Criminal Minds Review: Night Lights (Season 14 Episode 11)
The BAU pursues a man who blinds his victims before killing them on Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 11, “Night Lights.”
Is it just me, or is the body horror getting a bit much? First hearts and now eyes? I know this is what the show does, but there’s a reason I don’t like many horror movies, guys.
If blinding people with fire isn’t bad enough (it is,) there’s also the fact the unsub has his parents’ bodies just sitting in his basement. Admittedly, they, at least, have harmed him enough to give motive, but it’s still a bit too “Norman Bates” for me.
That’s still not counting the other blinded victims or the fact the last to survive is brought to see her husband, only to realize he’s already dead, and…look, overall, everything is just unpleasant.
Setting all of it aside, the dynamic with our killer is interesting in a dark way. Like many others, he has suffered—in this case, at the hands of misguided therapists and parents. In this case, though, there is little room for sympathy.
It might not seem that way at first. The team believes empathy could save Nikki, one of the victims. They also believe people may be targeted for being kind to a seeming blind stranger, but we’ll let that go.
Instead, this guy is basically just a predator who has a sad story as fuel. His trauma is no excuse for the attempted rape in his past or for taking pleasure in his torment of Nikki and the murder of her husband, both of whom are innocent.
The approach to him isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The twist is dramatic without being over the top and is done well, even if I did see it coming. Overall, it’s a sobering reminder that while trauma can make good people do terrible things, some people are just coldly cruel.
Ah, but then there’s that last name. Eisworth, pronounced– you guessed it– as “Eyes-worth”. If we’re going to be this on this nose, you’d think we might as well break for a few more puns while we’re at it.
Per usual, the scenes outside of the case are much more enjoyable. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Reid is back and being as Reid as ever, especially at Luke and Lisa’s housewarming party.
Speaking of which, what’s up with Luke’s reluctance to host such a party? I’m with literally everyone else in that any excuse to eat and drink with friends is fine by me.
I hope this isn’t meant to be foreshadowing of problems in this relationship that has taken such a big step forward. It often seems only married couples are allowed to be happy on Criminal Minds. Mind, even that claim ignores Hailey Hotchner, but don’t give them any ideas.
Hopefully, Luke’s mild weirdness is just that, and the only reason Lisa gets called away from her own party is to save on a guest star budget. I really just need someone to make it work in the relationship department.
Otherwise, this is a fun break and another reminder of the team as family. Even if It’s a Wonderful Life said it first, bread, salt, and wine sound just fine to me.
What did you think of this episode of Criminal Minds? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
Criminal Minds airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on CBS.
Follow @telltaletv_https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Caitlin Wyneken
Caitlin is an elder millennial with an only slightly unhealthy dedication to a random selection of TV shows, from PBS Masterpiece dramas to some of the less popular series on popular networks. Outside of screen time, she's dedicated to the public sector and worthy nonprofits, working to make a difference in the world outside of media.