Criminal Minds – Beyond Borders: Season 1
DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:
About 11 years ago slightly different of the police procedural was broadcast, Criminal Minds.’ It follows the exploits of an elite unit within the FBI, the BAU, Behavioral Analysis Unit.’ This section of the FBI was made famous in the groundbreaking thriller, Silence of the Lambs, where the use of forensic profiling was the motivating force behind the story. Each member of the team would bring a different aspect of psychological insight, allowing them to get into the mind of the perpetrator, or unsub, to stop his rampage of terror. A few years ago they did have a spinoff, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (2011), featuring the Red Team,’ a specialized unit in a constant state of preparedness ready to be dispatch to an explosive case.
That series only lasted a single season, but it did not deter the studio executives at CBS to try again. This latest variation, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.’ Once again, the team is a highly specialized one within the FBI, this time working on cases where Americans are involved in foreign countries Introduced by a backdoor pilot with an episode within Criminal Minds Prime. As many fans are becoming disenchanted with the original series due to significant changes in the cast, including the loss of some original characters. The spinoff has generated a degree of disenchantment among loyal fans with the fans has worked against the new series, making it more difficult to achieve the necessary traction for a successful start. Compounding the normal obstacles confronted by not only a new series but by one that begins to run. The audience has to become accustomed to an entirely new cast of characters, each with very specific roles to play. Including a crossover character from the original series typically ameliorate some of the difficulty in bringing the audience over.
Unfortunately, in this specific instance is typically successful or plot point was insufficient to do the job. Unlike the original series based upon a real unit within the FBI, Beyond Borders the International Response Team (IRT) is completely fictional. A mandate to solve crimes involving American citizens on foreign soil is in direct violation of the legal scope of the FBI. It is designed to be the counterpoint to the CIA with the FBI handling only domestic issues, barred from international involvement, while the CIA works abroad, but barred from domestic activity. The foundation of the fundamental theme of the series from reality drastically increased the difficulty in attracting diehard fans in the original show. There were several factors for the series which that proved acceptable since the network renewed it for a sophomore year must have been fruitful, at least to some extent. Another positive were actors well-liked by the viewers with the benefit of featured roles in other spinoffs. The leader of the team is Senior Supervisory Special Agent and International Unit Chief Jack Garrett (Gary Sinise). With over twenty years seniority in the Bureau, Jack can juggle the demands of an assignment routinely taking him around the globe with his responsibilities as a husband to married to his wife Karen (Sherry Stringfield) and father to their five children. His eldest, Matt Cohen), is currently training to be an FBI agent. In the pilot, Jacks second in command was Supervisory Special Agent Lily Lambert, (Anna Gunn), who replaced in the series by SSA Clara Seger (Alana De La Garza).
She plays a crucial role for a team that routinely travels throughout the world. Her contribution is a Linguistics Specialist, and Cultural Anthropologist. Allowing her to communicate in numerous native dialects she guides the team through the often turbulent maze of local customs. The most important aspect of her function is to prevent the team from transgressing local religious and cultural taboos. SSA Matthew Simmons (Daniel Henney, who formerly worked for Special Operations, he usually take the lead in field work as the teams tactician. SSA Mae Jarvis (Annie Funke) is the Medical Examiner and forensic pathologist. In a seminal fashion to two team members in the original series, Mae has a close, sisterly relationship with Matt. Remaining Stateside providing technical support and computer expertise is SSA Russ Montgomery (Tyler James Williams).
Well regarded by the BAUs Penelope Garcia, the Technical Annalist, and Unit liaison. She prefers to remain working behind the scenes in contrast to Russ who frequently provides an empathic presence to the friends and family of the victims. If you think the actor looks families you might remember him as the young lead in Everybody Hates Chris.’ One of the most commonly cited complaints regarding the series is that it fosters a strongly xenophobic attitude. As you watch the thirteen episode too of the first season, this observation will be obvious. Each case follows a very tightly scripted format. An America citizen working or visiting a foreign country is placed in mortal danger or has been a victim of a brutal crime of some sort. The IRT rushes to their luxurious Airbus fitted with a fully stocked laboratory, conference area and ample living areas for the team. The teams vehicle held in a special area at the tail of the jet. Directly after landing on foreign soil, the ramp is deployed, and the car brings the intrepid American agents into the heart of a volatile situation. The presence of the IRT is subject to a wide variety of treaties, accords, and international agreements. The de facto result is the IRT forced to abide by the laws and regulations of the sovereignty of the host nation. In many instances, this prohibits the team from carrying firearms unless explicitly approved by local authorities. The ambient rules and regulations adhered to, but there is a prevalent sense that it is with noted reservations and ample reluctance. The IRT is primarily concerned with the safety of American citizens, practically at any cost. A dominant theme represents an ideological reversion dating back to the height of the Roman Empire. Under the policy of the strongly defended policy of the Empire, the Senate and military are committed to protecting any Roman citizen regardless of where in the world they were. All that was required is the declaration of “civis Romanus,”
I am a Roman citizen. It was such an integral aspect of the Empire a citation is found in the Bible. The only thing that truly matters to the IRT is the modern implementation of this ancient precept. Jack and the team are driven by the jingoistic imperative of “America, first and foremost.” Understandably in this era global awareness many feel that this concept is antiquated ant no longer defensible. With anti-immigrant sentiment at such heights that it is a major point in the current Presidential elections, there is a significant number of people that are adamantly for elevating Americas over the rest of the global citizens. One thing that is certain is the series is entertaining and hopefully in the second season the focus on action over politics.
-Douglas M
DVD Wholesale Main Features :
Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR – Not Rated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: September 20, 2016
ASIN: B01DBXZRG4
