Warning: SPOILERS for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 3, “Time to say Goodbye.”Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 3 was heartbreaking in the best way possible. While the original series and the continuation are largely known for the terrifying unsubs in Criminal Minds’ history, “Time to say Goodbye” didn’t include any new murders. Instead, the episode followed a much more personal narrative, with Elias Voit’s (Zach Gilford) medical mystery bumped to the B-plot.

While Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler), David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), and Rebecca Wilson (Nicole Pacent) all still made progress with Voit, Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 3 was truly all about Jennifer “JJ” Jareau (A.J. Cook). Following Josh Stewart’s (Will LaMontagne) shocking departure from the series, the series took its time exploring the fallout of Will’s death and its impact on JJ and the rest of Criminal Minds: Evolution‘s cast of characters. The nuanced study of grief’s intricacies was poignant and made for one of the best episodes of Criminal Minds since its 2022 revival.

JJ’s Grief Takes Center Stage Following Will’s Cliffhanger Death

The Focus Stays Firmly On The New Widow

“Time to say Goodbye” opens with JJ in a near-catatonic state, reliving memories of Will in flashback sequences. JJ and Will’s relationship in Criminal Minds spanned 18 years, and the grief of losing your partner so suddenly is almost unimaginable, especially considering the dangerous fields the couple worked in. Rather than die in the line of duty, Will suddenly collapsed at the end of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 2, and JJ abruptly announced her husband’s death in the closing scene.

Criminal Minds: Evolution doesn’t let JJ simply grieve, of course. The character is instead the one trying to hold everybody else together, stifling her mourning for the sake of her family. Little glimpses of her true feelings slip through the cracks, like A.J. Cook’s emotional delivery of the opening quote that stands in stark contrast to the typical, detached recitations. After Will’s mother, unmoored by grief, makes a biting comment about JJ’s sons dying before her, JJ finally snaps at her mother-in-law, only to get slapped across the face.

At once, the storyline is universal and singular, striking the perfect balance to garner sympathy for JJ…

Throughout the first half of the episode, Criminal Minds: Evolution portrays the frustrating reality for many women who act as pillars for their family, but it also leans into JJ’s idiosyncrasies. Though she isn’t eating or sleeping, JJ still can’t seem to put herself first during her most vulnerable moment. At once, the storyline is universal and singular, striking the perfect balance to garner sympathy for JJ while still allowing the character her originality.

The Rest Of The Ensemble Become Supporting Characters In Episode 3

The Cast Respectfully Takes A Backseat During A Pivotal Episode

The other members of the BAU in Criminal Minds: Evolution don’t disappear during the episode, but they take a more subdued approach. Certainly, it was wise not to draw focus from JJ any more than was necessary, and the small dialogue exchanges offered just enough to satiate fans of every character without devoting too much time to them during JJ’s episode. Everyone from Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) to Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) had their moment, but nothing ever overshadowed JJ and her mourning period.

Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez) playfully negs Tyler Green (Ryan-James Hatanaka) over not being a Bruce Springsteen fan, giving a glimpse into the unlikely friendship brewing between them. Thankfully, their love triangle in Criminal Minds: Evolution is either done with or put on the back burner. If the episode leaned into the tension between Penelope, Luke, and Tyler, it would’ve taken away from the entire point of “Time to Say Goodbye” and further cheapened the romantic plot.

Tara and Rebecca started dating prior to Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1, but the two broke up before eventually reconciling in season 2.

Meanwhile, Tara and Rebecca’s relationship is becoming a focal point for the series. They stand as JJ and Will’s foils throughout the episode, whether it’s the girlfriends discussing how “love is the saddest thing” but they promise to “choose happiness” or JJ watching wistfully as Tara reads Rebecca’s silent cues. Even as Tara and Rebecca are promoted to Criminal Minds: Evolution’s main couple, nobody feels anywhere near as important as JJ.

Voit’s Condition Only Grows More Confounding

Memory Fragments Return, But His Psychopathy Is Undetectable

Although JJ’s grief over Will was the overarching narrative, there were a few big updates on Voit’s amnesia. Despite Rossi and Voit’s history in Criminal Minds: Evolution, the special agent agreed to interact with the serial killer in the hopes of jogging his memory. It proves successful, as Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 3 reveals Voit’s short-term memory is improving, and he’s having fragmented flashbacks of his own. Voit credits the development to the presence of Rossi — who, he apparently learned in between episodes, is not his father — but his memories still have significant holes in them.

