Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders

:

Season 1
  • Network: CBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 16, 2016
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
3.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 61
  3. Negative: 35 out of 61
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User Reviews

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  1. ozone11
    May 1, 2016
    0
    Probably the most offensive piece of garbage on television in a long time. First of all, the premise - that there is this elite branch of federal law enforcement ready to jump on a moment's notice at the hint of foul play against in American citizen traveling abroad (and how many millions of dollars does each of these operations cost?) is in itself completely flawed. Americans get intoProbably the most offensive piece of garbage on television in a long time. First of all, the premise - that there is this elite branch of federal law enforcement ready to jump on a moment's notice at the hint of foul play against in American citizen traveling abroad (and how many millions of dollars does each of these operations cost?) is in itself completely flawed. Americans get into trouble abroad every day and the reality is you're lucky if you can even get someone at the local embassy to answer the phone and if they do answer, you'll get a thirty-second brush off that it's a local law enforcement issue and there's nothing we can do. But now we have this xenophobic, USA #1!!!! trash that (there's no place like home! - how many homicides stateside every year?) tells us we are so superior that incompetent inferior ineffectual local police forces will gladly allow our superior agents to waltz right onto their turf, usurp their own leadership, direct the investigation and sort out a crime they could never have done on their own.
    Oh, and by the way, the writing is formulaic, the acting stiff, the characters shallow. Avoid this garbage at all costs. It's an embarrassment.    … Expand
  2. mbig
    Apr 7, 2016
    1
    I really wanted this show to do well which is why i waited until i had watched 4 episodes before giving my opinion. Unfortunately, it's winding up being a National Geographic crime show. We get to see the sights of the country where the crimes have taken place. We also get a lesson in local customs and police procedure in said country. It's all very tedious and is not enough to sustain myI really wanted this show to do well which is why i waited until i had watched 4 episodes before giving my opinion. Unfortunately, it's winding up being a National Geographic crime show. We get to see the sights of the country where the crimes have taken place. We also get a lesson in local customs and police procedure in said country. It's all very tedious and is not enough to sustain my interest.
    Maybe some viewers will find this approach refreshing and different, i don't. The acting could also have been better, especially Alanna De La Garza who seems to be going through the motions and offers very uninspiring performances. Gary Sinise is his old cardboard self and as for the rest of the supporting cast they get the passing grade.
    I'm outta here!    … Expand
  3. shannonwho
    Apr 20, 2016
    0
    This horrid show is here to show how USA is greatest, most diplomatic, most democratic and most advanced country and society there is and to show average American how every other nation is backwards and intellectually, technically and on any other level inferior. Really? Who, in right state of mind, would even think that? Americans that never left USA? Maybe. Horrid writing, nauseatingThis horrid show is here to show how USA is greatest, most diplomatic, most democratic and most advanced country and society there is and to show average American how every other nation is backwards and intellectually, technically and on any other level inferior. Really? Who, in right state of mind, would even think that? Americans that never left USA? Maybe. Horrid writing, nauseating glorification of something that doesn't exist. Please stop with this garbage of a show.… Expand
  4. tjgoldstein
    Apr 28, 2016
    0
    Sure, there may be a token Asian and token black character in this show but lets face it, it's really about White people saving other white people from stooooopid police in overseas countries. it's honestly staggering at how boring and, quite frankly, offensive this show is... I don't think anyone involved with the show actually understands just how racist this show comes across to the viewers.
  5. BeaBoo
    May 16, 2016
    1
    CM Beyond Borders had great potential ruined by unimaginative and uncreative writers story lines. Not to mention Gary Sinise is a boring person on the show. I hope thats not his real personality. The writers are terrible as there are endless international scenarios that could be written about and be entertaining. i.e. a serial killer that kills only American tourist and expatriatesCM Beyond Borders had great potential ruined by unimaginative and uncreative writers story lines. Not to mention Gary Sinise is a boring person on the show. I hope thats not his real personality. The writers are terrible as there are endless international scenarios that could be written about and be entertaining. i.e. a serial killer that kills only American tourist and expatriates etc., kidnapping of children taken to foreign countries by their foreign fathers and the mothers killed., The coverup of infected sick refugees being sent to other countries with phony health records . There's lots of fiction that can imitate life. Get new writers and salvage the concept of Criminal Minds Beyond Borders. Get rid of the Mindless writers that are limited by their own borders of limited writing and creative skills… Expand
  6. shop--oglu
    May 27, 2016
    0
    I don't know which country, culture and city you depicted in "The Matchmaker" but, this is not Turkey and this is not Antalya!!...And we don't wear like Arabs... Crappy show, at least someone should have made some research... Shame on you
  7. Knighthawk81
    Mar 18, 2016
    2
    Do you enjoy "Criminal Minds?" Would you like it better if the profilers were solving crimes in foreign countries, jetting around and wasting tax payer money to save Americans too dumb to avoid desperate situations? If you answered yes, "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" is for you. If not, avoid the stench of this tepid failure of imagination like the plague that it is.
  8. criminalminds15
    Mar 17, 2016
    10
    I thought it was as good as any other crime show out there. Better than the crap reality TV shows on air today, the cast line up was a plus and the story line was good. It was entertaining and I will give it another watch.
  9. gusmccray
    Mar 24, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I had to score this on this high side to counter-balance what appears to be a cynical obsession about xenophobia being the main addition to this spin off of CM. That's taking a very generalized stance about the show (somethings critics are known to do and it's part of their job, so please forgive them for putting their various agendas on display) and missing out thematic elements that offset the supposed "xenophobia" of the show. At best, calling this show "xenophobic" is a rushed generalization being made about marketing decisions made by the network, but the writing of the show itself presented plenty of themes and attitudes that exhibit an approach to foreign countries and cultures that is definitely NOT xenophobic.

