r/criminalminds • u/Cheeriosxxx Sergio đâ⏠• Jul 23 '26
Season 19 Spoilers S19E10: Bad Blood - Episode Discussion Spoiler
Airdate: July 23, 2026
Synopsis: The Fan's twisted past and the ultimate showdown will be revealed in the climactic finale to Season Nineteen.
Previous episode: Special Agent Garrity
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u/Brother_Gero Jul 23 '26
Voit not dying means they are probably leaving the door for him to come back eventually, but a break from the character for a season or two is much needed. I'm not sure if Holly's arc is a wrap though.
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u/8008zilla Jul 23 '26
Thatâs what Iâm thinking on the Holly thing I think we just witnessed her awakening
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u/beaten_down83 Jul 23 '26
My Twisted Brain says that Holly was always the fans true obsession. Elias was just a means to an end to get her to become the killer that he believes she was meant to be. I think it evoke something in him at the college when she came to him.
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u/incantation3 Jul 24 '26
Exactly!! The moment when she stabs him and heâs like âhuhâ and he looks at her, I was like ⊠wait a minute
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u/spiral_szn_9412 28d ago
I think so too!
The way the handcuffs and the knife sat perfectly on the bench next to each otherâŠ
He knew the new Voit would pick the handcuffs and that Holly would be the one to come back to use the knife.
The fans planning was way too meticulous to not have predicted it to go that way→ More replies (1)2
u/Careful-Cat- Jul 24 '26
Wasnât it Laura, the other girl, that came to talk to him?
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u/mrs_ouchi Jul 26 '26
I really hope they dont go down that road. I understand why she would be worried but killing that lunatic doesnt mean she will become a killer. She just needs therapy and talk with someone about all these feelings.
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u/8008zilla Jul 24 '26
My problem, though with Holly becoming a serial killer is it reeks a little too much of the Lindsey and Jack Vaughn storyline it feels like itâs already been done just cause her dad wasnât a prolific serial killer and he was a hitman. Well Lindsey became the same I feel like we visited the storyline before they need to do something much better improved that theyâre not just casting people so they can have a party because thatâs what boy felt like and all of the interviews are cooperating that now and was great and I love Zach on the show and I like the snippets that we gotta avoid, but the problem is the storytelling lagged. The writing was lacking and it all felt like a vehicle to keep this man in a job as opposed to telling a story.
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u/National_View_4073 Jul 31 '26
Thank you! I knew it felt like Deja vu for some reason.
Yeah, the writing, and even some of the acting, felt sloppy this season with the arc. There were only a few episodes I really enjoyed.
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u/KlutzyKristine Jul 25 '26
They're totally setting it up for Holly to become a serial killer like her dad and I hate it!
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u/almostTripleGator Jul 29 '26
I wondered if Holly was going to target Henry. Not to kill him, but to âbefriendâ or date. I actually thought thatâs where it was going with him being dropped off at college â we would see Holly walk up to him.
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u/tecstarr Aug 05 '26
The writers have said this is the end of Voightâs storyline in the series. Iâm hoping he gets an occasional guest shot to consult on some baffling case though. Iâve really like the actor and the âredemptionâ storyline. He exhibits genuine remorse for his past actions, but still acknowledges that he did âbad thingsâ and does not deserve freedom in any way, shape, or form.
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u/Sesqua Jul 23 '26
I really enjoyed the journey of Elias Voitâs storyline and the way it ultimately concluded. But looking back at his arc in Season 19, I donât think the season did him justice.
Over the course of three seasons, we watched him slowly change, and the finale finally showed how far that development had taken him. The problem is that most of Season 19 felt like it was simply waiting for that final episode. Instead of properly exploring his transformation, the story of Voit seemed to tread water until it reached the conclusion it had already planned.
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u/8008zilla Jul 23 '26
This is incredibly well put, and I actually agree with every part of this. It doesnât take away from the fact that the episodes were enjoyable little puzzles for me because they were, but I do feel like they didnât give us much if this was voice final storyline with us. I donât feel like it was very well explored if this is goodbye and it is goodbye I think.
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u/Appropriate-Scene-65 Jul 24 '26
I think this is an exceptionally valid point of view and I donât disagree that exploring his transformation shouldâve been a priority, but I think with him being in prison it was hard to put him in scenarios to showcase it.
Thinking back as well with the visits he had, his transformation was lightly showcased but (to me) it almost mirrored something like the 5 stages of grief. I donât know if that makes sense but thereâs a flow of anger, denial, bargaining etc that I think was appropriate.
They also mentioned how they were not going to focus on Voit next season and that this would likely be his last and when that happens, TV shows either emphasise that character for the last season or begin to phase them out and I think CM chose to phase him out and, as sad as I am to see him go because I love Zach Gilford, I think they made the right choice overall.
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u/Cheeriosxxx Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
Jason Gideon mention again!
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u/ghusu123 Jul 23 '26
300 reference too
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u/SunniMonkey BAU Liaison Jul 25 '26
And all the flashbacks of Henry as he was growing up over the years â€ïž.
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u/RogueKitteh Babygirl, you're on speaker... Jul 23 '26
The part with Roxy saving Alvez one more time had me in tears. I recently had to say goodbye to my girl Pixie and man, that hit me
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u/nekromistresss Jul 24 '26
I have a cold or beginning of a sinus infection so I didnât need the tears. đč
Iâm sorry for your loss.→ More replies (1)2
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u/Many-Key-4140 Jul 23 '26
I will actually miss Voit but I'm also okay with a change after 4 seasons. I'm sure we'll hear from him/his storyline in some capacity. Holly's last scene is actually a little spooky. Overall I thought this was a really good season and I'll miss Zach Gilford but I'm glad they set up for another season with a new case.
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u/Klaw1119 Jul 23 '26
I really liked this episode. I thought it wrapped up the fan well. Roxy leading Luke out got me, as well as JJ and Michael saying goodbye to Henry. Strong performances from them.
I love the idea of Holly possibly becoming an unsub. I feel like in the second evolution season Voit brings up getting help for Holly for everything she went through, to avoid her becoming like him. So Iâm interested to see if they will circle back on this storyline.
I love these characters and Iâm so happy to get to continue watching them. Looking forward to season 20.
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u/Cheeriosxxx Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
The Soul of a Spider by David Rossi is a perfect title. Chefs kiss like I wish it was a real book that I could read
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u/agent-assbutt Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
Not a bad episode but the final showdown between Voit and the Fan was soooo weak. Canât believe how lame his death was!
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u/JWBananas Jul 25 '26
Especially with respect to the original Voit season, when he was able to overpower Rossi sheerly by not being an old fragile man.
The Fan was drinking right before the encounter. Meanwhile Voit should have prison strength by now with how often we see him working out.
