True Night (28 Nov. 2007)

The team heads to LA to investigate a number of brutal killings which turn out to be related to the creator of a graphic novel, Jonny McHale.

Director:

Edward Allen Bernero

Writers:

Jeff Davis (creator), Edward Allen Bernero

Stars:

Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Joe Mantegna	...	David Rossi
Paget Brewster	...	Emily Prentiss
Shemar Moore	...	Derek Morgan
Matthew Gray Gubler	...	Dr. Spencer Reid
A.J. Cook	...	Jennifer Jareau
Kirsten Vangsness	...	Penelope Garcia
Thomas Gibson	...	Aaron Hotchner
Frankie Muniz	...	Jonny McHale
Parry Shen	...	Bobby Kim
John Walcutt	...	Detective Brady
Ellen Hollman	...	Vickie Wright
Sara Van Horn	...	Helen Trestle
Craig Gellis	...	Glen Hill
Steve Richard Harris	...	Jasper
Johanna Parker	...	Jean

Storyline

The BAU are brought to Los Angeles to investigate a string of seven brutal slayings over a two week period. The killings are what Reid describe as "overkill", suggesting that the single killer has suffered a psychotic break which prompted the killings. The overkill that Reid describes is the fact that the victims all had severed body parts, the severing done by a large sharp bladed weapon. When there are more killings, the BAU get a clearer victimology. Although the BAU are closing in at least geographically on the unsub, they get a major break when they are made privy to some drawings resembling the murders and murder sites. Meanwhile, Garcia returns to work after the recovery from her gunshot wound. She is frustrated to find that her office is not the way she left it.

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Plot Keywords:

los angeles | psychotic break | post traumatic stress disorder | hooded figure | pregnant | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 November 2007 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mark Gordon Company, The, CBS Paramount Network Television, ABC Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 42 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White (some sequences) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The quote in the beginning of the episode is from Clive Barker, and the character Frankie Muniz is playing looks a lot like him (the hair and the beard especially).

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Quotes

David Rossi: Something wrong?
Emily Prentiss: He's the first unsub I've worked who wasn't a bad guy. You know? Six months ago, Jonny McHale was just a regular person.
David Rossi: Every unsub is ill on some level. Most can't help what they do any more than Jonny could.
Emily Prentiss: But he went from successful writer and artist to brutal killer in six months.
David Rossi: He suffered an unbelievable tragedy.
Emily Prentiss: I know. I get it.
David Rossi: So what's bugging you?
Emily Prentiss: It just makes me wonder... are we all capable of becoming something like that?

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Connections

References Sin City (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Ooh La"
(uncredited)
Performed by The Kooks

User Reviews

"Sin City" graphics, sympathetic villain. Wonderful!

I recorded this episode when it was shown again, because I had to "own" it. It is that good. The graphic-novel sequences - ala Frank Miller - are just amazing. They do not, however, over-shadow the story-line, which is also very unusual in that our villain is not a monster, in the way that most "CM" villains are. Not wanting to introduce spoilers to detract from a viewer's enjoyment of this episode, I will just say: Try to find this episode. It is not to be missed. I hope that there will be more episodes as unusual as this one. It is great to have a break from the usual - although "the usual" is always quite good. I enjoy getting into the psychology of the killers, rather than just the technical breakdown of the evidence they leave behind. An outstanding episode from an excellent show. I love both Mandy Patankin and Joe Montegna. All the characters are excellent.