Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 finale ending explained: Did the BAU catch Gold Star?

The BAU had their work cut out for them in the Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 finale. One of their own was captured, as they figured out the final member of Gold Star.

Caution: This post contains major spoilers for the Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 finale

The episode kicked off straight off the back of the explosion. The BAU managed to get to Rossi and get most people out. However, Emily was missing.

It didn’t take long for us to learn where Emily was. She’d been taken by Jade, who had Emily tied up along with Church. Jade played judge, jury, and execution, deciding that Church was guilty of pedophilia. She shot him in the head and then wheeled him out of the room.

The final member of Gold Star in the Criminal Minds: Evolution

The final member of Gold Star was exposed in the episode. The B in Pete B. stood for Bailey. It turned out that Pete was the brother of Doug Bailey.

He didn’t just blame the BAU for what happened to him and the other members of the Gold Star project. He blamed the BAU for his brother’s death. As Emily learned all this from Pete and Jade, the BAU learned it from Ray, who finally shared why he was willing to work with Voit. He knew all about Pete.

Voit had told Gold Star that the BAU killed Doug. It took a long time for Emily to convince them that it was actually Voit. In fact, it was Garcia to the rescue. She was able to tap into the projector and show a video of Ray talking to Voit about shooting Doug. In this video, Voit admits to it. As Pete confirms that it isn’t a deepfake, he realizes that he has had it all wrong.

By this point, the BAU was outside the room Emily was being held. The door was rigged to explode if they came in, and Emily realized that this was how Gold Star was going to take down the BAU. Only Luke and others realized that this was all a trap.

Pete and Jade turn themselves in

Pete and Jade wanted to know one thing from Emily. How could they not get killed as the police did come in? They realized that they had been manipulated by many people. The only people who didn’t actually try to manipulate them were those in the BAU.

Emily didn’t want to see them shot, so she told them exactly what to do. At one point, it did look like Jade would kill herself, but she didn’t go through with it. All she wanted to know is if she would be listened to this time. Emily makes it clear that she will listen to everything Jade has to say.

It’s a beautiful moment. As much as Jade was a monster in the way she killed people with a badge, she was also a manipulated victim. Had she not been indoctrinated by Stuart House, none of this would have happened. Emily can see that, and she wants to make sure that Jade (and Pete) gets the help she needs.

Emily makes it clear to Ray that his decision to keep secrets led to multiple deaths. Were they worth it? His position of authority relies on her discretion, and she wants things if she’s going to keep his secrets, well, secret. It looks like a lot of that is to get Jade and Pete the help they both need rather than sending them to prison.

It’s a very different ending to the Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 finale than we’re used to when it comes to the ending for the UnSubs, and in a great way. It leaves things open for Jade and Pete to return, while also showing that not everything is black and white.

There is a final twist, though. Voit has been able to get into Gen Pop, but it doesn’t look great for him. He’s attacked by other inmates and shanked. Was this some sort of ploy, though? The BAU knows that he wanted to go into Gen Pop for a reason, but why? Because it’s easier to escape?