    Example (and SPOILER ALERT if you haven't seen the pilot yet) = How is xenophobia a focal point if, in the pilot episode where the show establishes it's characters/tone/themes, there is a scene with Gary Sinise and Joe Mantengna doing a training session together where Joe pulls the trigger relatively early in the session and Gary proclaims that he believes the shot was premature because there was still the possibility of talking down the suspect? Meaning the show's lead character believes that he can TALK to the suspects, UNDERSTAND them and COMMUNICATE with them rather than just reacting with "scary bad guy! I need to shoot them in the face right now!" That scene is right in the pilot episode, at the top of the show where first impressions are made with the audience. I didn't see a single review remark upon the themes of communication/understanding/restraint, even though it's clearly a theme of the show. It's the first bit of Gary's character that we see! Obviously that implies it's important to the show, right? Did the reviewers not see that entire sequence? Were they already writing their reviews before the first 5 minutes of the show had passed?

    The other thing that's anti-xenophobic about the show is the Team's approach to operating in different countries = these people are a mix of investigators, cultural experts with knowledge of the countries they are visiting, and that appears to be another theme of the show in terms of the Team's methodology being centered on understanding and communication. Again, how is it xenophobic when the co-lead is a multi-linguist cultural expert who can connect with people in foreign countries? Xenophobia = she'd disdain knowing any other language and would puke when seeing foreign food and would want to shoot everyone who looks different = that's not the show, obviously. If it was, the Team would land in a random country, begin shooting everyone in sight because everyone who is not american is scary, and then fly back to America. Runtime of that show = 10 minutes tops, even if done by Zach Snyder milking every moment of violence in CG slow-mo.

    Did anyone else notice that the show begins with a quotation from the non-US country where the show is taking place? Using the written language of the country? Anyone else think that's a nice touch that displays respect for the country the audience is about to experience vicariously through the show?

    My point is that this show is doing things to counterbalance this concept of "xenophobia" found in the knee jerk reaction of the critics. Sure, it's a SPIN OFF, so there will be things that are familiar to the established franchise that spawned the show, but it is also substantively different enough from the original to merit it's own time slot. The cast already has some chemistry together and the writers are attempting to balance the aspect of suspense that is part of any show concerned with the pursuit of justice with the themes of communication and understanding. I like that there is an educational aspect to the show and I hope the writers will continue to explore the concept of resolving cases without needing to shoot everyone in the face... which, yes, would be a bit "xenophobic" if every case ended with face-shooting of non-Americans.

    But luckily that's not what the show is doing, and I was pleasantly surprised at the themes of communication and understanding that I thought were obviously being conveyed to the audience in the pilot episode. I'll continue to watch to see where they will take us in the world, week after week. I'm looking forward to watching a show about Americans dealing with people in foreign countries with respect, trying to understand and work with them in the pursuit of justice. This is a good start to what could evolve into a very interesting trot around the world with Jack Garrett (long live Lt. Dan!) and his diverse Team of investigators.    … Expand
  10. satxtmt
    Mar 26, 2016
    8
    I am loving this new show and Gary back to TV, plus Alana from Law & Order. They are wonderful actors! The only problem for me is the person playing Mya. Something about her rubs me the wrong way and every bit of air time where they show her annoyed me. Would enjoy being able to watch episodes all the way through without annoyance and falling out of the moment to comment. I just feelI am loving this new show and Gary back to TV, plus Alana from Law & Order. They are wonderful actors! The only problem for me is the person playing Mya. Something about her rubs me the wrong way and every bit of air time where they show her annoyed me. Would enjoy being able to watch episodes all the way through without annoyance and falling out of the moment to comment. I just feel she is the wrong person for this part and hope as the show is new, she is replaced or killed off. Would like to watch without this disruption. Other then her the spin off is great and looking forward to the next episode.… Expand
  11. cindyp1976
    Apr 3, 2016
    10
    I love this show, I thought that it was interesting and the writing was very good. I also thought that the character mya was a little off I don't if it's the actress or the writers but hopefully they will correct whatever it is for the benefit of the show and the viewers.
  12. JCat
    Jun 16, 2016
    0
    Another healthy American show to appeal to the lowest common denominator and set up nothing but further fear and paranoid. Just what we need at a time like this. This is not entertainment, and no surprise Gary Sinese took this roll. TV sucks and this is why. CBS, you are irresponsible.
  13. Disco
    Mar 9, 2017
    1
    At least Law and Order had a successful central series that stayed strong in spite of failed spinoffs. Criminal Minds flagship is a shadow of its former self and this lame spinoff just doesn't do anything to breathe life into the franchise.

