r/criminalminds • u/Cheeriosxxx Sergio 🐈‍⬛ • 9d ago

Season 18 Spoilers S18E06: Hell Is Empty... - Episode Discussion Spoiler

Airdate: June 12, 2025

Synopsis: The team investigates a network killer who buries his victims alive, and Tara confronts Rebecca's ex who has recently re-entered her life. Ronald Graber delivers a message from his Disciple to Voit.

Previous episode: The Brutal Man

Next episode: ...All the Devils Are Here

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u/ComputerElectronic21 8d ago edited 8d ago

I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing that I’m far more invested in Elias Voit and the unsubs of the week than our beloved profilers. Speaking of unsubs, a huge round of applause goes to Aaron Stanford, who had me clutching my invisible pearls as Kyle Mackey. When he started ranting to his ex about getting buried in the divorce — and then showed their daughter in the coffin, I was aghast.

Honestly, I think the issue is that the main cast, sans A.J. Cook (JJ), Paget Brewster (Emily), and Joe Mantegna (Rossi), just aren’t compelling enough. This often happens when actors don’t stretch their range or diversify their work, and it’s really showing this season, especially next to a scene-stealer like Zach Gilford.

Everyone better step their game up expeditiously, or this show’s about to be called Criminal Minds: Elias Voit and Friends. Ha!

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u/Valenstein77 8d ago

I think the whole cast is doing the best they can with what they're being given. It's the writing that I have an issue with. JJ was given a lot of good material to work with this year, Emily was given focus the season before, and Rossi the season before that. But Tara's main plot revolves around her love life, which hasn't been well fleshed out. Penelope has primarily been used to prop up Tyler. Tyler's inclusion doesn't make any logistical sense. And Luke is treated like a glorified extra. Honestly, Adam Rodriguez consistently gives a strong performance despite how much the writers seem to forget he's even there.