Ilya Rozanov has left the building.
Thankfully, he’ll be back in Heated Rivalry Season 2! But in the meantime, fans who were blown away by Connor Storrie’s performance as the charismatic, emotionally complex Russian hockey star in the series based on Rachel Reid’s bestselling books can see more of the actor’s impressive range in Criminal Minds: Evolution.
Storrie’s casting in Season 19 of the Paramount+ series piqued the interest of longtime Criminal Minds fans and Heated Rivalry stans alike. Veteran viewers who know just how twisted the popular FBI profiler series can get likely expected Storrie to show different, darker shades of himself as a performer. But regardless of expectations, those who tune into Storrie’s debut in Season 19, Episode 4, “The Witching Hour,” will be both unsettled and impressed to see the Heated Rivalry star as Lance Kingston, a charming but deeply manipulative narcissist who’s interrogated by the BAU for a concerning connection to a case involving his ex-girlfriend.
Before Lance’s arrival to the BAU’s office, his ex Laura (Jessi Case) — a grad student at a university just outside of Philadelphia — confirmed that he took several photos of her sent to Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) in prison alongside threatening “I am NOT pathetic” messages. She also revealed that Lance “started out as this total prince, then turned out to be a complete stalker nut job” who didn’t take their breakup well. After Lance started showing up to her grad lectures, Laura called the cops and “he went apeshit.” So needless to say, he wasn’t thrilled about the FBI calling him in for questioning.
Storrie kicks off his performance opposite A.J. Cook (JJ Jareau) in a tense interrogation room scene. He drops the incredibly convincing Russian accent he uses in Heated Rivalry and picks up a devious new confidence and charm. Subtle jaw clenches, withering stares, and palpable internal conflict from Storrie successfully communicate a simmering rage just below the surface. We get glimpse of the aggression Laura alluded to when Lance has a quick but volatile outburst and snaps, “Fuck this noise!” and calls his ex a “bitch.” But when JJ asks about his ties to Voit and involvement in the case, Lance appears to genuinely be in the dark. That said, the part of him that cockily cracks “How about I’m done with whatever this entrapment is? Hold me for something, or I’m peacing out” makes it hard not to want to see him held accountable for something.
After profiling Lance as “a little too emotionally erratic” and realizing he lacks key signs of OCD required to be “The Fan” who sent the photos of Laura to Voit, the team realizes Lance likely isn’t their guy and was hacked, so they release him. But first, they send in some muscle (Adam Rodriguez’s Luke Alvez) to stress that Lance needs to keep his distance from Laura.
“Who the fuck are you?” Storrie snaps in an irritated tone when he meets Alvez’s character. As Luke lays out the threats to Lance’s safety and brings up his complicated relationship with his mom, however, Lance’s tough exterior and the mixture of annoyance and anger Storrie exudes morphs into something softer.
Even in a character as initially off-putting as Lance, Storrie finds humanity and makes viewers feel unexpected empathy. After Luke cracks Lance open, gives his spiel, and orders him to stay away from Laura, Storrie’s body language shifts. His eyes drop, subtly suggesting some semblance of shame. But this is Criminal Minds, so there’s still something sinister in the air.
While the BAU agents feel confident that Lance will go anywhere near Laura after they’re done with him, before Episode 4 ends, they grow less confident in Lance’s safety thanks to analysis from Voit.
“The first kill is the one that you fantasize about. It’s a means to an end. Lance, he’s a sacrificial pawn. Even if you found his body, there’d be nothing to profile. His death is just part of this guy’s greater goal… to emulate his idol,” Voit says of the person who actually sent him Laura’s photos.
The final scene shows Lance’s limp body being tossed into a truck, implying that he may already be dead. But rest assured, Storrie’s character will be back! Paramount+ confirmed that the Heated Rivalry star is set to return throughout Season 19 in Episodes 5, 6, and 9. And based on first-look photos, it’s time to buckle up for a far more disturbing storyline and challenging performance.
Per Paramount+, “With a deep sense of entitlement and a complex connection to the case, Lance quickly emerges as a key figure in the unfolding investigation.” So buckle up and brace to see more Storrie’s range on display.
Stay tuned for more Criminal Minds: Evolution coverage from Decider.
