For me, "Foundation" and "True Genius" are the two best episodes of Season 7, which had a fair share of good episodes and a few mediocre or less episodes ("I Love You Tommy Brown" and "There's No Place Like Home" being the worst.
As always for 'Criminal Minds' (apart from a couple of exceptions), "True Genius" is stylishly filmed and atmospherically lit with a lot of grit and class. The music is haunting and melancholic, the pacing never feels rushed or drawn out, instead being very taut and gripping, and the direction lets the story breathe while never spoiling the momentum.
The writing is smart and thought-provoking and develops the characters and the adorable, family-like bond between the BAU beautifully. The balance between case, character development, any scenes with the unsub and the role of the BAU is wonderfully done and feels equal.
With the story, it may not be an original concept but that does not matter when the tension and suspense is so frightening, the personal moments and conflicts so heart-warming and emotional and the profiling and psychology so intriguing. Reid has always been one of the best characters on 'Criminal Minds', and one of the few reasons why the show is still being stuck with despite its staggering decline, and loved his development and his chemistry with the team, especially his sweet one with Prentiss.
Regarding the acting, that is top-notch (not very often was it less than very good, though admittedly coming from a fan there were exceptions). Matthew Gray Gubler is a revelation, while Jeff Newburg is skin-crawlingly creepy as a remarkably complex unsub.
Only the slightly anti-climactic ending disappoints, but not badly enough to bring down the episode.
In summary, one of the best episodes of Season 7 and sees 'Criminal Minds' on form. 10/10 Bethany Cox