Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 6 Review: Message in a Bottle

During previous seasons of Criminal Minds, we have seen the BAU struggle with the aftermath of certain cases, their personal trauma, and the weight of all the victims on their shoulders. However, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 has taken that to another level.

Voit has turned their world upside down, leading them to a breaking point that is hard to come back from. Rossi’s dream at the beginning of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 6, “Message in a Bottle,” further proves that he and Emily are most affected.

While Rossi is still seeing Voit, losing control, repeating himself, and not focusing, Emily is at Garcia’s place drinking and smoking, thinking about quitting.

As terrible as both of them feel, “Message in a Bottle” proves once again that the BAU is a family and no one gets left behind.

JJ puts her feelings about BAU-gate aside to check on Emily. Tara checks in on Rossi and tries to figure out how to help him move forward.

Even though it seems their paths are different, they are tightly connected to the BAU’s past.

On the one hand, JJ reminds Emily that everyone before them who is gone (except Erin Strauss) has chosen when to leave. The two of them have remained because of how strong they are.

But also because they have one another. It works perfectly that this is when JJ chooses to confront Emily about BAU-gate. Even though Emily didn’t tell her the truth, JJ understands because they have one another.

However, this conversation proves that they need to be honest with one another. That honesty and the raw emotions make Emily realize she needs to stay for herself and her family—they can only solve this case together.

On the other hand, Tara and Rossi’s conversation leads back to Voit. Even though, as viewers, we’ve always believed Dave would get over seeing Voit once the case was solved, there’s something different in their interaction on Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 6, “Message in a Bottle.”

The goal is for Rossi to get Voit to admit he is Sicarius. He gets pretty close when Voit corrects him on the number of victims, but in the end, he gives him something better: North Star.

At first, it seems Voit will win by controlling Rossi. As the serial killer that he is, he has stalked and studied Rossi for years. But even with that advantage, Rossi finds a way to regain control.

It starts with him turning the cameras off and showing up unannounced. That doesn’t seem enough until, with one simple sentence, Rossi figures out what’s going on.

Now, it’ll be interesting to see the BAU investigate their own. It was evident from the interactions with Brian that there was a spy in the FBI, but this is further confirmed once we realize Stuart House was created with Rossi and Gideon’s unpublished white paper in mind.

At the very beginning of the episode, Tyler confirms he knows who Teresa is and brings her into Quantico. At first, when he ignores Garcia, it feels as if he will again act on his own accord.

By bringing Luke in, Tyler proves that he can finally work with the FBI. This is further proved towards the end when he trusts them enough to bring them to the secret meeting. They’re working together, and that’s the only way to solve the case.

What stands out from the Teresa case is the combination of scenes between Penelope and Tyler speaking and Luke and Teresa. They each tell bits of the story, and Penelope and Luke ask the right questions to keep the flow going.

Whether you want to see Penelope end up with Tyler or with Luke, there are plenty of great moments between both duos to keep shippers entertained as well.

At the end of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 6, “Message in a Bottle,” the team is back together, standing around the table listening to Rossi. The lack of chairs shows once more the sense of urgency they’re experiencing.

It is comforting to finish the episode with Emily looking and sounding like the one we all know and love.

The episode shows us a different side of her—one that doesn’t follow the rules and acts on impulse. Towards the end, she’s back to herself, and we’re happy to know she hasn’t quit.

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What did you think of this episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Criminal Minds: Evolution streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

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