Despite being a divisive character, Criminal Minds: Evolution showrunner Erica Messer confirms that season 2 will feature Tyler Green. While the Paramount+ revival of the hit procedural kept its core cast, it also introduced a few new players into the new iteration, including Tyler. Played by Ryan-James Hanataka, the character was intrinsic in taking down Sicarius, but as the series went on, his role also expanded and became more complicated.
The reception to Tyler was initially positive, but that changed when he started a relationship with Penelope Garcia. Aside from being inappropriate since he was material to the BAU's case, it also derailed her possible romance with Luke Alvez. However, despite parting ways with Garcia, Messer tells Variety that there's a good chance that Tyler will still appear in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2. Read her full quote below:
"Yes, there’s a very great chance that we will be seeing Tyler. We loved Tyler. We love RJ. We thought that relationship would do exactly what it did this season, but we really liked giving Garcia that messy relationship. We just completely bought that she would break up with him after that betrayal, but that maybe it isn’t over. Maybe this is her person. We want to keep exploring that, so it’s gonna get a little more complicated next year because he’s going to be around still, sort of consulting, and where it gets messy now is Alvez knows about it. So there can be a little bit more of a triangle than we’ve ever really done on the show, in terms of the members being in relationships. It felt like now’s the time to do it. We also didn’t want to deny Garcia and Tyler this bond because it does feel special and real."
What Tyler Green's Role Could Be In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2
The reception to Greene's character happened because he was used in an unpopular storyline. But just because he broke things off with Garcia doesn't mean that the Paramount+ series can't utilize him in other ways, especially considering his background, coupled with his previous ties to Elias Voit. He could have connections to the Gold Star mystery for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2.
Messer did mention that Garcia and Tyler parting ways may not be the end of their romantic story. Since both came out of the Sicarius debacle in Criminal Minds: Evolution, she and her writers can rekindle their relationship moving forward. Despite the public's divisive reception to their pairing, primarily because of Alvez's continued pining for the BAU's tech analyst, they could still find a way to spin their potential romance into something well-done and popular.
It is likely that Messer is planning on leaning into the burgeoning love triangle involving Tyler, Garcia, and Alvez. While it has never been the focus of its storytelling, the CBS police procedural was still able to incorporate compelling romances throughout its run. Alvez and Garcia's romance is confirmed for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, anyway, which makes Tyler's involvement in their future plausible.
Source: Variety