Episode 9, And the Darkness Was Called Night, is a reflective, quiet storm within the broader canvas of Before. While previous episodes danced with metaphysical questions and psychological intensity, this one tightens its grip on the darker recesses of its central characters. Eli’s pursuit of answers feels less like a journey forward and more like he’s caught in a looping maze of his own making.
Billy Crystal's performance as Eli has been consistently strong, but here he brings a haunting fragility to the role. Watching him wade through the increasingly murky waters of his past and his connection with Noah is both gripping and painful. Crystal handles the shift from a measured investigator to a man teetering on the brink with a precision that keeps the audience guessing about his motivations and mental state.
As for Noah, played by Jacobi Jupe, the boy straddles the line between an innocent caught in a web of inexplicable events and something far more ominous. His chemistry with Crystal is chilling, their interactions simmering with unspoken truths and a sense of inevitable confrontation. The episode leans heavily on these exchanges, and while the pacing drags at times, the tension is undeniable.
The subplot with Denise (Rosie Perez) doesn’t fare as well. Her desperation to protect Noah and comprehend his condition gives the episode its emotional backbone, but it’s overshadowed by Eli’s more compelling arc. Perez delivers a heartfelt performance, but her character often feels like a plot device rather than a fully realized figure. Her scenes, though poignant, don’t quite mesh with the labyrinthine narrative unfolding around Eli and Noah.
Visually, the episode remains consistent with the series’ aesthetic: muted tones, lingering shadows, and compositions that make the ordinary feel claustrophobic. The direction subtly echoes Eli’s mental state, with scenes growing increasingly disjointed and surreal as the narrative progresses. However, the visual metaphor starts to feel repetitive, especially as the episode spends a significant amount of time in dimly lit interiors that lack dynamic variation.
The script falters slightly under the weight of its ambitions. While the dialogue is sharp and brimming with subtext, the pacing struggles under an over-reliance on cryptic conversations and dreamlike sequences. It’s as if the writers are so determined to keep the audience off-balance that they sacrifice momentum. The lack of concrete revelations might frustrate viewers who were hoping for answers, though fans of the show’s contemplative tone will likely find the ambiguity rewarding.
At its heart, Episode 9 is a study of connections: between past and present, truth and perception, and people who seem inexplicably tied together. The show has always excelled at asking big questions, and this installment is no exception. However, it sometimes feels as though it’s circling those questions rather than diving into them.
The climax builds to a subdued yet disconcerting confrontation, one that leaves more doors open than it closes. It’s not the explosive revelation some might have hoped for, but it fits within the show’s restrained, philosophical approach. That said, the narrative risks alienating viewers who crave a stronger sense of progression after so much buildup.
In sum, And the Darkness Was Called Night delivers on the atmospheric tension and psychological depth that has become Before’s trademarks, but its uneven pacing and overly opaque storytelling make it less accessible than earlier episodes. For fans invested in the series’ introspective nature, it’s a worthwhile chapter. For others, it may feel like a ponderous detour on the road to answers.
Ultimately, this episode continues to explore the enigma that is Before—sometimes maddeningly so—but its quieter, shadowed moments hold a strange beauty that lingers long after the screen fades to black.
Final Score- [6/10]