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. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. 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

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.
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  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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