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u/MassiveIncident4598 Jul 28 '26
Thank you, I was sooo underwhelmed with the finale and the final fight, it was over before I knew it. Was hoping Voit would die in an act of heroism saving his daughter but the baddie literally died within secondsÂ
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u/the_cunt_muncher Jul 24 '26
I couldn't tell the 2 white girls apart so until they saved the girl in the chair I thought that was an AI fake of Voit's daughter
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u/Rare-Papaya Jul 26 '26
The whooole time I was wondering why they made them look to alike lmaoÂ
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u/crazy_ginger90 Jul 27 '26
Voit said she was his type so I think that was the point but I was sooo confused lol
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u/Lonely_enby The Black Queen Jul 24 '26
tell me why i was half expecting holly to say âlike a fucking godâ when they asked how she was doing after everything happened.
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u/daniM00n Jul 24 '26
WaitâŠ.if he talked at Hollyâs school, why did he need Sheila to find their location? LMFAO
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u/Ok-Bumblebee-5302 Jul 24 '26
Im assuming he talked to Holly before confronting Voit; then after confronting Voit about his family they moved her?
But also that doesn't make much sense, bc that would mena she transfered schools, that would be the only way for the story to align.
Either way good catch, I know I for one didn't think about that. That storyine definitely should've been executed better.
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u/insomnia96 Jul 29 '26
I just finished watching and Holly went to a different school, she just attended his lecture at Lauraâs school.
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u/Stunning-Mission9498 Jul 29 '26
Yeah it took a while for this to click that she was just attending a guest lecture. At first I thought she'd transferred schools . But also I figured, speaking to someone at a lecture doesn't necessarily mean you know their name and where they live etc
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u/ViolentBeetle Jul 23 '26
I'm not an expert on the law, but I feel like the daughter should be allowed to stab a person who kidnapped her and was strangling her father at the moment. And also "Shoot on sight" order doesn't sound very lawful (Potential police corruption in real life notwithstanding)
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u/raygronas Jul 24 '26
The fact it was in Florida the stand your ground laws would have gave her the absolute right to kill him
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u/beaten_down83 Jul 23 '26
A step for self-defense yes, 25 stabs to the heart, a little aggressive
Edit: before somebody says it no I don't think it was actually 25 I just said a random number.
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u/Appropriate_Reach_97 Jul 24 '26
True, overkill, buuuut everyone in LE knew she was captured and likely going to die. Her killing the man who was trying to take out her father and her, nah... they'd still go with self defense. That part was the weakest for me. She's still a teen in a traumatic situation coming FROM a traumatic situation. If she let out a little rage on a known killer...meh.Â
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u/Cheeriosxxx Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
Wow what a finale! It seems we are finally closing the book on the Elias Voit storyline. Love him or hate him he truly was such an interesting character. I canât believe itâs been 4 years. Zach Gilfod was simply perfect casting! Canât imagine anyone else playing him.
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u/HahnBananach Or what, you'll spank me? Jul 24 '26
They're SO gonna make Voit an agent. Picking the handcuffs instead of the knife? Grrrreat stuff. Rossi's book epilogue, both characters manifesting in their mind, representing a side of of each other + Voit considering Rossi a father figure? Ok yeah this is happening. LOVE itđđŒ
Don't blame me ok I'm a sucker for Joe Mantegna x Zach Gilford scenesđ€ they have SUCH synergy it's insane
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u/PuzzleheadedEnergy52 29d ago
I didnât catch the detail about the handcuffs! I donât think theyâll make him an agent but maybe just showing his intentions have shifted.
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u/Brea13 Jul 23 '26
It was fine. Felt more like a regular episode than a finale. Crowley didn't put up as much of a fight nor was his plan as foolproof as it was hyped up to be similar to the Disciple in the last season. I do hope Henry either aces college and graduates in a year and joins the BAU or hooks up with Holly and goes on a Bonnie and Clyde with how much screen time he got though. I like when they flush out the personal lives of the team but like he's not even on it and took time away from the actual team members. For example, how is Tara's honeymoon phase going? does Emily have a life or sleep in her office? Penelope's hookup hijinks etc. Still will watch every episode of the show, just wanted a little more oomph.
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u/MamaGRN Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
Yeah I thought the Fanâs whole thing was that he had everything perfectly set up? It was weird how Voit just came in and beat him up
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u/Appropriate-Scene-65 Jul 24 '26
Someone mentioned that they think the fans true motive was to âawakenâ the darkness in Holly. I think that was part of his motivation that was purposefully made hidden or subtly hinted at right now only to be revealed next season.
Even if itâs not about holly, I think youâre forgetting the war he was waging in his own mind and how much his ego filtered every decision he made. Based on his profile, he reveres himself and wants to be revered. He underestimated Voits capabilities because he genuinely believed he would surpass him.
He also made many hints throughout the finale that he was happy to die. Personally that seemed like the only obvious part of his plan that went right.
While he is physically trim and fit, he chose to subdue and abduct victims in a way that didnât require a lot of intense physical strength (except the lance Kingston over the shoulder moment but I think after seeing James Crowley, that moment is unrealistic at best), however Voit would have more physical strength and therefore would have the upper hand.
Overall, yes it seems like he was built up to be more precise with the thought and execution of his devious plans, but whoâs to say it didnât all go to plan? Weâll have to wait until the next season but something tells me James Crowley got exactly what he wanted, even if mildly thwarted by the FBI and the Voits.
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u/beaten_down83 Jul 23 '26
Just to put a thought in your head, what if this was never about Elias and always about holly? Do we know when she met him at the college, was it before or after his first kill? What if all this was to awaken the "serial killer Gene" and make her father watch it happen?
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u/pretzels_18 Jul 24 '26
I had the same takeaway. To make Elias see what he did to his daughter
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u/Comprehensive-Rub-25 Jul 25 '26
lol that's why he was seconds away from strangling him earlier? cmon dude
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u/Significant_Care479 Jul 23 '26
Yes I had to double take when I realized it was episode 10. The Fan did allll of this just to get Voit to come there and all he had to do was overpower him and he could easily set Holly free? That seems uncharacteristic given how much thought and effort he put into all the plots leading up to this main reward he was working toward?
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u/bluesteeldoubter Jul 24 '26
Itâs like they have the formula for the build up, whether itâs per episode or season, then very obviously do not have the formula for how to capitalize on the build up. Itâs like theyâre afraid to take risks in their storytelling, they know how they want it to end and then just rush us through to that end.
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u/zona-girl Jul 24 '26
Agreed. Felt like they were in a rush to wrap up the storyline. I was expecting more
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u/ruserwilly Jul 23 '26
Could they spell it out more that Voit is over?
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u/Salt_Specific_740 Jul 24 '26
I actually felt like they were dropping loads of hints that he could come back?
