Summary

  • Morgan's return in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 could spur a romance between Garcia and Alvez, resolving their unresolved feelings.
  • Garcia's skepticism towards Alvez may be resolved with the involvement of Morgan. He is the only one who can likely convince her to take a chance on their relationship.
  • With JJ's marriage ending in season 2, Garcia and Alvez's romance could fill the void it leaves regarding the romance department in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2.

Shemar Moore's return as Derek Morgan in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 can pave the way for Penelope Garcia and Luke Alvez to finally be together. Not long after CBS wrapped up the police procedural's 15-year stint on the network, Paramount+ realized that there are still so many exciting stories to be told with the Behavioral Analysis Unit. There was some confusion about their planned return, but in the end, a grittier and darker Criminal Minds was born. Aptly titled Criminal Minds: Evolution, the new show is essentially just a continuation of its predecessor.

Criminal Minds: Evolution retained the majority of the show's original cast. This means that while Garcia officially left the BAU in the Criminal Minds finale, the revival found a way to bring her back. As one of the most beloved characters from the police procedural, seeing Kirsten Vangsness re her old squad was exciting, but it posed some big narrative questions, including what happened to the promise of a romance between Garcia and Alvez. By the time Criminal Minds: Evolution started, it was revealed that the pair did go on a date but decided against moving forward with a relationship.

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Morgan Is The Only One Who Can Convince Garcia About Alvez

Derek Morgan talking to Penelope Garcia in Criminal Minds.

Alvez clearly still likes Garcia, but for some reason, she is skeptical of giving him a chance. Engaging in a fling with Tyler Green made their situation more complicated, but now that it's over, there is interest in knowing what lies ahead for the burgeoning couple. Assuming that Moore returns as Morgan in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, considering the actor's recent comments about the matter, he may actually be the final push for Garcia and Alvez's long-gestating romance to happen. Morgan is best situated to talk some sense into "Baby Girl" about being open to the possibility.

Morgan and Garcia were arguably the best duo in the original Criminal Minds. While the whole team was tight-knit, the pair always had a special bond. That was the reason why Garcia struggled to welcome Alvez into the BAU, considering that he was essentially Morgan's replacement. This close friendship could help Morgan convince Garcia that she shouldn't be afraid of engaging with Alvez. Despite repeatedly turning him down, it doesn't seem like the BAU's resident tech girl doesn't have any feelings for her co-worker, and she owes it to herself to explore the possibilities that come with that.

Why Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Needs Garcia And Alvez To Happen

Luke Alvez and Penelope Garcia stand close together in Criminal Minds: Evolution

With Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 seemingly ending JJ and Will LaMontagne's marriage, the BAU desperately needs a good romance to prove that being in a relationship isn't impossible when one is a profiler. The police procedural barely dabbled with office romance in its 15 years on CBS, and when it did with JJ and Spencer Reid, it was divisive. Garcia and Alvez getting together will effectively fill the narrative void that Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 will have while also making up for its last botched office pairing.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1 is available to stream on Paramount+.

Criminal Minds Evolution

In Criminal Minds: Evolution, the FBI’s elite team of criminal profilers come up against their greatest threat yet, an UnSub who has used the pandemic to build a network of other serial killers. As the world opens back up and the network goes operational, the team must hunt them down, one murder at a time. Original cast continuing their roles include Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster. Zach Gilford s the dynamic cast as a recurring guest star in a season-long arc.

Cast
Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Paget Brewster, Zach Gilford
Showrunner
Erica Messer
Franchise(s)
Criminal Minds
Seasons
2
Streaming Service(s)
Paramount Plus
Prequel
Criminal Minds
Where To Watch
Paramount Plus