REVIEW: Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 3
Criminal Minds: Evolution has just aired the third episode of the 19th season, titled “Body Count.” In this episode, the BAU loans their time to the North Carolina, Durham County DA, Emory Joy (Rob Yang). Joy who has a vested interest in attaching new charges to Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) in hopes of sentencing him to capital punishment. However, the BAU can sense that the case is more likely to be a frame job in order to mask the real unsub responsible for the Poole family’s murders. Using Voit as an on-site expert in the mind of a killer, it allows the audience to feel the hybrid structure of the original series and Evolution. Finally delivered as promised to us by showrunner Erica Messer.
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As a reminder, the original series had a rigid episode structure that changed with the matching unsub. However, closer to mid-season, it would include an overarching storyline laced within the weekly villain. Conversely, it bookended the episode as an opening scene and cliffhanger. In the most recent seasons of Evolution, the focus of each episode has been completely centred on the Sicarius arc. Which included an unrelated plot where the BAU grasped at straws wondering if it was relevant to Voit’s crimes. Nonetheless, the most recent episode “Body Count” married the concepts beautifully. Walking through the episode, they began with a flashback to 2022 depicting the original crime that provoked our profilers’ interest. This date serves as relevance to Elias’ last moments before crossing paths with the FBI. After the harrowing grab of Poole, they flash forward to the present day, introducing DA Joy to Rebecca Wilson (Nicole Pacent).
Clutching to the original series’ paradigm, we witness a tender moment between two agents overwhelmed by grief and change. AJ Cook’s Jennifer “JJ” Jareau and Luke Alvez, (Adam Rodriguez), organize a long-term “sleepover” at Penelope Garcia’s apartment (Kirsten Vangsness). The tender moment is then juxtaposed by a comedic scene. The scene involves the pair interrupting an extended evening between Penelope and “Mr. Wednesday.” On the other side of professionalism, Dr. Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler) and Tyler Green (Ryan-James Hatanaka) rewatch the recording discussing Voit’s abuse. As a character, Tyler’s role throughout Evolution is the part that diverges from the OG series. In a positive way. Not only does the audience have a new character to pour into with shared questions about the BAU’s process, they also function as creative exposition. Within Criminal Minds: Evolution, the addition of new characters and screen time provide the needed edge to the reboot.
Sparing the scene-by-scene rehashing, episode three has as many qualities that make Criminal Minds one of the most streamed crime dramas. The classic ‘Who Dunnit’ murder, a misdirect within a list of suspects, and finally, a gruesome and heartbreaking plot twist. Along with the well-choreographed and gratifying confession elicited by Prentiss and Rossi (Paget Brewster and Joe Mantegna). The previously mentioned qualities reminded the audience why we tune in every week and every season.
