Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, episode 7.
Summary
Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 7 introduced a new character and revealed she’s been a part of the series since the beginning.Criminal Mindsoriginally ran for 15 seasonson CBS from 2005 to 2020. In 2022,the series was revived asCriminal Minds: Evolutionon Paramount+, opening up possibilities for new storylines, characters, and stylistic choices. Each season has 10 episodes, with more in-depth story arcs unfolding over the entire season instead of the typical single-episode case setup.Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3has already been confirmed, reflecting the revival’s success.
Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2 is sometimes referred to asCriminal Mindsseason 17, asEvolutionis a continuation of the series, not a reboot. Though one could watchCriminal Minds: Evolutionwithout watching the first 15 seasons, the revival often caters to those who have been around since the beginning. These viewers were rewarded inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 7when an old storyline was reopened, an important character was introduced, and reveals about the BAU provided new context for the entire series.
Spencer Reid’s Criminal Minds Return Just Became Inevitable After 4 Years Of Waiting
Spencer Reid has yet to appear in Criminal Minds: Evolution, but one Emily Prentiss line in season 2, episode 7 made his return inevitable.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Finally Introduces Jason Gideon’s Ex-Wife, Jill
Jill Was Supposed To Be Part Of The Show Earlier
Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2 is centered around the “Gold Star” case. The case is supposedly one of the biggest in BAU history, with the consequences of the truth of the “Gold Star Program” getting out considered a matter of national security. Thus, it makes sense that the case has led to some all-hands-on-deck scenarios. InCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 7, this led BAU Unit Chief Emily Prentiss to Jill Gideon’s door.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Gold Star Mystery Makes Spencer Reid’s Absence More Absurd
How the FBI categorizes the Gold Star mystery in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 makes Spencer Reid’s continued absence more ridiculous.
Jill is Jason Gideon’s ex-wife and a biological psychiatrist who specializes in epigenetics. Having an epigenetics expert working on the “Gold Star” case is crucial to stopping Damien, Jade, and the others inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2. Thus, Emily ignored Rossi’s orders and contacted her, convincing her to come back to Quantico and help them.
Jill was supposed to be a part ofCriminal Mindsfrom the beginning, but parts of Gideon’s backstory were cut from the pilot, according to showrunner Erica Messer. Jill, played by Felicity Huffman, is a recurring character inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2. There is no news yet about whether Jill will be inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 3, but Messer shared the significance of her inclusion this season withTVLine, saying,
“It never made it to air, but there was this idea that Gideon’s ex was his therapist. So it’s been stuck in my mind for a long time, ‘Oh, that thing exists,’ and I always felt like it’d be a fun nod to the fans who’ve been watching a long time — hey, we have this really deep pull!”
Why Jill Gideon Is So Important To Criminal Minds
Jill Was Instrumental In Creating The BAU
Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 7 split its time between a haunting case Luke, Penelope, and JJ were trying to solve, and Emily and Tyler’s visit to Jill’s house. Though only about half the episode was spent with Jill, it included many reveals about her character, her connections to other characters, and her past. The biggest reveal was thatJill and Rossi had a secret romantic affair inCriminal Mindsthat caused Rossi to quit the BAU in 1997 when she broke his heart.
However, the most important reveal was that Jill had been instrumental in creating the BAU. For 17 seasons,Criminal Mindshas led viewers to believe that the BAU was started by David Rossi and Jason Gideon, who received little to no help and funding in their early days. Yet,Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 7 challenged this notion by revealing that Jill often helped them with their cases and is a major reason the BAU is where it is today.
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Criminal Mindshad a good reason for keeping this hidden. Gideon was worried that if people knew about the role Jill was playing in their cases, she’d be targeted by the serial killers they were chasing. This was reasonable given the fact thatGideon was killed by a serial killer from an old case inCriminal Mindsseason 10. Jill’s involvement was an open secret at the BAU, as she had relationships with the original characters.
Rossi and Gideon started the BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) in the late 1970s, helping create the profiler position that is now highly respected and sought after inCriminal Minds.
Jill Gideon’s Absence Exposes A Problem With Criminal Minds & The BAU
The Former BAU Unit Chiefs Have Been Accused Of Misogyny
WhileCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2 offered a good explanation for why Jill was never publicly part of the BAU, it raised some questions and exposed a past problem. The characters may have known about Jill and her reputation, but this wasn’t shared with viewers in 17 seasons ofCriminal Minds. This is likely just becauseCriminal Minds: Evolutionis trying to keep things fresh after almost 20 years, but it makes sense in the story for another unfortunate reason.
SinceCriminal Mindsbegan, the BAU has had strong female characters working on the team. In season 1, there was just one female profiler, withElle leaving inCriminal Mindsseason 2. Emily replaced her shortly after and worked alongside Penelope as their technical analyst andJJ as their media liaison until JJ was promoted to profiler inCriminal Mindsseason 7. Despite having such great women working for the BAU, it took years for them to receive the same respect as the male characters–and they still have to fight for it occasionally.
Hotch’s Unresolved Storyline Finally Haunts Prentiss In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2
Emily Prentiss is great as BAU chief, but Aaron Hotchner’s abrupt departure issue finally catches up to her in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2.
When Hotch asked Emily to share one of his flaws inCriminal Mindsseason 2, episode 15, she told him he “[doesn’t] trust women as much as men.” It took untilCriminal Mindsseason 13 for Emily to become the first female BAU unit chief. Withthe maleCriminal Mindscharacters having histories of misogyny, it’s not surprising that Rossi and Gideon took sole credit for creating the BAU, even years after it was no longer a safety issue. Fortunately,Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2 is giving Rossi the chance to right some wrongs.
New episodes ofCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2 are released every Thursday on Paramount+ through August 1.
Criminal Minds: Evolution
Cast
InCriminal Minds: Evolution, the FBI’s elite team of criminal profilers come up against their greatest threat yet, an UnSub who has used the pandemic to build a network of other serial killers. As the world opens back up and the network goes operational, the team must hunt them down, one murder at a time. Original cast members continuing their roles include Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster. Zach Gilford joins the dynamic cast as a recurring guest star in a season-long arc.
