‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Season 17 Episode 7 Review “Piranha”

Despite the Gold Star case lurking in the background, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 Episode 7 is, in a lot of ways, classic Criminal Minds — and when we say “classic,” we mean classic. Because as an audience, we participate in the “Piranha” UnSub’s torture and murder with him, and the sights and sounds in those scenes are meant to shock, to horrify, and to haunt. Not not mention, we’re also asked to live in Roger Song’s reality with him…

…right up until the point where, in a utterly stunningly shot and edited sequence, we learn the terrible truth. All those touching scenes of Roger and his baby, even all the gutting moments we spend with a traumatized Emma, are a delusion. We’ve been living a lie — the UnSub’s lie. Roger’s world is one that’s gruesome enough on its own, yet makes this hour’s overall plot so much more difficult to stomach when the fantasy falls apart. It’s the type of case that automatically makes a viewer — or at least this viewer — think of all those classic episodes that, to borrow a phrase from the hour’s brilliant director (and our own Dr. Lewis) Aisha Tyler, “stuck with me a long time.”

And all of this simply fits with the other piece of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 Episode 7 — the one that ties into all the Stars Gold Star/North Star. In order to move forward with the Gold Star case, to have hope of stopping the killings, the BAU has to dig into its past. First and foremost, they need to figure out who read Rossi and Gideon’s paper back in the day and had the genius (sarcastic/derogatory) idea to actually test their theory. That, if it doesn’t directly answer the team’s questions about Stuart House, will certainly get them extremely close. From there, one way or another…Gold Star.

But Jason Gideon is dead, so we can’t hear what he has to say about what happened in ancient history the 90s. (Ok but does anyone else feel old?) There’s also no way Rossi and Prentiss can manage the metric f**ckton of paper standing in their way in time to actually do anything useful. Enter Jill Gideon, who has a history with both known founding members of the BAU (a posthumous love triangle?!), and, more importantly, turns out to have had a hand in founding the Unit herself.

More to the point about all of this fitting with the classic feel of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 Episode 7, though. Not only does one throwback case deserve another, but as Emily says here, “this job took a mental toll on [Gideon].” We’re not going to rehash what happened with Mandy Patinkin for the eleventy-fifth time here, but there’s a quote out there about destroying souls so…yeah. Without our connection to the series’ main characters, and without some of the moments of comedic relief outside of it, the “Piranha” case, with all its depraved and tragic elements, might just fit the bill.

Do we think this is some kind of f**ck you to either the character or the actor? No. Not at all. But does examining how the BAU’s past shaped the current storyline work about a zillion times better than it would have, without such a disturbing string of murders simultaneously demanding our attention? Absolutely. Not quite sure if this all qualifies as “meta,” but it’s close.

So, basically, all of this rambling is to say: Well done. This episode is brilliantly written, acted, and filmed. It’s also just so very on brand. And we’ve even got some more to say about it if you feel like sticking around.

The silent partner

Just going to come out and say it: Dr. Jill Gideon is a fascinating character. Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 Episode 7 tells us “this job has cost her more than [Emily] and [Dave] combined. And that’s saying a lot.” (Uh, no kidding on that “saying a lot” part.) Which, of course, is a thing we learn when Rossi goes so far as to forbid(!!!) Prentiss from contacting her. Needless to say, all of this makes Jill kinda a big deal. Additionally, learning “she was the only therapist [Jason] trusted” — even after their divorce — speaks volumes. She’s given legendary status before we ever lay eyes on her, and that impression never quite goes away.

When Emily shows up on her doorstep, it’s clear from the start that Jill’s not the type to let people in. Literally. And yet, even as it seems like she’s going to stay behind her locked door — and, if camera perspective is anything to go by, security system — she still makes it clear that she cares. It’s not that she’s incapable of connecting or anything like that. Just…super cautious. Then, her hilariously flippant “oh. Hm. Let me think: Yeah…nooooo…absolutely not. But thanks for stopping by” after Emily first asks for help mixes in so much personality.

Basically, this character is both exactly who we might expect her to be based on the background information we have and someone completely different. And that’s long before she reveals she broke Rossi’s heart. It’s also before she acts both offended and impressed over Prentiss using Tyler Green’s similarities to her son to emotionally manipulate her. And before at least a dozen other things. Things like the stark contrast between her clinical detachment when, at home, she claims she’s already processed her grief and moved on, and her huge outpouring of — *checks notes* — grief when she visits what used to be Jason’s office.

“Ok, so walk me through this sh**tstorm.”

