In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5 “Friendly Fire,” the BAU is tasked with finding out what went wrong during a training exercise turned fatal. Because of his ties to the victim, Agent Milliken, the hour delivers another emotional blow to Luke Alvez. Which means Adam Rodriguez has another opportunity to deliver some strong emotional moments—and deliver he does. From an intense, angry first interrogation with Billy Lowell during which Luke forces him to watch the shooting over and over while demanding answers, to his sense of betrayal when Tyler brings up the possibility of Milliken’s antidepressant use having something to do with what happened, to a shared discussion of grief with JJ (surprise to no one: AJ Cook kills it there), straight through to the end, Rodriguez is fantastic.
But somehow, as the halfway point of Season 19, this episode doesn’t quite feel like enough. Is it a bad episode? No. But…it’s also no “The Brutal Man” or “Conspiracy vs. Theory.” The case of the week is nowhere near as memorable as it seems like it should be, and we don’t quite get enough of whatever’s going on with Voit, The Fan, and the ill-fated Lance Kingston either.
More to the point, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5 has too much in common with “Cluster,” yet doesn’t have anywhere near the same impact. Although it’s not something anyone necessarily wants to see, Luke losing both Roxy and Tom within such a short amount of time is possible. More than, really. After all, these things, weirdly enough, often tend to come in threes. But since we just met Tom when we learned about Roxy, and because that hour was (rightly) more focused on the Roxy reveal, as well as parallels between the UnSub’s struggles and Luke’s—not to mention Voit’s podcast woes, which also make a comeback here—Tom Milliken feels more like someone we’ve been told is important more than someone whose loss viewers can really feel.
Inviting comparisons to such a beautifully done episode only works if the story is going to go above and beyond. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen in “Friendly Fire.” So, I find myself left wondering something along the lines of, “ok but that’s all?” despite Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5 having plenty going for it. At the very least, any time Paul F. Tompkins stops in for some Brian Garrity craziness, it’s time for some Entertainment—capital E! Also beginning with a capital E: Emily Prentiss. Yes, we all felt those deep, calming breaths during that phone call with Garrity. No, we haven’t had anywhere near enough time with her this season. But yes, Paget Brewster continues to make every split second count.
MORE: There’s something weird about Jemily this season.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5 Garvez scene
Sometimes, when we’re hurting, it’s easy to want to shove all of that pain down and try to act like nothing’s wrong. Maybe we’ll isolate, even, so others don’t see just how terrible we feel—and we won’t have to see our loved ones’ concern for us because seeing it would make everything far too real. As we see in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5, though, that’s not possible when one of those loved ones is Penelope Garcia. That quiet moment Luke spends alone may be extremely brief, but through posture and presence alone, Rodriguez delivers on a sense of devastation so deep, it’s like Alvez has no idea what to do with himself, where to go, or even how to begin processing.
…but Penelope sees him, and she refuses to let him do this alone. She’s so gentle about trying to get him to open up, to reach out and let her lift him up so he doesn’t stay down there in the darkness and drown in it. What stands out the most is how she studies him with such concern and empathy—never pity, not at all—while she takes the measure of how much he’s hurting. And then, once she bears witness, Penelope manages to feel that pain, both with and for Luke. It’s who she is; it’s what she does. Garcia helps Alvez carry all that weight, not because she thinks he’s not strong enough but because she knows he is.
When Luke tries to push back and evade the conversation, Penelope won’t let him. This won’t be a time for their usual ribbing and bickering—no love, disguised as insults, from her today—and it’s in the beautiful sort of softness and vulnerability that Kirsten Vangsness brings to our usually quirky, sassy, genius that Garcia gives Alvez a soft place to land. Which means he can accept that shoulder to lean on she’s offering him, admit he knows she sees him, and even try to smile as he wraps his arm around her. (And lets her actually lay her head on his shoulder…anyone else scream?)
Does Luke actually get as far as a smile there? NO. It’s too soon. But he tries. For Penelope, the eternal sunshine that she is. And, in spite of himself, he also does some sort of almost-smile attempt after hearing her “constipate emotions” phrasing. Because, I mean, that’s our girl. Who wouldn’t feel a little lighter around her?
