With Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 entering its final stretch, I am so ready for the show to end Tyler Green, Penelope Garcia, & Luke Alvez’s complicated relationship. As a loyal follower of the Criminal Minds franchise even when it was still on network TV, I know that romances aren’t exactly its strong suit. The show never really fully delved into this particular storyline, even as its fellow police procedural dabbled into the same arc, with Law & Order: SVU doing its back-and-forth with Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler, as well as NCIS with Tony DiNozzo and Cote de Pablo.
This doesn’t mean that Criminal Minds never tried with regard to romances. However, they were never office relationships. The majority of love stories in the show were between a profiler and someone not on the same team. Even then, not all partnerships have their happily-ever-after — just think about Aaron Hotchners’ wife’s fate. When Criminal Minds finally did an office romance with JJ Jarreau and Spencer Reid, it was so poorly executed that I wasn’t surprised that they dropped it right away. Despite that, Criminal Minds: Evolution still started another one with Garcia’s complicated relationship with Green and Alvez.
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Love Triangle Doesn’t Add Anything To Its Story
Tyler Green, Penelope Garcia, & Luke Alvez’s Drama Is Unnecessary
Garcia and Alvez’s love connection started in Criminal Minds. I actually liked the progression of their relationship because it didn’t feel forced. When Kirsten Vangsness and Adam Rodriguez were confirmed for the Criminal Minds: Evolution cast, I thought that we would finally get a proper romance. Clearly, that wasn’t the case. Enter Ryan James Hatanaka’s character, Tyler, who started an unexpected affair with Garcia behind everyone’s backs. Considering the complicated start to their relationship, the BAU’s cyber specialist pulled the plug on their relationship. Somehow, however, Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 continues to harp on this.
I’m not going to get into the specifics of why Garcia and Tyler’s conversation is problematic. Those who have been following the Paramount+ revival already know them. Instead, I want to highlight how unnecessary it is that the show continues to hang onto the storyline. In Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, episode 6 “Message In A Bottle,” the show even added the possibility of Alvez dating Tyler’s ex-girlfriend. It’s uncertain if it’s something that the series will pursue later, but I really hope not, as it means that this whole storyline will continue and take away from everything else happening in the procedural.
Considering the start of their relationship, not to mention the impact it has on the better set-up romance between Garcia and Alvez, the whole situation just doesn’t add anything to the overall storyline of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2. Getting rid of it will have barely any impact on the show. The series can still maintain Tyler’s ties to Voit and continue being a BAU consultant without the additional complication of him and Garcia having to exist in the same building.
Tyler & Garcia’s Relationship Distracts From Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2’s Compelling Case
It Should Never Even Be A Plot, Considering Garcia’s No-Dating At Work Policy
But it’s so silly for the show to cut into the mostly childish interactions between Tyler and Garcia, as well as Alvez, occasionally, when we see Dave Rossi dealing with post-traumatic stress while JJ learns about the BAU-gate ahead of losing Wil.
Showrunner Erica Messer and her writers have really leaned on the creative room that being on Paramount+ allows Criminal Mind: Evolution. The mystery of Gold Star is gripping, while Elias Voit continues to prove a formidable adversary. But it’s so silly for the show to cut into the mostly childish interactions between Tyler and Garcia, as well as Alvez, occasionally, when we see Dave Rossi dealing with post-traumatic stress while JJ learns about the BAU-gate ahead of losing Wil. Unfortunately, the divisive arc doesn’t provide the levity that they may be hoping for. Instead, it is just distracting.
Don’t get me wrong, the characters are interesting on their own. I have always loved Garcia, much like the majority of Criminal Minds’ fan base. Meanwhile, Hatanaka is great as his enigmatic character and Tyler himself is an interesting addition to the BAU. However, I just can’t get past how their relationship started and eventually progressed. While I’m not that invested in Garcia’s relationship with Alvez, I recognize how awkward, and even hurtful it is to see her interact with Tyler, considering her no-dating policy at work.
Tyler, Garcia & Alvez Love Triangle Needs To Be Resolved Before Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 May See Green As An Official BAU Member
Ahead of the end of season 2, Paramount+ has already confirmed Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3. Based on Hatanaka’s social media post, he will return as Tyler, potentially joining the BAU full-time. As I’ve mentioned, I’m all for this. The character brings something unique to the show, and I would want to see more of it moving forward. However, the police procedural must sort out this weird romantic plot between him and Garcia. Messer has yet to say if they have anything set in stone for the character, but at the very least, decide on their status. I’m a fan of a will-they/won’t-they dynamic, but only if it’s done well, and this, sadly, isn’t.