Criminal Minds (TV Series) The Fisher King: Part 2 (2006) User Reviews

Another incredible episode

[lottiemarshalllm · 9/10 · 5 August 2020]

Disclaimer:I am no expert reviewer, I just need a show to binge watch and I'm going to Write a review for every episode I watch.

Similar to my review for Fisher King part one I loved the puzzle solving that the team had to do to catch this extremely clever and delusional killer.

I particularly like getting to see Gideon and hotch struggle as they reconcile with the fact that they got Elle hurt And Reid's relationship with his mother. Another part of this episode that I really enjoyed was again getting to see Reid's for lack of a better word intellectual approach to stopping a psychopath by trying to talk and reason with them with his knowledge rather than just go and firing.

The only reason I didn't get this a 10 out of 10 was because of elles plot line in this episode. I personally think that her having to go into surgery and fighting for her life would've been enough drama I didn't think the weird purgatory with her dad was really necessary. I understand why they added it but since I don't like her as much as a character as I do the others it was a little hard to feel invested in that.

Loved the development of Spencer Reid in this episode, found the song!!

[kayleevogt · 9/10 · 30 December 2006]

I found the name of the song at the end!! Five for Fighting is the band, and the song is "Riddle".

The introduction of Dr. Reid's mother filled out his character nicely. I particularly liked the scene in the unsub's home when he told the other's to go downstairs.

The ending sequence with Dr. Reid and his mother was poignant.

I would have liked to see Gideon interact with Garcia more positively after blowing up at her earlier.

Will there be angst between the characters in future episodes?

Overall, loved how this episode brought out the distinct characteristics of different team members.

Regards, ~K

The song at the end of Fisher King, Pt. 2, and other comments

[siriatyourservice · 9/10 · 8 March 2007]

No matter what anyone says, the song is definitely, 100% positively "The Riddle (You and I)" by Five For Fighting. Beautiful song, and the way it plays over Gideon's relief and affection when he holds Elle's hand, and Hotch's pain and guilt when he's trying to wash away his sins by scrubbing Elle's blood off her wall... Gorgeous episode. Mr. Bernero's offerings are generally the ones that stand out from the rest, but this double episode is a true shining star among so many routine crime dramas. The mystery and the fascination of the Fisher King tale is juxtaposed perfectly with the harsh reality of death, insanity and fear. This double episode, in spite of the sort of "oh, you've got to be kidding me" cliffhanger, is one of my favorites, alongside "A Real Rain" and "Won't Get Fooled Again." The missing star in my 9/10 rating is for Elle coming back to work with very little comment from anyone else. "Aftermath" and "The Boogeyman" make up for this to some degree, but although Elle's return from a medical absence fit well with the summer elapsing in between seasons, it was rather unsatisfying :) Although I guess that applies more to "P911" (which I didn't care for much, as CM episodes go). Well...whatever.

Also, may I just point out that Mr. Bernero is also responsible for "Profiler, Profiled," which, among other virtues, contains the magical (literally) Physics Magic scene :D

Just like Season 1 had a cracker of a season finale, Season 2 starts with a bang

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 11 July 2016]

To me, both "The Fisher King" episodes are prime examples of 'Criminal Minds' at its best. "The Fisher King Part I" was without a doubt one of the best season finales of the show, so "The Fisher King Part II" had a lot to live up to.

And live up to it it does, and brilliantly. Like "The Fisher King Part I" was a cracker and one of the best season finales, "The Fisher King Part II" starts Season 2 with an explosive bang and is one of the best first episodes of any the show's eleven seasons. Where it does improve on its previous episode, though overall they're about equal despite the huge difference in rating, is that the beginning is tighter paced and gets to the point straight away with no filler.

