Going into our interview with A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler, and Ryan-James Hatanaka ahead of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17, we basically wanted to know just…everything, really. But we were especially interested in these particular actors’ takes on this season’s second episode, which Cook directed. The hour, titled “Contagion,” featured two very different tones as JJ and Luke each had the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with Elias Voit…and Tyler Green found himself on the world’s most awkward stakeout with Tara and her ex.
Since Jareau goes head to head with Voit in Criminal Minds: Evolution 17×02, we started by asking Cook about working out the back-and-forth between the two characters. First off, she wanted to make sure those scenes were “very different from the rest of the show.” (Mission accomplished.) Also, “just shooting in that cell…that cell almost becomes its own character moving forward. But it’s the first time you see one of our team members and Voit go head to head. And you really see that he is a worthy opponent.”
As far as JJ’s personal experience with Voit goes, Cook pointed out the “smart*** vibe” between them and how “JJ is not afraid to dish it right back.” That’s something she’s not sure Voit actually expected. If nothing else, Voit wasn’t a fan — as of now, he refuses to “communicate with her further,” per his lawyer’s letter in the episode. So, what does that mean for the rest of the season? Well, one way or another, the BAU and Voit “have to figure out how to work together. And he’s going to enjoy it a little more than we are. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Always here for a tease that avoids spoiling anything. So, fair.
On the complete opposite side of the spectrum, there’s Tara and Tyler’s no good, very bad stakeout. When discussing the comedy aspect of the episode with Aisha Tyler and Ryan-James Hatanaka, Tyler spoke about how “gallows humor is a huge tool” the real-life profilers the cast consults with “use all the time.” So, for her, “that comedy was a natural part of portraying these people, portraying their lives. And it was really just fun and playful to play.” She also praised Hatanaka’s “great comedic timing,” adding that “he’s great at telling a joke. And really very understated and very organic.”
This led to a discussion about the opportunity to “take bigger swings” now that the series is on streaming. So, for Tyler, “the result is just better, more robust storytelling with these comedy beats.” The series’ quality came into play with Hatanaka’s take on the stakeout scene, too. He called it “just such a delight to sit in that car and get to know Aisha better, and have A.J. come in and directing us — kind of shooting s*** with us. So, it’s…it’s the best cast. It’s the best show…I’m just so proud to be a part of it.”
Speaking of Hatanaka being a part of this series…can we even trust Tyler Green? Hatanaka told us “there’s a lot of learning and a lot of complexity” this season. And the character has “some great examples in terms of…Rossi and Prentiss being people who have made mistakes and bad decisions in the past, who understand that there has to be a way back from them.”
Also looking forward to the rest of the season, via Tyler (as in Aisha, not Green), “this symbiosis of profiler and serial killer is something we really explore this season. And it gets really heady. It’s a really exciting puzzle…[but] it’s not like a jigsaw. This is a three-dimensional puzzle. As we put this together and we lean on this person — who we would all like to, honestly, lock up and throw away the key and never see again.” But, of course, the BAU needs Voit’s help “to solve this very complex mystery about who Gold Star is.”
And on that note, we’ll leave the rest of our interview, and the rest of the season, for you to watch and enjoy for yourselves.
Watch our full interview with Aisha Tyler, A.J. Cook, and Ryan-James Hatanaka here.
Catch Aisha Tyler, A.J. Cook, and Ryan-James Hatanaka in new episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 release Thursdays on Paramount+.
