The season 3 finale of Criminal Minds: Evolution (also considered Criminal Minds season 18) concluded with high stakes, emotional reveals, and some lingering questions that set the stage for a new chapter in the series.
The episode wrapped up long-running plotlines, including the fall of the Sicarius Network and the revealing of Tessa Lebrun as The Disciple. However, it left several gaps that will likely come into play as the show continues into season 4.
The Downfall of Elias Voit and the Sicarius Network
The biggest takeaway from the finale is the takedown of Elias Voit, also known as the Sicarius Killer, and his entire network of accomplices. After an intense confrontation, it seemed like the BAU team had successfully ended the threat posed by the Sicarius Network.
However, the finale had a tone more akin to a series finale than just a season conclusion, signaling the end of this particular storyline. With the Sicarius Network dismantled, the BAU must now face the challenge of finding a new villain to chase in season 4.
Tessa Lebrun: The Disciple Revealed
One of the key plot twists was the reveal of Tessa Lebrun, also known as The Disciple, who was previously a mystery character.
She is introduced as the next potential replacement for Voit, manipulated and conditioned by Cyrus, just like he once manipulated Voit. Tessa’s backstory involves her tragic kidnapping by Cyrus, who had a long history of abuse and control over her, mirroring what he did to Voit.
Throughout the finale, Tessa desperately tries to make Voit revert to his old serial killer ways. She believes that bringing back Sicarius will somehow restore a sense of purpose and power to both of them, but her obsession with him reveals her own fractured psyche.
She is determined to have Voit relapse into his old murderous self, but Voit, despite his internal struggle, resists her attempts and ultimately tries to protect Dr. Julia Ochoa, his doctor.
Voit’s Last Stand: Faking His Return to Sicarius
The most compelling part of the finale is Voit’s internal conflict. In an intense sequence, he seemingly relapses into his old Sicarius persona, engaging with Tessa and even killing Perry, one of her accomplices.
However, this is a ruse. Voit fakes his violent tendencies to gain Tessa’s trust and protect Julia. He uses this moment to pass crucial information to the BAU, sending them a decrypted message about the location of the Sicarius Network members, leading to their capture.
Voit’s real intentions, however, are much darker. Even though he is trying to protect others, he is deeply aware of the darkness inside him. The fact that he willingly killed Perry, even though it was to save someone else, reveals that the monster within him is not entirely gone. This moment sets up a darker future for Voit, suggesting that he may never truly escape his past.
The Disciple and the Tragic Fate of Tessa
Tessa’s role as The Disciple reaches its climax when she faces off against the BAU team. She believes that by forcing Voit to kill again, she is somehow saving him from his own guilt and bringing him back to his true form.
However, as the finale unfolds, we learn that Tessa’s obsession with Voit is born out of her own brokenness. She has been a victim of Cyrus for so long that she can’t see a way out. Her fixation on Voit is a way to cling to some semblance of control, believing that by “saving” him, she can validate her own tortured existence.
The final confrontation between Tessa and the BAU agents, including Prentiss, ends with Tessa being arrested. She dies by suicide by cop, showing how deeply her trauma has affected her and making her character one of the most tragic in the series.
Elias Voit’s Final Confession
After all the chaos, Elias Voit’s storyline culminates in a heartfelt confession. In a quiet moment with Rossi, Voit admits to all of his crimes, not out of a desire for redemption, but because he no longer trusts himself.
He confesses that while he may have tried to change, the darkness inside him never truly went away. His attempt to protect Julia and his failure to escape the allure of violence highlight the deep inner turmoil Voit faces.
As the episode closes, Voit is seen being transported to prison, but not before he has a haunting fantasy of returning to his violent ways. He briefly imagines murdering an inmate on the prison bus, suggesting that while his outward actions show restraint, the darkness inside him is still very much alive.
The final shot of Voit trapped in prison and the uncertainty of his future leaves room for his story to continue, but it also suggests that his journey toward redemption may be far from over.
Is Elias Voit Really Done?
The finale leaves a huge question mark over Voit’s future. While he is now behind bars, his violent tendencies have not been completely eradicated. The final fantasy sequence, in which he imagines himself killing another prisoner, underscores that Voit is still a dangerous man, even if he tries to maintain some semblance of control over his urges.
Given the unresolved tension surrounding his fate, it’s likely that Criminal Minds: Evolution will revisit Voit’s journey in future seasons, possibly exploring his struggle to keep his darker self at bay.
The Future of Criminal Minds: Evolution
With the Sicarius Network dismantled and Voit locked away, the finale sets up an interesting dilemma for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 4. Without a clear antagonist, the BAU may need to find a new villain to chase.
However, the psychological depth of Voit and Tessa’s stories has set a high bar for future seasons, and it will be interesting to see how the show adapts to these changes.
The finale also gave viewers a sense of closure for the Voit storyline while leaving enough ambiguity to keep fans invested in what comes next. It’s clear that, despite the apparent resolution, the darkness of Voit’s past is far from gone, and the BAU will likely have to confront the fallout from his actions for seasons to come.
