The Tribe (2006) User Reviews (6)

While there are better episodes in the season, it is hard not to forget this episode

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 14 October 2016]

For 'Criminal Minds', "The Tribe" is different, with a not yet seen before (for the show that is) focus on the Native American Indian Apache and more gruesome murders than usual.

By all means, "The Tribe" is not one of the best episodes of 'Criminal Minds', and there's also better in the season. This said, it is hard not to forget it, not just because it is a change of pace for 'Criminal Minds' and stands out as more unique compared to usual (in a fascinating yet slightly tonally odd way) but also there is a lot to remember about the episode's execution too.

Gideon, the show's most interesting regular team member at this point, takes a backseat and is very underused, and that is true sometimes for most of the team. The regulars that make the biggest impression here are Hotch, in what is at times a Hotch-centric (which is a dream come true for Hotch fans, and after seeing episodes throughout the show recently where he's invisible to see him used so well here was refreshing) and Garcia, who lightens things up masterfully back when she was a ray of sunshine and not a pale and annoying caricature. Reid also has a delightful scene in the classroom, and the depiction of the Native American Indian culture was intriguingly and sensitively handled rather than being stereotypical.

"The Tribe" benefits also from having strong supporting characters, especially the character of Blackwolf, who brings some welcome humour and great one-liners as well as being world-wise and sincere. The tribe of the title are chillingly sadistic and dangerous, and their leader a true psychopath in every sense of the word with not a redeeming quality in his body. Hotch's brother is good fun too.

Case itself is diverting, with some neat twists and turns, especially the revelation of who was behind the kidnapping (did not see that one coming) and the tribe's motivations for killing, and interesting profiling. The murders and modus operandi are very gruesome when being described, but maybe could have done with being a little gorier and a little less sterile (which would have made the team's reactions more horrified and not quite so indifferent) so that the viewer feels the full impact of the crimes.

Acting is very good, with Thomas Gibson and Kirsten Vangsness coming off best of the regular cast members and Gregory Cruz is excellent as Blackwolf. The direction is solid, the production values are stylish, the music is haunting and while lacking in tightness and polish in places the script does balance the humour and the serious at least very well.

On the whole, there are better episodes in Season 1 but "The Tribe" is certainly very high on the "memorable" and "different" factors. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Great cast and episode but...

[twanster-97655 · 8/10 · 19 September 2019]

I like this episode, tho a little goofy at times, like getting an fbi agent to put his weapon away and use a baton against 8 heavily armed invaders.. With only a previous suspect as backup.. But otherwise its a great show. I don't watch criminal minds after season 11 much because most of the cast that made the show great are gone but this episode is another good solid show. Despite the previous review saying its an antiwhite propaganda episode, it really isn't.. Its just entertainment and tho not one of the best episodes, its still holds its own.

Good episode even with the spiritualism

[moysant · 7/10 · 7 November 2006]

The team are off to investigate the murders of five young people who have been tortured to death at a controversial housing development site. There first suspect is a native American activist who is the policeman at the neighbouring Apache reservation. He ends up helping the team, while targeting his hostility for the FBI at Hotchner, as they track down who is using Indian warrior rites to kill off various groups of people. After a few of the 'usual suspects' are caught and questioned the killers are caught and brought to justice.

An interesting enough case, but an odd tone to the show compared to previous episodes. The last show had members of the BAU clearly affected by photos of the dried out bodies of long dead victims (which we are shown too) but there is hardly a quivering nostril at the descriptions or photos (which we don't see) of skinned alive or impaled people (including children). Gideon takes a back seat with no explanation, unusual given other shows he is the central character, but it does give Hotchner more to do, especially with his hostile activist 'friend' pointing out how Captain America he is. And it jarred to me that there was not on reference to the media or a journalist in sight given the severity and types of murders. But I suppose they just ran out of time to fit it all in.

Intense Story, Even If Predictable In Spots

[ccthemovieman-1 · 6/10 · 14 August 2008]

Five students in New Mexico are killed and the killings appear like those from a group not an individual.

The nature of the crimes - the victims skinned, one of them impaled while alive, not a lot of blood around, etc - all go back to violent history of the area Apache tribe. It's obviously a setup because (a) most of these crime shows (CSI always does this) have the bad guys as others than what it looks like in the first half of the show; (b) being another politically-correct TV show, you can guess who is innocent and who isn't.

In addition to the slaughter, the FBI - with the help of the local dude (who is portrayed 100 times smarter than Sherlock Holmes) - discovers a girl was kidnapped, and that at least eight people were in on the whole deal.

We then get a neat twist with the kidnappers releasing the girl and blaming the father. More interesting developments occur and winds up a fairly interesting show.

Pretty good

[lottiemarshalllm · 7/10 · 30 July 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.

I thought this was a fairly good episode exploring the mass murders of a cult. I wish day it's all just a little bit more time on the call and their behavior but it was well done Nonetheless.

I'm sure you could find some thing and culturally insensitive in this episode but since I am not Native American I won't Interject any of my opinions on how the indigenous people are portrayed.

A few things I just left from this episode was that when Dr. Reid was placed in a classroom he couldn't help but answered all the questions (very cute)

Also really enjoyed Hotchner ending up understanding his brothers passion and being able to recognize that he can't control everything. Very nice character development for someone who had been a relatively static character so far.

I just saw that some parts it was a little bit slow that's why I only gave it a seven out of 10

The actress playing Ingrid...

[sarkara · 1/10 · 14 March 2022]

...Has one single expression, pouting her lips. She does it to portray brain washed, defiant, in tears, in heat. Luckily she doesn't have much screen time. Her onscreen presence is just as pleasant as walking on red hot nails.