Rest of the review is with warning going to be similarly worded to the review for the first part but the strengths are the same in both episodes and so brilliantly done. As always with 'Criminal Minds', "The Fisher King Part I" looks great. Stylish, atmospheric and never cheap-looking, as well as beautifully and cleverly shot. The music is suitably haunting and hypnotic, while never being over-the-top, melodramatic, intrusive or ill-fitting. What a perfect choice of song too, really adds to the impact. As with the best of 'Criminal Minds', the writing is incredibly thought-provoking, structurally tight, smart and achieves a perfect balance of moods.

It's tautly paced, strongly directed and the tension and suspense keeps piling until it rises to fever pitch. The climax is phenomenally tense and explosive, and the ending scene with Reid and his mother is poignant and bittersweet. The characters again are really well-written and distinct in personality, with great development in particular with Reid. We know much more about the unsub here, and is played slightly more chillingly, and he was chilling already, but movingly.

The unsub sure is unforgettable, one you really detest but also feel a pang of sympathy for once his back story and why he's committed his crimes is revealed. Again the acting is very good all round, hard to pick a standout but Matthew Gray Gubler does out of the regulars and Charles Haid in support.

All in all, Season 2 starts with a bang with a brilliant conclusion to a contender for the show's best two-parter. 10/10 Bethany Cox

A great episode, and welcome to the series Jane Lynch

[akicork · 9/10 · 28 January 2022]

This was a top-notch episode, with all the elements present. We had two separate suspense factors: would Elle survive and would the team reach the kidnapped girl in time? We also had the (slight) mystery of the kidnapper's identity. We had definite family atmosphere and affection within the team while and after they worried about Elle's condition, and while and after they searched for the missing girl, with the corresponding relief after a successful outcome. And we had the shock value of the reveal of the kidnapper. For me one of the high points was Jane Lynch's first active appearance in the series (I know she was credited in The Fisher King: Part 1, but she really didn't have much to do in that). Here she gets to shine in both aspects of her character's split personality, and I get to anticipate her future contributions to the series. Win-win! We knew the breadth of her talent from previous performances, but her stint on The L-Word really marked her as having serious comic abilities, and I was worried that her portrayal of Sue Sylvester on Glee might have resulted in her having a typecasting label thrust upon her. Not a bit of it! She has shown that she can handle a wide range of characterisations - here at least two within the same character. I look forward to her reception of many more awards.

Music?

[mizwoodym · 9/10 · 20 September 2006]

Lots of questions answered and some introduced.. Loved it.. kind of a bittersweet episode. Love Reeds Mom..that actress is excellent. Reed and her relationship would be a good sidebar for sure. Garcia is one that I hope they introduce more. The characters are good. So, I hope they explain a bit more. My question... who sang the song at the end of this episode? I cant seem to place his voice. I have been searching for any musical credits but cant seem to come across any. I would appreciate anyones help with any of the musical credits. I cant seem to find any credits anywhere.So, I guess I will need to pose the question to all parties. Thanks for any information you may have.

The Poem Reid Reads "always clear day to any man's sight"

[phoenix_solomon · 14 October 2011]

Geoffrey Chaucer (ca. 1343-1400) from The Parliament of Fowls A garden saw I, full of blossomy boughs Upon a river, in a green mead, There as sweetness evermore enough is, With flowers white, blue, yellow, and red, And cold well-streams, nothing dead, That swimming full of small fishes light, With fins red and scales silver bright.

On every bough the birds heard I sing, With voice of angels in their harmony; Some busied themselves birds forth to bring; The little coneys to here play did hie.

And further all about I could see The dread filled roe, the buck, the hart and hind, Squirrels, and beasts small of gentle kind.

Of instruments of strings in accord Heard I so play a ravishing sweetness, That God, that maker is of all and lord, Had heard never better, as I guess.

Therewith a wind, scarcely it might be less, Made in the leaves green a noise soft Accordant to the fowls' song aloft.

Th'air of that place so a-temperate was That never was grievance of hot nor cold.

There wax also every wholesome spice and grass; No man may there wax sick nor old; Yet was there joy more a thousandfold Than man can tell; never would it be night, But always clear day to any man's sight.