    The premise that sovereign nations would regularly welcome in an armed FBI team to take charge of an abduction investigation is so arrogantly and    At least Law and Order had a successful central series that stayed strong in spite of failed spinoffs. Criminal Minds flagship is a shadow of its former self and this lame spinoff just doesn't do anything to breathe life into the franchise.

    The premise that sovereign nations would regularly welcome in an armed FBI team to take charge of an abduction investigation is so arrogantly and distractingly ludicrous that suspension of disbelief is tested beyond the limit. In spite of the stunning de la Garza and an often wooden but still likable Sinise, the plots are just too trite and contrived to even qualify as a guilty pleasure. Add a pimped out private plane allegedly paid for by the government and it's simply amazing that this unwatchable cartoon made it to a second season. Somebody lost a bet to have to keep showing up to work on this show week after week.    … Expand
  14. boweasel
    Mar 30, 2016
    0
    This show is pathetic. Gary Sinise is playing the same character he did in CSI NY, with perhaps an even greater degree of woodenness (something I would've thought was not possible). I don't know what they didn't just call him Mac, so he wouldn't hurt himself trying to nuance this character away from CSI's. And they've got another black guy who flirts with another slightly overweightThis show is pathetic. Gary Sinise is playing the same character he did in CSI NY, with perhaps an even greater degree of woodenness (something I would've thought was not possible). I don't know what they didn't just call him Mac, so he wouldn't hurt himself trying to nuance this character away from CSI's. And they've got another black guy who flirts with another slightly overweight woman. Apparently they thought it would just be too laughable if he called her 'Baby Girl'...

    The reuse the same absurdly tiresome schtick as the original - the one where they get to some other police precinct, and all of them will be in front of the room to address the officers. Everybody gets a turn to talk about the unsub (a made-up word that has gone way beyond annoying - isn't it time they 'retire' that?), NOBODY ever steps on anyone else's lines. It seems like such an artificially constructed scenario, like they've worked out this script about what each of them is going to say, and in what order. When this new show trotted out that same silly scene everybody at our house threw pillows at the TV.

    It was so bad we found ourselves missing Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.

