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Elias Voit storms a podcast and turns the audience’s fascination with true-crime into the story itself. An exclusive clip from the season 19 premiere of Criminal Minds: Evolution shows Voit confronting a podcaster and forcing viewers to reckon with why they consume stories about killers.
A tense podcast showdown in the season opener
In the new clip, Brian Garrity, played by Paul F. Tompkins, attempts to interview Voit on a live podcast. The exchange quickly goes sideways.
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- Voit lashes out at Garrity for spreading false theories about him.
- He physically smashes the podcast sign to punctuate his anger.
- He accuses the host of inventing explanations that shrink reality to a neat story.
Voit also challenges the entire true-crime business model, calling into question how much of the narrative around killers is fact and how much is entertainment. He forces Garrity to admit the conspiracies he pushed were baseless.
The scene reframes the conversation about glorifying violence and those who profit from it.
Where Elias Voit started — and how he’s changed
The character first emerged as the shadowy antagonist in the earlier revival season. Known to the BAU as Sicarius, investigators linked him to dozens of slayings and an online network of like-minded killers.
- Credited with numerous murders and online coordination.
- Captured and formally charged for a single killing.
- Later brought in as a criminal consultant to the BAU after memory loss altered his emotional makeup.
That memory impairment reshaped Voit’s behavior. He now shows empathy and horror about his past. The flip from mastermind to broken man is central to the series’ evolving moral questions.
Voit is no longer a simple villain on screen, but a character wrestling with accountability.
Behind the scenes: creative choices and actor insight
Showrunner Erica Messer mapped out a season that would unsettle viewers. The aim was to turn sympathy into discomfort.
Actor Zach Gilford described the arc as intentionally disorienting. Early on, the show presented Voit as a family man to lull the audience. Later seasons peel that away and force viewers to confront the truth about him.
- Season 1: Voit shown through a deceptively warm lens.
- Season 2: Writers toyed with audience expectations.
- Recent season: Voit confronts the reality of his actions and seeks to understand himself.
Gilford said the most moving material comes when Voit, who remembers nothing of his crimes, learns what he did. The emotional fallout drives the actor’s performance.
What season 19 promises: new threats and rising stakes
The official logline teases a BAU stretched thin by fresh, chilling cases. Voit’s notoriety acts like a spark.
- A mysterious antagonist called The Fan emerges.
- The Fan idolizes Voit and aims to outdo him.
- The BAU faces a precise and dangerous opponent who tests their limits.
Voit’s attempt at atonement complicates investigations. His fame draws new violence and forces agents to ask how close obsession and inspiration truly are.
Cast, where to watch, and what to follow
The clip features Paul F. Tompkins as Garrity opposite Zach Gilford’s Voit. The show continues to blend procedural beats with psychological drama.
- Lead actors: Zach Gilford, returning BAU ensemble members.
- Creative lead: Showrunner Erica Messer guiding the season’s tone.
- Streaming: New episodes air Thursdays on Paramount+.