There’s something Vangsness and Rodriguez bring out in each other that, while it’s usually just fun, can then effortlessly translate into what we see in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5. And, as far as the actual conversation and what it means goes, sure, Penelope’s right about the larger point. (As always.) Ignoring grief and trying to hide it is bad for you. But specific to this series and these characters, I don’t think Luke could’ve gotten anywhere on this case without that brief, precious conversation. Sometimes, you just need your person to be there, and Penelope’s his person. Let’s be real: Luke’s her person, too. Mr. Wednesday and Mr. Saturday have nothing on Mr. Alvez. If there was ever any doubt, this hour puts that completely to rest. Or, rather, it should.
MORE: Garvez tastes great.
“Hey, we got you.”
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5 also does a strong job, within the time the hour gives to the conversation—though I wish there was more time for this, less for a number of other things—of reminding viewers that working through grief is a journey. Although it does become easier in some ways, it stays just as raw and aching as ever in others. When Luke is having another particularly difficult moment alone, it’s JJ who finds him this time. And, as someone who’s spent the last year trying to pick up the pieces following Will’s death, she’s uniquely positioned to know exactly what the fresh, raw wound felt like. At the same time, she’s also a great example and reminder that life does go on, even when it seems like it won’t—can’t.
As JJ acknowledges that “death rarely is” fair, all that emotion is right there on the surface all over again, as if simply being around someone in a similar position triggers that barely scabbed-over wound to rip wide open and bleed. She may as well be right back there, suffering through those early days all over again. That’s how it is, though. You think you’re fine, and then all of a sudden, there’s your grief, ready to torture you and consume you. It’s when Luke tries to minimize his own loss, saying JJ’s the last person he should be saying it’s unfair to, that she becomes so passionate, so steady, and so much more the strong, wise, “healing” person Luke needs in that moment.
Still, she doesn’t sugar coat it. She admits to seeing Will in the boys every day, to how difficult (“f**king brutal”) it is. But, in her own way, she echoes Penelope’s earlier advice. “Grief is not kind. Or rational. Or—or fair. But trust me, if you don’t give yourself the space to feel, if you cut yourself off from those feelings? It gets way worse.”
Rodriguez opens the scene with such a display of emotion, those hands pressed to the sides of his head, eyes closed. And as Cook’s voice wavers here, or she pauses to find the right words and get them forced out past JJ’s own pain there, everything she does is a reminder of why both Cook and her character have been fan favorites for so very long. Not to mention, when JJ asks Luke what he needs, then promises the team has his back, that’s exactly what’s needed for him to get himself centered again and actually solve this case.
Next up on “The Sicarius Files”: Trouble for Connor Storrie’s Lance Kingston
Brian Garrity’s back, back, back, back, back again! In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5, he’s more Lewis and Rossi’s heartburn than Prentiss’. Congrats to Emily…and sorry, but sort of not sorry, to us.
Like, what do they mean we don’t get to watch another hour of Paget Brewster going full comedic genius opposite her buddy Paul F. Tompkins?! Then again, what we do get from the two of them still works very well. For starters, when Brian first calls Emily, Brewster lets the audience know exactly who’s on the other end of that line before a single word is uttered. That particular brand of “annoyed AF” can only ever be for one special person. Also: How can a single “no” from Emily be so good? Someone should study that.
But Emily does deserve a break from Brian driving her nuts. She can’t single-handedly keep the pharmaceutical companies in business with her antacid dependency forever, ok? Besides, Aisha Tyler is hilarious AF in her own right, and it’s a treat to get to see her work with what at least starts out as lighter material…before it all goes to H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks there at the end. Not to mention, Tara Lewis handles Brian’s BS expertly.
Just that initial “Brian” and the “this smile is forced, and I’m going to enjoy making you know it’s forced” expression that greets him when he gets off the elevator? Priceless. The same goes for when she’s very obviously entertained by grumpy Rossi putting Brian in his place with a single “no” (and scares the sh—out of him, just by glowering). And the scene where she absolutely relishes shooting him down and telling him she’s married is just far too good.