    Do us a favor. Cancel this. And cancel the original, too, but first bring back Mandy Patinkin and have him take out the whole BAU in a hail of machine gun fire. I'd watch that    … Expand
  15. KathyX
    Apr 7, 2016
    3
    As a crime show it's about as unrealistic as any of them out there. FBI swoops in and finds a whole truckload of clues the incompetent locals weren't able to see because they're not trained observers. (Sad commentary on the American police training academies, but hey...)
    Added problem is that it tries to be 'exotic' by having some kind of made-up stereotypical last-century 'motivation'    As a crime show it's about as unrealistic as any of them out there. FBI swoops in and finds a whole truckload of clues the incompetent locals weren't able to see because they're not trained observers. (Sad commentary on the American police training academies, but hey...)
    Added problem is that it tries to be 'exotic' by having some kind of made-up stereotypical last-century 'motivation' for the foreign 'unsub' to kill Americans, while portraying locals in an equally stereotypical way that is offensive to their culture. So far I've found these 'motivations' laughable.
    Oh, and if Americans do leave the 'safety' of our borders to go to these dangerous places, then what has the national BAU been doing all these years?    … Expand
  16. 1Benjamin
    Apr 13, 2016
    10
    Great show! I travel much, so it's great to watch a TV show that's about other nations yet has a strong connection to the USA. I like the way this show reveals other nation's politics, peoples, police departments, international agencies, nature, languages, cultures, etc. Obviously, some of our national agencies do work in other nations and do help Americans. The show isn't perfect, butGreat show! I travel much, so it's great to watch a TV show that's about other nations yet has a strong connection to the USA. I like the way this show reveals other nation's politics, peoples, police departments, international agencies, nature, languages, cultures, etc. Obviously, some of our national agencies do work in other nations and do help Americans. The show isn't perfect, but nothing is. Sometimes a plot may be somewhat weak, but given time I think the writers will find their strides. I like the actors also. This show is better than that terrible junk called reality TV, and it adds a unique perspective to crime shows. To the executives, give this show a chance... don't yank it after just a year. Some unique shows have been yanked and yet ended up as classics.… Expand
  17. Doofus2
    Apr 26, 2016
    1
    Is it poor performance by the actors, or bad scripts by the writers? Implausible situations (FBI criminal investigators butting in to countries where they are not always welcome - only to become friends at the end of the episode) and characters (does one woman REALLY know every language of the countries they visit?). Gary Sinise is developing a common characteristic that is annoying---Is it poor performance by the actors, or bad scripts by the writers? Implausible situations (FBI criminal investigators butting in to countries where they are not always welcome - only to become friends at the end of the episode) and characters (does one woman REALLY know every language of the countries they visit?). Gary Sinise is developing a common characteristic that is annoying--- frequent scowling ( If David Caruso removing his sunglasses and tilting his head, and maybe placing the temple earpiece in his mouth in an approximation of intelligent thought in CSI Miami annoyed you, this bit of overacting will as well). No audience involvement - no snazzy lab to find the criminal, or characters one can identify with, and the "victims" so far have been dumb, in getting themselves into avoidable situations off US shores. I HAD set my DVR to tape every episode -- I have now delete future taping. I don't see this show as having much of a future… Expand
  18. libertybelle
    Apr 27, 2016
    3
    I really wanted to love this show with Gary Sen ise and all. But, I didn't. The cast is great but don't gel well at first. The writing was sort of weird at first. The filming? I'll give the following as and example.

    San Pedro, Belize is on the island of Ambergris Caye off the shore of the the Belize mainland. Yes, most of the tourists to Belize go there. I have been there 26    I really wanted to love this show with Gary Sen ise and all. But, I didn't. The cast is great but don't gel well at first. The writing was sort of weird at first. The filming? I'll give the following as and example.

    San Pedro, Belize is on the island of Ambergris Caye off the shore of the the Belize mainland. Yes, most of the tourists to Belize go there. I have been there 26 times and I live in Wisconsin. I would think CBS could have done a little more research. There are no paved roads on the island. There are no rental cars on the island. The police force is not that professional. There is a reef visible from every resort on the Caribbean side of the island, that is the draw, the reef. There is no embassy on the island. There is no airport able to accomodate their plane in San Pedro. I have been to San Pedro, Belize 26 times and have friends there. We are laughing our collective you-know-whats off.

    Until tonight, I thought the show was doomed. It is starting to show heart and at least they are making up location names to make their case. I guess the budget is a little restricted and they have to film somewhere else and "pretend" it is their location but...seriously...Belize may have a population of 350,000 or so but...a lot of people have been there and they do get CBS.

    I'll keep watching for now but some of these plotlines have been so implausable and obviously soundstage...I expected better    … Expand
  19. mbbinder
    May 2, 2016
    1
    I actually was excited to watch. I wasn't impressed with the first episode. After the third I was convinced that this show was not worth watching. The actors chosen for this show were annoying (especially Gary Sinise and Annie Funke) and the script was less desirable.
  20. BaroneTed
    Oct 11, 2016
    0
    Just an horrific, xenophobic TV Show. And a sometimes decent acting can't save it. Can't believe CBS really renewed it for a second round of "poor american tourists around the world".

Awards & Rankings

61
#61 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016
12
#12 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
28

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 11
  3. Negative: 8 out of 11
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    Mar 16, 2016
    20
    In other words, more of the same, with the added twist that all the victims are American and all (or most) of the criminals are not.... Imagine the situation reversed--a show in which tourists to America were continually victimized in horrific ways--and you see the problem.
    Read full review
  2. We Got This Covered
    Reviewed by: Mitchel Broussard
    Mar 16, 2016
    40
    No doubt plenty of people will be able to ease into the show’s groove thanks to its workmanlike adherence to the franchise’s established and efficient structure, but anyone unmoved by procedural formula won’t find much excuse to go beyond their already established borders.
    Read full review
  3. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Mar 16, 2016
    10
    The opening hour, premiering Wednesday after Survivor and Criminal Minds--and those are exactly the two shows Beyond Borders combines with appalling cynicism--finds Garrett and his team winging off to Thailand, where a couple of young American women, volunteering on a farm, are taken captive by a demented-looking local. (Given that despicable behavior by foreign populations is baked into its premise, Beyond Borders is, you can be sure, going to be charged with xenophobia or worse by some offended viewers very quickly.)
    Read full review
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