Criminal Minds: Evolution is toeing the line of doing too much to confirm Voit’s amnesia is overriding his psychopathy…

Tara takes the news in stride, administering a personality inventory that is traditionally meant to assess a child’s risk of developing psychopathic tendencies. According to Tara’s results, Voit is harmless — yet another confirmation that his amnesia is real and facilitating his functioning empathy center. Furthermore, his docility is downright confusing, as Voit’s traumatic brain injury should be making him more aggressive, not counteracting his preexisting violence. While Criminal Minds: Evolution is toeing the line of doing too much to confirm Voit’s amnesia is overriding his psychopathy, I truly can’t blame them for being overly curious about the serial killer.

The BAU Turn To Voit’s Only Known Survivor To Treat His Amnesia

A Memorable Character From Season 1 Returns

The morally questionable conclusion that the BAU comes to is that, to jolt Voit into potentially remembering his crimes, they have to confront him with his only known survivor: Ramona Havener (Kerry Knuppe). Ramona was a real estate agent that Voit abducted in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1 before passing her off to a proxy killer. Luke and the rest of the team managed to trace her location and save her life, but fear for her family’s safety prevented Ramona from turning Voit in.

In “Time to say Goodbye,” Luke and Tyler visit Ramona and notice how much of a wreck she’s become since her trauma. Similar to JJ, she can’t take care of herself. Tyler doubles down on the parallel, suggesting that Ramona is grieving the person she used to be. After some brief pushback, Ramona shows up to talk to the FBI and relives her abduction in flashback sequences. The cuts to old scenes do get a bit grating, but Ramona at least reveals new details that weren’t shown in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1.

Ramona was targeted because she wore the same perfume as Voit’s wife, so he abducted her to practice how he’d confess his crimes to his family.

When Ramona comes face to face with Voit, it’s a shock to them both. Voit can’t understand why he recognizes her, and Ramona can’t believe what’s become of the man who nearly killed her. Ramona’s presence causes Voit to suddenly remember his wife and children, but she leaves before giving him any closure. Having conquered her greatest fear, Ramona feels empowered and agrees that the FBI can retain her as a witness if necessary.

It’s a harrowing moment as Voit realizes the BAU is there to protect other people from him.

Meanwhile, Voit admits he’s been having recurring nightmares about not being able to rescue someone from a fire (likely memories from the night of his parents’ deaths). As he starts to remember details of his old life, he begs to see his family — Rossi even calls him by his first name, softly saying “Elias… that’s never going to happen.” It’s a harrowing moment as Voit realizes the BAU is there to protect other people from him. Zach Gilford’s phenomenal acting peaks when Voit viscerally breaks down, to the point that Rossi comes up to comfort him.

Will’s Funeral Brings The Team (& An Old Familiar Face) Together

Reid’s Return Isn’t The Most Important Aspect (Nor Should It Be)

Nevertheless, no character is in as much pain as JJ by the end of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 3. As Emily and Penelope prepare for the funeral, they point out the elaborate flower arrangements at the front, sent by Aaron “Hotch” Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore), and Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) — the three members of the BAU who didn’t return for Evolution. Shortly after, Reid makes his return to Criminal Minds as he enters the church to offer JJ and her children condolences.

Criminal Minds: Evolution is streaming on Paramount+.

Reid quietly goes to sit down with Rossi, Emily, and Penelope, the three characters many view as the only remaining “original” members in Criminal Minds: Evolution. Quickly, the focus returns to JJ as the service starts. The attendees take turns sharing memories of Will, but JJ’s speech is a monumental moment. As she stands next to Will’s coffin, JJ finally breaks down and releases her pent-up grief, expressing her guilt over not being able to save Will and apologizing to her sons. In a series known for gruesome murders, it’s one of the hardest scenes I’ve ever had to watch.

While Criminal Minds: Evolution could have ended the episode after Will was lowered into the ground, it thankfully continues after the ensemble cast leaves the cemetery. At the funeral luncheon, members of the team take turns comforting JJ and having the difficult conversations she needs to hear, like Rossi reminding her she has to show her children “it’s okay to let it out.” I’m so grateful that Criminal Minds: Evolution took the time to elaborate on everything JJ felt, unyielding in its dissection of her pain and lingering rather than bulldozing past such an important character’s death.

In the end, everyone had the best resolution they possibly could, but Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 3 wasn’t afraid to say there’s no happy ending in the face of love lost.