Criminal Minds’ Worst Era Finally Ends Today (With 1 Caveat)

Criminal Minds season 19’s finale saw a massive change for the BAU, who’s spent the duration of the show’s Paramount+ era handling a specific criminal, likely ending the show’s most difficult stretch overall. Throughout the run of Criminal Minds: Evolution, which debuted in 2022 after the show’s 2005-2020 run as a CBS hit, the BAU has dealt with some intense, gruesome cases. Most of those cases, whether directly or otherwise, had to do with Elias Voit (Zach Gilford). The show’s featured Voit, a serial killer who created a network of fellow serial killers, in various lights throughout Evolution’s four-season run.

While Voit has been a fascinating criminal to get to know and the show has managed to move his story in ways that were unexpected throughout its run, Criminal Minds has become far too dependent on the Voit story as a way to propel itself forward. Criminal Minds season 19 has seen Voit in solitary confinement for the majority of the season, dealing with antagonization from The Fan (Justin Kirk) and visits from the BAU after recovering from the brain injury that restored some of his empathy during the previous season. Even with an interesting angle, his story fell flat.

With Voit going against The Fan to save his daughter, Holly (Allison Nordahl), it wasn’t clear if he would make it out of Criminal Minds season 19 alive. Though he did ultimately survive, Voit’s time on Criminal Minds, at least as viewers know it, has come to a close.

Voit’s Criminal Minds Arc Seemingly Came To An End With A Big Move

Criminal Minds: Evolution has spent four seasons with Voit, but it appears after a final confrontation with The Fan that left him at a crossroads, the series may finally be ready to move on from his storyline. Voit, in the finale of Criminal Minds season 19, makes the decision to step in when his daughter, Holly, is kidnapped by The Fan and taken to a remote location in Florida. After escaping from prison and making his way south, Voit makes sure to let the BAU know what he’s up to before reaching The Fan and Holly, making his sacrifice clear.

The final moments between Voit and The Fan leave the former serial killer injured and seemingly close to death when, in the last moment, Holly strikes. She stabs The Fan in defense at first, but it’s clear as she continues that the crime turns into one of passion, repeatedly stabbing The Fan until Voit stops her. With the FBI close to reaching their location, Voit understands quickly that he doesn’t want Holly to take the fall, especially because of the BAU’s close eye on her genetics. Voit makes it look like he took on The Fan for his daughter’s safety.

With Voit taking the fall, it’s eventually revealed that he’s been moved to a much higher security prison far away from the BAU in hopes that it will keep the public safe. Voit’s move means that the BAU’s involvement with him should be minimized entirely, which should bring his story on Criminal Minds: Evolution to an end.

While He May Be Gone, Voit Could Easily Return To Criminal Minds In The Future

Although it appears that Voit may not be a regular part of Criminal Minds: Evolution after his move, the show may not be fully done with his character just yet. In the final moments of Criminal Minds season 19, Rossi (Joe Mantegna) quite literally closes the book on Voit, finishing his writing and having a final moment with the hallucinated version of Voit that lives in his mind. While it appears the show was trying to send a message about Voit being a finished thread on the series, it’s possible his return could be a part of the BAU’s future.

With Holly still a part of the story, especially now that she’s experienced taking a human life, it’s possible that Voit’s family could be part of the show’s next era. While Voit himself may not make any appearances soon, it’s possible that in the future, Criminal Minds could call back on him in the scope of seeing him as a father rather than a killer. The show could also choose to simply continue Voit’s story in a completely new way, keeping him on the hook while things progress in a different direction for the BAU.

Criminal Minds should be done with Voit, but that may not be the case as the series moves forward despite its clues.

Release Date

September 22, 2005

Showrunner

Erica Messer

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  Kirsten Vangsness

  Penelope Garcia

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  Matthew Gray Gubler

  Dr. Spencer Reid