It’s that time again! The Criminal Minds: Evolution season finale airs tomorrow.
We had the pleasure of talking with Paget Brewster, who brings the indomitable Agent Emily Prentiss, a role she’s played on and off for the last 18 years, to life.
Brewster shared insights into the intense season before its thrilling conclusion.
Reflecting on the season’s start, Brewster discussed Emily’s emotional journey. “At the beginning of the season, Emily was still reeling from what had happened with Rossi and Bailey’s death.
“Part of her emotional reaction to the loss of Doug Bailey is she becomes obsessed with connecting everything to Gold Star, to the point where she’s guilty of confirmation bias, where she’s unable to see crimes as being outside of this conspiracy. And so she’s really tested professionally.
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“But then, as the season goes on, we sort of find out, no, there are tentacles of Gold Star in these storylines, and so she’s somewhat vindicated. Still, she makes some choices, and Rossi makes some choices during the season that are morally ambiguous or questionable.
“I think it’s a reaction to their backs being up against the wall with Voight and this deal that the director of the FBI, Madison, has made with Voight that they all disagree with.
“They have to go run things by this serial killer they despise, but they need his help. So they’re all personally and professionally pushed to the limit in this season in a way that I don’t think we’ve seen before,” she explained.
The Gold Star conspiracy is a central theme this season, creating a complex web for Emily and the BAU team to unravel. The obsession with Gold Star leads to morally ambiguous decisions, especially when dealing with Elias Voit.
“They’re all personally and professionally pushed to the limit in this season in a way that I don’t think we’ve seen before,” she added.
Brewster also delved into the psychological struggles and human failings faced by the characters, particularly Rossi and Prentiss.
“Rossi is struggling with having been buried alive. He has PTSD and he is not addressing it. He was afraid for his life, and he’s just trying to tamp it down. But that’s every workplace. If human beings are involved, mistakes will be made,” she shared.
This human element is what makes the characters so relatable and the storytelling so compelling.
This season, Prentiss has faced numerous challenges, questioning her own decisions and dealing with the uncertainty of the Gold Star conspiracy. Brewster found joy in portraying this complexity.
“It’s fun because I’m safe with this team to do it. On another set with people I’m not so close to… but right now, it’s such a great time, and we’re so thankful, and we trust each other. I feel safe to be all of those things because it’s our team, and we really rely on each other a lot,” she said.
One particularly memorable moment for Brewster was Emily’s unexpected intoxication and self-doubt.
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When asked about this lighter yet significant scene, Brewster laughed. “That was great. That was really fun. I think Prentice has been drunk before,” she mused, recalling an early episode in which Prentiss visits Vegas for a Sin to Win experience.
While Brewster enjoys wine, she’s unfamiliar with marijuana. “I really was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to pull that off because I just don’t have a lot of experience with it.
“I probably should have eaten a pot gummy, filmed myself, and done the lines. I’m now realizing that’s probably what I should have done,” she joked.
Despite the intense and dark themes of the season, the camaraderie and mutual respect among the cast and crew shine through.
“Our fans are extraordinary. And what really shocked a lot of us was when we were on Netflix for a long time during the pandemic, people found the show.
“And I mean, I think it’s why we got picked up to go to Paramount Plus because it was, ‘Oh wow, this show still has legs.’ But we got really young vocal female audience members, and they’re everywhere, and they’re so nice and supportive,” Brewster noted.
As we wrapped up our conversation, it was clear that the cast’s passion and dedication, along with the intricate and emotional storytelling, continue to make Criminal Minds: Evolution a standout series.
Like you, we can’t wait to see how this thrilling season wraps up and what lies ahead for Agent Emily Prentiss and the BAU team.
Be sure to watch the Criminal Minds season finale on Paramount+ — it’s bound to be an unforgettable ride.
