CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION Season 19 Episode 9 Recap & Review: Special Agent Garrity

With only one episode remaining, CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION delivers its most intense hour of the season. “Special Agent Garrity” finally confirms The Fan’s identity, unleashes a devastating trap that leaves the BAU reeling, and ends with multiple lives hanging in the balance. It’s a tense, emotionally charged penultimate episode that rewards months of buildup while setting the stage for what could be one of the series’ biggest finales yet.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This recap contains major spoilers for CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION Season 19 Episode 9, “Special Agent Garrity.” If you haven’t watched the latest episode yet, now’s the time to turn back.

The BAU Finally Unmasks The Fan

After weeks of chasing clues, the BAU finally confirms that James Crowley is The Fan. But true to form, Crowley is already several steps ahead.

Rather than avoiding capture, Crowley intentionally allows himself to be brought in for questioning, turning the interrogation into another opportunity to manipulate the team. Even as Prentiss, Rossi, and the rest of the BAU believe they’re gaining control, Crowley calmly executes the next phase of his plan, proving once again that he’s been orchestrating events from the shadows all along.

Lance Makes A Tragic Choice

The emotional centerpiece of the episode belongs to Lance Kingston.

Still desperate to save Laura, Lance secretly agrees to help Crowley after being promised she’ll be released. His decision leads to one heartbreaking mistake after another, including sabotaging Rossi’s pursuit and unknowingly walking directly into Crowley’s final trap.

Connor Storrie continues to impress, transforming Lance from an arrogant outsider into one of the season’s most sympathetic characters. That evolution makes his fate all the more devastating.

The Fan’s Cruelest Trick Yet

Just when Lance believes he’s about to rescue Laura, Crowley hands him a phone containing what appears to be her GPS location.

Instead, it’s another carefully orchestrated deception.

The moment Lance activates the device, it explodes, killing him instantly in one of the most shocking and brutal deaths CRIMINAL MINDS has delivered in years. It’s a horrifying reminder that Crowley doesn’t simply want to kill his victims—he wants to manipulate them into becoming willing participants in their own destruction.

Rossi And The BAU Lose More Than A Battle

While the team successfully identifies The Fan, the victory feels hollow.

Crowley escapes with his larger plan still intact, Lance is dead, and the BAU realizes they’ve spent much of the season reacting instead of staying ahead. Rossi, in particular, appears deeply affected as the investigation once again becomes painfully personal.

Meanwhile, Elias Voit remains an unpredictable wildcard whose role in the finale could ultimately determine whether the BAU succeeds or suffers another devastating loss.

Final Thoughts

“Special Agent Garrity” is exactly what a penultimate episode should be.

Rather than relying solely on action, the episode combines emotional character work with genuine suspense, constantly shifting the balance of power between the BAU and The Fan. Connor Storrie’s final performance is outstanding, Justin Kirk continues proving why Crowley is one of the franchise’s most memorable villains, and the closing moments leave the team in its most vulnerable position of the season.

Final Verdict

CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION delivers one of Season 19’s strongest episodes with “Special Agent Garrity.” The shocking death of Lance, Crowley’s masterful manipulation of the BAU, and a finale-worthy cliffhanger combine to create an unforgettable hour that raises the stakes for everyone involved. If the season finale can match this level of intensity, Season 19 will rank among the franchise’s best.

Rating: 9.6/10

Tune In

Don’t miss the Season 19 finale of CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION, streaming Thursday, July 23, 2026, streaming exclusively on Paramount+. Be sure to check back with Seat42F for our complete finale recap, review, ending explained, and rating.