It may have taken a brief two-year break, but now in its 20th year and in its 18th (!) season – with a 19th already ordered – Criminal Minds has become quite an impressive television-turned-streaming institution. Showrunner Erica Messer and cast members Joe Mantegna, Aisha Tyler and Zach Gilford were part of the festivities at IGN Live today, to discuss what’s to come this season on the rechristened Criminal Minds: Evolution and the enduring popularity of the series.
After the panel began with a clip from an upcoming episode in which a terrified woman found herself waking up inside a buried box, Mantegna, when asked what exactly was going on by moderator Kim Horcher, replied, “We have people in boxes underground on occasion. This is just another example of that!” Added Tyler, “We bury a lady in a box every week! You’ve gotta be more specific!”
She did add that this was tied into the current storyline about people who idealize and idolize Gilford’s killer, Elias Voit, saying “There are people that have seen what he has done and maybe want to emulate him.”
Speaking about Criminal Minds’ astounding ongoing popularity, Messer remarked, “It’s been an incredible ride. I’ve been on the show since 2005. I’m the only writer who’s been there the whole run. At the core, it’s good vs. evil and sadly that is an endless tale to tell. This iteration, Evolution, we really wanted to challenge what our heroes go through.” Referring to Elias, she said “In walks this guy and definitely gives them a run for their money.”
Both Mantegna and Tyler directed episodes this season, something they said they always enjoy doing. Mantegna was honored to have one of the final performances from his friend, the late Linda Lavin, in his episode, remarking “She really delivered.” Tyler said that when it came to directing Criminal Minds, “I love this cast so much so getting to direct your friends is really exciting. It’s a really cohesive cast. Everyone wants everyone else to win,” before adding “You get to make the best show about serial killers ever made!”
Elias has turned into a major ongoing part of Criminal Minds after being introduced in Season 16, as the series was revived. Said Tyler, “Elias is a really terrible person but Zach’s humanized him in a lot of ways. It’s not about making serial killers into good people but it is about understanding what can go wrong in a human being; what can turn them into a monster.”
This season, Elias has amnesia, which Gilford has enjoyed playing, observing, “It’s not very often you get to play a character for the third season and get to re-meet all the characters.” Gilford said he was intrigued by his character’s current status and the questions it raises. “If someone regrets what they did and they have different brain chemistry and clearly are not that person anymore, how do you deal with that person? Do you forgive them? What do you do with them?”
Added Messer, “I think one of the reasons we get Elias amnesia is so we can play these different levels of him. He’s in custody but he has a conscience. We’ll see if it sticks!”
As the panel was nearing its conclusion, the cast members were asked how three of their other popular TV characters would fare in the world of Criminal Minds – Gilford’s Matt Saracen from Friday Night Lights, Tyler’s Lana Kane from Archer and Joe Mantegna’s Fat Tony from The Simpsons.
Gilfrord laughed, imagining small town football hero Saracen in this scenario, declaring, “He’s a hard worker! …He was smart but I don’t know if he was that smart,” before adding, “He’d throw the ball if they needed him.”
Said Mantegna, “You’d have to keep Fat Tony out of craft services. Because he doesn’t get mad, he gets stabby!”
As for Tyler, she remarked, “Obviously, Lana Kane was the greatest superspy to ever live, so I think she’d be an absolute asset to the BAU. But she should probably put on more clothes, right? I don’t think that outfit is really appropriate for government work.”
New episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution debut Wednesdays on Paramount+.