Criminal Minds Evolution (1×03) Moose Review

For our spoiler-free review of the last episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution, click here.

Taking the formerly procedural series in a more serialized direction for its new streaming home has presented a learning curve in trying to balance both. Offering a serialized storyline through Sicarius and the serial killer network, the focus of this new series is more on the BAU and their pursuit of them. In terms of this episode, Moose focuses on the serialized aspect as its procedural aspects are merely pieces of a larger puzzle and the means to advance the former. That being said, there would still be plenty of bumps along the way as the BAU of course faced threats from within. In the end, the result is a strong character-centric episode that sees the BAU at their best which is in their element while diving deeper into Sicarius as the effect of the investigation is starting to be felt thus forcing him to adapt. However, that adjustment wasn’t necessarily going well at least so far. Ultimately, an unexpected lead may very well be the key to the investigation assuming someone or something else doesn’t get to them first.

First of all, Sicarius is a man named Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) who moonlights as a successful sales rep which presumably gave him the means and opportunity to become a prolific serial killer but the episode foreshadowed potential benefactors working behind the scenes to finance the operation and they weren’t exactly thrilled with where things were going. A man of great discipline, even his self-control was being tested. Gilford is finally showing some menace as Voit becomes increasingly unhinged. Meanwhile, the BAU was digging deeper into the network and how its members communicated and were recruited while the FBI bureaucracy and Deputy Director Doug Bailey (Nicholas D’Agosto) somehow kept finding a way to get in their way and act against them. An essential needle in a haystack, deciphering through it all to profile potential killers and discover the identity of Sicarius. Ultimately, they needed to profile in reverse based on the contents of the kill kits in order to track potential killers.

Looking to maintain control, Sicarius took more of a hands on role in facilitating things for the next killer. Based on the network communication and an assist from Lewis’ girlfriend Rebecca (Nicole Pacent), they found a likely candidate for a potential killer. Apprehending him wasn’t seamless as the bureaucracy got in the way all while Sicarius watched unbeknownst to everyone but the actions of Luke and JJ had circumstances which may very well have given Bailey all the ammunition he needed to end the BAU but Prentiss was not willing to go without a fight and it was satisfying to see though she put herself in jeopardy in the process. As an aside, Garcia has not adjusted yet to the freedom of streaming which was absolutely adorable.

However, there was more to the newly-apprehended suspect thanks to an unexpected twist that may very well provide a breakthrough in the BAU investigation.

still courtesy of Paramount+

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.