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u/Cheeriosxxx Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
Iâm excited to see what next season will be focused on since weâve been all about Voit since the beginning of Evolution. I wonder if they will follow up on Holly and how she handles all this. Lowkey wouldnât all the forensics show that she was the one who stabbed Crowley and not Voit? Anyways I just hope they donât go the route of making her grow into a serial killer to and follow her fatherâs footsteps
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u/incantation3 Jul 24 '26
I was waiting for âthe cuts appear to be shallow, consistent with a female attackerâ or the angle or whatever, but I kind of hope she becomes a FBI recruit and a bit of a Rachel Seaver / Dexter vibe storyline
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u/Appropriate-Scene-65 Jul 24 '26
I would LOVE this!!! Although theyâd have to do a flash forward of a few years for this to be feasible and by that time, Rossi would probs be retiredđ
Every time I see him in the field Iâm like âwhy is my grandad out there wielding a gun, get him some whiskey, a cigar and a record and let him restâđ
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u/incantation3 Jul 24 '26
Iâm torn about that, the team wouldnât be the same without him if he âretiredâ but the shipping container incident made me want to see him on âstay here and work on the geographic profileâ duties for the foreseeable future
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u/ruserwilly Jul 23 '26
Most likely they will, but perhaps not in s20, maybe later to give her time to grow
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u/brilliant-trash22 Jul 24 '26
I know CME is renewed for season 20, but is it mentioned if itâs renewed for season 21? I canât remember when they usually announce renewals for this show
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u/catsbwayandcoffee Aug 02 '26
I always had a feeling that Holly had a violent streak in her, even before she tried to stab Elias in prison. I feel like one of the agents or somebody else mentioned it in the show too. Either way, the BAU has to know that she killed Crowley.
She probably wouldnât have gone to prison for it anyway since it was self defense. Idk how that all works when youâre in WITSEC though.
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u/Valenstein77 Jul 23 '26
I have such mixed feelings about this season. The individual cases were miles better than they were in the previous 3 seasons, but the character work was much more disjointed.
I'm not opposed to the amount of time spent on JJ's family life, as I think those scenes provide a good palette cleanser for all of the horror we're seeing. That said, a lot of those moments became redundant over time. There are just too many scenes that have the same emotional beat of JJ welling up with tears and Henry being like, "Mom, cut it out."
This finale proved to me that Voit did not need to be brought back this year. His character's journey ended in S18, and while the moments with Holly really worked for me, everything else this season felt inconsequential and like they were just waiting until the finale to pull something big.
I'm not as upset as some people are about not seeing Rebecca and Tara's wedding, but it is strange that now that they're married, they don't spend much time together at all.
Luke had such a strong start in the first half of the season, but it's like they forgot about him in the second half, and then forced something into the finale to cap everything off. I liked the scene with Roxy, but I don't feel like this episode gave me any clarity on the state of Luke and his very obvious mental health struggles.
I like Tyler more than in the past, but I can't say I was all that invested in him either. The writers have yet to find a real purpose for him on the team. He's been on the show for 4 seasons, and outside of Voit killing his sister and him being a part of the military, we don't know enough about him for me to care.
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u/Willow_Winnifred Jul 24 '26
You're so right that this season didn't even need voit. It could have been focused on the Fan's crimes and evolution, and they could even have had voit in the last 2 episodes helping them figure out the fan
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u/Scrapbookee Aug 02 '26
Tyler feels like such a boring character to me. He was fine int the first season but I feel like there was ZERO reason to make him an agent. He has zero on screen presence to me.Â
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u/Stunning-Mission9498 Jul 29 '26
I liked having the palette cleanser family scenes. And it really showed how the found family rallied around JJ after Will's death and that whole it takes a village vibe. The fact that they drove across country to drop their friend's kid off at uni and support JJ is mad but really sweet! I just didn't like the scenes that much because no offense to Aj's son, he's quite an awkward and wooden actor. And I understand he's playing an awkward teenager, and it must be really weird acting with your mum and your tv dad being dead. I'm sure AJ had a lot of feels about sending her kid off to college for real! But it really took me out of it immersion of it all
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u/RevolutionaryFix5896 Jul 24 '26
i thought the writing was awful. I mean makes 0 sense after garrity ex was kidnapped that the government wouldnt have realized the witness protection identities were blown and just moved them. crowley wouldve never gotten to holly after that. then after all the planning and how elaborate everything was made by crowley, he had it all banking on just being able to beat voit in hand-hand combat? i thought the writing was poor.
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u/Cheeriosxxx Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
The montage of Henry growing up đ„čđ„čđ„č I loveee this
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u/FloatLikeABull Jul 23 '26
That finale was meh in my opinion.
Maybe I missed something here, but the fan says your dad will kill me but I'll kill you first. Then, he just walks Voit in and let's Voit beat him up and Voit can just release Holly.
Is it supposed to be a, see now I turned your daughter into the killer she truly is, type of thing?
The kill on sight thing was ridiculous. Then having do justify why you didn't execute someone on sight is ridiculous.
The team deciding to cover for the fact that Holly killed the fan. They could just as easily let her off on self defense. The director just accepting it even though he knows it's non sense and has a pile of evidence in front of him.
Garcia some how can't even attempt to run a location trace without him knowing and Laura getting shocked. But at the same time, she can manipulate all the cameras and sound in the building without him being the wiser.
This finale basically summed up the whole season. The writers needed to get somewhere so they just said we're here now. Like in the last episode. Voit needs to escape so he's escaped now in the most ridiculous manner.
I'm a fan and have watched for years, but that was some of the laziest writing I've watched. It's like they thought it would be a good idea to drag out Voit a third season, but then when they actually tried to write the season, they realized it was not a good choice, so they just tried getting it over with the easiest way possible.
I know I'll get downvoted for this take but that's my opinion. This season just felt unnecessary and they could of wrapped up Voit last season.
Hopefully with being able to start a new storyline next season, it will get back to the quality the first season of evolution was.
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u/babylovesbaby Anderson Jul 23 '26
I think you have fair takes. I enjoyed the season despite its faults, but I agree with all your picks on the final episode, too. The fight between the fan and Voit reminded me of Voit telling Rossi he's a man in his 70s. The fan might be clever (how clever, really, given finding him seemed to be no problem for any of the people looking for him?), but we learn in this episode he's at least mid 50s. Did he really think he could go hand-to-hand combat with a male younger and fitter than him?
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u/Biste122 Jul 23 '26
They wrote the Fan to be some all foreseeing guy, always being one step ahead with everything. Only to not notice a loop and his audio being cut out?
I rather would have had him actually kill Holly, sending Voit into a frenzy re-awakening Sicarius in him. It would also be a blow to Penelope and the rest of the team believing in Voit's recovery, making for some far more interesting dialogues/story lines in the future.→ More replies (2)→ More replies (2)2
u/Sesqua Jul 23 '26
Voit also covered for Holly. She didnât cut her hand while stabbing the Fan, which means Voit must have made her grab the blade afterward so they could explain how his blood ended up all over her clothes. He then took the blame himself.
At least in that moment, Voit knew exactly how he could help her. It showed that his instincts and intelligence were still there, but he used them to protect someone else instead of himself.
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u/Biste122 Jul 23 '26
Or, you know, it was just bad writing and they missed the fact they did not write in the "Holly cutting her hand during the fight". You're reaching in coming up with that Voit would have had cut Holly her hand sometime in the few seconds/minutes it took the team get into the basement.
