Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 Impressively Fixes The Paramount+ Revival’s Most Divisive Plot

Criminal Minds: Evolution has been able to fix its most divisive plot in such a short amount of time. Formerly in military intelligence, Tyler is actually the reason the BAU knows about Sicarius’ network of serial killers, but consulting with the profilers illicit romance with Penelope Garcia. Tyler is upgraded from a recurring character to one of the main characters in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3. Garcia felt betrayed when Tyler lied to her in season 1, so much of Tyler’s storyline in season 2 was about making amends to Garcia, leaving open the possibility for their romance.

Meanwhile, Luke Alvez had a tedious, macho protectiveness over Garcia that put him constantly at odds with Tyler. However, Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 has been leaning away from the Garcia love triangle, which is allowing Luke and Tyler’s friendship to blossom. “Time to Say Goodbye” crystallized the buddy-cop potential of the Luke-Tyler pairing. I didn’t think it would be possible, but Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 is taking the most tiresome pairing in the show and making it one of my favorites.

Luke Alvez And Tyler Green Are A Surprising Pair Offering Comic Relief In Criminal Minds Evolution Season 3, Episode 3

Luke Promises To Educate Tyler On The Genius Of Bruce Springsteen

“Time to Say Goodbye” will always be remembered as the tragic episode featuring Will LaMontagne’s funeral after his sudden death in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 2. In an otherwise heavy episode, Luke Alvez and Tyler Green provided the best moment of comic relief in an early scene. While the two of them are driving to speak with Elias Voit’s one surviving victim, we enter the conversation mid-debate where Luke is offended Tyler does not appreciate Bruce Springsteen, but he is excited to educate Tyler on the highlights of the Boss’s discography.

The conversation feels like an organic continuation of the friendship Luke and Tyler have been building this season. Without moments like Luke teasing Tyler about his useless plastic gun as a trainee, the Springsteen scene could have felt awkward and forced instead of a natural beat of levity. Garcia’s call interrupts them, but bringing her into the scene does not change the tenor of their banter. This is a great sign Luke and Tyler are building a relationship outside of their connection to Garcia, something Criminal Minds: Evolution needs to do to avoid retreading tired will-they-or-won’t-they territory.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 Is Able To Move On From Garcia’s Divisive Love Triangle Conflict

Luke Alvez & Tyler Green Build A Friendship Outside Of Their Pasts With Garcia

Luke had a flirtatious relationship with Penelope Garcia during the original 15-season run of Criminal Minds, ending the finale with him officially asking her out on a date. Fortunately, Criminal Minds: Evolution nipped this in the bud in the first episode of season 1, clarifying that while they shared playful banter, there was not real romantic chemistry on their one and only date. Whatever Garcia and Luke’s relationship was, it seemed like a facsimile of Garcia’s special friendship with Derek Morgan.

However, Tyler Green was introduced as a moody, bad-boy love interest for Garcia in Evolution season 1, and Luke had a disproportionate problem with him about his one-time sleepover with Garcia. While Evolution season 2 kept the longing alive between Garcia and Tyler, Criminal Minds is moving away from the divisive, unsatisfying love triangle entirely in season 3. Now that Tyler is officially a member of the BAU, his character is being integrated more fully into the team, and his relationship with Luke is evolving beyond romantic rivalry.

The six-month time jump between Criminal Minds: Evolution seasons 2 and 3 allowed for a natural reset in group dynamics. Luke and Tyler’s developing friendship signals a welcome shift in narrative focus — instead of centering Garcia’s storyline around romantic tension, the show is giving all of them space to grow as independent characters. This pivot strengthens the ensemble dynamic that has always been the heart of Criminal Minds.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Needs A Brand New Friendship Rather Than A Fresh Romance

Shortened Paramount+ Seasons Leaves No Room For Filler

As newer characters within the BAU, both men need further development beyond their romantic entanglements. Luke was introduced in the final seasons of the original series and still feels like he’s carving out his long-term identity. Tyler, a new character created for Criminal Minds: Evolution, began as an outsider and love interest, but now that he’s officially part of the team, the show must define who Tyler is within the group dynamic. Shifting focus from love triangles to friendships and professional camaraderie allows the show to deepen character arcs in a meaningful way.

Often Alvez and Green are separated in the field as the two muscles of the current iteration of the Behavioral Analysis Unit, but there are opportunities to pair them up on fact-finding missions as well. Their personalities have room to complement and challenge each other — Luke’s discipline and steadiness against Tyler’s edge and intensity.

Criminal Minds: Evolution has already been renewed for season 4.

It would be fantastic for Springsteen to be an ongoing runner, which would be a subtle way for the increasingly serialized version of Criminal Minds: Evolution to show that the friendships within the BAU are as much a focus as Elias Voit. These lighter, character-driven beats make the dark procedural elements more resonant by grounding the drama in human connection.