Content Warning: This show can be very graphic for some. It does include murder scenes that are detailed and vivid. Not only that but due to a change in network and the overall maturation of this reboot, Evolution does include expletive language that is prohibited by the network that hosted the original show. This show may be difficult to watch for those who have issues with viewing violence of any kind and I recommend for them to watch a more friendly show.

Spoiler Warning: This show is a continuation of Criminal Minds, a popular TV show about a branch of the FBI called the Behavioral Analysis Unit or BAU that uses behavioral analysis and profiling in order to catch serial killers . Evolution follows off a few years after the events of the last episode, and aired during 2022 after the Covid-19 lockdown procedures ceased. If you watched Evolution, otherwise known as Season 16 in Criminal Minds, it is highly recommended you watch the original series first in order to understand Evolution better or  to watch Evolution first if you want to avoid spoilers.

“The Latin phrase Memento Mori translates to remember that you must die. Roman slaves whispered it to their generals to keep them from being consumed by hubris.”

-Criminal Minds:Season 16 Episode 9

As a fan of  murder mystery and police procedural genres as well as the original Criminal Minds show, I am a big fan of Evolution. Evolution is currently centered  around an online elaborate serial killer network headed by Elias Voit. Many of the episodes in the initial season focus around the different serial killers that make up this network. A husband and father of two girls, Voit was raised by his uncle Cyrus, a serial killer, after Voit had supposedly killed his parents in the fire that destroyed their home. There are some who find  the original and reboot gory and disturbing. Considering the content this is understandable. This show is not for the faint of heart. However, if you enjoy this type of media, the show is intriguing in how it is unafraid to delve into the human psyche to understand why criminals of all sorts are capable of doing what they are, and to see what factors made them this way in order to see if these acts were preventable.  It not only includes nail biting mysteries that encourage viewers to go beyond the obvious and question human morality but it also has a heartwarming bond between the members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit who become more like family over the years than friends or colleagues. The show also follows the personal lives of all of the members of the team like Dr. Tara Lewis’ new relationship and Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau’s family. It also focuses on how former technical analyst Penelope Garcia adjusts to being pulled back into the BAU after she leaves for the good of her own mental health. Even Rossi who is learning to cope with the loss of his wife Krystall to an unspecified illness a year prior to the events of Evolution. The show pulls at the heartstrings of all watchers, especially those who have grown up with these characters and are familiar with their struggles throughout the 15 years of the original run. 

 Viewers of the original series certainly expected Evolution to continue off the storyline of a potential romance between SSA Luke Alvez and Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia ( better known as the ship ‘Garvez’). But those viewers became disappointed when not only do Garcia and Alvez stay as close  friends, but Garcia began to date Tyler Green, whose sister was killed by Voit. I have watched the original show for years; I have watched both of these characters grow  by themselves and have seen Alvez and Garcia’s relationship fluctuate from hate to a special type of love.  Garcia was determined to hate Alvez but learned she could not. There is a clear romantic tension between the two; however, the show disappointedly drops it. I hope, like other fans, that they decide to pursue this potential romance in the new season.

Evolution has taken different approaches to cases than the original show. In Evolution,the BAU team is  separated to ‘solve more cases.’ But soon, they come back together to work on the Sicarius case as it comes into light, working to dismantle the network of serial killers created by Voit during the pandemic. The same case extends over the entire season, still not tied up as the season ends. This approach is structurally different to the original show, which presented a new case every episode. I personally enjoy this new approach just as much as the original, because this singular case is so intricate that it demands more than one episode to reveal all its  secrets. Even going into the next season, there are still questions about the Sicarius case that have yet to be answered.  

The show has gotten high ratings with fans calling for more and it’s easy to see why. All of the actors and actresses who have been featured on the show have left long-standing impressions. New faces include but are not limited to Zach Gilford, Kiele Sanchez, Nicole Pacent and Nicholas D’Agosto. Old faces include Paget Brewster, Kirsten Vangsness, Joe Mantegna, AJ Cook, Aisha Tyler and Adam Rodriguez.  Every episode kept me on my toes. Learning last year that one of my favorite shows was coming back was extremely exciting not just because of my penchant for fictional crime but because of the beautiful bond forged from the pain endured and the tough choices made. Past and present members have gone above and beyond their duty to protect and serve, putting their personal lives to the test. After knowing all they have been through, I thoroughly enjoyed watching how the characters have matured and adjusted over time and circumstances. Overall, this show is very interesting and I would highly recommend watching it if you enjoy crime and  murder mystery, but if not then this show may not be for you.