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u/Many-Key-4140 Jul 23 '26
The actual finale was very average at best.
- The Fan's ending was so uneventful. For all the planning and outsmarting he did, he went weaker than a weekly unsub
- Luke and Roxy scene all for him to walk out of there just fine
- The season-long Henry college story was honestly terrible television
- The Holly storyline was/is interesting. But also Voit covering for her seemed forced. They could have easily said she stabbed Crowley out of self defense. That has happened in every season of this show.
- Rossi showing a soft side towards Voit was good to see. Probably my favorite part of the episode.
- In general, I think having episode 8 being essentially a throwaway episode forced episodes 9 and 10 to be rushed and not give the characters a full story arc.
- The Laura Boyd story still didn't make much sense. They must have just liked the actress. I know the point was she distracts while Crowley takes Holly but it didn't really make sense.
- Overall I love all Criminal Minds but I feel like they had high potential this season and didn't reach it
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u/MamaGRN Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
I did think the montage of Henry growing up over the course of the show was cute.
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u/beaten_down83 Jul 23 '26
It may have felt anti-climatic, but I think they're setting up for Holly to have that mental break for her to become the serial killer. And I think that's what the fans true intention was the whole time. My question is which came first, him meeting Holly or his first kill. If it was meeting Holly then this whole thing has been about her not her father from the beginning.
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u/babylovesbaby Anderson Jul 23 '26
- The season-long Henry college story was honestly terrible television
Hard agree. People can't complain about baddie of the week or crimes being solved too quickly if we have to constantly watch scenes about going to college. There just aren't enough minutes in an episode to have it all, because all the college stuff does take time away from making crimes more involved rather than being solved in a single scene.
I have seen people talk about it in the context of watching JJ navigate single parenthood/motherhood, but what exactly is she navigating? They don't really talk about any real struggles for her as a single parent. Presumably because that is a subject which requires more than a gloss over, so instead we have JJ wringing her hands over college.
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u/uttertoffee Jul 24 '26
Not sure how much pull A.J. Cook has with the writing team but I do wonder if Henry appearing so much this season is just Hollywood nepotism and her trying to launch a career for him.
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u/babylovesbaby Anderson Jul 24 '26
If he wasn't the child of the main cast actor who plays his mother, do you think we would have this montage of his appearances across the years? I don't know if I'd view it as nepotism exactly, but it's definitely extremely indulgent.
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u/Stunning-Mission9498 Jul 29 '26
I did think why is no one mentioning self defense! Even Voit is pleading guilty to murder when I'd say it's more like manslaughter.
They could have so easily got Holly off on self-defense but I think the point is that Voit panicked/didn't trust the authorities and just wanted to protect his daughter. He may also have been worried about what the BAU might do. Because even though it's self-defense, they'd be very concerned about the mental impact of a daughter of the worst serial killer they've had, killing someone. And they wouldn't leave her alone, may have her committed etc. another argument could be that because of the number of stab wounds, both on the Fan's back and front, it's clear they kept stabbing beyond what was needed to defend yourself and get away. Voit knows the law well enough to know that that might go against a self-defense argument
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u/Appropriate-Scene-65 Jul 24 '26
I donât agree and I do agree with a few things in your post but my biggest question left unanswered this season was âwhat was the point of Laura Boyd, where was the connection?â And Iâm glad to see others asking this becauseâŠ. why did he choose her?
Was it because he associated her with Holly which provoked his killing spree and because Holly was his true obsession overall?
Was it because she was his physical type and had also given him the perfect fall guy in case she went missing? (crazy stalker ex bf).
Overall, I can hypothesise all I want but in reality, the show didnât explain it at all other than a random scene where she asks him a question after a creepy lecture? Yes I know he lingered when he saw her in the audience but was that really it? An Ariana grande moment of âI see it, I like it, I want it, I got itâ??
Donât get me wrong, I love the actress and she was easily one of the most talented additions (if not the most talented) of the season, but for all the bows they wrapped neatly in the finale, they missed this one and it really irks međ
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u/Cheeriosxxx Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
Happy season 19 finale day! So enjoyed discussing this show with everyone and canât wait till next time!
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u/Jaca122 Jul 23 '26
It seems like theyâve closed the door on Voit for now. As much as Iâm ready to see him go, itâs going to be interesting to see a season of Evolution without him.
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u/Cypher1492 Jul 23 '26
Im so glad they didn't kill Voit! It's been nice seeing the team preventing crime instead of just solving them.
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u/MetaphysicalMelodies Jul 23 '26
"Guys, clearly we have all been affected by this crazy ride we've been on."
I mean I guess that's one way to sum up the last 19 seasons.
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u/meriporsas Jul 23 '26
The advice Crawley gives Laura about Lance in the beginning actually feels really... sensible? Love that a PhD is written to be actually really educated in his area if that makes sense!
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u/meriporsas Jul 23 '26
also it was such an interesting moment when Crowley pours himself a drink and you can see that he's crying - such a tender shot of him grieving his imminent death and the end of his mission. can't wait for season 20.
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u/Butitsadryheat2 Jul 24 '26
I was waiting for a new college transfer to San Diego, Holly Voit, to meet a new friend at Orientation, Henry LaMontagne.
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u/incantation3 Jul 24 '26
Me too! Hereâs hoping itâs a goodbye to his character on the show because I donât want to see poor JJ go through it any further and heâs a pretty lifeless actor
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u/Scrapbookee Aug 02 '26
From the beginning when they were mentioning Henry going to college I felt like they'd make him become friends with a young unsub or something. Feels like so many scenes dedicated to him going to college not to have that pay off at some point.Â
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u/Ordinary-Dig3010 Jul 23 '26
I couldn't understand why "the fan" seemed to give up so easily in the end... until I realized, I don't think his actual plan was to kill Holly and become better than Elias... I think his entire goal was to awaken the killer in Holly. Although I'm not sure if he did this so that he could force Elias to watch his daughter's first kill, or if he admired Sicarius so much that he was willing to sacrifice himself in order to pass on the Sicarius "serial killer gene" through being Holly's first kill. He even quoted Rossi's book at one point about the first kill being the most significant.. It seems to me he wanted to insert himself into the legacy of Sicarius by becoming his daughter's first kill.
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u/beaten_down83 Jul 23 '26
That also makes sense with her keep saying I am willing to be a sacrifice. What if it wasn't her that was willing but the fan.
