Hate me if you want but I think Criminal Minds: Evolution made the same overrated mistake as Game of Thrones Season 8 

Criminal Minds: Evolution took a bold leap into streaming and modern storytelling, but let's be honest, it also repeated a mistake that burned Game of Thrones in Season 8.

I'm talking about the one thing that should never mess with viewers, and that is visibility. Criminal Minds: Evolution might be sharper in tone and darker in theme, but the actual picture? Nah.

Way too dark to watch comfortably. Just like the Game of Thrones episode everyone complained about, this revival fell into the same trap.

Disclaimer: Before the pitchforks come out, I love Criminal Minds. I've watched every season. This isn't hate, and it's just a small dose of well-earned criticism from someone who genuinely cares.

---

When Criminal Minds: Evolution turned off the lights

Criminal Minds: Evolution is filled with moments that are intense, but let's be real, the lighting made it hard to actually see them. I found myself squinting, double-checking my screen settings, and wondering if something was wrong with my device. Turns out that others are facing a similar issue.

Fans across the fandom noticed how dark and dull the episodes looked, and I'm not just talking about the episodes being 'emotionally' dark. I'm talking visually, too.

In fact, I stopped midway through an episode because I couldn't make out what was happening on screen. The show that once relied on psychological tension now seems to hide it in the darkness.

Sure, I understand the intent. It's darker in tone, more graphic, more real. Streaming gives more freedom, and the plots are far more disturbing. But is that a reason to forget that people actually need to see the action?

The original series was chilling without turning the brightness down. Now, watching feels like stumbling through a pitch black hallway without a flashlight. One fan on Reddit said;

"It’s so dark man I don’t know if they just hate the visually impaired or..."

---

Game of Thrones déjà vu, but FBI style

Watching Criminal Minds: Evolution sometimes feels like déjà vu, specifically, a flashback to the Battle of Winterfell from Game of Thrones Season 8. That episode was famously so dark that it was being called out all over the internet.

It was the climax of a build-up, and fans couldn't even make out which character was winning due to the darkness on the screens. Similarly, Criminal Minds: Evolution created this world filled with complex killers and characters, only to hide most of it behind dimly lit screens.

Even back then, Game of Thrones's cinematographer defended the darkness, blaming bad screen setups and compression issues. Criminal Minds: Evolution showrunner Erica Messer made a similar point, saying,

"The show that we're delivering... is not dark."

She even explained that compression might be the issue, and viewing it on different devices changes the experience. But does that mean fans should adjust their setup to enjoy one show? That seems like a big ask.

It's not just an isolated glitch. The issue pops up on laptops, TVs, everywhere. Messer even admitted it looks brighter on her own television than it does on a computer.

So while it may not be a direct copy of the Game of Thrones' misstep, it screams out the same frustration, i.e., poor visibility killing good storytelling.

And unfortunately, like Thrones, it risks taking the audience out of the moment entirely.

Criminal Minds: Evolution has so much going for it. But when a show becomes hard to see, literally. It loses its touch, no matter how interesting the plot may be. Let's just hope it doesn't stay lost in the dark.

---

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more news and updates on TV shows, films, daily soaps, pop culture, and more.