Why Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4 could have a serious villain problem? Details explored

After an explosive Season 3 finale, Criminal Minds: Evolution is gearing up for Season 4. The renewal announcement came a few months before the premiere of Season 3. Created by Jeff Davis, this long-running police procedural series explores the investigation of high-profile cases handled by the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 premiered on May 8 and wrapped up on July 10, 2025. From the heartbreaking loss of JJ's husband to the BAU being able to bring down the notorious Sicarius network and the villain Voit ( with a fascinating redemption arc)- Season 3 was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride.

Since Criminal Minds has shifted to Paramount+ from CBS, the storyline has been heavily focused on the notorious villain Elias Voit, aka Sicarius. In Season 3, the BAU finally toppled Elias Voit's web of killers, unmasked the disciple, and left its dangerous antagonist behind bars.

It was almost like a fitting conclusion to a trilogy-like arc. But now comes the harder part. Season 4 will have to step into uncharted waters, and the show faces a serious villain problem.

Since the revival aired on Paramount+, every twist in Criminal Minds: Evolution traced back to the Sicarius killer. Elias Voit wasn't a simple villain- his storyline was unraveled across three seasons. The audience saw him as a father, husband, manipulator, and a man aware of his own monstrosity.

The show not only explored how he killed but also why. Viewers were pulled into his psychology, and Zach Gilford's performance was commendable. Nonetheless, Voit raised the bar/ expectations for Criminal Minds: Evolution villains, and it would surely be difficult to match his level of charisma and complexity.

By the end of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3, Voit's network was destroyed. The disciple, Tessa, was arrested, and his secrets were laid bare. Voit finally confessed to his crimes and was put behind bars- a clear win for the BAU.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4- The villain problem and how it might be solved

The writers tied nearly every thread connected to Sicarius in Season 3. Of course, the team can pivot to the original CBS format- with the case of the week investigations. But the audience now expects a season-long adversary- a villain who can outsmart the heroes for a season or two at least.

Any new villain will be naturally compared to Voit unless Season 4 introduces a character with equal depth. However, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 ended on a subtle cliffhanger that the writers could explore in the upcoming season.

In the closing scenes, we saw Voit and other inmates being transported to a high-security prison in a van. In the van, Voit daydreams about the inmates mocking him as Sicarius, leading him to lash out violently. Did Tessa's plan work? Is Voit still violent and eager to kill?

With Voit still alive, the writers have a chance to reintroduce him in Season 4. Additionally, viewers might expect a new storyline and a fresh villain bold enough to match Voit's chilling legacy.

Here's what showrunner Erica Messer revealed about Criminal Minds: Season 4's storyline (via Deadline)

"Season 19 will be a year after the events of season 18. That time allows some stories to settle — Voit has confessed and been sentenced to life in prison — JJ has had a year to feel out how to navigate parenthood without her husband, Garcia has gotten back on the dating scene and much, much more. There will be another season-long unSub who the audience will learn about before the BAU. As the history of the show has promised, Season 19 will rely on real, simple, scary stories where we’ll take the audience into the dark, scare them and save them."

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Also read: Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 ending explained: The Disciple's identity, Voit's finale move and the BAU's brutal showdown

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