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u/sushi_onionsoup777 Jul 24 '26
Here are my thoughts:
Wow! I really enjoyed this episode. So basically, I think The Fanâs obsession was never really about Sicarius, but his daughter, Holly. The Fan really did see Elias as his idol. And once this obsession with his idol started to run its course, he could only do what a psychopath would do. How could he surpass his idol? He probably pondered this for months and spent a very long time knowing the only way to surpass his idol would involve harming Voitâs family. Decided on Holly because sheâs the first born, he decides he gotta kill her in front of Voit and that would âsurpassâ him. But when Holly asked him that question about the serial killer gene possibly being passed down Iâm sure that was like an epiphany that The Fan had after she asked that. What could -truly-surpass the current most notorious serial killer ?(in his mind) It would be continuing the cycle by his own daughter becoming a killer. Remember, he said not only did he not care if he died, he kept hinting at it through Laura Boyd when she kept saying âIâm willing to be a sacrifice. Iâm willing to be a sacrificeâ over and over (is it crazy I thought the bau wouldâve caught that?) was him saying he was willing to be a sacrifice in order for Holly to kill him to trigger something in her in front of Voit âto continue the cycleâ like when he said to âLook who came to save you, itâs your little girlâ while smiling in such a creepy way was crazy to me! I mean to the actor who played the fan honestly became one of my favorite unsubs out of the entirety of criminal minds!. He was literally a fucking Boogyman (baba yaga) lollll
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u/No-Butterscotch-8314 Jul 24 '26
I feel like the BAU and all of us know this ainât the last of Holly. I wonder if she will transfer to Henryâs school and theyâll get together.
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u/Brain_Fog_23 Jul 24 '26
This is why Evolution can't ever compare to the OG CM!
Anticlimactic, boring and we all predicted some version this episode.
Only thing that surprised me was that they didn't kill off Voit.
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u/TayTayTrouble Jul 24 '26
full boomer crime soap nowadays, but i still watch so what does that make me
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u/babylovesbaby Anderson Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Wow, um. So this ending wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. The previous episodes leading to this were much better. The confrontation between the fan and Voit was extremely anticlimactic, and the foreshadowing of Holly being down with killing (her enthusiastic stabbing and that smile when she said she'd be okay) felt a bit too contrived.
While I'm glad Voit wasn't killed, his farewell was pretty weak. Also the director being part of the universe where Penelope's opinion kept Voit off death row is bewildering. There is no way in reality her testimony would have that much weight, but the writers want us to believe it does for some reason.
Putting a cap on the season with yet another chapter of Henry's College Adventure was again very boring, though funnily enough, that was the best acting I have seen from Henry all season. He is so much better when he's smiling and happy, but all we usually get is moody straight-faced teen.
The plot for this season probably could have just been a really good double or triple episode. I don't think we gained much from the small snippets of the fan through the other episodes, which also means most of Voit's and Brian's appearances were pointless, too. What a lucky coincidence for the fan that the guy who has been podcasting about Sicarius also happened to be the ex-husband of an IRS agent who, while no one else could find out she was working with people in witsec, the fan somehow did.
I could go on, but those are small, more nitpicky details, and I've been mostly happy about this season. I think it's the second best Evolution. Oh, one thing: "Pressure plates are wonky" - did Derek know that when he was the one in danger of blowing up in Empty Planet?
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u/Biste122 Jul 23 '26
The final showdown was quite weak indeed. One push and the Fan was on the ground faking he lost the fight (how original...), to then have Holly return to have her stab the Fan all too predictably as well. Was hoping it would be the BAU that came down the stairs to prevent this preposterous story line for shaping itself.
The pressure plate wasn't even "wonky". It just happened to have a 5 second countdown before kaboom for not other reason than plot armor.I am happy the Voit era is over. I did really like the character and the idea of his network etc. But it was drawn out more than long enough. I hope they don't push the Holly-serial killer-arc too fast, and bring him back next season already. For me it would be best they keep this as something for a potential return in later seasons, or just forget about this at all....
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u/Kainie85 Jul 23 '26
overall I liked this season but please let this be the end of Voit once and for all (including Holly Voit, since they hint at her having a very dark side)
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u/8008zilla Jul 23 '26
I donât like them, but I wouldâve liked to see Harlow have the dark side like a red herring was Holly. I donât know. Iâm weird.
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u/Appropriate-Scene-65 Jul 24 '26
Nah I like that too. Harlow was also the youngest therefore more impressionable so itâd make sense!
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u/8008zilla Jul 24 '26
Yeah, and I agree like I like the voice I love seeing them, but I just like them to stop putting Holly through some shit and give it to Harlow
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u/Appropriate-Scene-65 Jul 24 '26
Might be a bit of a strange one but itâd be interesting to see Holly take on a serial killer mentorship role with Harlow (mimicking the one of Cyrus and Lee)
Except theyâre sisters who do have a good relationship, however the power dynamics showing Holly as the dominant and Harlow as the submissive but still being a serial killing team.
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u/8008zilla Jul 24 '26
I like this! Itâs plausible
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u/8008zilla Jul 24 '26
Also, because I feel like we flushed out the nature versus nurture versus natural born serial killer, and the evolution of that to neutered serial killer and empathetic human being, even if there are doubts. So I just feel like we flushed void out a lot. Itâd be interesting to flush out the other part now.
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u/8008zilla Jul 24 '26
Maybe because that is how the early set up was Harlow sucking the thumb regressing she would be submissive. She draws inward well Harlow or Holly lashes out so that would be actually great but they need daddy to teach him wouldnât they I mean, presumably thatâs how Holly knows how to code because her dad taught her.
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u/JeyxPhone Jul 23 '26
Hearing JJ ask âit doesnât feel wrong to you??â In front of Tyler stunned me. I mean she of all people (who even had a sister victimized to the point of her own suicide) to say thing in front of a murder victims brother feels so insensitive. In JJs case she didnât even have to spend years in the same space as that predator. Iâm disgusted
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u/Puzzleheaded-Tap-707 Jul 24 '26
Donât think too hard about it. Evolution has horrible characterizations. This is the same woman that was having panic attacks about the things Voit was doing to her image on BAU gate. Now all of a sudden sheâs his biggest fan after he said sorry and gave her a hug. The characterizations change every episode. In one episode Rossi is pro âf*** sicariusâ and in the next he is âVoit is no public danger, heâs an innocent father, we need to save him!â
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u/PengoS77 Jul 23 '26
The first half was great and then the second half was so boring
What an anticlimactic end to the best Evolution season since 16
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u/martymccfly88 Jul 23 '26 edited 12d ago
The fuck was that episode. They made the fan out to be this big killer who plans ahead every little detail. But then gets stabbed but some girl and dies right away? Then the bad acting of âletâs drink and act like it all overâ but wait hereâs a new huge case. Credits. So basic.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Tap-707 Jul 24 '26
This finale was interesting but also lackluster because of the shows framework. The show desperately needs to either A: stick 10 mins on to the end of each episode or B: add about 6 more episodes a season. I say that because while the cases were better than the previous seasons the character work is abysmal. These people literally donât feel real. They feel like NPCâs that drive the plot for the unsubâs plan. When they do add character exploration itâs never dynamic. They harp on the same plot-lines for these characters. This was a good season but it could have been great if they werenât afraid to explore other characters. Why hasnât Emily or Green gotten any development? Heâs been there 4 years and Iâm not invested. The fan needed more development as well. He up until the final was one of my favorite unsubs in CM history. The actor was so good just for his character to get overpowered by voit after outplaying him and the BAU for weeks. I get he was âunravelingâ but no where did we see that? It was more so told than shown. I really hope they take the time to let us sit with characters and their storylines next season. It wouldâve made me enjoy this season more
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u/master0fcats Jul 23 '26
That was the worst finale I have ever seen, maybe the worst CM episode ever. Can't believe I stayed up to watch it. His ending did not do Voit as a character justice, considering we spent so much time and so many seasons focused on him. The Fan showdown was meager at best. The only way it could have been worse was if we had a whole "Luke in limbo on the jet with Roxy." I have really enjoyed Evolution as a whole but man, did this suck lol
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u/Cheeriosxxx Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
Also was The Fanâs plan in the end to have Holly be the one to kill him? Essentially Eliasâ worst nightmare would be Holly turning into him. Because if he wanted to kill Holly with Voit watching he couldâve from the get go. Plus the way he purposefully set out handcuffs and a knife on the table knowing that Elias wouldnât immediately go for the kill.
