This article contains mentions of a suicide attempt, as well as spoilers forCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, episode 5, “The Brutal Man”.
Criminal Minds: Evolutiongot to take fan-favorite characters from the first 15 seasons and bring many of them into the revival. JJ (A.J. Cook) and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) are the only two characters still on the show from the first season, but Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) joined just a year later in season 2, while Dave Rossi (Joe Mantegna) returned to the BAU in season 3 to replace Jason Gideon. Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler) and Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez) were introduced toCriminal Mindsin season 11 and season 12 respectively.
While much ofthe cast ofCriminal Minds: Evolutionremains the same, the format of the revival is different, with the shorter 10-episode Paramount+ streaming seasons necessitating that the show be more plot-driven, cutting back on the character moments that fans needed in between the gore and violence. We’re getting less of almost everyone’s personal life, with the exception ofTara’s relationship with Rebecca Wilson, but Garcia’s characterization in particular is suffering.Garcia has always been the quirky bright spot inCriminal Minds, but the revival hasn’t figured out how to use her properly yet in season 3.
Penelope Garcia’s Quippy Phone Call For The Second Episode In A Row Highlights How Underutilized She’s Been In Season 3
Garcia’s Quirky Brand Doesn’t Fit With The Darker Tone Of Criminal Minds: Evolution
Last week, Penelope Garcia had a flirty phone call with Tyler Green that reminded longtime viewers ofGarcia’sCriminal Mindsrelationship with Derek Morgan. This week, Garcia has a similar call with the whole BAU team where she gives her classic repartee, cheekily saying, “It makes me hot when I’m so many steps ahead.” This is the type of sparkling banter that Garcia used to be given every episode duringCriminal Mind’s original run, but with the overall darker tone ofEvolution, Garcia has been toned down in general.
Garcia is a technical genius whose skills haven’t been overly necessary yet inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3. Garcia has the biggest heart of anyone in the BAU, yet she has not had a real moment to connect with JJ afterWill’s unexpected death inCriminal Mindsearlier this season. Her wardrobe remains a literal bright spot in the show, but generally,Garcia’s screen time has been ceded to newer characters, like Elias Voitand Rebecca Wilson.
The show seemed to be setting up aconnection between Garcia and the comatose Voit in theCriminal Mindsseason 3 premiere. This storyline was seemingly resolved once Voit woke up, but this could be setting up Garcia to have a more important role inEvolutionseason 4.
Garcia Is Finally Out Of Her Awkward Romantic Triangle, But Criminal Minds: Evolution Has Not Given Her A New Storyline Yet
The BAU Is Overall More Tech-Savvy Than In Early Criminal Minds Seasons
Criminal Minds: Evolutionseems to want to forget theGarcia-Tyler Green-Luke Alvez love triangle, which is for the best, but the show hasn’t given Garcia another storyline to replace it. InEvolutionseason 1, Garcia and Tyler were drawn together in part because it was forbidden. Then, in season 2, Tyler had to earn Garcia’s forgiveness after lying to her to pursue Sicarius himself. WhileGarcia shouldn’t jump into another love interest, it would be nice to give her some type of personal arc.
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.
Part of the problem with finding Garcia’s niche is that everyone in the BAU is much more technically savvy than they were in the early seasons of the originalCriminal Minds, so the skill set of a Technical Analyst is less necessary than in the days when Jason Gideon demanded paper files. Garcia has always been the most sensitive member of the team - which makes sense as the one without FBI training - so I wish the show would give her more to do in the vein of helping survivors, since that was a passion of hers before.
Garcia Should Help Voit Dismantle The Sicarius Network With Her Tech Analyst Prowess
This Could Be The Redemption Garcia Was Hoping To See In Voit In Criminal: Minds Evolution Season 3 Premiere
After Voit’s breakthrough inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, episode 5, Voit is getting his memories back as he encounters more people from his past. However, he now carries all the remorse and horror he didn’t have before the accident. To keep from feeling suicidally guilty, Voit wants to help undo the damage he caused as Sicarius. In the short term, that means meeting with The Brutal Man, but in the long term, this could mean working with Garcia to dismantle Sicarius’s online network of killers.
Criminal Minds: Evolution has already been renewed for season 4 by Paramount+.
Voit has targeted members of the BAU in a predatory manner before, and perhaps Garcia is setting herself up to be his next mark. However,Garcia and Voit working togetherwould be an interesting payoffto her earlier claim that she was looking for something worth redeeming inside Voit. This would be a perfect use of Garcia’s technical genius, and potentially close the Sicarius case for good after a long three seasons ofCriminal Minds: Evolutionfocusing almost exclusively on Voit.
New episodes ofCriminal Minds: Evolutionstream on Paramount+ Thursdays. Season 3, episode 6, “Hell is Empty…” will drop Jun 20, 2025.
