Criminal Minds Evolution (1×05) Oedipus Wrecks Review

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

Even streaming series get midseason finales and this time has now come for Criminal Minds: Evolution and it did not disappoint, resulting in the best episode of the revival so far. Bringing characters on the periphery together for what appears to be the final stretch made for an exciting episode full of strong character moments that manages to subvert expectations, more than for just the fact that it is a midseason finale. This revival has thrived since its focus has moved from beyond the typical case of the week to leaning more on its characters to drive the story forward. The many little subplots outside of the main mystery start or continue to pay dividends here through those character moments. Meanwhile, the season has been slowly building up as the BAU inches closer to Sicarius as this episode proved to be a trojan horse of sorts. Little did they know, the next case up saw them find a way higher up the ladder of the serial killer network. However, that discovery proved to have its circumstances for which the outcome is not yet clear in true midseason finale fashion.

The aforementioned case of the week saw an affluent man abduct women and then strangling them, biting them, and then dying their hair. This case had some significance to Bailey who failed at hiding the fact that he had a connection to one of the victims as he used the same exclusive dating app as the victims and presumably the killer. As the episode title suggests, the answer is always mommy issues and this case, that mommy was a powerful senator thus making Bailey and the BAU’s job even harder. After being jerked around and temporarily having their suspect, his mother got him out only for her to be later killed by her son with the help of Sicarius.

Meanwhile, following the Sicarius case meant desperate measures such as Garcia and Greene working together but she made sure to establish rules early on. The chemistry between Kristen Vangsness and Ryan-James Hatanaka was strong as Rossi noticed what was going on and was sure to stay out of the way of that dynamic as the three dove deeper into the network communication system, including the way the senator’s son communicated with Sicarius. The former appeared to be one of his benefactors who got accepted into the network for his money. 

JJ and LaMontagne recently learned a tough lesson about the meaning of life and how they could go ay any moment which certainly meant more considering each of their jobs following the latter’s health issues. Vowing to be more open with one another, that bond would be put to the test as she and Alvez pursued a lead given to them by the senator’s son. Finding a bunker similar to the Sicarius shipping containers, the rest of the team and Bailey could only watch as the two fled as a result of a bomb which was clearly a trap for the BAU. Whether or not they survived remains to be seen, making for a big cliffhanger as Sicarius and the senator’s son presumably got away.

If anything, Bailey appears to now be on the side of the BAU but whoever will be left after the cliffhanger and whatever evidence remains will inevitably be revealed once the series returns on January 12th.

*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.