"Criminal Minds: Evolution," season 3, episode 5, provided a poignant perspective on crime scenes, filtered through the prism of grief. JJ, who has grappled with grief since her youth, finds it finally impacting her professional life. Her recounting of the case to Dr. Ochoa and Voit not only facilitates Voit's communication with the Brutal Man but also unearths crucial insights into the emerging serial killer network.
In a dramatic confrontation, two killers sit face-to-face, as Voit taps into his darkest instincts to convince the unsub (unsubstantiated suspect) that he is his master. Voit's recall surpasses the BAU's knowledge, yet it is later challenged by Penelope's fact-checking. The revelation that the Brutal Man, Rodney, encountered Voit during his childhood – when Voit killed Rodney's family – introduces a chilling twist. This memory potentially shatters Voit's psyche, pushing the unsub to the brink of suicide right before his eyes, a harrowing prospect indeed.
Episode 6 resumes with Voit and Rodney in an interrogation room, where Voit confesses that he molded Rodney into the serial killer he has become. Their fateful meeting occurred when Voit eliminated Rodney's family, mistakenly believing they had abandoned him, much like his own stick figure car decal family. Obsessed with Rodney's life trajectory, Voit coerced him into the network, leaving Rodney with no choice but to embrace his killer instincts. This bombshell prompts Rodney to relay the network's message: "Hell is empty, and all the devils are here," echoing Shakespeare's "The Tempest," Act II, Scene 2. Tyler sees this as Round 2 with the network, though his teammates remain skeptical. Tyler, however, might be onto something, especially since new players have joined the fray. Penelope, eager to unravel the network's inner workings through Voit's memories, volunteers to team up with Tyler, leveraging her hacking prowess.
After a brief respite, JJ convenes the team early to scrutinize the network's timeline. Each unsub steps into action as the previous one is taken out, but the situation proves far graver. A woman is buried alive, and a frantic 9-1-1 call draws the BAU's attention to the network's involvement. This unsub shatters the case's static, as a suspicious package triggers a lockdown at the FBI building, escalating the stakes even further.
I'm still grappling with the fact that Voit hasn't fried his brain by succumbing to his serial killer instincts. However, Dr. Ochoa's scans and Tara's diagnosis affirm that his brain fails to release dopamine when confronted with images of murder. Witnessing Voit's terror at his darker self, a comment by Penelope lingered in my mind, reinforcing my belief that he isn't feigning his plight. She remarked, "People can feign many things, but Voit is too shattered to be anyone but his genuine self." If he were manipulating the BAU, surely his brain scans would betray his deceit, wouldn't they? One can only hope. It appears he doesn't aspire to be a monster. His plea to Rossi to end his life speaks volumes; Voit is terrified of his former self, which both puzzles and wrenches my heart.
Upon confirming that multiple serial killers are awakening, the Brutal Man's message assumes clarity. Hell appears empty because its devils embody this emerging network of resurgent serial killers. This new cohort has risen from the ruins of the old, yet it remains unpredictable. Like the team, I'm astounded by how half our predictions were wrong. Despite their expertise, killers still possess their twisted strategies. With so many killers in play, forecasting the future is akin to navigating through fog.
"Criminal Minds: Evolution" season 3 episode 6 unleashed this new serial killer network, sending Hell's demons roaming free. Each time the BAU obtains answers, they're confronted with more questions and unsubs. The case unveiled much, yet it left us in the dark by episode's end. How can we gain so much insight yet feel so lost? Welcome to an investigation where confusion reigns supreme as the primary emotion.
I admired how the storyline twisted and turned while also shedding light on various aspects of the BAU's personal lives and teamwork. Despite feeling more bewildered than ever, I cherished seeing Voit collaborate with Penelope and Tyler. It turns out, Voit's muscle memory proves handy. Penelope's revelation to Voit about her return had me chuckling. She has every right to be upset with him for dragging her back into the BAU's world. Yet, I can't help but feel glad that his case prompted her return.
The ending left me screaming for answers! Why is the mask in the box? Is it the Brutal Man's, or does it belong to another? Just when we thought we grasped what was unfolding, "Criminal Minds" exclaimed, "Psych! Not so fast!"