Input about Song at end of Fisher King II

[salsaqueen13 · 10/10 · 6 July 2007]

I, too was intrigued by the song at the ending of Fisher King II. I think it would have been perfect for Mandy Patinkin (Gideon) to have sung it. I very much enjoyed his singing when he was on "Chicago Hope" and while it was playing, I could almost hear him singing it although I usually am not that astute musically. If it is not forbidden, I would love to have him sing some similar song in a future show. I feel that this show will have a very long run. It is very well written and makes you feel that you can understand the people who virtually give up their personal lives so that they can bring justice to the victims. I like the quotes at the beginning and ending of the show. When I start to list who is my favorite characters, I can not because they all mesh together so well. I started taping it for me and my husband to watch originally because Mandy Patinkin was in it. I was also a very big fan of "Dharma and Greg" and I think Thomas Gibson is doing excellent in a serious role. Keep up the good work

Why did Elle survive?

[fabfrenchy-25342 · 9/10 · 21 February 2021]

They should've just killed Elle off. Judging from the reviews I've read on here, the character is nearly universally disliked. She should've just flown off to heaven with her dead dad. The actress has been good in many other things. I don't know what went wrong with this character. They should've killed off Gideon too. He's a pain in the ass.

Awesome show

[ginaontai · 9/10 · 7 October 2006]

My burning questions have haunted me for weeks ... who sang the song at the end of this episode and what is the title of the song? I can't put a name to this familiar voice. I have been searching for any musical credits in slow mode but cant seem to find any regarding this song. I would appreciate anyones help with any of the musical credits. I cant seem to find any credits anywhere. AND, I can't erase this episode from my recorder until I find this song. Is there a link available for this trivial type of information? It was painful enough waiting for this second episode after the "fatal" shot was fired. I continue to be fascinated by the quotations, intrigued by the theories on behavior, and love the cast and stories. Looking forward to the development of the other characters as each new episode unfolds. Thank you.

Poem

[inge-smeers · 10/10 · 22 July 2009]

Hey, I saw this episode today and I felt like looking up the poem tat leads Reed to that book, the one his mother always read to him. Something with "Never will it be night again" I thought he said it was from a writer named Gaucer. But I guess I remembered that wrong because I googled it and they always led me to Gaucher and I ended up with Gaucher's disease... Anyway, I couldn't remember the title either, it had rather difficult words in it, and since I'm not a pro at English, that's a problem. If anybody has any information that could lead me to this poem, please help me. I'm getting pretty interested in this particular kind of literature, I even find myself reading a lot of Shakespears work lately. So if you may know books or sites where I could find things like that, they're always welcome. Thanks

answer to question about song at end of Fisher King Part 2

[harley1214 · 28 December 2006]

You asked the name of the song played at the end of the Criminal Minds episode titled "Fisher King Part 2". I believe the title of that song is You and I Both" and is performed by Jason Mraz. You can do a Goggle search for Music for Criminal Minds and there are several websites which display all the background music for this show. For this one use http://www.tunefind.com/show/Criminal+Minds and set search for season 2. You can use this same search to locate the background music for most any TV show now being broadcast. I hope this information has been helpful. You can then do a search for Jason Mraz to locate a site which has this song if you are familiar with down loading music. One search engine in particular is Limewire, a file sharing program.

Five for Fighting?

[dlcrosson · 28 December 2006]

I too racked my brain to find the song at the end of The Fisher King, Episode Two of Criminal Minds. I Googled as recommended in a previous post and found a site that did list episode one and a song by Five for Fighting. I know they perform the title 100 Years and their sound in that particular song is similar to the song I heard at the end of episode two. After spending so much time searching for the song and/or artist, I cannot recall which song was even played in the episode. If you uncover the song title, please post. I enjoy their music and want to listen to that particular song in its entirety.

Thanks!! :)