As a longtime fan who’s been riding the emotional rollercoaster that is Criminal Minds since its inception, it’s a delight to see the behind-the-scenes camaraderie of the cast and crew during the filming of Season 3 (or Season 18 if you prefer the glass half full perspective). It’
The climax of the second installment of “Criminal Minds: Evolution” was a heart-pounding finish, as Prentiss found herself in peril from the beginning until nearly the end. Fortunately, all our heroes managed to survive and were in their best possible condition by the time the credits rolled on early August, leaving Voit with an intriguing cliffhanger. Filming for season 3 has now commenced, and glimpses of the set have brought back memories of showrunner Erica Messer’s hints about the nods to Reid and Hotch in the previous season as shared with TopMob.
The third season, or eighteenth season of “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” was confirmed ahead of its second season’s premiere, which occurred in June as part of Paramount+’s 2024 TV schedule. This means fans can rest assured about the show’s continuation with each new episode airing. Filming for the upcoming season has already started less than a month after the Season 2 finale ended on a dramatic Voit cliffhanger (as clarified by showrunner Erica Messer). Check out these behind-the-scenes images as the cast seems happy and excited for the new season.
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It appears unlikely that the actors will maintain their cheerful demeanor in Season 18 unless Criminal Minds’ character Prentiss brings back her treats again. However, it’s delightful to witness the cast of this gloomy show exhibiting such vibrant and sunny personalities off-screen. Notably, some original cast members like Matthew Gray Gubler, Shemar Moore, and Thomas Gibson have not appeared in the series revival yet.
The fact that Gibson isn’t present in the show isn’t unexpected, given his departure from the series back in 2016. While Hotch wasn’t definitively killed off or written out permanently during early Season 12, his character hasn’t returned due to scheduling conflicts. Since Moore’s Derek Morgan has also left the BAU, their absence isn’t particularly noticeable either. However, Spencer Reid is still with the FBI, but Gubler has been absent due to scheduling issues. All three characters were referenced by Jill Gideon (played by Felicity Huffman) in Season 2, and it was confirmed that Reid was on a sabbatical.
Two of the original cast members received special focus in the series. There was a significant Easter egg for Reid during the season, and Hotch was clearly preoccupied with Prentiss in the first few episodes. When I interviewed showrunner Erica Messer about Season 2 of Evolution, she emphasized the significance of incorporating references to characters who played crucial roles in the series earlier on.
1. To me, it’s extremely significant. I’ve been present throughout all this time. I often express that those long years were essential in shaping the current state we find ourselves in. Given Jill’s past involvement with the team, wouldn’t it seem odd if she didn’t inquire about the team members from two decades ago? Therefore, it feels crucial to me to recognize these individuals as part of our family, even though we may not interact daily.
It seems quite unusual if Jill didn’t bring up Reid, Hotch, and Morgan during our conversation. Her queries about them did stir a memory that we have more satisfying conclusions for Morgan compared to the other two, given his well-orchestrated departure. Hotch’s farewell was hasty due to the actor’s actual dismissal from the show, leaving his character with potentially unresolved storylines. As for Reid, I guess we can keep our fingers crossed that he might reappear in future episodes of Evolution.
Regarding Jill’s character, Erica Messer commended Felicity Huffman tremendously, stating that she was the ideal choice to consult after the other characters. In fact, Messer was full of compliments for Huffman and her interactions with Joe Mantegna on the show.
For nearly four decades, Felicity has been acquainted with Joe, to the point where she affectionately calls him “Joey.” In their shared scenes, there aren’t many who use this nickname for Joe, but Felicity does. Despite any potential nerves, these feelings were not palpable. They seamlessly slipped into their roles as if they had been performing together for an eternity. Felicity is remarkable; she joined a production that isn’t typical for her, and the dialogue was unlike anything she’s known for. Yet, every line she spoke felt genuine to me. I found myself captivated by her performance.
Eva Longoria, most famously recognized for her eight-season stint on the Desperate Housewives series, is not associated with a genre similar to Criminal Minds. Despite her absence in behind-the-scenes photos, her potential role in Evolution Season 3 remains uncertain. At this moment, we can only anticipate casting updates as filming commences.
I’d personally love to at least get a Reid cameo, but I also think that the first two seasons of Evolution worked well enough on their own that the show can really continue indefinitely as is. While there are no details at the time of writing of when exactly to expect the next batch of episodes, you can revisit all seventeen seasons of the overall series streaming on Paramount+ now.
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2024-08-27 04:37