Neon Terror
- Episode aired Nov 22, 2017
- TV-14
- 40m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
The BAU is called in to investigate when a criminal sensationalizes his crimes by giving the local media exclusive footage.The BAU is called in to investigate when a criminal sensationalizes his crimes by giving the local media exclusive footage.The BAU is called in to investigate when a criminal sensationalizes his crimes by giving the local media exclusive footage.
Matthew Gray Gubler
- Dr. Spencer Reid
- (credit only)
Aisha Tyler
- Dr. Tara Lewis
- (credit only)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe team is consulting for the Miami-Dade Police Department, which is where Eric Delko, Adam Rodriguez's character on CSI: Miami (2002), was stationed.
- GoofsIn the "snuff film", the murderer's face is clearly reflected in the car window, but none of the team reviewing the film seems to notice -- a peculiar oversight.
- Quotes
Penelope Garcia: Not today, Satan!
- ConnectionsReferenced in Criminal Minds: False Flag (2017)
- SoundtracksShow Up
performed by Khristian B
Played on Lindsey's phone when she drives her Mercedes
Featured review
Homicidal publicity
'Criminal Minds' has always been one of my most-watched shows and was a personal favourite for a while. Seasons 1-5 was its best period, Season 4 was especially great. It did get hit and miss from Season 6 onwards, with a mix of good and more episodes and disappointing and less episodes. Season 11 was, apart from about 5 episodes, pretty weak. Season 12 was inconsistent but generally an improvement, its weakest episodes nowhere near as bad as the low-points of Seasons 6, 9 and especially 11.
Season 13 so far has not been too bad, in fact it's been quite good. It is already so much better than Season 11, which started off well actually but quickly went downhill, and has generally settled quicker than Season 12. As far as the previous Season 13 episodes go, "Wheels Up" and "Killer App" were particularly good. Up to this point, only "To a Better Place" was a little disappointing, with a lot of admirable qualities but also an over-familiar and not much special case.
"Neon Terror" was one of the weaker episodes at this point of the season. Not that it's bad, it certainly isn't. Just falls short of being great and is only decent.
The team work, the procedural aspects and how it's all solved evokes prime 'Criminal Minds', there is lots of each and it's all thought-provoking and delightful. It doesn't make the mistakes that many latter season episodes made (i.e. too much unsub, unsub revealed too early, problematically executed cases, too much reliance on convenience, lack of balance, too many soapy personal life subplots, team underuse and not enough procedural/delving into the criminal's mind). In fact, there is a sense that "Neon Terror" didn't forget what made 'Criminal Minds' work so well in the first place. The twists keep coming and the unsub reveal was not an obvious one at all, credit is due for taking precaution in not making it obvious at the start or too early in general.
There are little character moments within the team, one of my favourite things about 'Criminal Minds' and something that lifts even the lesser episodes. Really love the closeness and how the team has and how they seem to care for each other. Matt has settled well, is a likeable character and gels very well with the team, much more so than most new team members who either took a while to settle or never did anything for me.
Everybody does a great job with the acting, all the regulars are strong as ever and Sandra is a quite well done character. The ending was a surprise on immediate impact.
Visually, "Neon Terror" is stylish and atmospheric, while the music is haunting without being over-bearing while having presence still, the script is taut with a touch of sweetness and poignancy here and there and the direction is alert and accommodating.
The case however was a bit too familiar and could have had more tension and suspense. Would have liked more development to the unsub, who doesn't make as much of a presence as they should have done.
While there are some nice character moments, part of me wishes that a few, like with Rossi, were explored more, both in development and screen time. While surprising to begin with, the ending also becomes a bit too rushed and the predictability dampens the initial impact somewhat.
Overall, pretty decent but could have been much better. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Season 13 so far has not been too bad, in fact it's been quite good. It is already so much better than Season 11, which started off well actually but quickly went downhill, and has generally settled quicker than Season 12. As far as the previous Season 13 episodes go, "Wheels Up" and "Killer App" were particularly good. Up to this point, only "To a Better Place" was a little disappointing, with a lot of admirable qualities but also an over-familiar and not much special case.
"Neon Terror" was one of the weaker episodes at this point of the season. Not that it's bad, it certainly isn't. Just falls short of being great and is only decent.
The team work, the procedural aspects and how it's all solved evokes prime 'Criminal Minds', there is lots of each and it's all thought-provoking and delightful. It doesn't make the mistakes that many latter season episodes made (i.e. too much unsub, unsub revealed too early, problematically executed cases, too much reliance on convenience, lack of balance, too many soapy personal life subplots, team underuse and not enough procedural/delving into the criminal's mind). In fact, there is a sense that "Neon Terror" didn't forget what made 'Criminal Minds' work so well in the first place. The twists keep coming and the unsub reveal was not an obvious one at all, credit is due for taking precaution in not making it obvious at the start or too early in general.
There are little character moments within the team, one of my favourite things about 'Criminal Minds' and something that lifts even the lesser episodes. Really love the closeness and how the team has and how they seem to care for each other. Matt has settled well, is a likeable character and gels very well with the team, much more so than most new team members who either took a while to settle or never did anything for me.
Everybody does a great job with the acting, all the regulars are strong as ever and Sandra is a quite well done character. The ending was a surprise on immediate impact.
Visually, "Neon Terror" is stylish and atmospheric, while the music is haunting without being over-bearing while having presence still, the script is taut with a touch of sweetness and poignancy here and there and the direction is alert and accommodating.
The case however was a bit too familiar and could have had more tension and suspense. Would have liked more development to the unsub, who doesn't make as much of a presence as they should have done.
While there are some nice character moments, part of me wishes that a few, like with Rossi, were explored more, both in development and screen time. While surprising to begin with, the ending also becomes a bit too rushed and the predictability dampens the initial impact somewhat.
Overall, pretty decent but could have been much better. 6/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•43
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 10, 2018
Details
- Runtime40 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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