Does Rossi Die In The ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Finale?

Criminal Minds: Evolution officially concluded its first season, but ahead of the heated finale, fans of Paramount+‘s Criminal Minds revival series needed one terrifying question answered: Does Rossi die in Criminal Minds: Evolution?

David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) has been with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit since Season 3 of the original series and is a beloved character in the Criminal Minds-verse, which is why viewers were so worried when Criminal Minds: Evolution‘s main UnSub Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) captured Rossi and locked him in an underground shipping container in the season’s penultimate episode, “Memento Mori.”

When we last left Rossi, Voit sent the BAU a livestream link that showed him crying into a camera for help. The feed cut off, and the race to locate and save Rossi began. In Episode 10, “Dead End,” which premiered on Thursday, February 9, agents try their hardest to rescue Rossi while locating and apprehending Voit. But are they successful?

Wondering if Rossi dies in Criminal Minds: Evolution‘s finale? We’ve got the answer below, but be warned, major Episode 10 spoilers are ahead.

Does Rossi Die In Criminal Minds: Evolution Finale?

Episode 10, “Dead End,” kicks off with a black and white flashback to February 28, 2020. We see Rossi and his now deceased wife Krystall (Gail O’Grady) sharing a romantic champagne toast by candlelight. He promises her that it’s the last time they’ll ever celebrate their wedding anniversary in his office, but she’s doubtful, because she knows who he married and thinks leading the BAU is his destiny. We learned of Krystall’s death in the Criminal Minds: Evolution premiere and saw Rossi grieve her loss, so it makes sense that while he’s in a potentially deadly bind underground he’s thinking back to the good old days.

When the flashback ends we leap forward to present-day where Rossi is pacing around the dark shipping container looking for a way out. Once he locates the lights he uses a device to check the oxygen level underground and learns its at 82.7%. He explores his surroundings further and finds a panel, a camera, wires, and a router, which spark an idea.

Meanwhile, the BAU focuses on finding Voit so they have a better chance of learning where he’s holding Rossi hostage. And though Penelope unsuccessfully locate the IP address to the router linked to Rossi’s livestream, she preps to record the feed next time it goes live, so they can better scope out Rossi’s surroundings.

At this point, Voit has fully snapped. He’s cut his family off from all technology, but he still has his burner phone, which he uses to check in on Rossi, who’s assembling items to build some sort of escape mechanism. When Rossi notices the camera is back on, Voit enables the BAU livestream again and Rossi says, “I know what you’re doing, Lee. You’re using me as a bargaining chip, but it’s not —.” Voit mutes Rossi and makes his demands to the FBI. He asks him to rescind the nationwide BOLO alert for 24 hours so he can cross the border and disappear with his family. In exchange, he promises to return Rossi. But if the BOLO isn’t lifted in the next 24 hours? “Rossi is a dead man,” Voit says.

When Penelope and the team review the footage from the container with the audio filtered, they realize Rossi hears water running above him. “Is this what’s supposed to happen? I die in a flash flood down here?” Rossi says to the camera. The team goes to the map and tries to narrow down Voit’s containers to one in the relevant areas where it’s raining and head out to search.

Back in the container, Rossi figures out how to enable the livestream link himself, which sets off a security breach on Voit’s phone. “Lee, you just can’t help it now. You’re getting sloppy,” Rossi says holding up some sort panel that’s key to his escape. “I know you think that I’m an old dog. But I’ve learned a lot of new tricks. I know you think time is running out for me, but it’s running out for you. Because, Lee…you thought you could bury me in the same place you killed your old self, but bodies often find a way to the surface.”

When Rossi disconnects the livestream he assembles makeshift explosive devices and checks the oxygen level, which has dropped to 68.7%. He tapes the explosives the door of the shipping container, takes cover behind a table, pushes the detonator, and sets off a powerful fiery blast. He successfully blows the door open, but the ground above him collapses in, further trapping him and plummeting his oxygen level to 30.2%.

As Rossi is about to admit defeat, Krystall (!!!) appeares in the shipping container and says, “So you’re really gonna give this jagoff the satisfaction, huh?” A shocked Rossi apologizes to her for missing her funeral and says her death wasn’t fair because they were just getting started. “I’ve tried to carry on without you but it’s not the same. It’ll never be the same. Ever. But the truth is I’m not afraid anymore. I’m ready to join you,” Rossi tells her. Krystall scolds him for giving up, and although her sheer presence makes Rossi’s death seem imminent, when he turns his back on her she disappears.

After an exhaustive search and a hell of a fight that costs them a key player, the FBI gets Voit in custody, saves his family, and sends his wife to question him about Rossi’s whereabouts. The two share an emotional back and forth, then the show cuts to Rossi, whose oxygen level is now at 19.3%. As he braces for death, Krystall reappears and asks him to take her hand. The two start dancing to the song that was playing when they first met and she gives Rossi closure on her death. They share a kiss and she drops his hands before Rossi tells her it’s his time. “Yes, David. It’s your time to live,” she says as light floods the container and Luke’s (Adam Rodriguez) head appears through a hole in the debris. “I’M HERE! I’M ALIVE,” Rossi screams. The team saves him just in time, and Rossi later makes an emotional return to the office where he receives a heartwarming group hug. Long live David Rossi.

Season 1 of Criminal Minds: Evolution is now streaming on Paramount+.