Criminal Minds: Evolution returned to Paramount+ with a two-episode season 2 premiere that answered some questions from last season but added even more to be explored throughout this season. There have been many Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 theories about “Gold Star.”In the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1 finale, the concept of “Gold Star” was first brought up by higher-level government officials. What “Gold Star” means is revealed in the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 premiere, and it will be the focus of a season-long mystery.
Sicarius/Elias Voit also returned in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 to help solve the case, which is a source of frustration for the characters, and will likely be the same for viewers. This isn’t the first time the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) has had to make a deal with the devil. There are many memorable Criminal Minds unsubs, and Voit has been dubbed as the worst of them all in the revival series. With the mystery of “Gold Star,” Voit’s title could be challenged in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2.
What Did Elias Voit Tell Luke At The End Of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2, Episode 2?
Voit’s Words Triggered An Extreme Reaction From Luke
Throughout Criminal Minds: Evolution episodes 1 and 2, the BAU tried to get information from Voit about “Gold Star,” a prolific assassin-like serial killer who he claimed to have spoken to in the past. FBI Director Ray Madison, a new addition for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 played by Clark Gregg, was prepared to make a deal with Voit to only prosecute him for kidnapping Rossi and drop the Sicarius murder charges in exchange for information on “Gold Star.” Though Emily objected to this, Rossi agreed, as long as a BAU member could speak with Voit.
When JJ couldn’t fully get through to him and Voit refused to speak to her any further, Luke took over. Though things seemed to be going well as Voit was opening up more, he whispered something in Luke’s ear that set him off, triggering a violent reaction. Criminal Minds: Evolution didn’t reveal exactly what he said, but Voit gave JJ a hint.
Voit told JJ they were already being infected by “social contagion.” This suggests that whatever Voit said to Luke in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, episode 2 was related to the BAU team. Given Luke’s protective nature, his reaction to Voit saying something about his team would make sense. If the contagion has affected them, Voit could have insinuated that someone on the team is a killer or on their way to becoming one.
The Term Social Contagion Explained
Social Contagion Is This Season’s Buzz Word
As aforementioned, Voit frequently used the term “social contagion” in the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 premiere episodes. Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, episode 2 was even titled “Contagion.” There were many theories about who entered the room in the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1 finale to interrogate Voit, and it turned out to be Director Madison. When the director decided to make a deal with Voit, it was because he used that same phrase, “contagion,” which worried Madison enough to give in to Voit. The American Psychology Association defines social contagion as:
“ The spread of behaviors, attitudes, and affect through crowds and other types of social aggregates from one member to another .”
This is how Voit was able to create his network of serial killers as Sicarius, but somehow, “Gold Star” appears to be an even bigger threat when it comes to social contagion spreading. As Voit explained, “it used to be difficult to convince someone to take a life, but now, it ain’t.” With the internet, it’s become easier to breed killers, and “Gold Star” is a conspiracy theorist whose conspiracy is seen as the real threat.
Is The BAU Out Of Their Depth With Gold Star?
Voit Doesn’t Believe The BAU Is Equipped To Handle Gold Star
Voit believed the BAU was out of their depth when it came to “Gold Star,” and so did the FBI director, as he was reluctant to bring them in on the case. With “Gold Star” being considered a national threat, Voit questioned why the case wasn’t being handled by a larger department. Yet, the BAU members were convinced they could find “Gold Star.” Emily in particular became obsessed with doing so, making it her sole mission after Deputy Director Bailey was killed off in the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1 finale.
Unfortunately, Voit may have been right about the BAU. Most of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, episode 2 was spent with Emily trying to convince Rossi that a case they were working on was related to “Gold Star.” This turned out not to be the case, and Emily had to face the fact that she was forcing connections that weren’t there because she didn’t want Voit to get his deal with the director.
Additionally, Voit said their profile was off, meaning they’ll likely have to start over. The BAU team might be out of their depth now, but they never give up and always find the answers they’re looking for eventually. The Criminal Minds: Evolution showrunner teased season 2 will reveal more about “Gold Star” in episode 5, so there’s still hope the BAU can find him this season.
Why Tyler Kept What He Found A Secret From Tara & Rebecca
Tyler Discovered Important Documents Related To Gold Star
Criminal Minds: Evolution’s most controversial character is back for season 2, this time as a member of the BAU team. Tyler was introduced last season as the brother of a woman killed by Sicarius, who then broke into his online network. Due to his knowledge about Sicarius and his military background, Tyler was used as a consultant on the case, and he has continued to help them with “Gold Star.” This led him to a stakeout with Tara and Rebecca to find out who runs the escrow account that paid the strike team involved with “Gold Star.”
When Tyler told Tara and Rebecca he was going to the bathroom, he actually broke into the storefront of the person who owned the escrow account. There, he found a lease signed by Sebastian Gasper along with multiple passports in his name. It’s yet to be revealed who Sebastian Gasper is in Criminal Minds: Evolution, but Tyler kept what he found hidden for a reason. With Tyler’s connections, he could know Gasper, but him hiding the information from the BAU team further proves that he’s not fully reliable or trustworthy.
David Rossi’s Visions Of Voit Are A Callback To Criminal Minds Season 15
David Rossi Is Being Haunted By Another Prolific Serial Killer
Throughout the first two episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, Rossi was haunted by visions of Voit. He would appear at his side with taunting words, and Rossi was so affected that he even spoke aloud to him. Rossi is the BAU team member who’s had the most direct contact with Voit, as he stalked him in Seattle. Unfortunately, this led to Voit kidnapping and almost killing Rossi at the end of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1.
The last time Rossi was so affected by an unsub was Everett Lynch, the final unsub of the original Criminal Minds series. After Lynch had the chance to kill him and take his face but chose not to, Rossi was consumed with catching him. He spent most of Criminal Minds season 15 struggling mentally because Lynch had gotten into his head. This led to Rossi almost retiring, and if Voit and “Gold Star” can do to Rossi what Lynch did to him, Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 could see Rossi finally taking a step back from the BAU.
Criminal Minds Could Be Foreshadowing Another Character’s Death
Rebecca Could Be On Gold Star’s Kill List
Despite being a show about serial killers, Criminal Minds doesn’t kill off its main characters often. Only two BAU team members have been killed, Stephen Walker, who was only with the team for one season, and Jason Gideon, who was killed off years after he retired. Yet, that doesn’t mean other important characters haven’t been killed. As aforementioned, Voit murdered Bailey in the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1 finale. One of the show’s saddest episodes is when Hotch’s wife was killed in Criminal Minds season 5.
Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 could up the kill count, and episode 2 teased who might be the next victim. Tara and her ex-girlfriend, Department of Justice prosecutor Rebecca, had a conversation where Tara confessed she was afraid Rebecca might die. As Tara noted, the people who knew about “Gold Star,” like Bailey, were all killed. If he follows this pattern, Rebecca could be on the kill list in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2.