Criminal Minds Evolution (2×06) Message in a Bottle Review

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

After last week’s near-explosive episode, it only makes sense to slow down the following episode, but not Criminal Minds: Evolution. Following up with the longest episode of the season so far, it may seem like a lot of nothing, as the team breaks up once again into their own subplots, but pulls itself together by the end. That being said, one can’t help but have just wanted more of that. However, there’s a reason for all of it, with the episode serving to consolidate many of the lingering subplots before eventually moving on to a potential game changer of a reveal. Let’s face it, in order to move forward, some characters needed to figure things out first and those journeys lead to even stronger moments (though one was perhaps not necessary). While some may consider 3/4 of Message in a Bottle a filler episode, it will ultimately be judged by the sum of its parts and that sum still adds up to an entertaining watch that works off the strength of its tried and true cast, including its recent additions.

When it came to characters who had things to figure out, Rossi was arguably at the top of that list. With Prentiss gone, leaving him in charge of the BAU, a sense of urgency started to set in. Never addressing the aftermath of his last run-in with Voit, the evidence of that has clearly manifested throughout the season so far and this episode saw it taken to yet another level. In no position to lead, it was time Rossi confronted the source of his mental strain, Voit. While his demons fought back, he finally confronted him in what was the best part of the episode. The epitome of Rossi’s arc, showing a more vulnerable side of the character, it was a showcase for Joe Mantegna, a consistent contributor who hasn’t often gotten the chance to show off his range (Zach Gilford also deserves credit here for his chemistry with Mantegna). Trying to set all of that aside with Voit, making it all about the case, he picked up on that immediately. Offering to help Rossi dig to the root of his issues, they went back to when he locked him in that storage container. Instead, pushing him about North Star, he got an answer. 

The name that Brian dropped last week triggered Tyler because she was one of his exes. Bringing her into the BAU brought on plenty of awkwardness as far as he, Garcia, Luke, and Teresa Campos (Michelle Ortiz) were concerned, all being in relationships with one another at some point. Presumably the next target in the conspiracy’s campaign to get key members of the team off the case, they targeted Teresa in a plot to no avail. Meanwhile, speaking of Prentiss, she was taking it easy on Garcia’s couch. Little did JJ know, when checking up on her, she got up close and personal with what Prentiss was doing in the meantime. Unbeknownst to her, she got high on edibles. However, their combined states adding an interesting context as their aired their grievances, and JJ stopped Prentiss from resigning from the FBI. Ultimately, this subplot was not necessary, as the writers could have found countless other ways to get Prentiss back to the FBI and BAU, but the chemistry of A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster made it all kind of work.

Sharing his breakthrough with the rest of the team, Rossi revealed the origin of the Gold Star program could be traced back to a paper that he and Jason Gideon both wrote but never submitted. They wrote what essentially was a recipe to make serial killers. North Star was a clue telling Damien and Jade to go back to their beginning and that was the BAU thus making them targets (like it was ever going to end any other way). Consolidating storylines as the season comes to an end, it is sure to set up some sort of showdown between the BAU and Damien, Jade, and the rest of the Gold Star apparatus. Though with only 4 episodes left, there is still a long way to go before that happens, and the season is likely to still have a few more tricks up its sleeve.

Message in a Bottle is a deserved Joe Mantegna showcase in what was otherwise a mixed bag that established a potential endgame.

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.