From a storytelling standpoint, keeping someone as out of his depth as Brian Garrity with this whole “The Fan” arc is smart. Any idiot can have a podcast and claim to be an expert these days, and there are real consequences to the only easy to access information being this, well, low quality. (Sorry, not sorry, to conspiracy bro Brian.) And, now that Voit calling his fan pathetic on his, uh…smashing episode of The Sicarius Files has caused him to reach out with his creepy letters—and Lance-napping to end the previous hour—what better way to send him a message than another episode, this time with The Agent Rossi as the quickly-revived podcast’s newest guest?
The scene where Voit convinces Rossi to go on the podcast is another great one for Zach Gilford and Joe Mantegna. Gilford begins the scene with a certain hangdog sort of quality, as Dave explains to Voit about the whole “Sicarius as God passing the torch to the new god” theory. There’s a sense of quiet dread and self-loathing—an intense amount of pressure and weight on Voit’s shoulders—throughout. Then, when it’s his turn to explain something painfully obvious to Rossi, all that tightly-controlled lack of patience—and pained annoyance—shines through. Eventually, Voit gets Rossi to relent.
…the podcast goes about as well as anyone could expect. Which is to say, it does not go well. At all. Despite multiple warnings, Brian goes off script. To be fair to him, it’s more of a panic response than his usual…Brian-ness. But still. This is a life or death situation, and he doesn’t maintain calm. (Which, again, is why any idiot with an internet connection shouldn’t be able to put information out there. But anyway.)
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5 ends with a call from “The Fan,” who Tara quickly realizes is not their guy at all—the voice is Lance Kingston’s. It’s an incredibly well acted ending sequence, with everyone involved doing a remarkable job. Despite Lance being strapped to…whatever that contraption is by The Fan, Connor Storrie puts on an interesting physical performance. The way he breathes is increasingly heavy, panicked, terrified. And there’s something about the twitchy, fidgety sort of movements of his eyes and lips as Lance reads his script. Then, there’s the increasing terror in his always-shaky voice, as Lance’s captor presses him to ask if Voit’s present while the others take that long, terrible pause for Rossi to silently argue with Brian.
And then, the screams.
Voit braces himself against hearing something that used to bring him so much pleasure, and there’s a grave sort of understanding—with that horror right underneath—from our BAU agents. If they’e ever going to get anywhere on this case, they have to let this play out long enough to find this guy. But there’s a cost. That’s something they’ll have to carry. Garrity, on the other hand, has never had to learn that awful sort of arithmetic, has never had to learn to compartmentalize that way. So, as the call disconnects and the screams suddenly go silent…there’s a grave finality to the moment.
The problem is, promoting Storrie’s appearance so heavily, to the point of releasing promotional stills through the end of his (spoiler alert???) four-episode run, means the dread that Voit’s “you just caused a man’s death” should inspire…doesn’t land. Not quite, at least. Gilford certainly delivers that line with all the gravity it deserves. And for his part, Tompkins brings plenty of dead serious, stunned horror to Brian’s “what just happened.” For a second there, we might even be able to believe that Brian Garrity has learned a lesson the worst way. But, well. Even Vangsness giving us a classic reaction from Garcia—seriously, how many episodes of Criminal Minds have featured her overhearing something absolutely unfathomable and fully feeling for the victim?—can’t save us from already knowing what we already know.
Then again, given everything we know about Lee Duval, and Tessa Merrick, and Jade Waters (or the rest of the “Gold Star” kids, for that matter), maybe hearing Lance’s screams and knowing he has more episodes should chill us more than if we actually thought he was done for. Except…honestly? At this point, even that kind of scenario may be too predictable to be enjoyable. Guess we’ll find out.
MORE: Emily tried to warn that MF Brian Garrity his actions were hurting people in Season 17…and then…well, we all know what happened to her because of him. But at least it gave us some good Jemily content.
More Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5 reactions
- “What’s your name?” “F*** You! That’s my name!”
- This cold open is taking decades off my life. Shorten this, and we might even get to see Jemily interact for more than 0.2 seconds.
- Xavier Jimenez had several really strong scenes in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5. Because of how important it is for Alvez, who will actually continue to be an integral part of this team and this series, my favorite is probably when Billy finally opens up to Luke during the cognitive. But the way Jiminez plays Billy’s initial reaction to shooting Agent Milliken is really impressive. All that shock and trauma is evident pretty much immediately, and what that character goes through in that moment is key to basically everything else that follows—including the emotional and mental breakthroughs in that later scene.
