Warning! Spoilers ahead for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 7, “… All the Devils Are Here.”
Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, episode 7 finally kicks the Sicarius network plot into high gear. The first part of the season spent a lot of time focusing on his healing afterVoit’s traumatic brain injury inCriminal Minds: Evolution. However, the idea of his network evolving beyond him is an intriguing one that the back half of the season seems to be exploring. This episode moved away fromWill’s sudden death inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, episode 2, but didn’t know what to do with JJ without her grief storyline.
However, another couple in the BAU finally gets a meaningful arc, tied to their work and intimate understanding of each other. The threat of the new network is growing simultaneously deeper and wider, with Voit’s disciple boldly sending messages to the BAU and Voit himself.Someone desperately wants the “real” Sicarius back, but is undermining every rule Voit put in place to create something even more sinister. Just when the BAU is about to celebrate a rare victory, the episode’s shocking ending adds a new entry to the list oftragic deaths inCriminal Minds.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3, Episode 7 Unsub & Case Explained
The BAU’s Most Gruesome Victim Death In A Long Time Is A Tribute To Voit
While part of Voit’s perversion before his traumatic brain injury was rooted in a clinical desire to explore different methods of murder, no form of killing is more unique or personal to him than the Sicarius spider—how his unsub got the nickname. Voit is fascinated by how such a lethal spider demonstrates extreme self-control, waiting patiently for the right moment—a chilling metaphor for how he controlled his own “addiction” to killing.
This is one ofthe more disturbing episodes ofCriminal Minds, with viewers following every step of Tate Andrews’ harrowing ordeal, from being forced to swallow the spider-filled balloons to his graphic death with his screams of pain ringing out. The gruesome nature of the death was the point -this was all a show for Voit, designed to reactivate his old self- and while it does not flip a switch the way the disciple hoped it would, Voit does seem both drawn to and repulsed by Tate’s death by Sicarius spiders.
Whoever this disciple is, he has done his research on Voit through Voit’s former lawyer, Vincent Orlov. The unsub uses a deep fake of the monster that created Voit, his abusive uncle Cyrus, to rattle Elias, and Voit starts to “see” Cyrus the way Rossi used to see a phantom of Voit in his head. The acolyte’s words show he feels betrayed by Voit - saying the Sicarius abandoned the poor souls who need his guidance. While there is a temporary win when the BAU rescues the other seven hostages, this is only the calm before the storm.
Voit Seems To Be In Conflict With His New Aggressive Lawyer, But It Could Still Be Problematic For The BAU
Jeff Darcy’s Mysterious Origins & Combative Demeanor Could Have Sinister Origins
Voit’s new lawyer, Jeff Darcy, does not seem to be on the same page as Voit at all. Voit wants to do the right thing, whether he gets a deal or whether it’s even in his best interest. How Voit connected with this specific attorney is unclear. Regardless, if Voit has a change of heart or decides not to cooperate,the BAU is now in a much more tenuous positioninCriminal Minds: Evolution. With Tara Lewis’ girlfriend Rebecca Wilson off the case, their liaison to the DOJ is less reliable.
There is nothing to suggest Voit’s new lawyer is part of the Sicarius network, but Voit found his previous lawyer through it because he knew it gave him leverage. We’re dealing with a new Voit, but we’re also dealing with a new Sicarius network. Whoever is in charge now is clearly obsessed with Voit, so this is entirely speculative, but if the disciple saw an opportunity to plant a lawyer on Voit’s side, it would explain why Jeff Darcy is being so aggressively protective and so adamant about advising noncooperation.
The BAU Is Switching Its Focus From Profiling The Sicarius Followers To The New Sicarius Leader
This New Leader Is Even More Tech-Savvy Than Voit Was
The BAU has been a step behind this new network’s plot all season, reacting to the last unsub rather than trying to get ahead of the group. They’ve finally decided to profile whoever is masterminding the operation rather than retroactively focusing on what Dave Rossi calls “foot soldiers.” Whoever this new leader is, their modus operandi is the complete opposite of Sicarius’ -this leader wants to create chaos by uniting for bigger, more coordinated crimes, while Sicarius was about helping individuals fulfill their desires while staying in the shadows.
It’s possible Voit simply doesn’t remember who this acolyte is, but I think it’s more likely this is merely a former member of his inner circle who considers their relationship as much more meaningful than Voit does. This explains why they feel so betrayed by Voit’s personality change after the traumatic brain injury, which they correctly inferred from the BAU’s successful capturing of unsubs likeThe Zookeeper inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, episode 2. This disciple will do whatever it takes to trigger what they consider to be the “real” Voit.
