Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 10 Review: Save the Children

Following Criminal Minds tradition, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 10, “Save the Children,” ends the season with the BAU gathered together, celebrating that they are alive. 

Those moments in which we see our favorite characters safe and at peace make the creepy, scary, and torturous scenes worthwhile. This time, Emily Prentiss has to survive yet another torture at the hands of this week’s unsubs.

Even though by the end of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 9, “Stars & Stripes,” it seemed as if Jade was killing herself in the explosion, she  is alive and well on “Save the Children.” Instead of dying, she reunites with a former Gold Star member and takes Emily with them.

Once the BAU became aware that Stuart House was based on a paper Gideon and Rossi wrote, it made sense that Gold Star was coming after them. However, “Save the Children” gives viewers the true reason why Jade and Pete are now coming after the team, particularly after Prentiss.

The explanation also explains why Bailey knew about Gold Star and cared so much about it being kept a secret. Knowing his brother was a Gold Star pushed him to confront Voit on his own, inevitably leading to his death.

This new layer of Bailey’s character makes us like him more, even though he is now gone.

Nevertheless, Jade and Pete have the facts wrong. Once more, they are being led by a conspiracy theory: the FBI killed Bailey and used Voit to cover it.

In theory, no conspiracy theorist would back away from their belief no matter what evidence they are shown. On the contrary, Pete tells Jade to stand down because he promised his brother that he would accept it if he were proven wrong.

In the end, it is the same man who threatened to put an end to the BAU, the one who saved them. If they hadn’t been able to prove Voit killed Bailey on his own accord, everyone would have died in another explosion.

Even though Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 focused heavily on Gold Star, Voit has always been there to remind the BAU and viewers that he is still in control. There have been times when the team felt ahead only to be proven wrong.

Because he has information on Pete, he is once again making a deal and having to work with the team. The moment he walks into Quantico and everyone looks at him through the window, we can feel the tension and see the annoyance and frustration on everyone’s faces.

Of course, he pulls trick after trick and asks Tyler to accompany them to the field because he doesn’t feel safe with Rossi. It becomes obvious that he is only doing this to get under Tyler’s skin and get something out of it.

But in those moments when Voit feels like the control belongs to him, the women of the BAU remind him of his place and their power.

First, Penelope Garcia approaches him after his interaction with Tyler. Without saying a word, only looking straight into his eyes, she gets him to back away and collaborate with them.

Then, JJ confronts him, which leads to his demise. Even though he is trying to push her buttons by bringing up BAU-gate, JJ reveals his secret and threatens him with telling his wife about the videos.

That is when Voit’s ego jumps out. By wishing JJ good luck and using the same gesture Rossi used on him, Voit reveals the plan to her, leading to them saving Emily and arresting Jade and Pete.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 10, “Save the Children,” does several things right. On the one hand, starting the episode with Penelope’s desperation matches how the audience feels after the final explosion on Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 9, “Stars & Stripes.”

On the other hand, it ties every loose end regarding Emily’s storyline. By having Pete and Jade kidnap her and talk about Bailey, we understand the conspiracy theories against Prentiss were planted there to blame her for his murder.

She was persecuted all season long because she was supposed to be found guilty and killed.

Last but not least, the episode finally gives Jade a voice of her own. The flashbacks of the first time she met Damien, killing Church, and listening to Pete’s orders show that she has always been manipulated by someone else.

By choosing not to kill herself when she is being arrested, she is choosing herself for the first time. Instead of buying the bullshit, like she says, she is choosing a different path.

When Rossi sees Voit standing behind Prentiss at Penelope’s apartment, we know his storyline isn’t over. However, the moment Rossi tells everyone to stop thinking about Voit, we believe we might be done with this serial killer.

That is when two other prisoners attack Voit. He doesn’t make any decisions without an end plan, so he asked to join the general population for a reason. But was this a smart decision?

The end of the episode makes us wonder if this is the end of Voit. Will Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 be the first time the BAU can focus on other cases without Voit’s presence looming over them?

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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 is available to stream on Paramount+.

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