Elle Greenaway might be gold star in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2.
Before quitting in season 2, episode 6, Elle Greenaway was one of the original BAU team members. Now serving as section chief, Emily Prentiss succeeded her three episodes later. Still, Elle made a lasting impression in her little time, and her leaving of *Criminal Minds* was somewhat contentious. At the end of *Criminal Minds* season 1, Elle was shot by an unsub known as "The Fisher King," which led to post-traumatic stress disorder. Upon going back to work, she stayed suspicious and vindicious.
Elle could have become a vigilante killer from her experience. After criticizing the local police chief's handling of the case, Elle returned undercover to catch a serial rapist. They imprisoned William Lee, but finally let him go. Elle takes matters into her own hands and approaches Lee in the parking lot, cold-blooded killing him after blaming Hotch for getting shot. She claimed self-defense, but the team was dubious. Saying she wasn't admitting guilt, Elle handed Hotch her badge at the end of *Criminal Minds* season 2, episode 6, but adding, "I'm not the same person anymore. If I had to do it all over again that evening at Lee's, I wouldn't change anything."
Elle's departure could help to explain why the government is so preoccupied with Gold Star.
High-ranking government officials first hesitated to tell the BAU about "Gold Star" and allow them get involved. They even made a deal with Voit since they were so keen to stop "Gold Star" and maintain knowledge from leaking. Being a former government worker, "Gold Star" may make them answerable for their serial killing activities.
This may particularly be true in Elle's case as Hotch neglected to report her missing psychological appointments following Lee's murder. At first he watched her, but he let her go without checking back. Voit debuted the idea of "social contagion" in *Criminal Minds: Evolution* season 2, explaining to the BAU that conspiracy theories simplify killing these days. Should Elle's fears inspire a conspiracy, she would meet the profile of "Gold Star."
Criminal Minds has seen several characters pass through.
*Criminal Minds: Evolution* season 2 revolves on the mystery of "Gold Star," and hints point to a former BAU team member as the main serial killer. After the cliffhanger at the conclusion of season 1, *Criminal Minds: Evolution* season 2 episodes 1 and 2 responded several questions for fans and the BAU regarding "Gold Star." To find who "Gold Star" is and stop them from killing additional people and disseminating their conspiracy idea, nevertheless, still much has to be done.
Showrunner Erica Messer claims *Criminal Minds: Evolution* will offer more responses to "Gold Star" in season 2, episode 5. With each tiny clue the episodes provide and the BAU discovers as they work to solve the great mystery, viewers have plenty of opportunity to hypothesize. Season 1 of *Criminal Minds: Evolution* found "Sicarius" was Elias Voit; season 2 will probably follow the same with "Gold Star." With *Criminal Minds: Evolution* season 3 confirmed, there's a small possibility the "Gold Star" mystery might linger outside season 2.
Elle Being Gold Star Might inspire Other Major Characters to Return
One fan-favorite character that did not join the *Criminal Minds: Evolution* cast following *Criminal Minds* cancellation is Spencer Reid. Reid known Elle since he showed up in all 15 original seasons. They were close, and her last show appearance—via flashbacks—showcased her significance to Reid when he was dreaming but unconscious. Reid could come back in *Criminal Minds: Evolution* season 2 to assist in solving the "Gold Star" riddle and maybe intervene to stop Elle from killing once more.
Hotch's return is less likely after Thomas Gibson was let go from *Criminal Minds* during season 12 production. Story-wise, though, that would make sense as he knew Elle's psychological state maybe better than anyone and is not simply a former unit head. Should the "Gold Star" case be as large as *Criminal Minds: Evolution* suggests, all hands on deck will be required to solve it, particularly if the Elle idea holds true.
The Khaled Hosseini quotation Emily mentioned in the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 premiere also suggests Elle becoming "Gold Star." The quotation comes out as:
"Based on what they say about the past, about how one might bury it, I have learnt is erroneous. For the past claws its way out.
Many *Criminal Minds* viewers have been waiting for their beloved characters to resurfaced. Many legendary characters have returned for *Criminal Minds: Evolution*, and the showrunner has made it quite evident that there is still a lot of narrative to tell. There is still a lot more narrative to uncover and the showrunner has even left open the prospect of fresh individuals showing up as part of the "Gold Star" mystery. The "Gold Star" narrative will obviously be a prominent component of *Criminal Minds: Evolution* for a long time, given a new season is under development.
Several of the characters in Criminal Minds developed as fan favorites. Still, some cast members quit the show early for a range of reasons.
Many of the original team members left *Criminal Minds*, and the first one was Lola Glaudini's Elle Greenaway—but why did she depart so soon? She said it herself; she changed upon receiving a gunshot, sufficient to kill a guy off-target in cold blood. Hotch worried she was turning unsub herself, but she told him she wasn't. Fifteen seasons later, Elle may have developed into "Gold Star," therefore fulfilling his worries. The profile of the BAU for "Gold Star" shows that Elle has government experience and training. Elle's trauma might have made her a vigilante killer, and she might be visiting the BAU next in *Criminal Minds: Evolution* season 2.
*Criminal Minds: Evolution* season 2, episode 4 will be on June 20, 2024 available on Paramount+.
The most serious threat the FBI's elite team of criminal profilers faces yet comes from *Criminal Minds: Evolution: a UnSub who has built a network of other serial killers using the epidemic. One murder at a time, the crew must find them as the world opens up and the network comes live. Original cast members keeping on their roles are Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster. Zach Gilford joins to the energetic group as a season-long guest star.
