Warning: SPOILERS for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 8.Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, episode 8 set the scene for a big break in the Sicarius case, but all answers come with a cost. Although the crime drama has followed prolific serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) since the reboot premiered in 2022, the character’s overall storyline has taken years to develop.Voit’s amnesia inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3threw a sudden wrench into the plot, with Voit’s psychopathy essentially canceled out by activating the empathy center of his brain. The remaining criminals on his network, however, have banded together in an effort to reawaken the real Sicarius.
In order to get to Voit and unearth his“real”self, the killers— led by one criminal calling himself Voit’s“Disciple”— have targetedthe FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. Many team members have already suffered great losses during the investigation, from Jennifer “JJ” Jareau (A.J. Cook) losing her husband to Tyler Green (Ryan-James Hatanaka) initially infiltrating Voit’s network on behalf of his deceased sister. Yet,Voit’s Disciple and his foot soldiers have orchestrated direct and convoluted attacks on the BAUin an effort to remain one step ahead of the authorities.
The Aftermath Of Tara, Evan, & Rebecca’s Attack, Explained
The Masked Gunman Took His Toll
In the dramatic cliffhangerending ofCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, episode 7, Rebecca Wilson (Nicole Pacent), Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler), and Evan Delray (Geoff Stults) were intercepted in a parking garage by an armed assailant wearing a Yase-Otoko mask. “Tara” aptly begins with the eponymous character as she slowly realizes she was shot two times in the abdomen and is experiencing a surreal, near-death dream. Ever the forensic psychologist, Tara tells herself her“brain is misfiring,”only for her to spend the bulk of the episode talking to a vision of her deceased mother.
All episodes ofCriminal Minds: Evolutionare streaming on Paramount+.
Conversely, Evan is discharged with a mere sling.While Tara was shot in potentially fatal areas, Evan was clipped in the shoulder, and Rebecca was left physically unharmed but emotionally scarred. With Tara in an almost comatose state for the majority of the episode, Rebecca is understandably distraught, too overwhelmed to even answer the questions Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) have for her when they visit. Of course, Evan— who was initially introduced as Rebecca’s old friend from law school— is more than happy to lend a shoulder to cry on.
Tyler’s Inexperience Leads The BAU On The Hunt For The Disciple’s Red Herring
An Unlikely Suspect Emerges According To The Real Killer’s Plan
Evan is so supportive of Rebecca, in fact, it errs on the side of suspicious— especially in the eyes of Tyler, who is still navigating his place as the BAU’s rookie. After reviewing the security footage,JJ finds it odd howthe shooter seemed to not only recognize Evan but deliberately aim for a non-lethal areato hit. After Voit connects the heart-engraved bullets from the crime scene to a former member of the network named “Mr. Lonely Heart,” Tyler discovers that Evan was the DA to put him away.
Though Emily and David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) are reluctant to believe that Evan was behind the shooting, Tyler matches the attorney’s DNA to a Yase-Otoko mask placed on a newly-discovered body: Jeff Darcy (Derek Basco), Voit’s new lawyer who called for the late-night meeting between Tara, Rebecca, and Evan in the first place.Tyler’s role inCriminal Minds: Evolutionhas grown with his FBI training, but he shows his inexperience as the clues start to reveal themselves. Rather than a twist villain,Evan was a red herring set up by the Disciple to distract the BAU.
Rossi’s Hunch About Insider Information Leaves Few Options For The Disciple’s Big Reveal
Voit’s Storyline Is Approaching Its Final Climax
That doesn’t mean there are no twists on the horizon, however. Frankly, the brief conversation between Prentiss and Rossi practically demands a climactic reveal within the final episodes. Rossi begins to give his thoughts regarding the Disciple’s profile, claiming thatthe Disciple’s in-depth knowledge of Voit, his past, and his medical condition is too detailed to not be an inside job. The sheer fact that the Disciple knew Voit needed to see Cyrus’ (Silas Weir Mitchell) face to unlock his memories suggests that whoever is leading the rebooted network has been hiding in plain sight the entire time.
If the Disciple is truly part of Voit’s medical staff, it’s likely thatCriminal Minds: Evolutionwill need to introduce a new character entirely or at least make Dr. Ochoa a more believable villain.
While the scene was brief, the implications are far too important to write it off. Given how small thecast ofCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3is, there are very few named characters the Disciple could be. Dr. Ochoa (Aimee Garcia) has been a key figure with a clear affinity for Voit, but nothing explicit about her character has been suspicious or cause for concern. If the Disciple is truly part of Voit’s medical staff, it’s likely thatCriminal Minds: Evolutionwill need to introduce a new character entirely or at least make Dr. Ochoa a more believable villain.
A Hidden Connection Between Voit & Rebecca Could Explain Everything
The BAU Is Searching For The Missing Link
Surprisingly, Darcy’s murder was more than a set-up to make Evan the network’s fall guy. Though Darcy’s cryptic message to Tara, Rebecca, and Evan at first seemed like a ruse, the lawyer’s dead body and ransacked office imply he was onto something big that could unravel an entire conspiracy. AllCriminal Minds: Evolutionrevealed is thatsomething connects Voit to Rebecca and, in turn, Voit to Tara. Nothing immediately sprung to mind for the involved parties, but Voit eventually pinpoints a forgotten case fromCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 1.
After Tara assists in overturning Silvio’s conviction, Rebecca ends their relationship, but the two reconcile throughout Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2.
The murder of Maria Jones seemed like yet anotherbrutal death inCriminal Minds, but the BAU became involved due to the wrongful prosecution of Silvio Herrera (Jonathan Del Arco). Though Jones was murdered by Cyrus, Silvio falsely confessed due to blackmail and threats, which coincidentally led to the conviction that launched Rebecca’s career. DuringCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 1, the team gets Silvio’s sentence overturned, but the case seems to be the only thing connecting Rebecca and Voit. If Jeff Darcy truly found new evidence, it could be the final piece of the puzzle that the BAU needs.
Tara’s New Lease On Life Makes Her Reconsider Her Future
The Profiler Makes A Big Decision In The Episode’s Closing Moments
After confronting her mother’s ghost and her own insecurities, Tara awakes to find Rebecca waiting by her hospital bed. Following a two-week time-jump, Tara returns to the office, still frail but on the mend from her gunshot wounds. Surrounded by her team (who she calls her“chosen family”),Tara proposes to Rebecca at her welcome-back party, and the BAU exuberantly celebrate their engagement. According to Tara, her near-death experience put things into perspective, and she realized her commitment issues were holding her back from finding true happiness: a life with Rebecca.
The ending is sweet if not expected, sinceTara and Rebecca’s relationship inCriminal Minds: Evolutionhas been at the forefront of season 3. Nevertheless, the BAU’s new central couple are awarded a moment of peace before the final act begins. Neither Tara nor Rebecca are out of the woods yet, and it’s possible that their engagement could be cut short by a tragic ending, butCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, episode 8 ends on an uncharacteristically optimistic note. Regardless of what happens with the Disciple and the rebooted network, at least there is love.