- Rodriguez really does carry the entire emotional core of this hour, but he shouldn’t have to do it all alone. I was a little bit weirded out by Tara and Emily just, like, talking about Milliken’s death as if it were any old office gossip. The only thing keeping that “little bit” from being major was how Brewster’s facial expressions were totally at odds with the casual conversation Prentiss and Lewis seemed to be having. Emily felt something after that tragedy—seemed to be about as bewildered by the whole thing as I was by sitting through that cold open, even—no matter how much she was trying to stay professional.
- “An exercise with live rounds?!” That part.
- …ok but why would you send Luke? Conflict of interest, anyone???? What about raw emotions? What could possibly go wrong?
- “BRIAN! What have I told you about phone calls on Saturdays?”
- Scoff. “…f**k is a pre-crime.” And Tara laughs her a** off. I LOVE HER.
- (I love them both; I love all my girls on this show. WOMEN.)
- Their looks at each other when they realize he may actually have something. Equal parts “oh, sh**. We’ve got work to do,” “oh, FFS. We have to deal with him to do it,” and “WTF is going on here.”
- “Some may call me a fan, but he must call me God. And since this same declaration is typed over and over again, like—do you remember Jack Nicholson’s character in The Shining? Like, he starts to go whacko, and he types this one sentence over and over and over…’all work and no play make—…’” This whole reading from Tompkins is great. I particularly like the “over and over” and “all work and no play…” Also—ALSO. I’m always here for nerding out over movies, even with Brian Effin’ Garrity.
- “Yeah, I’ve seen the movie.” I SNORTED. Emily is not your bff! She does not have time!
- “The whole thing is so…whackadoodle it’s like—and admittedly, I’m no profiler—he’s clearly itching to do no good.” The fandom when we watch this series and know who the UnSub is.
- “God, when it rains it pours.” She’s TIRED.
- I felt that sigh of relief, too.
- “But it’s not like we have a lot of friends in this administration.” Is “we” the BAU or, women, LGBTQ+ folks, or anyone with a soul, or…
- “I know it’s been a while since I was in training, but is it common now for H.R.T. to conduct an exercise with actors and real weapons?” Thank you, Emily, for asking. As far as the actual performance goes, I like how Brewster is a little bit quicker and less clear on the part about how long it’s been since Prentiss was in training, then is very direct and authoritative on the second clause.
- “I tried to tell him he should sit this one out.” The sigh on that “yeah.”
- So starved for Jemily, I’ll take it! Before they actually say anything to each other, the way they convey so much shared concern for a Luke who was just there, reaching aimlessly toward the empty space with no idea what to do with himself, is as good as always.
- “Where’s Emily?” Relatable.
- REDRUM.
- “Of course we need to take it to Voit. I know we need to take it to Voit—…wait. Why would I not like that? You’re the one that doesn’t want to be around the guy.” Love everything about Aisha Tyler’s delivery here.
- “When did…mazel tov.” “Thank you.” “Yeah. Lucky guy.” “Gal.” “…ohhhhhh.”
- “I’ll give you my work number…the switchboard.” Brian Garrity found dead.
- As much as I love quirky, sassy, pure genius Penelope Garcia, this? This is the best Garcia.
- “…but come on, I don’t have to tell you that the deeper you push down grief, the more painful it’s gonna become.” “…you just did.” “Just did what?” “You…said you’re not gonna tell me, and then, you did.” This is what we call married.
- “…just, it would be good to talk to somebody. Who is in tune with you. Namely moi. I see you. I really do.” And I am screaming internally.
- I love that Emily has so much faith in Luke. Not sure why she doesn’t have him working with someone who didn’t also know the victim…but since Tyler plays the “rational” one here, it’s like everyone forgot that part of Episode 2 anyway so.
- “Why.” Then with even more emotion, “WHY.”
- Considering the amount of force Alvez used to slam that laptop shut, I’m surprised the thing didn’t turn to dust.
- “Luke! Tyler. Where are we?” When the boys are fighting, and Mother immediately puts an end to it.
