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Evolution or Overkill: Can Criminal Minds Ease Up with Voit?!

Let the record show that I love Zach Gilford.

One of the many exciting aspects of Criminal Minds returning to our screens with Evolution was that they cast Gilford in a spectacularly great role as a serial killer.

Sure, they didn’t veer too far away from a dark crime procedural staple: Baddie or Antihero helps the good guys catch more bad guys.

Lecter-Esque - Criminal Minds: Evolution
(Paramount+ (Trailer Screenshot))

But procedurals work so well because they follow procedure — they know what works for them and what viewers respond to, and that formulaic component is appealing.

Voit Slayed in Criminal Minds: Evolution’s First Season … Literally

And the first season of Criminal Minds: Evolution was fantastic because of this.

We had an intelligent UnSub in Voit who wreaked absolute havoc on the unit, and thanks to the series falling on a streamer, we got this evolved version of crime show classic.

It was a full season of getting to know this twisted killer who managed to juggle a relatively normal family life with sadistic misdeeds.

And we have an entire network of serial killers to boot, with everything intersecting and connecting in fascinating ways.

Elias is Haunted - Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 1 Episode 4
(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)

But it was genuinely intriguing to have Voit as this “White Whale” for most of the season, as opposed to the old version of Criminal Minds, which typically had the unit wrapping up a case by the time the credits rolled.

And then they finally had Voit in their clutches, and he should’ve gotten a bullet to the head, but he got a lifeline.

It made for a wonderful finale for Criminal Minds Evolution’s first season and had me clamoring for more.

It’s Too Much of a Good Thing, Y’all

But then the second season dragged in some cases and became unnecessarily convoluted in others.

(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)

Worse yet, however, was just how much Voit we got.

I never envisioned there could be such a thing as “too much Zach Gilford.”

Still, I reached my limit between Voit haunting Rossi at every conceivable turn, those interactions in prison, and him getting day passes to jerk the BAU around, smirk, and speak in riddles.

It made sense why Voit was at the center of so much during the first season.

But they overplayed their card with him in the second season.

Make us work for it, is all I’m saying.

Steal My Heart But Not the BAU Spotlight, Babe

Elias Voit Outside - Criminal Minds S17E04 Kingdom of the Blind - Criminal Minds: Evolution
(Michael Yarish /Paramount+)

Gilford is clearly having fun with this role, and I truly love that for him.

He’s damn good at it too. But I still want to see my competent BAU being badass all on their own, too.

Instead, Voit lowkey had the unit looking incompetent on the regular.

Was Baby Girl channeling her Chocolate Thunder and fixing Voit with a menacing death glare awesome? Hell yeah!

Did they actually earn that moment in the finale when they’ve otherwise been running around like chickens with their heads cut off, playing into Voit’s manipulations all season? Nah.

The BAU is spending more time tap dancing to meet Voit’s needs than anything else.

I have to suspend belief to buy into why Voit needed to be brought to the scene of something or consulted.

My guy was quite literally living in Rossi’s head rent-free all season.

(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)

Balance the Baddie Better in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season Three, Por Favor

Voit’s quickly becoming the Red Reddington of Criminal Minds.

But this isn’t The Blacklist, where we went in expecting the full series to revolve around James Spader because, well, it’s James freaking Spader.

This is Criminal Minds, which was firmly established with many characters we loved before Voit existed.

I’m thrilled about a third season, and the finale certainly hinted at exciting things to come.

Elias Behind Bars - Criminal Minds S17E04 Kingdom of the Blind - Criminal Minds: Evolution
(Michael Yarish /Paramount+)

Even with some inmates using our adorably floppy-haired baddie like a pin cushion, we already know his plot armor will protect him.

And we know it’ll be another full season of Voit and the tangled web of Gold Star.

If I have one request, it’s that they show a little restraint with him.

Am I alone in feeling like there’s too much Voit on Criminal Minds? Surely, you guys will let me know in the comments. Let’s have it.

Sweet Amy

Thursday 8th of August 2024

You know what would be a cool idea? Giving Zach Gilford his own TV show, focusing on Voit. Having said that, Voit made Criminal Minds more exciting for me. Kind of the difference between a bowl of vanilla ice cream, versus a bowl of vanilla ice cream with hot fudge. Zach as Voit is the hot fudge I just can’t get enough of.

Sweet Amy

Saturday 10th of August 2024

@Jasmine Blu, I am a chocoholic, and also a lover of many different ice cream flavours, so I can definitely see your perspective.I don't think that Voit/Zach should be the main focus of Criminal Minds: Evolution, but I definitely want to see him regularly in the next season. I do feel that the BAU team was a chaotic mess this past season, so there definitely needs to be more cohesion and stability. Hopefully, Voit/Zach will be show enough to add that extra oomph, but only as a complement to the team, not the shining star dimming everyone else's light.

Jasmine Blu

Friday 9th of August 2024

@Sweet Amy, LOL! I just want the hot fudge to not overpower the ice cream is all.

I also think the other characters being vanilla ice cream now when they were like an assorted ice cream flavored sundae before Voit is part of my problem. There was an explosion of different flavors that complemented each other before. Now everything just tastes like fudge.

He really is doing a great job with the character. But I don't know if we could or should have a show with just Voit as the star. It would feel too much like some of the other series with a similar concept. Now I want ice cream. LOL

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