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Showing posts with label Criminal Minds: Evolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Criminal Minds: Evolution. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Criminal Minds: Evolution 18.3: Flowers from Hotch, Derek, and Spencer



It's been a while since I've seen an episode in any television series as emotionally effective -- as emotionally right -- as episode 18.3 of Criminal Minds: Evolution (actually, the third season of Criminal Minds: Evolution, which got the appendage Evolution in its title when Criminal Minds resumed on Paramount Plus in November 2022 after 16 powerful seasons on CBS, which concluded in February 2020).

[And there will be big spoilers ahead ... ]

The occasion was the funeral of Will, J. .J.'s husband, who died of sudden natural causes at the end of last week's episode 18.2.  Penelope and Emily are sitting together.  Penelope says the flowers are stunning.  Emily points to them and says those are from Hotch, those are from Derek, and those are from Spencer.

The mention of three major characters from Criminal Minds -- Aaron Hotchner, Derek Morgan, and Spencer Reed -- for various reasons no longer on the show, but still alive (and that actually confirmed by this mention) -- was itself a classy move by the makers of this rebooted series.  All too often in television, especially broadcast TV where Criminal Minds spent its first 16 seasons, characters who leave the series are all too often out of sight out of mind, and never mentioned again.  So when I heard Hotch, Derek, and Spencer mentioned, I thought good for Criminal Minds: Evolution for growing up and becoming more like real life.   (I will say the Chicago shows and the Law & Order shows, both on NBC -- with the exception of Law & Order: Organized Crime, now on Peacock -- occasionally make references to characters no longer on the show.)

But the best was yet to come, when Spencer arrived at the funeral and joined his beloved colleagues/friends.  I've been wondering since Evolution began three years ago why Spencer was no longer on the BAU team, i.e., on the show.  I even said so in my reviews.  Whether this appearance was a one-time event, or the beginning of a re-integration of one of the best characters from the original series (the best, in the opinion of many) remains to be seen.  But his appearance at this funeral, what he said to J. J. -- "I'm always here for you guys" -- was a memorable moment, indeed.  In fact, I would say that moment, and the entire reappearance of Spencer, was one of the most memorable moments I've ever seen in a fictitious TV drama.

Matthew Gray Gubler played this moment as Spencer (Dr. Spencer Reid) just perfectly.  A. J. Cook as J. J. deserves an Emmy for her performance.  And the truth is all the acting was letter perfect in this remarkable episode.  Kudos to everyone involved, including Jeff Davis and the other writers, and Joe Mantegna who directed (who also plays Rossi, a major character).  This episode, entitled "Time to Say Goodbye," is the way television should be done.  It's definitely not time for Criminal Minds to say goodbye.

See also Criminal Minds: Evolution 17.1-17-.2 The Elusive Profile ... 17.3: "BAU Gate" ... 17.4: Progress ... 17.6: Gideon, Morgan, Hotch ... 17.7: Jill Gideon

And see also Criminal Minds: Evolution 16.1-16.4: Outstanding! ... 16.5: Assessment of What Could Have Happened at the End ... 16.6-16.8: Better Than Ever on Paramount Plus ... 16.9: Elias Voit and David Rossi ... 16.10: Gold Star

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Some reviews of episodes from earlier seasons:





 

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Monday, July 15, 2024

Criminal Minds: Evolution 17.7: Jill Gideon


Episode 17.7 of Criminal Minds: Evolution on Paramount Plus expanded the retrieval of earlier Criminal Minds players with the introduction of Jason Gideon's wife Jill.

[Spoilers ahead ... ]

Wow!  Jill's played by Felicity Huffman, and she not only was married to Jason -- killed nearly 10 years ago (off-camera) by an unsub -- but had some kind of important relationship to Rossi, who tells Emily he doesn't want Jill brought into the BAU's current investigation into the various Stars.  (As far as I can recall, she didn't actually appear in the first few seasons in which Jason was on the show.)

