Kait Mae

Did I only start watching this because of two of the main actors? Yes. Did I stay because it was a good show? Absolutely. I’m a big crime show person, and I had yet to see anything like this. Were there elements similar to Criminal Minds and Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s The Naturals at points? Yes. But it stood out despite the protagonist, Bex, being part of the Behavioral Analysis Unit. The show was amazing and I decided that I’d do short reviews of each of the 10 episodes of the first season.

I’ll stop yapping and get to it.

“Richard Harris”

The pilot episode started out with a bang – or more accurately, a boom. This was the most perfect start to a crime show that I’ve seen in a long time. Recently, it’s taken me awhile to start liking the characters, but with this, I was on board almost immediately.

And that twist with Harris at the end? I was not expecting that at all. That is how you write a pilot episode!

“Clayton Jessup”

I was thoroughly creeped out by this episode. Was it the most “I’m on the edge of my seat” episode? No. But still, I couldn’t stop watching to see what would happen. Seeing the evolution of Clayton from his time in The Pit was horrifyingly accurate for what might happen under those circumstances from a psychological standpoint. I love the writing team’s attention to detail with that part of the episode.

“Lowe”

At the point of watching this, it was my favorite. It actually was an “on the edge of my seat” episode nearly the entire time. Lowe’s devolving once she found out the truth was heartbreaking for her, accurate to how some serial killers react, and chilling to the bone. I never knew who was going to be next to come across her – especially in the nighttime scenes.

“Doctor Ezekiel Malak”

This episode wasn’t my favorite, but there was a specific moment that I genuinely liked to see. Without fully spoiling the ending, there was a moment where Bex did something most might frown upon, but I would do it, too, if in her shoes. That said, the science included in this episode gave me the chills. And the actor playing Malak did such a good job selling the character.

“Roy Barber”

The episode was one of my favorites at the point of watching it. Seeing how the episode showed how some crimes aren’t what we thought they were from the viewer’s perspectives was amazing. I loved how the big twist was revealed, too.

“Arlo Brandt”

I’m sorry, I had no idea David Ramsey was going to be in this show – even if for one episode. His character was so creepy but understandable for his character’s treatment in the Pit. I absolutely loved this episode and how the team was coming together. 

“Mark Marsden”

There was a lot going on in this episode. But I loved it. My favorite part was towards the end – Bex is a badass. That’s all.

Just kidding. This story was a great twist on the Black Widow murders I remember seeing as a kid all across crime shows. Honestly, if you aren’t a big fan of Bex yet, you should be after her great shot.

“Denise Glenn”

I said Arlo was a creepy character, but there was something creepier about Denise Glenn’s character. She knew her worth, which is great. But her way of showing her worth – not great. I loved seeing how in-depth the show goes into psychology; this is what I’ve been wanting in crime shows since Criminal Minds.

“Tom Beecher”

This episode gave me the chills the entire time. Then we find out more about what kind of experiments they were doing in The Pit. Oh my gosh, I was whirling. That said, it didn’t reach the top of my ranking – it was good, but compared to the others, it was just a filler for me. That said, if you like Criminal Minds, you will love this episode.

“Jenna Wells” (finale)

The whole episode was a rollercoaster from beginning to end. Without giving away major spoilers, I really thought they’d save at least one of Jenna’s victims, but she was a great antagonist of the season finale. But what’s killing me right now is the cliffhanger! From one person possibly dead, one in the hospital, and one person still unsure of who his parents are?

My Overall Thoughts

While I genuinely loved the show, I wish it had been longer. I’m so tired of the 10-episode shows. Give me 13, minimum. Even better, give me the 20-something-episode seasons like what I grew up watching in the early 2000s.

Also…I need season two right now! As of writing this the morning of April 10, there’s been no solid news of a renewal, and ratings do seem to lean towards cancellation. That said, I’m going to hope until they announce whether it’s canceled or renewed. Fingers crossed!