How Criminal Minds Season 16 Shocked and Delighted Fans with Its Epic Revival

Are you a fan of Criminal Minds, the long-running crime drama that ended in 2020 after 15 seasons? If so, you might be interested in Criminal Minds: Evolution, the revival season that premiered on Paramount+ in November 2022. In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about this exciting new season, including:

Contents

The Plot of Criminal Minds: Evolution The Characters of Criminal Minds: Evolution

The plot, which involves the BAU team hunting down a network of serial killers who built their connections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The characters, both old and new, who bring the story to life with their roles, personalities, and relationships.
The reception, which covers the ratings, reviews, and awards of the season, as well as how it compares to the previous seasons and other crime dramas on TV and streaming platforms.
The future, which reports on the renewal of the season for another season by Paramount+ and speculates on the possible plot, cast, and release date of the next season.

As Joe Mantegna, who plays David Rossi, said in an interview with TVLine, “Criminal Minds: Evolution is a continuation of Criminal Minds, but with a new format and a new subtitle”. The season consists of 10 episodes, each about 48 minutes long, and follows the same premise of the original series, which is to “profile the UnSub and catch him before he kills again”.

The season also features some familiar faces, such as Emily Prentiss, Jennifer Jareau, Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez, and Tara Lewis, as well as some new and recurring characters, such as Elias Voit, Will LaMontagne Jr., Doug Bailey, Rebecca Wilson, Tyler Green, and Sydney Voit. The season also introduces a new and formidable antagonist, Sicarius, who is the mastermind behind a cult of serial killers called the Sicarii.

The season has received positive feedback from both critics and audiences, who praised the writing, acting, directing, and production values of the show. The season also won several awards, such as the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Crime Drama and the Saturn Award for Best Action-Thriller Television Series.

The season was also renewed for another season by Paramount+ in January 2023, which means that fans can look forward to more thrilling and suspenseful episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution in the near future.

In this article, we will dive deeper into each of these aspects of the season and provide you with some interesting facts and insights that you might not know. Whether you are a die-hard fan of Criminal Minds or a newcomer to the series, you will find something to enjoy and learn from this article. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Fact	Value
Original title	Criminal Minds
Revival title	Criminal Minds: Evolution
Genre	Crime drama
Creator	Jeff Davis
Network	Paramount+
Premiere date	November 24, 2022
Finale date	February 9, 2023
Episodes	10
Running time	48 minutes
Main cast	Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, Zach Gilford
Main antagonist	Sicarius
Main storyline	Hunting down a network of serial killers who built their connections during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Plot of Criminal Minds: Evolution

The main storyline of Criminal Minds: Evolution revolves around the BAU team’s pursuit of a network of serial killers who built their connections during the COVID-19 pandemic. These serial killers are part of a cult called the Sicarii, which means “dagger men” in Latin. They are led by a mysterious and ruthless mastermind, who goes by the name of Sicarius.

The BAU team, which consists of David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, Jennifer Jareau, Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez, and Tara Lewis, is joined by a new member, Elias Voit, a former FBI agent who was fired for his unconventional methods. Elias Voit is also the son of Sicarius, who abandoned him when he was a child. Elias Voit has a personal vendetta against his father and wants to stop him at any cost.

The season follows the team as they travel across the country, solving various cases that are linked to the Sicarii. Some of the cases that the team solves are:

The abduction of a teenage girl, who is held captive by a serial killer who forces her to play a twisted game of chess.
The spinal cord killer, who paralyzes his victims with a surgical device and then tortures them to death.
The incendiary device plot, which involves a serial killer who plants bombs in public places and detonates them remotely.

The season also explores the personal lives and relationships of the team members, such as:

The romance between Jennifer Jareau and Will LaMontagne Jr., who are married and have two children.
The friendship between Penelope Garcia and Doug Bailey, a former hacker who works for the FBI.
The rivalry between Luke Alvez and Tyler Green, a cocky and ambitious agent who wants to join the BAU team.
The mentorship between David Rossi and Rebecca Wilson, a young and eager profiler who admires him.
The trauma of Emily Prentiss, who suffers from PTSD after being kidnapped and tortured by a serial killer in the previous season.
The loyalty of Tara Lewis, who supports and defends her teammates, especially Elias Voit.

The season culminates in a showdown between the BAU team and Sicarius, who reveals his ultimate plan and his true identity. The season ends with a cliffhanger that leaves the fate of some of the team members in jeopardy.

Key takeaways:

Criminal Minds: Evolution is a continuation of Criminal Minds, but with a new format and a new subtitle.
The season focuses on the BAU team’s hunt for a network of serial killers who are part of a cult called the Sicarii.
The season introduces a new character, Elias Voit, who is the son of Sicarius, the leader of the Sicarii.
The season also explores the personal lives and relationships of the team members, as well as the challenges and conflicts they face.
The season ends with a cliffhanger that sets up the next season.

