A Single Throwaway Criminal Minds Scene Quietly Teased a Major Change for 1 Character Who Broke a 15-Season Trend

Few shows in television history have sustained a character dynamic as consistently as Criminal Minds. For 15 seasons, the series followed a predictable, but mostly successful formula: a rotating team of brilliant FBI profilers track down and outsmart the nation’s most dangerous criminals (a lot of them being serial killers). These killers—called “UnSubs” (Unknown Subjects)—were almost always relegated to one-off villain status, seen solely through the lens of profiling, pathology, and eventual capture.

That trend seemed unshakable until Criminal Minds: Evolution introduced Elias Voit, played with chilling nuance by Zach Gilford. But a single moment between Voit and Penelope Garcia in Season 2 hints at something no killer in the franchise has received before: a real chance at redemption. So what did that scene really mean? And how does it signal a major shift in the Criminal Minds universe? Elias Voit could break the mold as the first main character who started out as a killer, and Garcia’s reaction tell audiences about the future of this potentially groundbreaking twist that changes the show in a massive way.

The BAU Sees a Monster, But Garcia Sees a Man

Voit’s Layers Make Him One of the Franchise’s Most Complex Criminals

For years, Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) has been the BAU’s digital wizard until her brief exit—quirky, lovable, and often the team’s emotional compass. Unlike the more clinical and hardened members of the team, Garcia offers a uniquely humanistic approach to every case. Her compassion often extends even to the victims and perpetrators the team investigates. So it’s no surprise that in Criminal Minds: Evolution, she becomes the only member of the BAU to pause and look Elias Voit in the eyes—and not just with fear or disgust.

The moment in question happens quickly, easily lost amid the chaos of the BAU’s new investigation. In Season 17, Episode 10, while trying to mediate an escalating confrontation between Tyler and Voit, something unexpected occurs. In a deep stare between him and Garcia (initiated by the latter), something unspoken passes between them. Garcia, always emotionally in tune, seems to see more than meets the eye. Her expression is wary, but not void of curiosity or empathy.

It’s as if, for a split second, she considers the possibility that Elias Voit—responsible for orchestrating a network of serial killers—might still have a soul worth saving. Garcia even confides in Alvez in a later episode, confessing what she believes she saw. This is a radical departure from the team’s typical treatment of serial killers. In the past, even layered villains like Frank Breitkopf or George “The Reaper” Foyet were ultimately portrayed as unredeemable. Garcia’s moment of hesitation suggests a potential evolution in how Criminal Minds presents evil—and how it might be dismantled.

What makes Elias Voit stand out isn’t just his central role in the new season—it’s his complexity. Unlike most UnSubs, Voit isn’t driven by impulse or immediate trauma. He’s calculating, intelligent, and frighteningly organized. But he’s also shown as a husband and father. He shows genuine love for his children, even while hiding his monstrous double life. This dichotomy raises important questions about whether Voit is purely a psychopath or a man struggling with two selves.

Zach Gilford’s performance adds to this nuance. His voice isn’t loud or overtly unhinged; he’s soft-spoken, introspective, and almost painfully self-aware. Viewers have seen him cry, experience guilt, and—in one of the most shocking turns—agree to help the BAU catch other killers in his network. This collaboration is unprecedented. Never before in the series has a known killer become embedded in the team’s investigative structure.

This change in Voit’s narrative role is arguably the most daring shift in Criminal Minds history. It places a killer not just in the story, but inside the tent. And while the BAU remains skeptical of Voit’s motives, Garcia’s moment of pause—her look into his eyes—suggests that the writers may be preparing audiences for a shift from the series’ black-and-white morality into murkier, more human territory.

Is Voit Redeemable—Or Is Garcia Just Seeing What She Wants to See?

Her Hyperempathy Has Always Been Her Superpower and Her Greatest Downfall

Garcia has always been the BAU’s most forgiving character. In earlier seasons, she often advocated for alternative perspectives, looked into victims’ pasts with a deeper emotional investment, and occasionally challenged her team’s colder tactics. She sees patterns, but she also sees people. That strength, however, can also be a weakness.

Is Garcia really seeing a glimmer of humanity in Voit—or is she projecting, as she has in the past, a sense of hope onto someone who doesn’t deserve it? Her tendency to look for the best in others, even at her own expense, is well-documented. She once dated an ex-con, gave aid to reformed hackers, and regularly reminds her colleagues that people can change. While noble, this trait has occasionally clouded her judgment.

Voit, after all, is not just a killer—he’s the architect of a serial killer network. The psychological profile suggests narcissism, manipulation, and a deep craving for control. Yet Voit is also the first UnSub to acknowledge the moral weight of his actions. Whether this is a calculated act or a sincere attempt to change is unclear. But Garcia’s recognition of that potential sets her apart—and possibly sets her up for heartbreak if that hope proves misplaced.

Garcia and Voit’s Connection Could Shape the Franchise’s Future

And It Could Change Everything for the BAU

The relationship between Voit and Garcia could evolve into something more impactful than just shared screen time. If Criminal Minds: Evolution continues to develop their dynamic, it could reshape the fabric of the show itself. Garcia’s ability to see nuance in Voit might influence how the team handles future UnSubs. It could also spark internal conflict if others begin to question whether redemption is ever truly possible in the world they inhabit. This would be especially true for Rossi, who has seen (and experienced firsthand) the darkest depths of Voit’s soul.

Voit’s presence among the BAU, even temporarily, is a major departure from tradition. Until now, serial killers on Criminal Minds were analyzed and then either imprisoned or killed. Voit’s collaboration challenges the team’s core philosophy. Could behavioral profiling be used not just to catch killers, but to rehabilitate them?

If Garcia continues to advocate for Voit’s value as more than a source of information, it could spark larger debates about morality, justice, and the possibility of transformation. This narrative thread could elevate Evolution beyond a procedural and into the realm of psychological drama, where the lines between hero and villain are not just blurred—they’re redrawn entirely.

Voit’s Main Character Status Changes Everything

It Proves the Show’s Major Evolution

Voit’s presence in Criminal Minds: Evolution is historic for the franchise. For the first time, a serial killer is not merely a guest character or season villain—he’s a billed main cast member. This decision signals a major shift in how Criminal Minds wants to tell stories in its new era. It’s not just about solving crimes anymore. It’s about understanding the people who commit them on a deeper, potentially more empathetic level.

By giving Voit main character status, the show invites viewers to engage with him not as a static threat but as a dynamic, evolving figure. This could pave the way for arcs about moral conflict, psychological trauma, and even redemption—territory rarely explored for villains in procedural formats. The small moment between Garcia and Voit could be the first crack in that narrative wall. It suggests that the writers are laying groundwork for a redemption arc that is unprecedented in Criminal Minds history. Whether or not Voit can or should be redeemed remains to be seen. But the mere suggestion changes the emotional architecture of the show.

The moment between Garcia and Voit may have lasted only a few seconds, but its implications are massive. It symbolizes a potential evolution in Criminal Minds—from a show about criminal behavior to one about psychological complexity, empathy, and the gray areas in between. By breaking its long-standing tradition of one-dimensional villains, the show takes a risk—but it may be one worth taking.

Elias Voit may never be a hero. But his story, especially if intertwined with Garcia’s uniquely human perspective, could be the most daring the franchise has ever told. If Criminal Minds: Evolution continues down this path, it won’t just be profiling killers—it’ll be redefining how audiences understand them. And it all started with one fleeting look from the only team member willing to see past the monster.