1 Missing Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 Character Could Have Saved Its Underwhelming Year

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 has finally drawn to a close, but one missing character could have provided much-needed depth from the inside of the FBI. For the third consecutive season, prolific serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) was at the center of the overarching narrative, with the unsub being awarded a convoluted redemption arc.

The Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 finale allegedly tied up the Sicarius plotline for good, but the dramatic ending of an era fell flat in the grand scheme of the series. While the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit is now free to introduce an entirely new antagonist in season 4, Criminal Minds: Evolution overlooked the perfect source of conflict this season.

Clark Gregg’s FBI Director Ray Madison Is Nowhere To Be Found In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3

Bureaucracy Has Always Been The True Villain

To add intrigue and realistic obstacles for the team, Criminal Minds: Evolution should have brought back the FBI’s morally grey director, Ray Madison (Clark Gregg). Madison made his debut in season 2 when he cut a deal with Voit, much to the chagrin of the BAU. Furthermore, Madison played a pivotal role in hiding the Gold Star investigation.

Yet, despite how prevalent Voit was, Director Madison never appeared in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3. David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) was initially investigated by the FBI’s internal affairs department, but the typically foreboding higher-ups disappeared after the premiere. Given that the government is arguably Criminal Minds’ oldest villain, the absence of Director Madison and his cohorts was palpable.

Pressure From FBI’s Bureaucracy Could Have Fixed Criminal Minds: Evolution’s Underwhelming Season 3

Voit & The BAU Would Have Benefited From Another Outside Force

Admittedly, the ending of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 wrapped up its major storylines nicely— but victory seemed to fall into the BAU’s lap after an anticlimactic season-long hunt. Unfortunately, the team was constantly one step behind the Disciple and the rest of the rebooted network, making the season feel like a losing game— at least without Voit’s help.

Voit’s complex amnesia in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 had its highs and lows, but it felt incomplete without the involvement of FBI agents outside the protagonists. From JJ (A.J. Cook) threatening him to Penelope (Kirsten Vangsness) sleeping in his hospital room, the way the BAU interacted with Voit throughout the season was nothing short of reckless and inappropriate.

Director Madison could have provided some exciting pushback and enforced stricter boundaries. By forcing the team to overcome real roadblocks, the triumphant ending could have felt truly earned rather than served to the BAU on a silver platter. Criminal Minds: Evolution still has time to incorporate more bureaucratic conflicts, but season 3 will forever be a missed opportunity.