Much as Jill is a great character from pretty much the start, Felicity Huffman’s performance opposite Paget Brewster just…does it for us. We can’t even necessarily point to one scene of theirs, or even one exchange of theirs, in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 Episode 7 and say “ok. Here’s our favorite.” We also can’t really pinpoint exactly what their characters’ dynamic or relationship is, much less how we’d describe their acting chemistry. Which is, essentially, why it all works.

In a lot of ways, Huffman and Brewster play their scenes like Jill has all the power. Which, of course, makes sense — because Jill should have the upper hand here. She has knowledge Emily doesn’t, and Emily needs her help, which she has to work very hard to get. At the same time, though, something constantly shifts, power-wise. They seem to be in some kind of battle of wits, a delicate and intricate dance. Call it a game of chess, even.

(Whatever you do, don’t think about Jason and Spencer playing chess in the early days. You might cry. A friend told me.)

The (other) investigation

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 Episode 7’s case of the week isn’t all about the stuff of nightmares. It’s not even all about the gut-wrenching moment of truth. Although, before we go any further: Guest star Aaron Yoo is phenomenal from terrifying start to heartbreaking finish, and the way Adam Rodriguez reacts, right there at the end, when Roger begs Luke to help his wife is incredible. That single exchange is proof of just how bad this case is, even when compared to so many others that Alvez has already helped solve, and how much it shakes him as a result. 

But the episode also manages to surprise us with the many places where, viewed in hindsight, we should’ve been able to predict some kind of twist all along. The “this is not normal, even by UnSub standards” red flags are everywhere. Some of those clues are purely visual — a world tilted on the wrong axis, light and shadows appearing in ways that don’t necessarily always make sense. But then, there’s that “wall that goes up in [JJ’s] mind and says no.” Put another way, a lot about the Songs’ case makes a twisted sort of sense…until it simply doesn’t. And having JJ be the one to know for sure that Emma wouldn’t identify the wrong person four times, in the back half of a season where the first half of it included JJ dealing with her own trauma, is just a little bit too big of a deal to ignore.

Speaking of JJ: The scene where she has to break the news to Jeremy Moy’s fiancé is another powerful one in an already-packed episode. JJ’s emotional response, that outpouring of empathy, is a lot to process on its own. But the message, when living in a time when folks seem hellbent on rolling back the precious amount of progress we’ve made? …no words.

“Jeremy and I grew up thinking that who we had sex with would get us killed. And then, the world changed. Suddenly, not only could we get married, but everyone was…fine with it. And you’re telling me that Jeremy is dead because of someone he didn’t have sex with — somebody he couldn’t have sex with.”

Basically, with this case and the path we take to solving it, everything hurts. But that’s the only appropriate response to four innocent people violently slaughtered, a woman dying at home in childbirth, and her husband unwilling to accept “no” for an answer being the reason we even got here.

