since her son Charlie was abducted eight years earlier. He was eight. Her husband Jake left her taking their daughter Emily. Sarah drinks but she also has made it her mission and find Charlie alive. She keeps track of all abductions on a board and places little flower replicas of ones found deceased. When another eight year old ( Aimee ) is abducted at a local fair Sarah shows up at the makeshift headquarters of the BAU. She talks to Emily who doesn't know her but JJ and Garcia knows who she is she keeps showing up to every child abduction in the area. JJ becomes convinced Sarah's belief that Aimee was taken by the same people and convinces the team to keep on it. I don't always like JJ focused episodes but this one works using her skills and empathy not a lot of sudden random brilliance we never saw before. AJ Cook never looked more beautiful than in this one. There is really a different feel and look to this one I appreciate. Matthew Gray Gubler's directing and maybe different lighting could be to the reason.

We see what is happening with the children taken by an older couple. The conclusion has a mix of joy and sadness. But as the team closes in on them Charlie makes a bold move to save himself , Aimee and another girl.

Harold and Maude!!!

[markbarefoom · 10/10 · 4 November 2021]

Yes! The very first thing I thought of was Bud Cort "hanging" himself at the beginning of "Harold and Maude" and-then again-at the end of this! Two other reviewers mentioned this, and I can't help but think Bud Cort must have been very aware of it too! "Harold and Maude" was the seminal film of my sixteenth year, leading me into a life of theatre, film appreciation, and love of directors like Hal Ashby (Harold and Maude) and M. Gubler (this episode). If only for this reason alone, I will watch this episode again, and I will repeat showings of "Harold and Maude" as well!

Furnace Funeral

[ttapola · 8/10 · 14 September 2011]

This is a great episode. However, it is *not* perfect. I watched it three times. It starts impressively, with a disappearance of a child – putting children in danger always raises the emotional impact on the viewers. Also, the immediate reveal that this is just the latest in a string of child disappearances over a decade combined with the creepy situation of the latest child and the gruesome fate of one of the earlier ones raises the tension sky high. Unfortunately, all this takes *six and a half minutes* - way too long for a pre-credits sequence in a series with episodes lasting 42 or so minutes. Surely the opening title sequence could have come sooner? Writers' bad. Director Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Reid), on the other hand, makes one heck a TV directing debut here (he's directed only short films before). Of course, he's aided immensely by the spot-on score by Fantini, Fantini & Gordon. The music here is *really* impressive.

Now, where the writers go wrong again is the "BAU agents imagine being in the moment of the crime" scene, which this series *never* seems to get right. Well, at least they are consistent. There's not much Gubler can do with such a clumsily written scene. The writers really should study The Closer, the classiest, most convincing crime procedural in recent memory and not underestimate the audience's intelligence. Fortunately, that scene is briefly over and the creepiness comes back with the "spreading of the ashes" scene. From that point on, the script is pretty much quality stuff, except for one weird fault: in the ashes scene they reveal the male unsub, making the later "questioning of the suspects" scenes where the BAU agents visit *innocent* creeps absolutely pointless. We now know what the man looks like and have a pretty good estimate on the woman. Why did they have to show his face earlier? Why?

Acting here is great all around, meaning that the story remains convincing despite the slight problems with the script. The character of Charlie serves as a great cause for conflict among the parents of the missing children and also raises complex questions, which is always good. The resolution, however, lacks the required big punch and raises the question "who exactly taught Charlie to shoot?" His kidnappers don't really seem stupid enough to *let* him know firearms, let alone teach him on how to use them, considering how clever they are otherwise portrayed to be. It would make sense that Charlie's general knowledge is not on a much higher level than when he was kidnapped.

The epilogue is harrowing, which makes amends for the faults, but overall, for every achievement in scriptwriting there seems to come a disappointment in return. And then there is the fact that the series seems to think 'continuity' means that mentioning that AJ now has a 1½ year old child is enough. Once you've established continuity instead of the good old Reset Button, the fact that Hotch moved on without barely a tear after his wife was executed by The Reaper becomes a *major* fault that, for as long as the series runs, will always hinder the series' plausibility, and hence, credibility. An 8/10 is as high as this can get, all problems considered. Sadly, this could have been even a 10/10.