Of course, Emily ignores Rossi's plea -- she's back in charge of the BAU, so no one in the BAU can tell her what to do, including Rossi -- and we get some great scenes as Emily knocks on Jill's door, and is something less than warmly received.  Again, as in last week's episode, it was fun to hear Emily go over all the missing BAU members, when Jill asks her what's happening at the BAU.  Once again, I was most interested in what Emily had to say about Spencer, characterizing his absence as "on sabbatical".  That's certainly better than dead -- which we know isn't the case for Spencer -- or even left in a huff.

Moving on to other characters, I just want to also say that Tyler should be made a member of the BAU already. No need to keep him in the vestibule of being a consultant any more.

And as for the plot of this episode and its violence -- the specific kind of depraved violence featured in this episode -- I found it suitably revolting, as I usually do.  But that's not why I watch this fascinating series.

See also Criminal Minds: Evolution 17.1-17-.2 The Elusive Profile ... 17.3: "BAU Gate" ... 17.4: Progress ... 17.6: Gideon, Morgan, Hotch

And see also Criminal Minds: Evolution 16.1-16.4: Outstanding! ... 16.5: Assessment of What Could Have Happened at the End ... 16.6-16.8: Better Than Ever on Paramount Plus ... 16.9: Elias Voit and David Rossi ... 16.10: Gold Star

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Some reviews of episodes from earlier seasons:





 

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Sunday, July 7, 2024

Criminal Minds: Evolution 17.6: Gideon, Morgan, Hotch


The best part of the excellent episode 17.6 of Criminal Minds on Paramount Plus is the conversation between J. J. and Emily in Emily's apartment, both stoned.

[Spoilers ahead ... ]

Emily asks J. J. to think about everyone who has come and gone at the BAU since she and J. J. met -- "Gideon, Morgan, Hotch".   Why did she pick those three?  Well, Gideon was the first head of the unit we met, all those years ago.  Hotchner was there the longest.  And Morgan I don't think was ever head, but he was a major player.

But I wonder why Emily didn't include Spencer in her reminisce.  It would have been easy to add a fourth name.   I'm pretty sure I heard someone mention Spencer's name earlier this season, but the stoned conversation in Emily's apartment would have been a good time to say it again.

Spencer was on the show for 324 episodes, from 2005 through 2020.  Showrunner Erica Messer says scheduling conflicts kept Matthew Gray Gubler from coming back for the first season of Criminal Minds: Evolution, and this may be the case for the second season, but his desk remains, as is the possibility that he'll be back in some future episode or season (see Screen Rant for more).

With a serial killer like Voit behind bars but still very dangerous, and the big reveal at the end of 17.6 that the BAU's historic leaders may be North Star, related in some way to Gold Star, the BAU could certainly use every bit of Spencer's brain power it can get.

See also Criminal Minds: Evolution 17.1-17-.2 The Elusive Profile ... 17.3: "BAU Gate" ... 17.4: Progress

And see also Criminal Minds: Evolution 16.1-16.4: Outstanding! ... 16.5: Assessment of What Could Have Happened at the End ... 16.6-16.8: Better Than Ever on Paramount Plus ... 16.9: Elias Voit and David Rossi ... 16.10: Gold Star

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Some reviews of episodes from earlier seasons:





 

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Friday, June 21, 2024

Criminal Minds: Evolution 17.4: Progress

Criminal Minds is coming together nicely (or harrowingly, depending on how you look at it) as of episode 17.4 on Paramount Plus.

[Spoilers ahead ...]

Elias Voit now has a good reason to cooperate: his daughter is showing signs of becoming a serial killer, like her old man, and he wants the BAU to help her with their expertise.  But the smile on his face at the end of the episode shows he's also happy about this for other, more nefarious reasons.  I'm half-guesing he's hoping to turn his daughter into an asset.

Penelope is allowing Tyler to come back into the fold.  Good. She still has feelings for him, and there's no point in struggling all season to keep them down.  And, I don't know, I don't think Tyler did anything that terrible, but maybe that's just me.

It's good to see the crew's excursions now actually connecting to the Gold Star case, which happens just as the BAU realizes that Gold Star is not a person but a project.  This of course puts Voit right back in the picture.  In addition to being the serial killer Internet mastermind Sicarius, Voit is no doubt part of Gold Star, and maybe it's chief?   That would be good reason for Voit's smile at the end.

