Let the record show that I love Zach Gilford.
One of the many exciting aspects of Criminal Minds returning to our screens with Evolution was that they cast Gilford in a spectacularly great role as a serial killer.
Sure, they didn’t veer too far away from a dark crime procedural staple: Baddie or Antihero helps the good guys catch more bad guys.
(Paramount+ (Trailer Screenshot))
But procedurals work so well because they follow procedure — they know what works for them and what viewers respond to, and that formulaic component is appealing.
Voit Slayed in Criminal Minds: Evolution’s First Season … Literally
And the first season of Criminal Minds: Evolution was fantastic because of this.
We had an intelligent UnSub in Voit who wreaked absolute havoc on the unit, and thanks to the series falling on a streamer, we got this evolved version of crime show classic.
It was a full season of getting to know this twisted killer who managed to juggle a relatively normal family life with sadistic misdeeds.
And we have an entire network of serial killers to boot, with everything intersecting and connecting in fascinating ways.
(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)
But it was genuinely intriguing to have Voit as this “White Whale” for most of the season, as opposed to the old version of Criminal Minds, which typically had the unit wrapping up a case by the time the credits rolled.
And then they finally had Voit in their clutches, and he should’ve gotten a bullet to the head, but he got a lifeline.
It made for a wonderful finale for Criminal Minds Evolution’s first season and had me clamoring for more.
It’s Too Much of a Good Thing, Y’all
But then the second season dragged in some cases and became unnecessarily convoluted in others.
(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)
Worse yet, however, was just how much Voit we got.
I never envisioned there could be such a thing as “too much Zach Gilford.”
Still, I reached my limit between Voit haunting Rossi at every conceivable turn, those interactions in prison, and him getting day passes to jerk the BAU around, smirk, and speak in riddles.
It made sense why Voit was at the center of so much during the first season.
But they overplayed their card with him in the second season.
Make us work for it, is all I’m saying.
Steal My Heart But Not the BAU Spotlight, Babe
(Michael Yarish /Paramount+)
Gilford is clearly having fun with this role, and I truly love that for him.
He’s damn good at it too. But I still want to see my competent BAU being badass all on their own, too.
Instead, Voit lowkey had the unit looking incompetent on the regular.
Was Baby Girl channeling her Chocolate Thunder and fixing Voit with a menacing death glare awesome? Hell yeah!
Did they actually earn that moment in the finale when they’ve otherwise been running around like chickens with their heads cut off, playing into Voit’s manipulations all season? Nah.
The BAU is spending more time tap dancing to meet Voit’s needs than anything else.
I have to suspend belief to buy into why Voit needed to be brought to the scene of something or consulted.
My guy was quite literally living in Rossi’s head rent-free all season.
(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)
Balance the Baddie Better in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season Three, Por Favor
Voit’s quickly becoming the Red Reddington of Criminal Minds.
But this isn’t The Blacklist, where we went in expecting the full series to revolve around James Spader because, well, it’s James freaking Spader.
This is Criminal Minds, which was firmly established with many characters we loved before Voit existed.
I’m thrilled about a third season, and the finale certainly hinted at exciting things to come.
(Michael Yarish /Paramount+)
Even with some inmates using our adorably floppy-haired baddie like a pin cushion, we already know his plot armor will protect him.
And we know it’ll be another full season of Voit and the tangled web of Gold Star.
If I have one request, it’s that they show a little restraint with him.
Am I alone in feeling like there’s too much Voit on Criminal Minds? Surely, you guys will let me know in the comments. Let’s have it.
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