Criminal Minds Season 19, Episodes 1 & 2 Ending Explained: Voit Continues To Define BAU’s New Era

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Fans are excited about the return of Criminal Minds, and season 19 is starting to build a compelling new mystery. The original series is considered a classic police procedural, but its 2022 continuation, Criminal Minds: Evolution, has received mixed reactions. While many enjoyed seeing the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) back together, the reboot has faced criticism, particularly regarding the character of Elias Voit, the Sicarius killer, played by Zach Gilford.

For three seasons, the villain terrorized the FBI and the public with his crimes and the network of dangerous individuals he created during the pandemic. While that storyline had a conclusion, the show seems unable to leave it behind, as the start of season 19 proves the case – and its wider effect on society – isn’t finished. However, a new development has been introduced that should alleviate viewers’ exhaustion with the old storyline, while also offering compelling new paths for the show’s main characters.

Criminal Minds Season 19 Time Jump Explained (Where Each BAU Member Is Starting)

I’ve been watching the first couple of episodes of Criminal Minds season 19, and while some of the agents really shine, it’s clear everyone is important to the bigger picture. It’s good to see they’re already hinting at storylines that will unfold throughout the season. It’s been a year since the last season ended, and a lot has changed for the BAU team. I was so happy to see Tara Lewis propose to Rebecca, but I was a little disappointed their wedding happened off-screen!

David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) intensely despises Elias Voit, and despite his feelings, his publisher is pushing him to write a book about the Sicarius case. Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) remains her usual witty self, but she’s struggling to hide her annoyance with the department’s staff cuts and Voit still being around.

Unlike the seasoned agents, new team member Tyler Green (Ryan-James Hatanaka) quickly proved himself worthy of a permanent position with the BAU at the end of season 18. A year later, he’s still gaining confidence and learning to trust his instincts, but he’s developed a strong connection with veteran Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez). Luke is dealing with a difficult personal loss, similar to Jennifer “JJ” Jareau (A.J. Cook), but his close friendship with Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) is helping him cope.

Currently, Garcia stands out as the only member of the BAU who hasn’t had a major personal storyline, mostly supporting her colleagues. In just the first two episodes of season 19, she helped JJ move, provided emotional support to Luke, and used her tech skills to crucial effect on the case. While we expect to see more focus on her own story, she’s already making a noticeable impact this season.

One Killer Sicarius Fan Is Still On The Loose

Despite Garcia’s key role in dismantling the Sicarius network in the season 18 finale of Criminal Minds, Voit has somehow become even more popular since his capture. In season 19, Prentiss’s rival, Brian Garrity (Paul F. Tompkins), returns with a new platform: a true-crime podcast called The Sicarius Files (though it’s more fiction than fact). Garrity not only spreads false and harmful information about Voit and his supposed background, but he’s also inadvertently made the killer even more famous, with dangerous consequences.

Most episodes of Criminal Minds begin with a shocking crime where the perpetrator’s identity is a mystery. However, the new villain in season 19 has remained completely unknown even after two episodes. The episodes “Now and Then” and “Cluster” both feature disturbing acts by this killer – from strangling a student to reacting angrily to someone criticizing their fans. Currently, the BAU has no leads – no name, no face, and no idea who they’re dealing with. The only clues are the killer’s car, black gloves, and cigarettes.

Why Alvez Felt Connected To The Unsub In “Cluster”

Among the compelling characters in Criminal Minds: Evolution, Luke Alvez has consistently been underappreciated. Fortunately, the current season is finally giving him the attention he deserves. The second episode of Criminal Minds season 19 centers on Luke and the grief he’s experiencing. The episode begins with a somber visit to a cemetery, and it’s later revealed that Luke is mourning the loss of his dog, Roxy, who was his companion for over ten years. While the death of a pet is always painful, Roxy’s death also plays a surprising role in the team’s current case.