One issue unaddressed in this episode are the fake porn photos of J.J.  We'll no doubt see that center stage sooner or later, as Criminal Minds: Evolution continues its perilous journey this season.

See also Criminal Minds: Evolution 17.1-17-.2 The Elusive Profile ... 17.3: "BAU Gate"

And see also Criminal Minds: Evolution 16.1-16.4: Outstanding! ... 16.5: Assessment of What Could Have Happened at the End ... 16.6-16.8: Better Than Ever on Paramount Plus ... 16.9: Elias Voit and David Rossi ... 16.10: Gold Star

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Some reviews of episodes from earlier seasons:





 

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Thursday, June 13, 2024

Criminal Minds: Evolution 17.3: "BAU Gate"

I'd say the most provocative element in the provocate episode 17.3 of Criminal Minds: Evolution up on Paramount Plus today is the team's discovery of a site on the dark web, "BAU Gate".

[Spoilers ahead ... ]

Actually, they've known about the site since 2014.  But AI has souped up the site with ultra-convincing fake porm, and the star of that porn is Jennifer Jareau, which makes sense, given that she started with the BAU as its media spokesperson.  Emily doesn't want Luke -- who was told about this by Voit in words we couldn't hear in last week's episode 17.2 -- to tell JJ about this, but of course he does. And in one fell swoop, Criminal Minds manages to stay cutting-edge current, bringing AI dramatically into the story, and in a way that ties together many of its numerous threads.

Numerous intersecting threads is what Criminal Minds is becoming increasingly all about.  There's Voit and his family, connected via Voit to Gold Star, and now Voit as an Internet demon tells the BAU about BAU Gate.  Also in episode 17.3, Emily is arrested by local police because a conspiracy nut -- who believes Paul really died in the 1960s and was replaced in The Beatles by someone else -- lies about Emily attacking him.  What this has to do with Voit or BAU Gate is not clear, but you never know.

The specific case that draws David and Tara on a plane out West apparently has nothing to do with the above nexus, and the team finds that refreshing.  I'm not sure about that.  Maybe it would be better if everything was connected.  On the other hand, it's good to see the BAU get an unambiguous win or two in the midst of the web of complications that is increasing drawing them and us in,

See also Criminal Minds: Evolution 17.1-17-.2 The Elusive Profile

And see also Criminal Minds: Evolution 16.1-16.4: Outstanding! ... 16.5: Assessment of What Could Have Happened at the End ... 16.6-16.8: Better Than Ever on Paramount Plus ... 16.9: Elias Voit and David Rossi ... 16.10: Gold Star

===

Some reviews of episodes from earlier seasons:





 

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Friday, June 7, 2024

Criminal Minds: Evolution 17.1-2: The Elusive Profile


Criminal Minds: Evolution is back on Paramount Plus with the first two episodes of its new season (17, if you count the original Criminal Minds on CBS).  I saw them last night and they were excellent.

[Spoilers ahead ... ]

The story picks up two weeks after the events in the Season 16 finale.  Elias Voit, the mastermind networking serial killer from last season is in jail, but his capture has taken a toll on our heroes.  Rossi is hallucinating conversations with Voit, Emily's on a razor's edge, but the BAU is mobilized to the find the Gold Star killer, whose moniker was introduced at the end of last season.

The only thing that's clear about who and what Gold Star is, well, is that Voit is not Gold Star per se.  Or, to be more precise, he couldn't be the person who actually killed any of the victims in the first two episodes of this new season, because he was behind bars all the time.  Emily thinks Gold Star may be a killer out West, but when she says we're ready to deliver the profile, Rossi tells her no, we're not.  As always, the BAU is rent with disagreement, as well as the FBI Director wanting to get rid of them, but they manage to move forward.

As in the last season, the use of explicit language is refreshing and realistic.  I could do, though, without the explicit gore, but that's just me.  And as long we're talking about how streaming has liberated television from network prudishness, a little nudity -- for our living characters -- wouldn't be bad, either, just sayin'.

