Red Light

IMDb needs to implement a screening algorithm to combat fake voting by trolls, as evidenced by the numerous lowest rating (1) applied to this fabulous "Criminal Minds" episode. Return of psychopath Cat Adams as brilliantly played by Aubrey Plaza is an occasion for fans of the long- running hit to rejoice.

Just as she did a year ago, Aubrey is memorable in her cat & mouse interplay with hero Gubler, a riveting 2-person acting ensemble worthy of showing in actors' classes for analysis and insight into how great performing can be adapted to the Boob Tube. This made for exciting television, and was less claustrophobic than their initial face-off, enhanced by the fantasy world of a glamorous tete a tete dinner provided by imaginative director/series honcho Glenn Kershaw.

Cliffhanger sort of finale with the heralded return of Shemar Moore was icing on the cake, perhaps a bit hokey in emphasizing the charisma of the beloved co-star of yesteryear (his extended walk-off as if heading down a Men's Fashion Week runway) but satisfying nonetheless. Let's hope he (and later on Aubrey) won't be a stranger in future -the fans must be served.

In its prime (Seasons 1-5, with Season 4 to me being the best and most consistent season with a lot of classic episodes and even the weakest episodes being far from awful) 'Criminal Minds' was one of my favourite shows. From Season 6 it did become hit and miss, with the odd gem and still some good episodes, but a lot of average episodes and some stinkers.

Although some may disagree, to me, Season 12 has been patchy and inconsistent but turned out better than expected. The overall season had its faults, such as Garcia's too hostile treatment of Alvez, Hotch going due to Thomas Gibson's controversial firing, the mostly bland character of Stephen Walker, some episodes suffering from a lack of balance in who and what to focus on resulting in a few cases not registering and team members being underused and despite starting off so promisingly Reid in prison got far too dragged out over the season, did start running out of ideas and not helped by the character of Wilkins and his gratuitously and up to now unexplained cruel treatment of Reid. In its favour, the season has also featured the touchingly done subplot between Reid and his mother, the welcome return of Emily Prentiss, masterclass acting from Matthew Gray Gubler in quite a few episodes of the series, Alvez fitting in surprisingly nicely (considering the show's track record of new characters), "Mirror Image" being one of the few times where Lewis and Aisha Tyler's acting making a positive impression, the first three Reid in prison episodes being harrowing, shocking and poignant and some brilliant team interaction.

Although there were disappointments in Season 12, such as "True North", "The Anti-Terror Squad", "Hell's Kitchen" and "Taboo", most of Season 12's episodes have ranged from above average to good. Some episodes even have been very good, with although not quite a cracker "Red Light" being one of the best episodes of the season along with "Green Light", "Elliot's Pond", "Mirror Image" and especially "Spencer".

Not everything in "Red Light" works, the two main faults being the very implausibly far-fetched pregnancy story and the rushed and anti-climactic ending. Personally also thought that the touted return of Morgan could have been more, nice to see him again but other than how he interacts with the rest of the team and how they react to him he is not given enough to do beyond that.

However, visually, the episode looks great as to be expected. Very well shot and lit and is overall stylish, gritty, classy and atmospheric, with at times a film noir look and feel. The music is moody in the haunting and melancholic sense and fits well, without either enhancing or distracting from it. The direction is alert, tense and accommodating.

The acting all round is very good, with the standouts being an as always superb Matthew Gray Gubler and Aubrey Plaza on dynamite form as Cat. Their chemistry and Cat's mind-games are easily what makes "Red Light" as good as it is and a very fond reminder as to why the previous season's "Entropy" was one of the best 'Criminal Minds' episodes in years. One of "Red Light's" highlight scenes is the dating fantasy.

As hoped, the team interaction is brilliant with everybody having plenty to do, a great job is done showing concern for Reid (as does the viewer) and solving the case. The script is thought-provoking and some of the best and most taut writing of the season, while the story is gripping with things that you don't see coming and even more of a nail-biter than the previous episode "Green Light". Finally a much-needed reason is given for Wilkins' cruel treatment of Reid inside, though it doesn't stop one from still hating the character and you are left thinking he treated Reid like that for that reason?

In summary, not a cracker as one would like from a season finale but one of the better faring episodes of Season 12 and a very good episode on the whole. 8/10 Bethany Cox

The "Spencer in jail" arc was just soooooooo ridiculous. I can't believe writers and producers gave themselves the green light to film this.

Without going into detail, Spencer's behavior in jail is a total joke and not believable for a single second. Plus, the other inmates are laughably unscary and they are written in clichéd ways.

By the time the season finale came around I didn't care nor was I invested in finding out the outcome of the team's chase of the bad protagonists no matter how many cameo appearances they threw at the audience.

By the time this season rolled by the show's heyday was in the rearview mirror but the writers still managed to have this show jump the shark all over again. Total dreck.