Luke loved Roxy more than anything, but he didn’t get her simply as a pet. She was specifically chosen to help him readjust to normal life after his military deployment. His time overseas was difficult, and combined with his demanding work with the FBI, left him deeply traumatized. Roxy’s companionship was crucial to his recovery and helped him become the SSA he is today. As you’d expect from Criminal Minds, Luke works through his trauma by tackling a particularly challenging case.

In “Cluster,” the BAU team investigates a series of disturbing cases involving forced lobotomies performed on veterans participating in the Army Recovery Care Program. The case is particularly difficult for Luke, and he finds himself trying to calm a surviving victim who desperately wants to end his life. Later, when Luke confronts the perpetrator—a soldier with a brain tumor suffering from trauma—he connects with him by being unusually open and honest, ultimately defusing the situation with his vulnerability.

Luke found it incredibly difficult to readjust to normal life after leaving the military, and he even struggled with thoughts of suicide. What saved him, unlike the criminal they were pursuing, was having Roxy to lean on. He’s deeply grateful for her support, and can’t imagine where he’d be without her. The criminal reminded Luke a lot of himself, which is why he promised to visit him in prison and make sure he doesn’t face his struggles alone.

The BAU’s Voit Conflict Explained

It’s great to see Alvez finally getting some recognition, but honestly, Voit is still the key to everything happening in this series. And poor Tara! Instead of enjoying married life, she’s completely focused on figuring out what makes Voit tick. She really believes that if she can understand his past – understand why he became a psychopath – the FBI can stop others like him before they become as dangerous as Sicarius. She’s driven to really get inside his head and, as she puts it, “tell his story” through her analysis.

It’s a twist of fate that Rossi is desperately trying to forget about Voit, while Voit might actually be key to catching his copycat. Although both Rossi and Prentiss doubt Tara’s plan to involve Voit, early episodes of Criminal Minds season 19 suggest he’ll be a valuable asset. Still, Voit is causing friction within the BAU, and it’s unclear if this conflict will escalate.

How JJ’s Major Life Change Starts A New Era

One of the biggest shocks in recent seasons of Criminal Minds was the death of Will LaMontagne in season 18. His romance with JJ (played by Josh Stewart) was a fan favorite throughout the original series, so his sudden departure felt unsatisfying. Since then, JJ has been deeply affected by his loss, and each episode has shown her grappling with grief, anger, and the beginnings of acceptance. Now, in season 19, the show is starting to focus on JJ’s path toward healing.

The new season of “Now and Then” begins with JJ preparing to move out of her home with Will. Following a touching goodbye, she grapples with a fresh challenge: her son, Henry, is heading off to college across the country. While still dealing with the sadness of losing her husband, JJ is starting a new chapter that will allow her to move beyond her grief and embrace an empty nest.

What Voit’s Hallucinations Of Rossi Reveal About His Season 19 Storyline

It wouldn’t be Criminal Minds: Evolution without a confrontation between Rossi and Voit. While Rossi actively avoids Voit and wants no part of his crimes, Voit is clearly still obsessed with him. In a twist from season 2, Voit is now hallucinating Rossi, but he’s hiding it from Tara and the prison staff. In the first two episodes of Criminal Minds season 19, this hallucination of Rossi acts as a harsh inner critic, belittling Voit and interrupting his plans to kill.

It’s fascinating to consider that Voit seems to be punishing himself by fixating on Rossi. However, the biggest reveal comes at the end of episode two. After the usual arguing, Voit’s internalized version of Rossi unexpectedly claims the killer is plotting a prison break. Voit strongly rejects this idea, but it’s a clear signal that this plot point will become important later on.

The question isn’t whether the original, disturbing side of Voit remains, but how much control he’ll regain. Season 19 of Criminal Minds seems to be revisiting Voit’s core nature, hinting at his violent tendencies. However, there’s a possibility he’ll manage to suppress them. The new copycat killer will likely serve as a stark reminder that Voit can’t undo the harm he’s already inflicted, no matter how much regret he feels.

New episodes of Criminal Minds season 19 drop every Thursday on Paramount+.

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2026-05-28 17:22