If you haven’t seen the new episode yet Criminal Minds: Evolution However, you may want to do that and come back here. I don’t want to spoil this for you. Now, let’s get into save the child.
Talk about starting an episode with a bang! In last week’s episode, we saw Jed setting up explosives, and then the episode ended – and the beginning of the episode proved that those explosives were causing some major damage. Aida, one of the training facilities created by Venus, is now in flames.
Back at the office, Penelope and Rebecca are anxiously trying to reconnect with the team (They were all in the Aida building when the explosion happened.). A text message from Rebecca’s mother prompted them to turn on the news, and they saw the Aida building completely engulfed in flames. Screws are anxious and they are very afraid of the fate of their team members. If seeing this scene wasn’t enough, multiple explosions were filmed on set, leaving both Penelope and Rebecca with horrified looks.
“Save the Children” – Criminal Minds: Evolution. Pictured: Zach Gilford as Elias Voit and Joe Mantegna as David Rossiin Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+ © 2024.
We are at Aida Live (After the explosion) David chats with subconscious Elias again (The person David has in mind is not still living rent-free.). We didn’t talk about it too much, though, because thankfully, Tara found David, but with bad news: everyone was found except Jed, Frank, and Emily.
Now, if we still think back to last week’s episode (of course i am), I thought Jade was dead. Imagine my shock when I saw she was alive. Of course, the game doesn’t stop there. She strapped Frank and Emily into wheelchairs. Why? Oh, and put them on trial for their misdeeds, of course. Starting with Frank (You annoying human being), who he used, tortured and manipulated at Stewart House. When he tried to talk himself out of it, she didn’t bother and punched him in the head. Right in front of Emily—oops! And then Jade brings Frank into this room, I mean what else can she do to this man? He was already dead, but then I figured out what she was doing here, and that’s where my thoughts about Jade changed (I never thought I would have any feelings for her). We think back to her time at Stewart House…and yes, it was a difficult time for her. We also see how important Damian is to her. Having lost her anchor, now she was truly lost.
“Save the Children” – Criminal Minds: Evolution. Pictured: Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss, Tuc Watkins as Frank Church, Leah Liana Liberato as Jade Waters Photo credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+ © 2024.
Now it’s Emily’s turn – and boy, this is a twist I didn’t see coming. All the while, the team has been searching for the identities of the last two Venus members; they discover that Jed is now working with one of them named Dana, but that last one is tricky. Jade holds Emily at gunpoint and asks how she can defend herself, but she is never told what she is accused of. When she asked, Jade told her it was a plot to murder. She thought it was Damian, but no, it wasn’t. Emily convinces Jade to let her confront her accuser, and the man agrees. The boy had a surprise for Emily.
At the office, the team tries to find the last member of Venus (They only know his name is Pete B) thought this would give them an idea of where Emily might be. While trying to identify him, they concluded that this particular Venus member had been keeping an eye on Emily. Nothing that happens to Emily this season is a coincidence. Pete blames Emily…but we don’t know what yet. Then subconscious Elias comes back and tells David that if he had never mentioned Venus and everything, this would all have happened and everything starts to come together (I started freaking out because I realized we were getting more answers).
“Save the Children” – Criminal Minds: Evolution. Pictured: AJ Cook as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau and Zach Gilford as Elias Voit Photo credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+ © 2024.
David goes to visit Elias in the new correctional facility, hoping that his conversation with Elias will lead to a clear answer as to who the last Venusian was. Elias was playing games of course, but David told him what he knew. It all started with his first mention of Venus, but more importantly who he mentioned it to in the first place: Douglas Bailey. David begins to tell how he discovered that Pete B was none other than Doug’s brother Pete Bailey (Exciting). We get it now, Pete; you blamed Emily for Doug’s death. Elias was brought back to the office again to help, but the BAU team wasn’t excited. He told them how he created an app for Pete to help him decipher real and deep fake videos of his brother, and how when the app was used and a fake video was discovered, a GPS marker was attached to its location. If Pete had used the app recently, they could find him. The team and Elias travel to Aida to try to find Pete’s location, and surprisingly, Elias helps.
After Emily pleads her case, which Pete doesn’t believe, Jed puts the gun to her head again and tells her she’s found guilty. Before Jed put away his gun, I thought Emily was about to suffer Frank’s fate. She tells Emily that her sentence has been postponed and that there is another plan coming up. She then learns that everything Voight gave Jade about her team gave her insight into their tactics, she knows they are on their way to saving Emily, and that both Pete and Jade are ready; Doorway Explosives are set up to meet them (they almost disappeared). Assuming this might be a trap, David sets another one: playing a recording of Elias admitting to killing Dog Bailey. Pete finally sees the truth and confirms it through Elias’ app and learns that Emily is not the enemy.
“Save the Children” – Criminal Minds: Evolution. Pictured: Alex Saxon as Pete Bailey, Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss, Liana Liberato as Jade Waters Photo credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+ © 2024.
Man, I really don’t want to feel anything for Jade, but this ending is important. When Pete and Jade surrender, Pete is taken away, but Jade pulls out a gun and puts it to her head (The fact that dying is better than dealing with the consequences is very telling). Emily did what Emily does best and talked her out of it. Jade just wants someone to listen to her, and Emily agrees to do so. Jade surrenders.
Everyone celebrates at Penelope’s house that they are all safe (I love that – especially the cake!) But when Taylor talks about Elias Voight and Emily walks in, we see a subconscious version of Elias in the hall behind her, which surprises us. He didn’t walk in with her, does that mean David doesn’t care about him anymore? Also, according to Tyler, why did Elias switch to Gen-pop?
The final scene of the episode shows us Elias in the laundry room, and he’s not alone for long. Two men walked in and one of them walked directly towards him (calf in hand) asked him to confirm who he thought he was: Elias Voit. He tried to deny it, but the man wasn’t buying it and a fight broke out. A second man joins the attack, and then—the episode ends. In the end, the two-on-one outcome seemed to be in Elias’ favor. Do we believe this could be the end for Elias Voight?
I have a few ideas, but I’d like to hear your opinion – what did you think of the season finale? Criminal Minds: Evolution? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, or hit me up on Twitter @chenfordhugs
Valerie Laroche
Hello! I’m Val. I’m a writer, actor, photographer, and producer from New York. I like going to bookstores, the gym and walking in the park. If I wasn’t doing these things, I would be studying film and television at home.
