When will Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 Episode 3 air? Streaming options and time, explored

The third season of Criminal Minds: Evolution is already pulling viewers right back into the chaos, and if you’re wondering when Episode 3 comes out, the answer is pretty straightforward. It’s arriving soon. In fact, if you’ve been following the usual release pattern, you probably already have a pretty good idea of when to expect it. No long waits this time.

Once again, the series brings back that same adrenaline-fueled energy fans know so well. Only now, it feels even darker, even more personal, as the BAU digs deeper into the twisted minds of the worst criminals out there.

A quick trip down memory lane

New here? Or maybe it’s just been a while since you last tuned in? Either way, let’s catch you up real quick. Criminal Minds first hit screens way back in 2005, following a team of FBI profilers who make it their job to get inside the heads of the most dangerous criminals... before anyone else becomes a victim. The show ran for 15 seasons, yep, fifteen, and officially wrapped in 2020. Or at least, that’s what everyone thought.

Turns out, the story wasn’t over. Not even close. In 2022, the franchise made a comeback with Criminal Minds: Evolution, the same beloved characters, new nightmares to face, and a storytelling style that’s grittier, more intense, and way more psychological than ever.

What’s going on in season 3?

This season wastes no time throwing the BAU right back into the fire. The team is up against a sprawling network of serial killers, a dark web of predators that somehow came together during the pandemic. And at the center of it all? Elias Voit. Highly intelligent. Highly manipulative. And terrifying in ways that are honestly hard to describe.

But this fight isn’t just about taking down monsters. It’s also about how the team holds itself together when the job keeps tearing them apart. Each case feels heavier. Every loss hits harder.

What’s coming in episode 3?

Let’s just say... You might want to brace yourself. Episode 3, titled Time to Say Goodbye, looks like it’s going to hurt. Bad. After the devastating ending of Episode 2, yeah, that moment, JJ is left picking up the pieces of a life that’s just been shattered.

Meanwhile, Rossi and Lewis are trying a different angle. Desperate for answers, they turn to Ramona, hoping to unlock whatever’s still buried inside Voit’s fractured memories. Whether it works or not? That’s anyone’s guess. But one thing’s for sure: nothing stays the same after this.

Where to watch

New episodes drop weekly on Paramount+, with Episode 3 set to premiere on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. It follows the same release pattern fans are already used to.

Season 3 release schedule

Here’s how the rest of the season is looking: mark your calendars.

Episode 1 – Swimmer’s Calculus – May 8

Episode 2 – The Zookeeper – May 15

Episode 3 – Time to Say Goodbye – May 22

Episode 4 – I’m Fine, It’s Fine. Everything is Fine. – May 29

Episode 5 – The Brutal Man – June 5

Episode 6 – Hell is Empty… – June 12

Episode 7 – …All the Devils Are Here – June 19

Episode 8 – Tara – June 26

Episode 9 – CollateRal – July 3

Episode 10 – The Disciple – July 10

What the audience is saying

If there’s one thing the fandom knows how to do, it’s react. The aftermath of Episode 2? Absolute chaos online. Fans are still reeling, some heartbroken, some furious, all of them deeply invested.

Critics, on the other hand, seem a bit more split. Some are fully on board with the darker, more character-driven approach. Others? Not so much. They say the show’s taken a heavier turn than necessary. But honestly, love it or hate it, Criminal Minds: Evolution isn’t here to play it safe, and that’s exactly why people keep watching.

Final thoughts

What makes this series stick, after all these years, isn’t just the shocking twists or the hunt for the next killer. It’s watching this team hold it together when everything around them is falling apart. And with Episode 3 just ahead, one thing feels pretty certain: things are about to get even messier... and nobody’s ready for it.