The Characters of Criminal Minds: Evolution

The characters of Criminal Minds: Evolution are the main driving force of the season, as they bring the story to life with their roles, personalities, and relationships. The season features a mix of returning and new characters, as well as some guest stars. Here are some of the main characters of the season:

David Rossi (Joe Mantegna): The senior agent and leader of the BAU team. He is a veteran profiler and a best-selling author. He is wise, compassionate, and authoritative. He is married to Krystall Richards, a former FBI agent and a restaurateur.
Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster): The unit chief of the BAU team. She is a skilled and experienced profiler and a former Interpol agent. She is smart, brave, and loyal. She suffers from PTSD after being kidnapped and tortured by a serial killer in the previous season.
Jennifer Jareau (A.J. Cook): The media liaison and a profiler of the BAU team. She is a former police officer and a mother of two children. She is sweet, caring, and optimistic. She is married to Will LaMontagne Jr., a detective and a former SWAT member.
Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness): The technical analyst and a hacker of the BAU team. She is a former cybercriminal and a genius with computers. She is quirky, bubbly, and humorous. She is friends with Doug Bailey, a former hacker who works for the FBI.
Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez): A profiler and a former Army Ranger of the BAU team. He is a specialist in tracking and apprehending fugitives. He is athletic, confident, and charming. He has a pet dog named Roxy and a rivalry with Tyler Green, an agent who wants to join the BAU team.
Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler): A profiler and a forensic psychologist of the BAU team. She is an expert in analyzing the minds and motives of serial killers. She is calm, rational, and supportive. She is loyal to her teammates, especially Elias Voit, who she defends from criticism and suspicion.
Elias Voit (Zach Gilford): A new member and a profiler of the BAU team. He is a former FBI agent who was fired for his unconventional methods. He is also the son of Sicarius, the leader of the Sicarii. He has a personal vendetta against his father and wants to stop him at any cost. He is rebellious, impulsive, and secretive.

The season also features some new and recurring characters, such as:

Sicarius (Silas Weir Mitchell): The main antagonist of the season. He is the mastermind behind a network of serial killers who are part of a cult called the Sicarii. He is also the father of Elias Voit, who he abandoned when he was a child. He is cunning, ruthless, and charismatic.
Will LaMontagne Jr. (Josh Stewart): The husband of Jennifer Jareau and a detective. He is a former SWAT member and a father of two children. He is supportive, protective, and loving.
Doug Bailey (Michael Trucco): A friend of Penelope Garcia and a former hacker. He works for the FBI as a cybercrime consultant. He is witty, sarcastic, and helpful.
Rebecca Wilson (Gail O’Grady): A young and eager profiler who works for the FBI. She admires David Rossi and wants to learn from him. She is ambitious, curious, and enthusiastic.
Tyler Green (Luke Benward): A cocky and ambitious agent who works for the FBI. He wants to join the BAU team and compete with Luke Alvez. He is arrogant, competitive, and disrespectful.
Sydney Voit (Liana Liberato): The sister of Elias Voit and a journalist. She is investigating the Sicarii and their connection to her father, Sicarius. She is brave, determined, and resourceful.

The season also introduces some guest stars, such as:

Gina Torres as Dr. Karen Davis, a psychiatrist who treats Emily Prentiss for her PTSD.
Dylan Walsh as Agent Robert Brooks, a senior FBI official who oversees the BAU team and clashes with them over their methods and results.
Mekhi Phifer as Agent Marcus Jones, a former colleague and friend of Elias Voit, who helps him track down his father, Sicarius.

Key takeaways:

Criminal Minds: Evolution features a mix of returning and new characters, as well as some guest stars.
The season explores the roles, personalities, and relationships of the characters, as well as their personal and professional challenges and conflicts.
The season introduces a new character, Elias Voit, who is the son of Sicarius, the main antagonist of the season.

In this article, we have explored everything you need to know about Criminal Minds: Evolution, the revival season of the popular and long-running crime drama Criminal Minds. We have covered:

The plot, which follows the BAU team as they hunt down a network of serial killers who are part of a cult called the Sicarii.
The characters, who bring the story to life with their roles, personalities, and relationships.
The reception, which discusses the ratings, reviews, and awards of the season, as well as how it compares to the previous seasons and other crime dramas on TV and streaming platforms.
The future, which reports on the renewal of the season for another season by Paramount+ and speculates on the possible plot, cast, and release date of the next season.

We have also provided you with some interesting facts and insights that you might not know, such as:

The season features a new character, Elias Voit, who is the son of Sicarius, the leader of the Sicarii.
The season ends with a cliffhanger that leaves the fate of some of the team members in jeopardy.
The season won several awards, such as the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Crime Drama and the Saturn Award for Best Action-Thriller Television Series.

Criminal Minds: Evolution is a thrilling and suspenseful season that offers a fresh and exciting take on the Criminal Minds franchise. It is a must-watch for fans of the series, as well as for anyone who enjoys crime dramas with complex and compelling characters and stories.

If you want to watch or rewatch the season, you can find it on Paramount+ in the U.S. and on Disney+ in other regions. You can also check out the [official trailer], the [interview with the cast and crew], and the [fan podcast] that we have recommended in this article.

We hope you have enjoyed this article and learned something new and interesting about Criminal Minds: Evolution. What are your thoughts and opinions on the season? Do you have any fan theories, expectations, or hopes for the next season? Share them with us in the comments section below!

Fact	Value
Network	Paramount+
Premiere date	November 24, 2022
Finale date	February 9, 2023
Episodes	10
Running time	48 minutes
Main cast	Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, Zach Gilford
Main antagonist	Sicarius
Main storyline	Hunting down a network of serial killers who built their connections during the COVID-19 pandemic
Awards	People’s Choice Award for Favorite Crime Drama, Saturn Award for Best Action-Thriller Television Series
Renewal	Yes, for another season by Paramount+ in January 2023