The serial killer -- in this case, Voit -- being a necessary but ever dangerous ally of law enforcement is of course something we've seen already with Hannibal Lecter.  But Zach Gilford as Voit was a great addition to the show -- even though every time I hear or write the name I think of Chicago PD -- and it's great to see him back in this new season.

Speaking of which, I'm hoping to see Spencer back before this season is over as well.

See also Criminal Minds: Evolution 16.1-16.4: Outstanding! ... 16.5: Assessment of What Could Have Happened at the End ... 16.6-16.8: Better Than Ever on Paramount Plus ... 16.9: Elias Voit and David Rossi ... 16.10: Gold Star

===

Some reviews of episodes from earlier seasons:





 

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Saturday, February 11, 2023

Criminal Minds: Evolution 16.10: Gold Star



A fine conclusion -- episode 16.10 -- to an altogether fine new season of Criminal Minds, with some questions answered and at least one other dramatically hanging.

[Spoilers ahead ... ]

First, I was partially wrong about Bailey.  I said he was becoming a good character (I was right about that) who would be welcome to see in future seasons (that's the part I was wrong about).  He was shot dead by Voit, in one of the more surprising moments of the entire season.

Voit tried to do the same to his wife, but didn't succeed because he was out of bullets.  He remains a powerful, inscrutable character, which is why I'm glad he'll be around for at least another season (Criminal Minds has been renewed).  As this season concludes, we're left with a highly intelligent serial killer, who's also ready to kill anyone who gets in his way, and is involved in some nefarious project called Gold Star.

Bailey was also involved in Gold Star, which is why Voit killed him.  And that's about all we know about it.   My best guest?  Gold Star is a government program which enlists serial killers to take out ... who?  Threats to the world?  We could use a team like that in Russia.

Otherwise, good to see J. J. and William closer together, Penelope and Luke maybe starting something (even though the flashback in an earlier episode suggested that wouldn't go anywhere), and of course I was very happy Rossi survived.

Restarting a series isn't easy, but Criminal Minds did a really good job of it, and I'll be back here for sure with reviews of Season 17, as soon as it starts.

See also Criminal Minds: Evolution 16.1-16.4: Outstanding! ... 16.5: Assessment of What Could Have Happened at the End ... 16.6-16.8: Better Than Ever on Paramount Plus ... 16.9: Elias Voit and David Rossi

===

Some reviews of episodes from earlier seasons:





 


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Friday, February 3, 2023

Criminal Minds: Evolution 16.9: Elias Voit and David Rossi



Another superb episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution -- 16.9 -- the best in this outstanding return of the venerable series so far, and I know I keep saying that about just about every episode of Season 16, but that's because it's true.

[Spoilers ahead ... ]

Among my favorite scenes:

  • Elias's first conversation with Rossi, in which Elias tells Rossi that he know how he thinks, all of his moves, because he has avidly read all of Rossi's books.  How's that for a cool meta-piece of television?
  • The ensuing conversations between Elias and Rossi, in which Elias makes fun of Rossi because of his age, saying he'd been hoping to meet and have a conversation and go head-to-head with the Rossi who wrote all of those books, but instead Elias got sent the "AARP" version of Rossi.
  • And, though I didn't like to see this, because I'm rooting for the BAU, I have to admit it was a powerful scene when Elias tells Rossi that of course Elias is not worried about Rossie, because Elias can easily take a 70-year-old man.  And those indeed make Rossi his prisoner.
Other strong parts of this episode are Penelope's relationship with Tyler.  I guess she loves him.  What's not clear is if he love her.  But at this point, it's not clear now if he'll live.

Elias Voit is clearly one hell of a clever serial killer, and this is making for one of the impressive seasons in the long run of Criminal Minds.  The series has more than regained whatever steam it may have lost.  Next week will be this season's finale, and I'm looking forward to many more.

See also Criminal Minds: Evolution 16.1-16.4: Outstanding! ... 16.5: Assessment of What Could Have Happened at the End ... 16.6-16.8: Better Than Ever on Paramount Plus

===

Some reviews of episodes from earlier seasons:





 

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