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CBS’s revival hit Prison Minds: Evolution Season 3 is about to premiere on Paramount+, bringing followers again to the BAU and its beloved staff of profilers. Following the flagship procedural drama Prison Minds, the brand new sequence revisits the acquainted FBI unit as its brokers tackle a community of serial killers known as Gold Star that developed throughout the pandemic. Every episode sees the detectives working to totally dismantle the group and the main unsub (unknown topic) who established all of it.

Whereas the BAU faces its newest and largest problem in Prison Minds: Evolution, the reboot nonetheless connects to its namesake in lots of methods. The present is a direct continuation of the final season of Prison Minds, and consists of loads of function reprisals that make it a satisfying renewal of the favored franchise. Nevertheless, with some narrative redirection and character absences, long-time followers can not help but additionally discover its slight variations. This is all the pieces we learn about how the 2 sequence are associated to one another (and the way they are not).

‘Prison Minds: Evolution’ Picks Up The place the Predominant Sequence Left Off

Not like lots of TV franchises which might be pumping out prequels and spin-offs galore, Prison Minds: Evolution is a direct continuation of the unique present’s fifteenth and closing season. Some followers even tally the revival, accordingly, as Prison Minds seasons 16-18. Nevertheless, there was a little bit of a time bounce.

The brand new present units the story up within the current day, a few years following the primary sequence’ finale in 2020. This forwarded timeline is sensible since COVID-19 and its aftermath play an incendiary function within the premise behind it. As for any minor expository modifications that occurred throughout the present’s break, the characters clarify all of it away simply within the first episode earlier than getting again to enterprise as common.

Returning Characters

Prison Minds: Evolution has introduced again a ton of main gamers from the unique sequence to flesh out the BAU. Working the staff as its Part Chief is the ever-composed Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) alongside SSA David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), who initially serves as Unit Chief. At present, Prentiss is doing double-duty as each Part and Unit Chief after FBI Deputy Director Doug Bailey wished Rossi demoted.

Likewise, Kirsten Vangsness reprises her function because the spunky technical analyst Penelope Garcia after leaving the FBI on the finish of Prison Minds Season 15. She determined to work at an impartial establishment as an alternative, however SSA Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez) sought out her specialised digital prowess to trace down the suspect, Elias Voit (Zach Gilford). The hacker was hesitant to return and solely meant to assist out with the preliminary case, however wished a everlasting place on the staff once more as a result of she missed serving to her co-workers convey killers to justice. Moreover, media liaison, Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau (A.J. Prepare dinner), and forensic psychologist, Dr. Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler), have additionally rejoined the forged of profilers attempting to determine Gold Star’s intent and how one can cease its psychopathic members.

Whereas the reboot introduced again some brokers, there are a few characters that did not return. Matthew Grey Gubler left us all heartbroken when he confirmed that his beloved genius Dr. Spencer Reid would not be a sequence common. Sadly, the actor’s scheduling conflicts made it not possible to decide to the present, however his main absence is defined within the first episode of the revival: Dr. Reid is solely away on a particular project. Regardless of this disappointment, he’ll briefly reprise the function in an upcoming Season 3 cameo. Equally, SSA Matthew Simmons (Daniel Henney) did not make a return both.

As for brand spanking new faces, the present has launched viewers to former intelligence officer-turned-convict-turned-BAU-consultant Tyler Inexperienced (Ryan-James Hanataka), in addition to a terrifyingly evil antagonist, Elias Voit (Zach Gilford). Plus, Season 3 is claimed to launch one other agent, neuropsychiatrist Dr. Julia Ochoa (Aimee Garcia), who could have a recurring function.

Viewers Do not Actually Want To Watch the Unique Sequence First