Criminal Minds: Evolution will pay off season 1’s Gold Star mystery in a manner that its followers will no doubt appreciate. Most, if not all, Criminal Minds: Evolution fans have been beholding the BAU’s titular group of elite criminal profilers since the start of the 15-season-long-flagship series, Criminal Minds, which ended in 2020 to the dismay of many. Fortunately for old and new franchise fans alike, the former BAU team, including Criminal Minds favorites David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), Penelope Garcia (Kristen Vangness), and Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster), assembled again for the improved Criminal Minds: Evolution reboot.

For franchise newcomers, Criminal Minds: Evolution played out as a gripping premiere season fixed on the BAU investigating and taking down the criminal mastermind, Elias Voit. While Evolution season 1 was fantastic, old fans quickly realized that the reboot broke away from the case-of-the-week procedural format to incorporate much longer plot lines and overarching mysteries, such as the secret of Gold Star. The format change seems to be for the better, as Evolution’s drawn-out investigation illuminates the BAU’s bond together. Still, it also forms a colossal and unfamiliar story suspension that Evolution season 2 must rectify for longtime fans.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Will Answer Its Gold Star Mystery Sooner Rather Than Later

Showrunner Erica Messer Ensures Gold Star Will Be Addressed Early

The phrase “Gold Star” reared its head near the end of Evolution season 1. For most of the season, Voit (Zach Gilford) not only maintained his prolific serial killer streak but built an online network of criminals, whom he encouraged and enabled to carry out various offenses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Voit’s criminal career was heinous, yet he managed to barter for leniency with the government by mentioning the mysterious Gold Star. The meaning of Gold Star is still very elusive, but Evolution showrunner Erica Messer has ensured Gold Star will be unpacked sooner in the series rather than later.

According to the showrunner’s latest Evolution season 2 tease, viewers will glean “a lot in the premiere” despite there being “layers to this Gold Star story,” and “by episode 5, [they’ll have] learned even more.” As season 2 will consist of 10 episodes, viewers won’t have to wait long for Gold Star answers, and the given information will likely set up a thoroughly exciting second half to the new season. Overall, the Gold Star mystery has been a respectable plot-building angle and a better constructor of suspense – but had it played out any longer, it could’ve become a reboot downfall.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Can’t Afford To Drag Out Its Gold Star Mystery

Criminal Minds Fans Are Used To Cases Being Closed With A Satisfying Swiftness

Drawing out the Gold Star mystery for longer than the duration of Evolution season 2 could have become irritating for fans who’ve become used to the BAU cracking their cases in the span of an episode or, at most, several episodes. The mystery of Gold Star has already been stretched between seasons, now a year and counting, and has elongated the investigation of Voit by an indeterminable amount of time. If Evolution waited to reveal the Gold Star mystery until the season 2 finale or later, it could have tested the patience of established Criminal Minds fans.

That is not to say that Evolution’s new format of lengthy plot lines and overarching mysteries isn’t great, but extending any story thread for too long would be wearying for anybody, including new Criminal Minds viewers. Despite Evolution’s season 3 renewal, there’s no telling when the next season will premiere, meaning that without the show’s assurances to solve it, the Gold Star mystery could have trailed on for too long inside the franchise’s new storytelling format. Luckily, it seems Criminal Minds: Evolution is balancing the expeditious characteristics of its old procedural formula with the inventiveness of its new format.