More on Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 Episode 7

• That opening scene is brutal. But like, the artistic vision! The reflection in the clear sides of the tank/cage/trap, the bloody hand on it, the peeling flesh, the slop that used to be the vic…whoa.
• …and here I thought Voit’s whole “family man by day, serial killer by night” thing was dark. Oof. This dude makes Elias’ double life look sane by comparison. What the.
• “Through pride, we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune.” In hindsight, we really should’ve paid attention to that Jung quote.
• “Did you get any sleep last night?” “After finding out that our research is behind Gold Star? Yeahhh, I slept like a baby.” Forever here for god-tier sarcasm.
• Oh, JJ, sweetie. The average human can’t keep “two conflicting ideas in our head at the same time.” Thank God the BAU is full of intelligent, (mostly) rational people.
• It’s just that I wanted to complement Aisha Tyler for how impressed Tara sounds talking about Gideon and Rossi being ahead of their time…but then we’re out here, making the 90s sound like ancient history, which is an insult to me personally. The grunge and Must See TV eras were just yesterday!!!
• You can tell the BAU has fully accepted Tyler Green into their ranks because they’re f**cking with him so much. And the abrupt timing on Prentiss stopping mid-thought to ask about the handwriting is everything. Like, even Dave gets in on the “Mr. Sensitive” gag. Love this family.
• Also: “I was just reinstated as team leader…I gotta flex a little bit.” She deserves!!
• “I don’t have asthma.” “You will in about an hour.”
• I so very much want to make a “LOL this show is a comedy” quip about a lot of these little moments. But like. These murders. I can’t.
• I adore every single time we get Joe Mantegna and Paget Brewster together, especially when Dave and Emily get to be funny about it. Which, of course, means I’m terrified of what’s going to happen to them now that Emily expressly ignored his whole “adorable” demand to leave Jill out of it. 
• Probably could’ve gone without the Mengele reference if we’re nitpicking.
• “You’re not gonna…mess with my head again, are you?” Oh, ok. That award-winning grin. I see you, Tyler. 
• “Of course I am. But not with this.” Never change, Emily. 
• The pic! Of Gideon!!!!!!! And Prentiss just sounds so fond when she talks about him and Rossi founding the BAU. 
• Since this is fiction and not me trying to make a statement on criminal justice (which would be the opposite statement if I did, probably): Maybe don’t defend scum like this, and you won’t wind up threatened, blackmailed, and a probable (?) accessory to an attack on the FBI, my dude. 
• …but he’d probably be a good defense attorney for Roger Song since he thinks wives need to know their places or whatever. (Gag me.)
• The scene in the car. Emily and Tyler. So hilariously awkward. Such great work from both Brewster and Ryan-James Hatanaka. So cool how we’re brought into it through the windows of several other parked cars. Particularly love Brewster’s twisted smile that I can only describe as Emily going “??????!!!” after she clarifies that’s…not what she was saying re: Tyler’s “skill set.”
• “Just f**ckin drive” indeed.
• What is it with Tyler Green and awkward moments in cars, though?
• Yeah, we figured out the whole “wants to obliterate them” part already.
• The confused “What the f is this,” followed by the shrieking “What the f is this,” which we later realize is because the victim sees that disgusting corpse. Oof.
• Obligatory “never change, Penelope Garcia” moment: “I mean, your average technical analyst isn’t even gonna look at the junk folder. But not me. No. See, I want to waaaade through the trash til I find treasure. I want to go through all the meaningless until I find something of value. It’s why you and I are finally friends.” “Finally.”
• Also, if Garvez could chill (please don’t)…
• “Um. He…left the unit. A…couple years ago.”“ Oh. Well…what about Derek Morgan?” “…also left.” “Spencer?” “…yeah…sabbatical.” Poor Emily. And, like, is that…how they feel when we keep asking to bring people back? Or…?
• Real talk: That’s two episodes in a row where the names Gideon, Hotch, and Morgan have all come up.
• That’s also two odd-numbered episodes in a row where we’ve gotten emotional over a “Spencer Reid” nameplate. But, at least this time, Jill was clearly moved by seeing his name there. And considering how much Jason loved our favorite boy genius, if Dr. Reid still has to be on his “sabbatical” for this not-quite-reunion, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 Episode 7 taking the time, near the end, for Jill to pay tribute to Spence’s still-preserved space is so, so, so meaningful. (I cried, ok? FML.)
• “Oh, about yea high, writes books, has a goatee he thinks makes him look very distinguished.” Now, who hates Mr. Mantegna around here??? 😂
• “Rossi?! What could you possibly have against David Rossi? He’s the best agent I’ve ever worked with.” “Ha.” “Jill. No offense: I loved Jason.” “He loved you back.” …the pause before “that actually means a lot.” And the line delivery itself is this all-too-brief break from Emily trying to “manage” Jill and instead just…so sincere.
• “Did he break your heart?” “Oh, please.” Queen.
• “He said those words: I. forbid. you. Those words came out of David Rossi’s mouth?” Even the way Huffman does this part is sooo interesting. Just…calculating, thoughtful, just detached enough, yet also kinda amused???
• “How’s JJ?” Oh, ok. We do all the personal stuff and then ask that. A crumb, but one I’ll take. Especially since Emily looks so proud when she says JJ’s a profiler now.
• Once again: Poor Tyler. 😂
• “Not even Jason was this manipulative.” “That’s not a no.” “Tricky.” That. Grin.
• “Don’t hate me for saying this, but…what if there was no rape?” The way we should hate him for asking, yet don’t even in the moment, says all anyone needs to say about the clues that this case was not what it appeared to be.
• “I see this all the time. Husbands who hear ‘no’ from their wives as an attack, who hear her raised voice as criticism, who tune out anything that doesn’t fit with their personal narrative of what a baby should be.” Stan this doctor forever. Dude’s got her trapped like that, and she’s still neither taking his BS nor abandoning the truth. Women!
• This. Reveal. Is. Brutal. A. F.
• Just…chilling. And kinda gross.
• Even the music choice.
• “Ok, Roger. I’ll tell her.” His voice is so soft.
• One thing Kirsten Vangsness is going to do is take a very brief interaction with a character we’ve just met and make it make us sob. That delighted little grin????
• The whole thing at the end, just sitting with Jill as she processes being back here, with everything being so different yet also so familiar…gutted. So good.
• Ok but.
• That look.
• “Hello, David.”
• That is. A way. To end.
• …and probably end Dave and Emily’s friendship, at least temporarily.
• Ooof.

What did you think of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 Episode 7 “Piranha”? Leave us a comment!

New episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution stream Thursdays on Paramount+.