CBS Is Crippling Paramount+’s Criminal Minds Revival After 6 Years
Even when Criminal Minds: Evolution is at its best, the original CBS series haunts the narrative— literally. After the emotional so-called series finale aired in 2020, fans of the network staple bid farewell to the iconic members of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), only for Paramount+ to announce a revival merely two years later. Now a straight-to-streaming drama with serialized, season-long storylines, Criminal Minds’ format change has fanned the flames of fervid debates for four entire seasons. Without question, Evolution has carved out its own spot in modern Criminal Minds history, but the original irrefutably lingers six years later. There are some common gripes longtime viewers have that will likely never cease, such as the persistent clamoring for the return of Criminal Minds’ OG BAU members like Aaron “Hotch” Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), and Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore). Nonetheless, the vast majority of the fandom has embraced Evolution and all of its idiosyncrasies. Consequently, the newest installment of the hit Paramount+ drama has, unsurprisingly, been a major streaming success. Regardless, there are limitations that continuation series like Criminal Minds: Evolution intrinsically suffer from, especially when the source material is such a widely renowned, genre-defining title.
Criminal Minds: Evolution’s Most Interesting Plots Are Eclipsed By OG Cases
Since it premiered in 2005, the defining trait of Criminal Minds has been its unsubs (also known as “unknown subjects”). Switching the focus each episode to new killers has always been the norm for crime procedurals, but how Criminal Minds approached its villains was somewhat revolutionary. At a glance, the unsubs on the CBS drama were far more detailed than run-of-the-mill antagonists from contemporary programs, which prioritized the detective-type characters and aimed to highlight the investigative process. In contrast, Criminal Minds formed full-fledged characters with detailed backgrounds, motivations, and disturbing proclivities that manifested in the form of high-profile murder cases. For better and for worse, the CBS smash-hit had no limits to its creativity. There were incredibly sympathetic unsubs who were more tragic than terrifying, realistic unsubs that felt straight out of a true-crime podcast, and imaginative unsubs that had the most striking— and, in turn, the most mortifying— modus operandi. Throughout the first 15 seasons of Criminal Minds, there were countless unsubs with sickeningly singular murder methods, victimology, and reasons for killing. Unfortunately, that ingenuity has become a double-edged sword as the continuation nears its milestone season 20. Sadly, even the best unsubs in Criminal Minds season 19 feel oddly familiar due to the original series and the wide net it cast when creating its gallery of unforgettable unsubs. “Requiem” (Criminal Minds season 19, episode 8) perfectly exemplifies the issue, as mortician Marvin Bancroft (Joseph Cross) was a morbidly fascinating killer, driven to the brink of his sanity by his mother’s sudden death. While watching his captivating story play out, however, the original series loomed in the back of my mind. There were obvious points of connection, as the way Marvin preserved and posed his victims felt reminiscent of Samantha Malcolm’s living dolls (Criminal Minds season 5, episode 12) or Adam Rain’s human puppets (season 8, episode 10). Furthermore, his signature exsanguination is an M.O. shared by numerous unsubs in the original series. Even Marvin’s occupation— mortuary manager— sounds like a standout characteristic, but the CBS run already covered similar themes via unsubs like former mortician John Nelson (season 8, episode 4) and necrophile Roderick Gless (season 4, episode 14).
How Criminal Minds Can Continue Growing In Season 20 & Beyond
In a way, Criminal Minds’s unsub issue is a credit to its longevity, but it still poses a major risk to the continuation’s future. At least in theory, there are infinitely many ways to kill a person, but in practice, there will always be some sort of overlap that harkens back to a memorable OG Criminal Minds case. Of course, that doesn’t mean Evolution can’t have compelling stories. Even if there are traits that seem eerily similar to iconic unsubs, the crime drama can go all-in on characterization to help unsubs feel fresh.
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Likewise, Paramount+’s most disturbing series can simply accept that it’s nearly impossible to create an unsub that feels totally unlike the hundreds that came before them. Truthfully, that shouldn’t automatically feel like an insurmountable obstacle. Granted, the longer Criminal Minds: Evolution goes on, the more unsubs it has to inadvertently draw inspiration from, but the crime drama can easily produce remarkable moments by prioritizing what it does best: allowing good to vanquish evil in the end.
Release Date
September 22, 2005
Showrunner
Erica Messer
Directors
Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Rob Bailey, Matthew Gray Gubler, Joe Mantegna, John Gallagher, Douglas Aarniokoski, Guy Norman Bee, Larry Teng, Nelson McCormick, Alec Smight, Charles S. Carroll, Rob Spera, Charles Haid, Diana Valentine, Rob Hardy, Tawnia McKiernan, Bethany Rooney, Karen Gaviola, Sharat Raju, Thomas Gibson, Aisha Tyler, Anna Foerster, Gloria Muzio, John Terlesky
Writers
Bruce Zimmerman, Virgil Williams, Edward Allen Bernero, Janine Sherman Barrois, Chris Mundy, Simon Mirren, Debra J. Fisher, Kimberly A. Harrison, Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin, Karen Maser, Oanh Ly, Stephanie Sengupta, Aaron Zelman, Kirsten Vangsness, Erica Meredith, Andi Bushell, Holly Harold, Alicia Kirk, Jeff Davis, Randy Huggins, Edward Napier, Jayne A. Archer, Chikodili Agwuna
Kirsten Vangsness
Penelope Garcia
Matthew Gray Gubler
Dr. Spencer Reid
Diterbitkan : 2026-07-13 02:45:00
sumber : screenrant.com
