Criminal Minds Season 19 Episode 6 Puts Our Favorite Tech Analyst to the Test

One thing I’ve loved about Criminal Minds Season 19 is the way some of the more forgotten characters have had time to shine.

For years, there’s been a lot of focus on Rossi, Prentiss, and JJ, but in the last few episodes, Garcia and Luke have received more attention and development.

That’s certainly the case on Criminal Minds Season 19 Episode 6, as Garcia has to pull double duty, and we see her stretch herself in style.

(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)

The Fan or Not The Fan — That Is the Question

At first, it’s not clear whether the BAU has one or two cases on their hands, and seeing them go through the details of the new case involving the cam girls is interesting.

It’s a chance to see the BAU on the back foot a little, and it puts their knowledge of serial killers and MOs to the test.

Once they do realize they have two distinct cases, it’s Garcia to the rescue. It’s time for our favorite tech analyst on Criminal Minds to prove she is the queen.

Not only does she need to work on the branding from The Fan — yes, Lance is still alive, but now he’s been branded, and that’s sure to set him down a darker path — but she has to figure out a way into cam girl sites to get information to protect the next victims.

(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)

Watching her pull this double duty reminds us of how great she is. 

I feel like it’s been a long time since she’s really been tested in hacking and data, so watching how she handles the work is impressive.

Maybe people should be a little more worried about her, though. 

Luke and JJ both noticed that she had switched from tea to coffee to stay up, and Prentiss noticed that she hadn’t changed, so she worked all night.

Yet, nobody stopped to ask her if she was genuinely okay.

(Trae Patton/Paramount+)

There were clear signs that she needed people to check in on her. 

Garcia’s speech got so much faster — and she’s already a fast speaker — and there were times that she forgot elements of a case that she was working on.

By the end of the hour, she brings up something that even we have missed while watching Criminal Minds Season 19, and I feel like that was done on purpose.

Garcia notes that she’s been erratic for weeks, but she’s never really seemed out of sorts on the series, and I feel like that was a conscious choice to note how nobody has noticed anything.

JJ has lived with Garcia for a while, yet she hasn’t been worried about her friend’s behavior.

(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)

To then find out that she spoke on Voit’s behalf about his empathy behind a closed door makes it clear that she’s been overlooked and sometimes forgotten about.

She’s always there for everyone else, but where were they when she needed them? 

Of course, Garcia is never going to tell people that she needs them because she’s the one who is there for others.

But I can’t help but notice that even when she’s pulling double duty, and Prentiss initially made a point of calling in help when needed, nobody checks in on her that seriously.

In the end, Garcia does prove that she is the queen of hacking and research. 

(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)

Not only does she get information about cam girl sites and locations, but she also figures out finer details of The Fan’s attack on Lance and creates her own branding.

By the way, as a lover of old typewriters, I appreciated all the weird and wonderful facts about them added in every now and then.

Voit Continues to Straddle Both Sides

For five episodes, we’ve all wondered if Voit really has empathy or if he’s been playing with the BAU.

There are times when I think Criminal Minds Season 19 suggests there is some empathy.

(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)

Having Rossi show up as his subconscious has been a great way to show that he’s not necessarily playing a long game, but then there are other signs that he is.

It’s possible that there was some empathy there, but The Fan has pulled out the darker side of him once more.

Ending with the video message to The Fan makes it clear that the old Voit is still in there, and it ties back to Criminal Minds Season 19’s premiere, which opened with Voit remembering one of his attacks.

There was joy in that memory because a tiger never fully changes its stripes.

(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)

Yet, some people can change. Voit has helped the BAU, and not necessarily for his own gain.

If he were only putting on an act, there would be slips in the mask now and then, but that hasn’t been the case.

So, it’s possible that this latest callout to The Fan is a way to draw the attention back to Voit to help the BAU catch him.

The fact that Garcia has spoken on his own behalf about his empathy must mean something.

I think we all remember that stare-down between the two of them well, when she knew that the man had just darkness in his soul.

(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)

She wouldn’t just change her mind about him on a whim.

There’s something in his eyes that has changed, and it’s a discussion everyone eventually needs to have.

So, I remain seated.

Just as I was getting fed up with the Voit arc, I’m intrigued again, and I want to get into his brain to see what’s really going on.

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• Garcia’s abilities are put to the test, as the BAU tackles two distinct cases on Criminal Minds Season 19 Episode 6.

• Luke Alvez, Tom Loftis, and Rachel Mills lead this week’s Characters of the Week, showcasing the complexity of heroism, humanity, and personal sacrifice.

• As Brian is pulled back into the Voit of it all, Criminal Minds Season 19 Episode 5 gives Luke more time to shine.

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