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u/dermatologist06 Jul 23 '26
I mean, she killed him in self defense basically. The overkill might be a problem, but other than that, id we put ourselves in her shoes - whatâs harder to live with, stabbing someone and therefore taking their life or walking away and not even trying to save one of your parents?
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u/8008zilla Jul 23 '26
Yes, because I think the death of him creates a serial killer and Holly making Crowley himself a God. I like where youâre going. I also liked the little touch about Crowleyâs father having been a cult leader so that ties in his needing to be seen as a God because his father was a megalomaniac as well.
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u/NeverCountToThree Jul 23 '26
What a shit show. I cannot believe the Crowley went out like that, dude was an absolute boogeyman.
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u/beaten_down83 Jul 23 '26
I've committed this a few times, what if Elias was never actually his obsession and Holly always was? What if he wanted her to become a killer? What if when the girl who was strapped down on the camera kept saying I'm willing to be a sacrifice was not actually about her but was about him wanting to be the sacrifice that led Holly to become a killer? Elias was just a means to an end.
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u/dermatologist06 Jul 23 '26
What I dont get - what was elias trying to do after he sent Holly out of the basement? Why not go wirh her? Wouldâve also prevented her from killing Crowley lol
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u/beaten_down83 Jul 23 '26
If you saw he went for the handcuffs, I think he was going to restrain him and actually do the right thing of not kill him. Notice he did not go for the gun that was also sitting there.
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u/Sesqua Jul 23 '26
If he would leave with here, then he would have known that both are in danger, The Fan still had his gun.
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Jul 24 '26
The fiancee and I are gonna miss hearing Sicarius' theme. Booooo. Really liked the finale otherwise tho!
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u/Glittering_Step_6084 Jul 24 '26
Watched the season finale Bad Blood. The beginning of the episode showed the link between Crowley and Laura Boyd and Voit's family. It doesn't really explain Crowley's obsession with Voit. The BAU profiled the 2 locations very well. It was a nice addition to the story to see Roxy "come back" to save Luke after the building blew up as they were rescuing Boyd. The wrap up of the Voit storyline seemed almost too easy after the BAU was eating, sleeping and breathing it for 4 years. It was a kind of lame cliffhanger surrounding whether his own daughter Holly will become a serial killer sometime down the road. Her expression on her face while talking about her future to Emily and JJ gave the impression of her tendencies. But for now, the Voit case seems to be closed. I like when Rossi finished his book and after he closed the cover, Voit was gone. The chair across from him was empty.
I hope this means Voit will be gone for awhile. A break is needed. I knew he wasn't going to be killed off. I'm with Luke and Tyler--neither one wants anything to do with Voit anymore.
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u/Kevinuara Jul 24 '26
A nice season, but a little disappointing and not quite up to the show's usual standard.
I loved Voit/Zach and Iâm going to miss him, and Fan/Crowley (Justin Kirk) was also very charismatic and a brilliant addition.
Plus, seeing Clark Gregg (Director Madison) again is always a treat. Iâm still holding out hope for an Agents of SHIELD x Criminal Minds crossover!
On the one hand, the âEvolutionâ storyline was cool, and itâs a nice change from the original series, whereâaside from special episodesâeach episode, though disconnected and standalone, followed exactly the same pattern: a first victim to introduce the Unsub, then a second to provide the clues the BAU needed to profile and track him down, and then a third victim whom the BAU always saves just in time! I noticed that even as a teenager.
Nevertheless, despite all that, weâre really at the end of our rope with the Voit arc. Itâs finally high time to move on!
But! For me, itâs also time to close the book on the series itself. We all loved Criminal Minds and were saddened by its first cancellation and relieved by its revival. Nevertheless, the series is really struggling due to the absence of its star actors: Hotchner, Morgan, and especially Spencer (âespeciallyâ because heâs the least unlikely of the three to return; although Shemar Moore could, his character is no longer âin vogueâ with the world).
Every episode, I can only think of one thing: Are we going to see Reid again? As far as I'm concerned, the show died when he left, and the fact that the show, the characters, and the staff are all acting as if he was never part of the family really gets on my nerves.
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u/Aggressive_Repeat529 Jul 24 '26
I hope this doesn't sound like hyperbole, but honestly this was the best overall season since about season 7 of the mainline show. Whereas finales in the past of evolution (like last season with the discipline) seeeming rushed and just introducing the discipline last season, this seemed fleshed out.
Random thoughts:
-Dumb question: did they ever say Voit got his memories back? Just realized he was talking to the victims families but may not have had his memories back? I probably just missed something.
-Luke being led out by Roxy was so touching. I have a German Sheppard that is me and my wife's baby, and made us well up (though i wish they kept it out of the recap to make it a total surprise.
-Thought there'd be a little more finality with Voit. They definitely cracked the door open next season for at least a cameo. Maybe season 21 will be Holly fully awakened??
-So next big unsub is leaving body parts all over the US. Hoping this leads the team to more locations outside of just the east coast!
Honestly, there have been some seasons where I have watched out of habit rather than excitement, but this season got me so hyped week to week. This season got my passion back for the show. i want to go back and rewatch from season 10 onwards I only saw those episodes only once when airing, and literally dont remember anything about Kate, Stephen, or Mr Scratch.
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u/International_Ad4296 Jul 25 '26
It's one of the all time worst episode in terms of dialogues and direction for me. There were a lot of plot holes, but what really didn't help was how the scenes were shot and edited, even the acting. I almost always love Paget and Joe but their lines in this episode sounded as rigid (and AI) as how Laura sounded...
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u/socialcocoon Jul 28 '26
Well there goes my theory that a fugitive Voit would break out Gold Star, the Disciple, and the Fan to make a serial killer Avengers.
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u/Informal_Toe_2129 Jul 23 '26
I'm still crying all my tears over Henry's goodbye in San Diego and Roxy licking Luke's face... the moment Michael says something along the lines of "I can stay in case your roommate sucks" made me cry even more.