- I still feel like Emily’s being overlooked in terms of having identity outside of the job lately, but I do love seeing her as the boss lady just the same. The way she immediately cuts through the BS and keeps Tyler and Luke’s disagreement from getting worse is excellent, and I do appreciate her believing in and supporting her people…even if the conflict of interest for Alvez really means he should’ve sat this one out.
- Poor Tyler. Every time he’s about to say something he knows is going to upset Luke, he looks so regretful before he even begins to try. But he does still try, with as calm and careful of an energy as humanly possible, to get through just the same. Lots of nice moments from RJ Hatanaka throughout.
- “Yeahhhhhhh, that’s not gonna happen.”
- “If he’s my fan, he’s trying to walk in my footsteps, which means he’s read every single one of your books.” Dude’s just about laughing at the obviousness of it all. Very much “OMG, Dave, are you really this stupid all of a sudden” without actually saying it.
- “Hey. They’re not how-to books.” I mean…first Sicarius, then The Disciple…you sure about that?
- “He respects you. You led the team that led to my capture. If he hears your voice, live on Brian’s podcast, I don’t know how he can not reach out. You’re the only person he might surrender to.” It’s the way he’s gesturing like he’s laying out step-by-step instructions for the easiest, most intuitive, thing on the planet for me.
- Get you someone like Aisha Tyler who can stay so present in a scene, all you want to do is watch her instead of the two guys having a super important debate. (No offense intended to Gilford and Mantegna, obviously. But.)
- Just Luke looking through those old pictures: Wow. Kudos to Rodriguez, yet again.
- “Everyone experiences grief in their own way.”
- Imagine if men were allowed to cry without…this.
- “Let me tell you something” and that finger pointing, all angry-like.
- “I’ve never—never once—seen him cry.” Ok but this is, like, bad? Again, dudes should be able to cry! Especially around people they’re close to! And this hour really, really wants us to believe Luke and Tom were very, very close!
- JJ’s expression is giving “how did I get here.” Which, like, same.
- “Sometimes, the people that help others the most can’t seem to help themselves.” THAT PART.
- “Oh. One man sees another man crying? And so, he must be suicidal? Luke, you’re a behavioral profiler. You should know better.” We have decided to stan.
- “…he had a hard time deciding whether he wanted to be loved or feared.” Oh, wow. Rodriguez about broke me with those barely held back tears. Same goes for how he broke eye contact, then just that tiny shake of his head before laying it all bare on the “I loved him.”
- Emily stopping Luke to tell him he did good work. Nothing but respect for my boss lady.
- “…hearing some of the things that he said and did…was hard. Because of that, I wasn’t fair to you. I apologize.” Alvez is a good egg.
- Ouch. Whole cognitive scene. Ouch.
- “I pulled the godd— trigger. It’s just gonna be my word against him. Who’s gonna—who’s gonna believe me?” Someone should hug this guy.
- JJ’s “get him out of here,” though.
- “Brian. We’re all set here. Ok? And you’re gonna do great.” That is…a lot from Tara. The tone.
- Love the tension between Tompkins and Mantegna on that “are we clear?” “Crystal.”
- Not this man being terrified enough of a surprise Sicarius appearance to…put his sad, broken sign away under the table. As if that would stop Voit. I cracked up.
- Voit as dismissive and bored as ever, swiveling away in that chair over there. Rolling those eyes when even the niceties between Dave and Brian sound wooden.
- He…also does not like being referred to as “not unique.” Check out that eye roll!
- Gilford showing the urgency, just in the way he scribbles those (very bad chicken-scratch) notes.
- I guess they’re like “show his muscley arms” purely so we can see how they twitch right before The Fan tortures him????
- That terror in his eyes is like…when prey sees a predator about to pounce. Deer in headlights, rabbit in a trap…all sorts of awful things I don’t want to picture, despite them being the best comparisons I can think of…
- The reaction from Emily.
- “What just happened?” A moment for Tompkins. Does Brian finally learn he’s in way over his head and needs to stay out of this sh**??? A question. But. That is still. A moment. Total shock, as it should be.
- “You just caused a man’s death.”
- …except not but ok.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 5 “Friendly Fire”? Leave us a comment!
Stream new episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution Thursdays on Paramount+.
