Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3, Episode 2 - Will’s Death Shocks Fans

Let’s dive into Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3, Episode 2, titled “Swimmer’s Calculus,” which aired on May 15, 2025, on Paramount+. This episode hit fans hard with a devastating twist: the death of Will LaMontagne Jr., J.J. Jareau’s husband. I’m going to break down why this moment matters, how it happened, what it means for the show, where it went right or wrong, and how fans are reacting, all based on the Good Housekeeping article and related sources. This is a deep dive, written like I’m talking to a smart friend—professional but raw, conversational, and packed with facts, no fluff.

The Twist That Broke Fans

The episode centers on the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) chasing a serial killer called “the Zookeeper,” who drowns victims in chlorinated pools to hide evidence. But the real story is J.J. Jareau (A.J. Cook), a BAU veteran since Criminal Minds began in 2005. J.J.’s been married to Will LaMontagne Jr. (Josh Stewart), a detective, since Season 7 of the original series. Their relationship—13 years on-screen, two kids, countless crises—was a rare stable point in a show about serial killers. So when Will dies of a brain aneurysm in this episode, it’s a massive blow. Fans on Reddit screamed, “WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE’S DEAD,” and X users like @Shayna_Adele called it a slap after years of investment. With Evolution Season 2 averaging 3.8 million viewers per episode, this twist could shake the show’s core audience.

How It Happened

The episode weaves Will’s story into the BAU’s case. He’s at home with J.J., complaining about a headache, which she chalks up to stress from their sons’ schedules. They’re chatting about family logistics—normal stuff—when he collapses in the kitchen. J.J. calls 911, but it’s over fast. At the hospital, she tells the team—Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster), David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler), Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez), and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness)—that Will died of a spontaneous brain aneurysm from a ruptured inferior thyroid artery. TVLine calls it a rare condition, unrelated to his Season 1 thyroid scare. The scene is quiet: J.J. says, “He’s gone… Will’s dead,” and the team reels. No big music, just grief.

This wasn’t a total surprise behind the scenes. Josh Stewart announced on X in January 2024 that he was done with Evolution, saying, “My days of playing Will LaMontagne Jr. are over.” Fans speculated after his limited Season 2 role, and Good Housekeeping suggests the writers worked with minimal footage due to Stewart’s exit. X user @stllagibsons noted the rushed feel came from this, but the aneurysm was realistic—sudden, not an unsub’s doing.

Why It Matters

Will’s death is huge for J.J., a fan favorite across 18 seasons. A.J. Cook’s J.J. is a profiler, mom, and survivor of traumas like torture (Season 9) and losing colleagues. Will was her anchor, and his loss flips her world. Good Housekeeping cites Reddit reactions showing fans’ shock, and X posts like @joanna_jackier’s “physically sobbed” prove the emotional hit. Evolution’s serialized format, unlike the original’s case-of-the-week style, lets it dig into character arcs, and Season 3’s 10 episodes will explore J.J.’s grief. Paget Brewster told TV Insider that J.J. will suppress her pain to focus on her sons and job, but “hard emotional scenes” are coming.

The twist also ties to Season 3’s bigger picture. The premiere showed Elias Voit (Zach Gilford), the killer Sicarius, alive but comatose after a prison attack. Episode 2 has him faking amnesia (maybe) to mess with Rossi, who’s under investigation for assaulting him. The Zookeeper case involves drownings with stab wounds to sink bodies, and trainee Tyler Green (Ryan-James Hatanaka) is stepping up. Will’s death overshadows these, but it sets up J.J.’s personal-professional conflict. Showrunner Erica Messer hinted to Entertainment Weekly that a “big life thing” might bring back Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) for one episode, possibly linked to J.J.’s loss, given their history.

What It Means for the Show

Evolution balances personal drama with dark cases, and Will’s death raises the stakes after Season 2’s Gold Star assassin plot. Killing a beloved character risks backlash—Reddit called it “underwhelming”—but it pushes J.J.’s growth. X user @prentissfiles liked the realism, noting sudden deaths happen. Season 3’s 4.1 million premiere viewers show strong interest, but the show needs to keep fans engaged. Criminal Minds has killed characters like Gideon before, but Evolution aims for grounded storytelling. A strong J.J. arc could deepen the show’s emotional core, like Prentiss’s Season 6 arc after faking her death.

What Worked

The death’s delivery is raw. J.J.’s quiet hospital announcement avoids over-the-top drama, mirroring real grief. The team’s reactions—Garcia’s shock, Prentiss’s support—are authentic. A.J. Cook’s “heart-wrenching” performance, per TV Insider, carries it. The episode keeps the Zookeeper case moving, with Tara and Luke analyzing the killer’s chlorine drownings and stab wounds, showing the BAU’s skill. Brewster said the writers “did a beautiful job” honoring Will, hinting future episodes will give his death weight. The realism of the aneurysm, as @stllagibsons noted, grounds the story in life’s unpredictability.

What Didn’t Work

The pacing’s off. Will’s screen time is maybe five minutes, per @Shayna_Adele, making it feel abrupt after 13 years. Reddit fans said keeping him off-screen or transferring him would’ve been better. The aneurysm’s realistic but lacks foreshadowing—more scenes of Will’s headaches could’ve built tension. The episode crams in Voit’s games, Tyler’s training, and the Zookeeper case, diluting the grief. TVLine said the hospital scene needed more space, and @joanna_jackier wanted deeper focus on J.J. Juggling plots is Evolution’s style, but here it shortchanges the emotional core.

Common Mistakes in Character Deaths

Rushing a death is a big one, and Evolution stumbles here. Gideon’s Season 10 death had buildup and a memorial, unlike Will’s quick exit. Not giving closure hurts—Will’s small Season 2 role left fans unprepared. Ignoring history is another mistake; J.J. and Will’s love was a fan favorite, and killing him risks making her story too bleak. If J.J.’s grief is sidelined for cases, it’ll feel like a shock for shock’s sake, as Reddit feared. Criminal Minds lost viewers after Derek Morgan’s Season 11 exit, though his guest returns helped. Evolution’s 3.5 million core streamers could dip if J.J.’s arc falters.

What Happens If You Mess It Up?

Fans tune out. Criminal Minds has survived cast changes, but controversial exits hurt. If J.J.’s grief feels forced or ignored, it could alienate viewers, especially with Evolution renewed for Season 4. But a strong arc could make J.J. more compelling, like Prentiss post-Season 6. The show’s serialized storytelling gives room to explore, but it needs to focus on J.J., not just Voit or the Zookeeper. Messer’s hint about Reid suggests a tie-in, which could anchor fans if done right.

Fan Reactions and What’s Next

Fans are divided but hooked. Reddit’s 18.7K-member r/criminalminds subreddit exploded, with comments like “I don’t even watch Evolution but???? Nooooooo.” X posts range from @vividhunter’s conspiracy theories (poisoning?) to @stllagibsons’ defense of the realism. The episode’s 8.2/10 IMDb rating from 1,200 votes shows it landed, flaws and all. Fans are curious about J.J.’s arc and Reid’s return, with @mggiswounderful hyping the twist. New episodes drop Thursdays, and with Season 4 confirmed, Evolution has time to make Will’s death matter. For now, it’s a risky move that’s got everyone talking.