Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 5 Review: Conspiracy vs. Theory

Even though Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 5, “Conspiracy vs. Theory,” keeps us on the edge of our seats, the storyline becomes quite repetitive. The show is now going in circles, taking turns with who is in charge of the situation.

At first, it seems the BAU has the upper hand and can control Voit. When he comes into Quantico, Rossi is in his office, taking away the power Voit may feel when seeing him.

It then becomes clear that Rossi is benched from that first encounter because Emily worries about him. Nevertheless, he becomes in control when he tells Voit he will meet with Damien.

So far, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 has been a game of control. Even though the BAU is focused on finding Gold Star, their biggest challenge this season continues to be Voit.

The truth is that no matter what they do, Voit continues to be the one in control. He repeatedly proves this throughout “Conspiracy vs. Theory,” particularly when engaging with Penelope.

He tries to take over her space by talking about her and Luke, pushing her to work out in the open. Voit takes over the computer while she is working, disrupting her flow and the game plan.

The last thing he does is bring up Tyler and Penelope’s (Tynelope) romantic relationship, trying to shake up the team. The only thing he does is get Luke worked up, which he points out immediately.

However, those little tricks he plays on the team are mere distractions. What we once thought was important no longer applies. As viewers, we must pay attention to the bigger picture to decipher Voit’s plan.

The bigger picture here is that Voit is looking for an escape. However, this escape isn’t physically getting out of prison but getting the deal and being released as a free man with no connection to Sicarius.

This becomes obvious when he has the opportunity to be saved by Damien but instead gives him the information he is asking about North Star.

The team is presented with yet another conspiracy (or conspiracy theory, according to Voit) that they must decipher to get to Damien. The BAU now knows Gold Star is a program related to Stuart House, but what exactly is North Star?

It all seems to be connected to the abuse the teenagers faced while being at Stuart House and the private military company Damien later worked for.

This knowledge is yet another tool of Voit’s control. By telling Damien he knows about it, Voit also controls him and Jade. Is there anyone out there who cannot be controlled by Voit?

If conspiracy theories are central to the case, Brian is the perfect character to appear on Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 5, “Conspiracy vs. Theory.”

The thing about Brian is that he knows how to play the theories and figure out what’s going on; that is why Emily turns to him. However, Brian doesn’t know if he should trust her because he has been warned against her.

Once again, we wonder who the FBI mole is. Who could possibly be working against the BAU and feeding Brian these lies?

Whoever it is wanted Emily to know about “Teresa” being in trouble. This new information further confuses viewers, who are left with several conspiracy theories.

The biggest problem comes when Tyler hears about Teresa and walks out to inform someone they are in trouble. Could Tyler know the mole?

While Voit feels in control, demanding wheels up in his own time, the BAU is completely shattered.

Emily is benched because of her arrest, and Rossi doesn’t want to be in charge because he doesn’t feel at his best. But the truth is none of them are, and Emily’s tears prove so.

Penelope is still dealing with her breakup with Tyler. Lewis is trying to figure out her relationship with Rebecca. Luke still carries the guilt of telling JJ about BAU-gate. JJ hasn’t confronted Emily about the new information.

Can the BAU truly overcome these challenges and end Voit’s regime?

—

What did you think of this episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Criminal Minds: Evolution streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!