Warning! Spoilers ahead for Criminal Minds: Evolution.
The Paramount+ Criminal Minds reboot is already doing one thing better than its CBS counterpart. Despite being essentially a continuation of its 15-year run on network TV, Criminal Minds: Evolution has few differences compared to its previous iteration. Instead of doing an episodic narrative, the 10-episode first season is devoted to tackling just one case. Its switch to a streaming platform also makes it darker and more disturbing than ever. While it's still too early to tell how it will fare with CBS' take on the police procedural, Criminal Minds: Evolution is already better than its predecessor in one aspect.
When the Criminal Minds reboot picks up, the BAU is at its most precarious as the team isn't only undermanned and underfunded, but its are also dealing with personal woes. Dave Rossi, in particular, is still reeling from the death of his wife. This creates a tense atmosphere, as it makes him prone to lashing out — something that he barely did in the CBS show. This makes for an interesting group dynamic as the BAU's camaraderie is tested. While it could be painful to see Rossi losing it on Luke Alvez and Penelope Garcia calling him out on his terrible behavior, this period should only strengthen their bond.
Criminal Minds Reboot Is Testing The BAU’s Bond
As Rossi goes through his grief, his whole squad is behind him, but what makes this trickier is that almost everyone is also dealing with their own issues. Couple that with the absence of Doctor Spencer Reid and Matt Simmons, and the additional pressure from the brass, the Criminal Minds: Evolution is pushing the BAU to its limit, as it's unclear how Emily Prentiss and the rest of the team could effectively do their jobs while addressing all these other woes. Still, it's safe to say that they will not stop at anything to take down the new mastermind, Elias Voit, and his network of UnSubs all over the country.
The Criminal Minds Reboot Is Only Going To Make The BAU Better
Despite the BAU's currently unstable situation, going through this will only make them better. Throughout the police procedural's 15-year run on CBS, the profilers have gone through a lot of hardships, both collectively and individually. Reid dealt with drug addiction, Garcia went through various traumas, and Jennifer Jarreau and Prentiss almost died, to give only a few examples. Despite all of this, the team survived better than ever. It's safe to say that the same will happen in the Criminal Minds revival. As they experience hardships in both their personal and professional lives, the BAU has no choice but to rely on each other now more than ever.
For now, the Criminal Minds reboot is only confirmed for one season, but with the rest of the year still ahead for the profilers, it's likely that the BAU's work is cut out for them moving forward. If their record on CBS is any indication, chances are that the profilers will overcome whatever they are dealing now, and end the season stronger than ever. It might even be the springboard they need in case Paramount+ greenlights a potential second season.
Criminal Minds: Evolution drops new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+.
