Warning: SPOILERS for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 10.
The End of an Era: A Mixed Farewell to the Sicarius Saga
Criminal Minds: Evolution has seen its share of thrilling moments, yet the conclusion of the Sicarius arc has left fans with a bittersweet taste. While the saga’s climax was long anticipated, the execution revealed significant flaws in pacing and character arcs. As the season reached its conclusion, it was unclear whether the series had struck the right balance between engaging storytelling and meaningful character development.
JJ’s Missed Opportunity: A Central Character Overlooked
Throughout the promotional rollout, A.J. Cook’s character, Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, was poised to take center stage—much like her predecessors David Rossi and Emily Prentiss in previous seasons. Rossi’s battles with his personal demons and Prentiss’s confrontations with past trauma had previously offered viewers satisfying narrative crescendos. However, JJ’s journey in season 3 took an unexpected detour.
Initially, it seemed JJ would follow this tradition, but as the plot progressed, her storyline was sidelined, creating a disconnect between what was promised and what actually unfolded. While Rossi and Prentiss explored their respective arcs with depth and resolution, JJ’s character was diminished in the latter half of the season. What should have been a powerful narrative about endurance and healing instead became a frustrating endeavor in emotional neglect.
Voit’s Dominance: A Narrative Shift that Pushed JJ Aside
Fans witnessed a shift in focus as Elias Voit began to overshadow JJ in the second half of the season. The introduction of ‘the Disciple’ twist, which dove deeper into Voit’s troubled past, left JJ’s character with minimal development despite her rich history and significant emotional stakes. The show’s choice to prioritize Voit’s story over JJ’s lacked payoff, denying her critical closure.
Despite the potential for captivating parallel narratives between JJ and Voit, the series chose to prioritize the latter’s character progression. Viewers were left with unresolved questions about JJ’s trajectory, which now feels like a gaping wound in the series’ fabric. This decision made her journey seem secondary, undermining her profound experiences and the audience’s attachment to her character.
A Tragic Twist: Will’s Death as a Narrative Shortcoming
The treatment of Will LaMontagne Jr.’s death exemplifies the series’ failure to properly handle significant emotional arcs. Will’s unexpected passing in the early episodes served as an impetus for exploring JJ’s grief. However, after an emotionally charged funeral episode, the gravity of this loss dissipated into narrative neglect. JJ’s mourning became a mere backdrop to the unfolding plot, leaving viewers yearning for a deeper exploration of her emotional landscape.
For a character whose relationship with Will had illustrated a history of love and vulnerability, such a pivotal moment warranted more than sporadic mentions as the season progressed. Instead, it was brushed aside, leaving both JJ and the audience feeling unfulfilled.
The Overarching Cost: JJ’s Pain Overshadowed
The prioritization of Voit’s complex narrative at the expense of JJ’s struggles not only diminished her character but also felt like a disservice to the audience who had grown to empathize with her journey over many seasons. Each character’s experience holds value, yet the show currently places greater story weight on the antagonist, sidelining an essential member of the BAU.
As season 3 wraps up, it is clear that JJ’s battles, from the trauma of the Sicarius network to her personal loss, have been inadequately addressed. The show’s trajectory leaves fans wondering: how can a series so deeply rooted in emotional storytelling overlook the importance of its central characters’ development? With lingering wounds and unaddressed pain, JJ’s saga may resonate as one of the season’s biggest disappointments.
The conversations around JJ’s character and the challenges faced in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 continue among fans. As they lament missed opportunities for profound storytelling, the cultural impact of JJ’s journey, and the questioning of the series’ character priorities head into the future remain vibrant.
As anticipation builds for future installments, viewers can only hope for a return to a narrative that embraces its characters and their struggles, ensuring that past wounds don’t simply fade into the background.