Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2. episode 9.
Summary
Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2’s penultimate episode had a shocking cliffhanger ending after revealing major twists in the “Gold Star” case.Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 8focused on Damien and Jade, but episode 9 introduced new unsubs, one of whom appears to be the true biggest villain of the season.Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2 has been leading up to a confrontation between the BAU team and members of the “Gold Star” program, but episode 9 suggested major changes for the season finale. It’s unclear how much will be resolved, withCriminal Mindsseason 3already confirmed.
ThroughoutCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, the BAU team has slowly but surely been making progress in the “Gold Star” case. After episodes of chasing Damien and Jade, the team had to shift their focus to a new character. WithDamien’s death inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 8, it looked like Jade would be their next biggest target. Yet,Criminal Mindshad a major unsubplot twist that revealed Damien wasn’t the puppetmaster as they assumed he was. Damien and Jade killed the doctors behind Stuart House, but their biggest abuser is still alive.

Did Jade Blow Up The Training Center At The End Of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 9?
Criminal Mindsis no stranger to cliffhanger endings, especially when setting up major episodes like season finales.Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 9 was full of plot twists and big reveals, moving at a faster pace than the previous episodes this season. The developments made it clear that the season finale would not just be shocking but dangerous for all involved. While Jade thought her biggest enemy was the FBI, it was actually a man named Frank Church, who she thought saved her.
However, when talking to a young girl named Mila, she realizes Frank has been manipulating her and was her main abuser when she was at Stuart House. After ensuring Mila made it out alive, Jade rigs Frank’s training camp to blow up. She was planning to take Frank out and save the children he’d been abducting, but the blast could kill or injure two majorCriminal Minds: Evolutioncharacters.

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While Jade was setting up the explosion, Rossi and Emily went against orders and entered the facility.Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 9 before the building blew up, so there’s a slim chance that Jade didn’t go through with it, or that her plan failed. However, if she did succeed, it would put Rossi and Emily in grave danger. Whileit’s unlikelyCriminal Mindswill kill offRossi and/or Emily, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were seriously injured in theCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2 finale.

Aida Limited’s Role In The Gold Star Case Explained
Frank Church Is Running A Training Camp For Assassins
While looking further into the “Gold Star” case, the BAU team found information about a company called Aida Limited, run by Frank Church. They discover that all the Stuart House doctors and law enforcement officers Jade killed were connected because they were paid by an escrow account funded by Aida Limited. The private security company used to be contracted by the government, but their contract was voided after they were accused of profiteering. Frank was brought up on charges, but they were later dropped thanks to his connections.
Frank had hired the strike team to take out “Gold Star,” and when he failed, he started over with a young girl named Mila.

The BAU bring Frank in for questioning inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 9, but Director Madison shuts the interrogation down because reporters were finding out about the “White Paper.” Earlier in the episode, Jade gouged out an officer’s eyes and had him send a message to the BAU that she just wanted to go home and find peace. This home turns ut to be a training camp for assassins run by Frank Church.
Frank had tricked Jade and others into believing he was eliminating places like Stuart House and saving them from abuse, giving them the tools to fight for a better cause. Frank was the one who came up with the conspiracy theory about saving kids while doing the opposite. Frank had hired the strike team to take out “Gold Star,” and when he failed, he started over with a young girl named Mila who reminded him of Jade. Yet, Mila helps Jade realize Frank was abusing them, not helping them.

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Why Frank Church Killed Dana In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 9
Frank Church Didn’t Want Dana Asking Questions
Criminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 9 introduced Dana as an unsub as well as Frank Church. Dana was one of five “Gold Star” program members, and one of three that remained, as Damien and Aiden are now dead. After Jade kills Damien, she reunites with Dana, who helps her disable the officer they used to send a message to the BAU. Like Jade, Frank had manipulated Dana into believing he was their savior. Frank had ordered Dana to bring Jade back “home,” which she succeeded in doing.
However, when Dana tells Frank she still has questions, though she doesn’t say what they are about, he surprisingly shoots her in the back of the head. Jill had theorized that Frank set up Damien’s death as a way to test her commitment to the conspiracy. By saying she had questions, Dana also suggested she had doubts about the conspiracy. Frank can’t have her compromise his plan and spread her doubts, so he kills her. Until the end ofCriminal Minds: Evolutionepisode 9, Jade was the “Gold Star” member most committed to Frank.

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Why Jill Gideon Kissed David Rossi In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Episode 9
Jill Gideon Kissed David Rossi Before He Went Into The Field
Jill Gideon and David Rossi have a complicated relationship inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2. When Jill was introduced inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 7, she claimed Rossi left the BAU in 1997 because she broke his heart. In the following episode, Rossi disputed her claims, saying nothing ever happened between them, but they bonded over Gideon’s poor treatment of them. However, he also admitted that he’d had feelings for Jill and thought about what could have happened between them if not for poor timing.
InCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 8, Jill strangely kissed Rossi, but it was later revealed she did it to make him uncomfortable so he wouldn’t follow her when she met up with Damien. Jill kisses him again inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 9 before he goes to Frank’s training center, but this kiss appears to be different. She tells him to be safe, which likely meansJill kissed Rossi to let him know how important he was to her.

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Peter Could Make An Appearance In The Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Finale
Peter Is The Only Gold Star Program Member Who Hasn’t Appeared In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2
ThoughCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 9 mentions Peter multiple times, with Jade and Dana wanting to find him, he never appears. He’s the only “Gold Star” program member who hasn’t been shown. Aiden was the first of the five to be introduced inCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, with Damien, Jade, and Dana following. If Jade’s plan works in theCriminal Mindsfinale, he’ll likely become the last surviving “Gold Star” program member.
Little is known about Peter, but his lack of appearance suggests he doesn’t have a strong relationship with Frank. This makes him a threat to Frank, as he might not be as strong of a believer in the conspiracy theory as the others. However, the fact that he has stayed under the BAU’s radar for this long also makes him a threat to him. If Peter doesn’t appear in theCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2 finale, he could play a role in season 3.
TheCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2 finale will be released on Paramount+ on Thursday, August 1.
Criminal Minds: Evolution
Cast
InCriminal 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 members continuing their roles include Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster. Zach Gilford joins the dynamic cast as a recurring guest star in a season-long arc.