In the gripping fourth episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution's third season, JJ makes an early return to work, armed with BAUGate evidence that propels the team into a quest for answers. The emergence of a new masked figure, intricately linked to Voit, triggers a haunting video that unlocks dark recollections within Voit and sends JJ into a tumultuous emotional tailspin. Concurrently, the BAU is hot on the trail of a chilling unsub—an organ-harvester who seeks to heal his daughter by brutally dissecting women. This harrowing case sent shivers down my spine.
Episode 5 delves deeper into the enigma of the masked man, as JJ recounts the harrowing events to Dr. Ochoa, Voit's therapist. The narrative weaves seamlessly between past and present, scrutinizing JJ's reactions to her first field assignment after the tragic loss of Will. Driven to assist Voit in confronting his past, JJ analyzes her own grief, hoping it will serve as a catalyst for Voit's progress in his serial killer network case.
Though no stranger to trauma and sorrow, JJ finds herself seeking solace from Dr. Ochoa, a figure less familiar with her than her BAU colleagues. Over an extended, therapy-laden 50 minutes, it becomes apparent that JJ's pain and grief are unexpectedly aiding Voit in processing his own haunting history.
Prentiss endeavors to provide JJ with grounding stability, but she cannot sit idle on the sidelines; she craves answers. As the BAU uncovers the unsub's sinister modus operandi—targeting families while sparing one member to deceive the FBI and deliver a macabre message—JJ faces a devastating revelation about the BAUGate video. A hit on ViCap from Cleveland, Ohio, reveals the unsub's identity and his twisted moniker: The Brutal Man. A family annihilator with a vendetta against families adorned with stick figure car decals, he wields a locksmith's key ring to effortlessly infiltrate his victims' homes, making him a formidable adversary.
My heart aches for JJ, desperate to immerse herself in work amidst her turmoil. She berates herself for nearly costing a family their lives due to her misjudgment. The unsub's grotesque admission of enjoying his kills and his desire to meet his leader, Sicarius—a.k.a. Voit—only deepens the horror. The prospect of killers convening seems preposterous, yet Voit, a seemingly reformed serial killer plagued by amnesia, remains a figure shrouded in uncertainty.
In the riveting fourth episode, an unexpected twist saw JJ rescuing Voit from the brink of a medication overdose, motivated by a desire for him to endure as she had. The transition from adversaries to a civil interaction between them, captured as Voit sat alongside JJ and Dr. Ochoa, left me utterly astounded. Voit's courteous remark about JJ's grief and his agreement to meet with the Brutal Man, who views him as his guide, only deepened my shock. The sight of Voit embracing JJ and offering a heartfelt apology for everything that had transpired was a moment so unforeseen yet incredibly revelatory of Voit's current state.
After narrowly escaping the overdose, Voit's mental fragility was laid bare as he requested Rossi to end his life. His mental landscape was in disarray, prompting him to limit his conversations to just Rossi, JJ, Dr. Ochoa, Tara, and the Brutal Man. This labyrinthine narrative, though convoluted, was mesmerizing to unfold.
Episode 5 of Criminal Minds: Evolution brought JJ's journey through grief to the forefront, as she navigated her reactions to the Brutal Man case. I commend the show for illustrating JJ's grief journey in authentic scenarios. Solving cases has historically served as a coping mechanism for JJ, with Will by her side offering support. Now, without her sanctuary, she bears an insurmountable burden of grief and trauma.
JJ's conversation with Dr. Ochoa was an emotional oratorio that resonated deeply with me. I can empathize with sudden loss and the quest to find meaning in it, much like the abrupt deaths of Will and Dr. Ochoa's father, events that irrevocably altered their lives. Witnessing JJ confront a family annihilator was harrowing, especially given her own family's loss. My heart ached as she struggled to suppress the ache in her heart upon discovering the deceased family members.
Never have I been more proud of a fictional character than when JJ articulated her feelings in episode 5. Her perspective on the case offered profound insight into the job through the prism of trauma and grief, allowing me to connect with JJ on a profounder level. Despite her aversion to confronting her pain, unburdening herself and opening up brought her a semblance of relief. Her long-overdue therapy-like session was a testament to Criminal Minds doing justice to her character after years of pushing her grief and trauma aside.
