Aahana Swrup
‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ plunges into heavy waters with episode 3, ‘Time to Say Goodbye,’ which deals with the aftermath of William LaMontagne‘s unexpected passing. Recently widowed JJ finds herself shouldering the grief of her two boys while dealing with her mother-in-law’s sprawling mourning. Fortunately, she finds a reliable support system in her BUA family, who are there for her in her time of need. Simultaneously, Rossi’s efforts toward jogging the memories of a Voit remain steady as he and Tara decide to bring in someone from the newly amnesiac serial killer’s past. Thus, even in this rather dark chapter of the team’s story, they manage to find love and light in each other’s dependable company. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Voit is Faced With One of His Only Surviving Victims
In light of various tests and brain scans, Voit’s amnesia cements itself as a true fact rather than a trick of any kind. As a result, Rossi agrees to spend more time with him since he seems to remember their shared past even without fully recalling the dirty details. Still, his memory only returns in small, meaningless flashes. Furthermore, he performs well on Tara’s tests, proving that he isn’t showcasing any signs of psychopathy. Therefore, the BUA resorts to a more desperate measure and decides to seek out the help of Ramona Havener, one of Voit’s only victims, who is still alive. Unlike the killer’s other victims, Ramona wasn’t targeted for torture and murder.
Instead, Voit used her as a double to practice revealing his secret to his wife, Sydney. Luckily, Alvez and his team were able to save Ramona, who was headed toward a cruel demise shortly before the others caught her abuser. Yet, she has continued to remain silent about her experience with Voit for the fear of future harm from him or his associates. Therefore, when Alvez and Tyler knock on her door, they know it will be difficult to win over her assistance. Still, even though Ramona initially turns them away, she eventually decides to help out the BUA in an effort to put her past behind her and finally move on with her life. As a result, she’s brought face-to-face with Voit for a monitored conversation.
Although Voit does not recognize her immediately, her presence certainly jogs his memories, making him remember his wife and kids. Naturally, once he realizes that his family is alive and well, he concludes that they are still choosing not to visit him in the hospital. This ticks him off to the fact that the FBI Agents, the handcuffed hospital bed, and every other security measure have been employed around him because he is the threat they’re trying to contain. Since he still can’t remember the gravity of his depraved past, these discoveries only leave him devastated and emotionally exhausted. Surprisingly, as he breaks down after his meeting with Ramona, Rossi finds himself compelled to comfort his mortal enemy, even if only in some small capacity.
An Old Friend Shows up at Will’s Funeral
Will’s funeral is a heavy and tense affair from the start. JJ is doing everything she can to cope with her heartbreak while also being there for her kids. However, her mother-in-law, Connie, poses the real problem. JJ is aware of her overbearing nature, which is why she’s rushing to find the present Will had hidden for Michael in anticipation of his birthday. Even though Prentiss and Garcia volunteer their help with the task, the trio still fail to find the present before Connie’s arrival. Yet, as it turns out, there are concerns bigger than the lost gift that the grieving widow needs to brace herself for. During Connie’s visit, she ends up finding out about Will’s previous cancer scare through young Michael. Naturally, this brings up some tension between her and her daughter-in-law.
Despite JJ’s protests that it was Will’s decision to keep the cancer scare, which turned out to be false, a secret from her, Connie can’t help but spiral and put the entire blame on the other woman. Eventually, this leads to an aggressive argument between them, with the older woman crossing several lines. At the end of it, Connie packs up her bags and announces her intentions of skipping the funeral altogether. Fortunately, JJ’s mother, Sandy, and Rossi manage to recognize the woman’s grief as a lost mother and convince her against making one of the biggest mistakes of her life.
However, while Connie’s attendance is expected, one unexpected face also shows up for the service to lend a shoulder to JJ. Spencer Ried, a former member of Prentiss’ team, who is currently supposed to be on a highly classified assignment, finally makes a bittersweet comeback. He remains for the entirety of the service, and even though the occasion is somber, his reunion with the rest of the gang is a much-awaited affair. Spencer might have taken an exit from the BUA for now, but the lifelong bonds he had made with his colleagues will never truly go away. JJ’s speech closes out the heartbreaking ceremony, confirming what everyone already knows: she’ll never be quite the same without her better half.
Will’s Memory Continues to Live on
After the funeral ceremony, JJ and the others return to her house for the wake. Despite the tough circumstances, she finds comfort and much-needed advice from her friends, including Rossi. Since the latter also experiences the abrupt loss of his loved one, Crystall, he’s able to share some of his experiences and guidance on her all-consuming grief. Eventually, she and Connie also make up from their earlier disagreement. The latter realizes the error of her ways, especially in blaming her daughter-in-law, and tries to be a better part of her and her kids’ lives. JJ herself is glad to have her mother-in-law with her, especially since she can recognize the pieces of her husband in the other’s habits.
Later, JJ also discovers that Will’s present for Michael that everyone has been looking for all this time is actually in her older son, Henry’s, possession. The teenager found the gift earlier and has held onto it all this time. It’s a handmade book, a guide on the LaMontagne family secrets. It has all the tips and tricks the father wanted Michael to learn. Even though Will created it with the intention of teaching his son all the lessons in the book himself, Michael would now tragically have to grow up with only the theory. Yet, Henry asserts that since he already learned these lessons in his childhood, he’ll guide his younger brother, trying to fill the hole their father’s death has left behind. As such, the future ahead will have some dark days for the LaMontagne family, but they’ll continue to have the love and support of their friends and family.
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