Penelope Garcia’s Friendship With Voit Is The Most Tender Part Of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3, Episode 7
Penelope Is The Angel On Voit’s Shoulder While The New Sicarius Leader Is His Personal Devil
Since there is the evil force of Voit’s disciple trying to pull Voit back to his dark side, I’m glad there is Penelope Garcia to offer some comfort and healing to Voit and the viewers. Garcia bringing essential oils to cleanse Voit of everything that led to Tate Andrews’ death is so precious, especially because Voit is open to exploring her quirkier beliefs. Garcia was looking for something worth redeeming in Voit inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3 premiere, and now Voit is at a crossroads.
The fact that Voit admits he doesn’t know which version of himself is the real one makes me believe he’s being honest with Penelope. If he were too emphatic that he is only good, that would make me worry that his acolyte’s plan worked. However,Voit’s penchant for violence is slowly increasingover the season - earlier he could not look at photos of the crimes, but now he watches Tate’s death with clear horror, but unflinchingly.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Finally Makes Tara & Rebecca Likable (Before Immediately Endangering Them)
Tara Gives Rebecca Excellent & Individually Tailored Advice
Criminal Minds: Evolutionhas been pushing Tara and Rebecca as a couplein season 3 by giving them copious amounts of screen time, like their prolonged early morning bedroom scene in episode 2. And while the show should not prolong Tara’s awkward misunderstanding with Rebecca’s ex inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, episode 6- which comes to a tragic end in the finale - this episode goes a long way toward making me like Tara and Rebecca as a couple.
Emily Prentiss
2-18
Single after breaking up with Andrew Mendoza in between Criminal Minds finale and Evolution beginning after pressure to have a threesome.
David Rossi
3-18
Grieving his wife Krystall in Evolution season 1. Romantically reconnected with Jill Gideon in season 2.
Jennifer “JJ” Jareau
1-18
Widowed mother of 2 boys after 15 years with her partner, Will LaMontagne Jr.
Penelope Garcia
Single. Previously had a one-night stand with Tyler Green. Had one failed dated with Luke Alvez.
11-18
Luke Alvez
12-18
Single. Previously had a flirtation with Garcia, but they both agreed there wasn’t a real spark after one date.
Tyler Green
16-18
Single. Had illicit chemistry with Garcia in Evolution season 1, but Prentiss ordered Garcia to end it.
Elias Voit
Voit was married to Sydney, sharing two children, but Voit’s amnesia means he can’t remember. His family is in witness protection and refuses to see him.
Most of their initial courtship happened off camera between theCriminal Mindsoriginal series finale and the beginning ofEvolution, so this episode gave me the clearest picture yet of their dynamic. Tara gives Rebecca truly excellent advice when it comes to her removal from the Voit case: don’t quit - you’re a litigator, so litigate for yourself. This finally gives the sense thatTara doesn’t just love Rebecca, she understands herwell enough to know that Rebecca would resent her down the line if she quit and took a cushy lobbyist job.
Why The Sicarius Network Targeted Tara, Rebecca, & Law School Evan
The Sicarius Network Could Think There Was An Actual Conflict Of Interest
Whoever is leading the new form of the network clearly wants to reawaken what they consider to be the real Sicarius, and the shooting could mean that they also want to get justice for perceived slights against Voit. The Attorney General had Rebecca replaced on Voit’s case because they were worried about a conflict of interest due to her relationship with Tara.Perhaps the new network leader feels like there was some legal collusion against Voitby the DOJ and BAU, and organized the assassination attempt.
New episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution stream Thursdays on Paramount+. The show has already been renewed for season 4.
Criminal Minds: Evolutionshoehorned Evan into Rebecca’s position, because the show wouldn’t kill Tara outright, but it’s more dramatic to have one person killed, one person clinging to life, and one person able to describe what happened. While Tara will surely survive the two bullets to the abdomen, this drives home the idea ofCriminal Minds' “Hell is empty and all the devils are here” quote- and they are sophisticated enough to trick the FBI and DOJ.
Criminal Minds
Cast
Criminal Minds follows an elite team of FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit as they analyze the nation’s most complex criminal minds, led by experienced agent David Rossi. The team works to anticipate and prevent crimes by understanding the behavior of these dangerous individuals.
