Criminal Minds: Evolution may be missing one of my favorite characters, but the season 2 finale just confirmed an important detail about Derek and Penelope’s friendship. Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 has made multiple mentions of Derek Morgan, but he has yet to appear in the revival series. The Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 finale only mentioned him briefly, but as someone who loves Derek and Penelope’s friendship, I was relieved by its bigger meaning. Shemar Moore left Criminal Minds years before it was revived as Evolution, but like many others, I’m still hopeful for his return.
Though some Criminal Minds character exits have been devastating, I’ve stuck around and fallen in love with the new characters, just as I did the originals. Derek may be gone, but multiple OG characters, including Penelope, are still on the show. Criminal Minds: Evolution doesn’t ignore those who left either, as the Derek mention in the season 2 finale shows. With Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 on the way, I still have hope we’ll see Derek Morgan again, but for now, I’m happy with knowing his friendship with Penelope is alive and well.
Criminal Minds: Evolution’s Season 2 Finale Proves Derek & Penelope Are Still Close
Derek’s Old Nickname Was On Penelope’s Computer
Derek and Penelope had one of the strongest and sweetest friendships in Criminal Minds. The chemistry between Moore and Kirsten Vangsness was capitalized on throughout the series, as they became even more important to each other. They also had one of the funniest friendships, with their frequent flirting even leading to a workplace sexual harassment seminar in Criminal Minds season 9 that called out their inappropriate behavior. Derek often referred to Penelope as “baby girl,” and she had various, usually sexual, nicknames for him as well.
One of these nicknames was “Chocolate Thunder,” which is how Derek was brought up in the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 finale. When Voit uses Penelope’s computer to help them find something, he asks her who Chocolate Thunder is. Though they quickly return to the task at hand, the quick line reveals that Derek and Penelope are still close. It also suggests that “Chocolate Thunder” is Penelope’s password on her computer, showing just how important he still is to her. Hopefully, Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 will provide further evidence of this.
Penelope Could Be The Key To Derek’s Return In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3
Derek’s Only Return In Criminal Minds Was Because Of Penelope
Since Derek left the BAU team in Criminal Minds season 11, he has only returned once. Derek appeared in Criminal Minds season 13, episode 5, but not to help the team with a case. Instead, Derek was there to help Penelope. The case the team was working on brought up memories of when Penelope was shot in Criminal Minds season 3, in an episode that revealed how much Derek cared for her as a friend. Derek returned to Criminal Minds in season 13 to be Penelope’s emotional support, which could happen again in Criminal Minds: Evolution.
Criminal Minds showrunner Erica Messer has already set a condition for Derek’s return, stating it would have to be for a specific emotional storyline, not a case. Since Derek has already done this for Penelope, it would make sense if she’s why he appears in the revival. I’ve been waiting years to see Derek Morgan in Criminal Minds again, and his friendship with Penelope provides the most logical and rewarding explanation for his potential return. This would also mean plenty of scenes between the best friends that I and other viewers became accustomed to seeing throughout Criminal Minds.