Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 8 Ending Explained: Damien's Shock Death
Fans of Criminal Minds: Evolution, Season 2 Episode 8 were left on the brink of their seats as the most recent episode ended with a dramatic and shocking character death. Although the BAU team made notable advancement in the "Gold Star" case this episode, the sad ending could provide even more difficulties for them.
The "Gold Star" Case and Jade's Possible Third Season Role
The episode opens right after Season 2 Episode 7 and features David Rossi and Jill Gideon reuniting. The shocking news that Jill leaked the "White Paper" resulting in the founding of Stuart House alters the dynamic between her and the team fundamentally. Jill could not have seen the terrible results even if she had motives for doing so. Although Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 concentrated on the "Sicarius" case with Elias Voit as a central figure, given the events of this episode, Jade might be of similar importance in Season 3.
Closed Fist Symbolism in Criminal Minds: Evolution
Season 2 Episode 7's main focus was on a terrifying and sad case apart from the "Gold Star" narrative, and Emily persuading Jill to go back to Quantico and assist the BAU team. Consequently, Damien and Jade—two important players in this episode—got little attention. Voit's lawyer was excavating a chest meant for Damien at the cliffhanger at the end of Episode 7. The lawyer delivered the chest in this episode, and it had sad results.
When Voit's attorney Vincent Orlov showed up to deliver the chest to Damien, he and Jade threatened him with a snipers rifle. Originally the scope was focused on Orlov's feet, but Jade cautioned him that if he clenched his fist, Damien would kill him. At the end of Episode 8, this symbol of a closed fist surfaced shockingly once more. By the end of the episode, Damien seemed to be at last turning himself over to the FBI.
But Damien closed one of his fists when he raised his hands and knelt. Having been surreptitiously hiding, Jade interpreted this as a sign to kill Damien. Though Damien had decided not to kill Jill, he wasn't ready to turn himself in to the FBI alive, and Jill blamed herself for the circumstances. As Damien's second-in-command, Jade would not disobey his instructions even if it meant losing him.
Why didn't Damien kill Jill in Criminal Minds: Episode 8, Evolution Season 2?
Though Voit claimed "North Star" is an empty conspiracy theory, Damien and Jade considered it seriously. Episode 8 showed that the lethal team had switched their approach such that they could operate unseen. As seen by their actions against the strike team, the "Gold Star" team would formerly measure the eyes of their victims. But they staged suicides when they targeted those engaged in the building of Stuart House. This find guided Jill and the BAU team straight to Damien.
Jill felt accountable for what had happened to Damien at Stuart House even though she was not meant to face him alone. Most of Episode 8, Jill and Rossi were researching Stuart House, the "White Paper," and Damien's past. They found out he had a foster father he loved but who had sent him to Stuart House. His foster father first became victim under their direction. From then on, Damien set out to kill those he thought had harmed children just like him.
Drawing on this knowledge, Jill confronted Damien and tried to save him. Although Damian meant to kill Jill, he nearly did; she reached him via her profile. Though Jill persuaded him by appealing to the inner child inside him, Damien did not want to believe he had become victim of a conspiracy theory. This resulted in Damien sparing Jill but sadly also led to his assisted suicide. Damien lost his will to live upon realizing his whole life had been a lie and he had been killing people for no apparent reason.
Why, in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2, Episode 8, did Jill call Gideon's Cabin "North Star"?
Jill persuaded Damien to accompany her to a secondary site—which she referred to as "North Star"—in an attempt at rescue. She knew these words meant something to Damien, and she felt speaking his language would help her more likely convince him. She also mentioned that there was a small child there needing rescue. Rossi came to the conclusion in Criminal Minds Season 2, Episode 6 that the BAU was "North Star," but Jill spun this concept differently.
Jill's "North Star" was Gideon's cabin, where he perished in Criminal Minds Season 10. The "White Paper" was developed here as well as the location of frequent working for Jill, Rossi, and Gideon. Though Jill knew nothing about what Stuart House would do with the "White Paper," it was also where she got the idea to leak it to private contractors like Stuart House. This implies that "North Star" produced more than just Stuart House, leaving many possible unsubs who Jill, Rossi, and Gideon carry partial responsibility for transforming into serial killers.
Since it was too painful to go back to a place full of joyful memories that had turned into a crime scene, Jill hadn't visited the cabin since before Gideon died. She faced her past, though, in order to assist Damien—who she claimed was the lad needing saving. Though her motives were sincere, Jill might have guided Damien to the cabin under false pretenses. Sadly, Damien's death just outside Gideon's cabin caused more haunting. Jill has carried great trauma with her, thus it is doubtful she will forgive herself for Damien's death anytime soon in Criminal Minds: Evolution.
Rossi & Jill's Criminal Minds Expanded History Clarified
In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 7, Jill said Rossi left the BAU in 1997 since she had broken his heart. This was also the reason Jill hesitated to go back to the BAU. She wasn't ready to see Rossi once she thought she had moved through her loss over Gideon's murder. Given her and Gideon's divorce, Jill even called Rossi "histrionic," implying they wouldn't have worked out because of his demeanor.
"Red herring," Rossi's actor Joe Mantegna said of Jill and Gideon's reunion; Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2, Episode 8 revealed why. Rossi disagreed with Emily's assessment that he left the BAU since she had broken his heart when she told Rossi about his chat with Jill. Rather, he claimed he left because he was young and lacked the maturity to manage the persistent belief Jill was too good for Gideon. He wanted to let them to carry on the BAU as a family free from his intervention.
This does not mean Rossi lacked emotions for Jill in Criminal Minds or that those emotions vanished upon leaving the BAU. When Gideon was in a foul mood—which was common—they depended on one another; Rossi didn't want to turn on his best friend. Rossi was in his second marriage by the time Gideon and Jill split. Rossi said he felt his timing with love was never right and tearfully spoke of his dead wife, Krystall. Their future is yet unknown; Jill may be Rossi's one that escaped in Criminal Minds.
Jill kissed Rossi in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2, Episode 8, but it was to make him uncomfortable enough to avoid her, not to rekindle a romance.
How Might Voit's Lawyer Support Proof of Voice Is "Sicarius" in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2
As mentioned earlier, Voit's lawyer, Orlov, played a crucial role in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 8. Beyond delivering the chest to Damien and Jade, he appears to have engaged in more deadly actions for Voit. Rebecca returned and revealed that someone had hacked the U.S. Marshals, and while she couldn't confirm Voit was behind the hack, she was certain it was him. If this were true, it would be because Orlov assisted him. Tyler followed this and found him; Rebecca and he questioned him.
During their investigation into Orlov and his connection to Voit, they discovered they had met through the "Sicarius" network. However, Orlov wasn't a serial killer like others on the site. He claimed to have a young girl he was abusing locked in his basement, but they concluded that Orlov was a poser like Tyler had been. If Voit were to find out his lawyer had lied to him, he would likely lose all trust in Orlov, potentially ending Orlov's involvement in Voit's illegal activities in Criminal Minds: Evolution.
More importantly, Orlov could help the BAU team prove that Voit is "Sicarius." Although they know this to be true, they lack sufficient evidence to prosecute him, especially with FBI Director Madison attempting to make a deal with Voit. If they have proof that Orlov and Voit met through the network Voit was running as "Sicarius," he could be brought to justice for more than just killing Bailey and kidnapping Rossi. If the BAU team can convince Orlov to confess in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2, they could eliminate their Voit problem.