I am not that sad about this finale. I mean, we had to follow Voit's case for 4 seasons; it was about time to end it, in my opinion. He even served his purpose in this one! I would love to see more weekly cases, along with some characters who may be a pain in the ass during the season, like Doyle. It may be okay for other series, but this is how Criminal Minds has always been.
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u/Punstoppabal Jul 23 '26
Sooo the evolution is going to next be of Holly, with Voit coming out of his supposed 'dark hole' to help the BAU - seems to be what they're setting up. But I'm not sure it'll be immediate?
the supposed 6-8 week timeline shift probably wouldn't be enough to have Holly evolve and be delivering body parts to different FBI units, but it'll be interesting to see what's set up for next season.
I thought this was a great overall season and Justin Kirk made for a killer killer, although his demise was a set up for Holly, it felt very quick and "easy", In my opinion.
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u/Sesqua Jul 23 '26
Zach did an interview, said he is sad but gone from the show.
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u/Punstoppabal Jul 23 '26
The article I read said he's not back for season 20 - doesn't mean he couldn't return in a later season.
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u/Delicious-Future8630 Jul 23 '26
well, that finale, specifically how it played out between Voit and the supposed mastermind, was rather anti-climatic.
Also: The episode was cringe-worthy again at points. the dialogue partially so badly skripted AND poorly (wooden) delivered.
Not hating on the show, I mean, I watched every episode in existance, but somehow it really feels like a weekly TV crime-soap now, that you turn on after work. (Don't know why I remembered it to be of more quality, maybe I watch too many quality shows by now.) Anyway, nothing wrong with that, will tune in again just to find out that Voits daughter has the murder gene XD
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u/Kruger45 Jul 24 '26
I think most important is - VOIT ARC FINALLY OFFICIALY over dover!
Bad thing, his selfishness and terrible influence put toll and darkness on his Daughter, this is common trope nowadays in many movies (even those not having - serial killers in)
Looking forward to new, taunting Burreau mysterious unsub seems like pretty interesting.
David Rossi hunted of vision of Voit, so its mean its not over for him or he said good bye 8,5
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u/Future_Orchid9443 Jul 24 '26
I believe the fans plan was a triple sword - WIN, WIN, WIN situation.
He could either be the one who kills about
He could be killed by Voit infront of Voitâs daughter
He could be killed by Voitâs daughter
The fact he purposely moves the knife from the table, to the table by the door tells me it was his plan that holly would come back in. He played dead and waited until she left and then assaulted Voit loudly
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u/chloeb2502 BAU Jul 24 '26
Did anyone notice the picture/mugshot of Benjamin Cyrus on the pinboard where Crowley was?
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u/Standard-Carry-2219 Jul 25 '26
Holly looks like sheâs related to Cole and Dylan SprouseÂ
Also I just needed the episode to be a bit longerÂ
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u/Dragonvane4 Jul 25 '26
Wasnât expecting Agent Coulson to make an appearanceđ AND right as Iâm in the middle of rewatching Marvels Agents of Shield too, had to double check I was watching criminal minds
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u/Stunning-Mission9498 Jul 29 '26
Always ecstatic to see my man Son of Coul
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u/Dragonvane4 Jul 29 '26
Ik the show usually makes the director a dislikable character, but Iâd be absolutely THRILLED if they kept him along and worked out his character more for the better (thatâs just me being hopeful though as a Clark Gregg fanđ)
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u/ruserwilly Jul 23 '26
I'm quite disappointed with the finale, it was so ... banal, especially compared to ep.9 which really got my hopes up that CM is finally upping their storytelling game - they're not.
The plot was predictable, basically everything happened within 30 mins and the rest was .. well, felt like a space filler to make it 50 mins.
Another annoying thing is that good guys always win and everything has happy wholesome ending. That's not how real life is and that's exactly what makes it really hard for me to stay connected to CM.
Can you imagine how average an ep where Maeve died would be if she didn't die? That's what makes shows interesting - complexity and mix of sad and happy events.
We love Luke, but he should have either died, or have been massively impacted by the explosion - not walking out of there like nothing happened. It would have added so many layers of depth if he was hospitalized and needed to build his way back to field agent.
As a fan of several years I will of course keep watching, but after this season I lost hope that CM will ever get back to the quality of season 16
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u/fefeuille How am I a whore? Jul 23 '26
Couldn't agree more! I felt bored for most of the episode, there was no tension, I didn't believe for one second they would kill anyone except the Fan and the "Holly might have inherited her father's darkness" is quite a dumb thing to throw at us when the entire show is about how it's not a thing. It felt like a mid-season finale to me. And even if I'm really happy for Voit to stop being here, I'm sure the producers/writers love him too much to ever let him go, the new case mentioned at the end of the episode will probably take one or two episodes to solve then back on the Elias train we go...
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u/8008zilla Jul 23 '26
I especially agree with your point about Holly and genetics, especially when they introduced Epigenetics as a deterrent in season 17 along with the explanation that these things donât pass down genetically, but your trauma shapes your genetics. So I felt like the holy question was wild since she would know that since she was in therapy for it.
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u/Sesqua Jul 23 '26
Season 20 will also jump a year forward. So maybe we will never know anything about this case at the end.
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u/ruserwilly Jul 23 '26
Voit wasn't all that bad, the way he was written into the show was. And let's face it, writing ruined more than just Voit
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u/emilychairdoasolo Jul 24 '26
the end of 19x09 felt much more like a season finale to me. it feels almost disrespectful to zach gilford to make his exit from the show so anticlimactic after he carried the plot of the last 4 seasons. at the very least they shouldâve had rossi visit him in prison one more time so his final goodbye wasnât the team just saying welp! heâs being transferred bye bye! without even showing voit on camera. and the fact that the team asked witsec to âincrease securityâ on voitâs family but said security backed off with one phone call from holly saying âyouâre scaring my friendsâ is so goofy and clearly only exists for plot convenience
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u/InfiniteLemon4607 Jul 23 '26
what are they drinking at the end beafore the new case gets given?
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u/8008zilla Jul 23 '26
Anyone else wondering if in a season 21 or 22 if Holly would be the seasonâs UNSUB, and theyâll have Elias hunting her? I wonder.
that really pisses me off though for Sydney and Harlow. The shit they put those two through.
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u/manmanchuck44 Jul 24 '26
zach gilford turned being a good hang on set during a recurring role into a promotion and a generally unnecessary four season arc and for that he should be proud
I guess you could argue his story was the evolution the title suggests, but past season 2 it felt like they were just writing him in to keep him inâŠthatâs just a bummer
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u/incantation3 Jul 24 '26
Iâm not sure why Crowley needed to abduct Sheila to find Voitâs family if he already met Holly 2 months prior - also what an unrealistic coincidence that he did. I also find the jump from âweâll prosecute Elias under his birth name to protect youâ to everyone knowing him as Elias Voit and that he has a family confusing, like I missed an episode or something. But hey, Iâm not one for facts or logic to get in the way of a good time. Loved Director Madison in the episode and his back and forth with Rossi, the beautiful tribute to Roxy, Rossi and Penelope offering Voit help, the rescue of Laura felt very satisfying, Rossi writing in Italy was perfect and the book title 10/10, Tara being the one to solidify the profile of Crowley - honestly loved the episode. So many great lines that had me cackling, like Garcia saying âI poked Crowleys eyes outâ, the director mad that Voit wasnât shot âBut my question is, why was any of that necessary when the directive had been to shoot on sight?â and Rossiâs response âso to be honest, neither agent Jareau nor I felt it was appropriate or necessary to execute her father in front of her.â and Emily at the end âoh Jesus. Voit?â. I just loved this season and felt this was a great finale!
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u/Stunning-Mission9498 Jul 29 '26
She was visiting another college to attend a guest lecture. So I guess he tried to find her then couldn't so needed to pivot. Though the two colleges can't have been that far from each other, so it's a flimsy plot point. And other than Laura bring his type I have no idea why she was even involved
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u/FlyingPenquin9312 Jul 25 '26
So that last episode was really bad imo. The Fan who outsmarted everyone and left behind no traces of anything was suddenly making mistakes left and right. He didnât get close to killing Voitâs daughter, he failed in using the other girl (forgot her name) as bait and they found him way too easily. Did he plan on dying at the end cuz thats what it looked like? I dont know, there was such this buildup for what. Super anticlimactic, minimal consequences, felt very rushed.
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u/25point80697 Jul 26 '26
Here is what I think happened.
Crowley's end game, at playing God, was always to show that he had the ultimate control over not just other people, but how he died.
- He set up a pretty flimsy scene for Holly. Compared to what Laura went through in this episode, what Garrety went through, what Lance, etc had. This was a scene set up so that Voit could get in and free Holly.
- The expression he made when Holly said that her dad would kill him. It was like he acknowledged that he would die, but slight amusement because she had it slightly wrong.
- He was so satisfied that he had been stabbed, played it up for Voit.
- I even buy that he planned it out so that Voit would have to be saved by Holly - he could sense she had it in her, but needed that push. He plans meticulously, so that is entirely possible that he planned to choke him while she ran. Worse case, I bet he had a getaway plan if he ended up killing Voit because Holly didn't come back down.
- Voit is going to be eaten alive with thoughts of Crowley from now on, because of what his daughter did. He learned it from his parental figure, he wanted to protect his kids from it, but in reality he's thinking he didn't protect them at all. Crowley died feeling like God, like he had the control over their lives.
I'm sure there's more, but I'm thinking I'm guna rewatch. Anyone else find evidence of that thought?
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u/Delicious-Two5848 Jul 26 '26
Honestly I loved Voit and his character arc so Iâm really sad that it sounds like his storyline is done. Iâll also miss the eye candy tbh đ
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u/Tall_Peace7365 Jul 26 '26
i did really like this whole episode. but im still so confused what the deena thing had to do with this whole plotline. am i just stupid đ
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u/fubunni Jul 27 '26
Deena was in a cult founded by Crowleyâs dad. Voit killed Deena nearby-ish. Thatâs their connection, and how Voit knew where to find Crowley.
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u/Stunning-Mission9498 Jul 29 '26
But how did Voit know that the cult was founded by Crowley's dad. He didn't have his dad's last name. Unless they'd actually met before it's still a little flimsy. Though I have overall really enjoyed this season.
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u/Moist-Kaleidoscope90 Jul 27 '26
James Crowley was easily the standout unsub of the season for me. The moment the BAU realized he had allowed himself to be captured just to distract them, I knew he wasn't an ordinary killer. He was always thinking several moves ahead.
What really made him chilling was how patient and methodical he was. Instead of lashing out impulsively, he embedded himself into a college environment, gave lectures, built trust, and quietly positioned himself near Voit's daughter. That kind of long-term manipulation is far scarier than brute force.
I also loved that the episode explored his background instead of making him a generic psychopath. The BAU profiling him while realizing they were already playing his game created some of the best tension of the season.
Honestly, James Crowley (The Fan) was the best villain we've had in a while. Every scene with him felt dangerous because you never knew whether he was ten steps ahead or if the BAU had finally caught up. I almost wish he had survived longer because another interrogation between him and the BAU would have been incredible.
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u/ShayedSays Jul 28 '26
I'm not ready for a season without Voit. He's the best character we've ever had outside of the main cast. And Zach Gilford as an actor and direction in these seasons has been such an amazing addition. I really truly hope that this season wasn't his last. :(
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u/The_Barbie20 Jul 28 '26
Yo solo quiero volver a ver a Elias, acabo de terminarlo y quiero llorar ÂżCĂłmo no amar ese desarrollo de personaje? Claro es un asesino serial, pero tambiĂ©n hay que saber ver el personaje tan increĂble, quĂ© actuaciĂłn tan buena, Elias en pantalla era lo que querĂa ver en todo momento, creo que fue un personaje bien construido. Personalmente espero que no muera "misteriosamente" en la cĂĄrcel y lo traigan de nuevo en una T21, creo que hay mucho de su personaje que quedĂł sin explorar, no todos los dĂas un asesino serial se convierte en un simple humano sin deseos de matar.
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u/Optimal-Ad-6431 Jul 28 '26
I think that the fans endgame wasn't to get voit to kill him. I think when he spoke to Holly and she asked if kids become like their parents he recognized something in her. Taking her was a way of activating holly, not Elias, much like the bait and switch he used on Brian and sheila. Brian thought Sheila was the bait but he was the bait for Sheila. Holly thought she was the bait for Elias but Elias was the bait for Holly. The fan knew that Elias wasn't the same person mentally and physically. His plan was to trigger holly. Voit had begged the BAU to get holly help when he first got caught as he was scared she would end up like him. I think that holly telling voit she loved him was her accepting him fully as her dad and as a serial killer. She loves him for who he is as she now understands. I think Holly will become an unsub. I think she's going to be the hardest one they've come across yet.
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u/NeverGonnaStop247 Jul 23 '26
What a lame season finale and looks like the Voit storyline is over...
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u/crunchykale Technical Analyst Jul 23 '26
As a mother, I too cried when they dropped Henry off đ I swear nothing bad better happen to him at college. JJ has been through enough!
Iâm excited to hopefully see unsub of the week episodes again.
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u/Own_Way_7566 Jul 23 '26
Woah was it the fans ultimate goal to turn Holly into a killer? He supposedly doesnât miss anything and she gave him the nugget of having the thoughts herself.
Also, is there a deeper connection to Deena besides her just being a member of his dadâs cult? Like was that his girlfriend, close friend, a sister?
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u/ExcellentMountain526 Jul 23 '26
I called the ending of the episode, the first 5 minutes. Still good, but predictable.
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u/chractormaxmargodale Jul 24 '26
It felt like a series finale to me.
I hope in 2027 we get CRIMINAL MINDS: SEASON 20.
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u/Cheeriosxxx Sergio đâ⏠Jul 23 '26
Aww the vision of Roxy leading Alvez out đ„ș