Warning: Spoiler alert! Do not proceed if you have not watched Wednesdays two-hour premiere of Criminal Minds.
After six months of dancing around each other, BAU team members JJ (A.J. Cook) and Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) were forced to confront their feelings once and for all during Criminal Minds two-hour season premiere on Wednesday. Did JJ mean what she said in her finale bombshell when she revealed, seemingly out of the blue, that shes been secretly in love with her friend and colleague? Turns out, JJ didnt exactly mean it when she told Reid, “Ive always loved you,” at gunpoint.
The truth behind JJs confession surfaced in a bittersweet conversation between the two friends at the hospital, hours after JJ nearly died following a gunshot wound to the abdomen suffered during a tense standoff. Even more devastating, JJ confessed that she was happy with her husband and kids, but that things could have potentially turned romantic had she and Reid met under different circumstances. That is the sound of hearts breaking.
“We have to acknowledge what was said. And if Reid got hurt because of that confession, even if it wasnt a true confession, we need to acknowledge that,” executive producer Erica Messer told ET of undoing JJs bombshell. “I was really wanting to be protective of her character, because shes got a life that she loves. She has a husband and children, and these are things that Reid doesnt have. And so, it doesnt seem fair that she would say, Maybe in another world, we could have been something, when she has that world already.”
“But Reid doesnt hold any ill will toward her, and loves her all the same,” she added. “So it was [about] protecting the two of them, so that that relationship that we all love so much doesnt get ruined because of something that was said in a very heightened moment.”
Following Wednesdays premiere, ET spoke with Messer about JJ and Reids heartbreaking conversation at the hospital, what this means for Reid moving forward (hint: a new love interest) and wrapping up 15 years of Criminal Minds.
ET: How much discussion did you have in the writers room about actually exploring a relationship between JJ and Reid? Was that ever a real possibility?
Erica Messer: No, we knew this would never be a will they-wont they story. We never wanted to explore that. It just didnt feel true to them.
Their conversation at the hospital was a difficult one for them to have. What did you want to convey in that moment?
To acknowledge the life is messy, love is messy. In another world, in another time, maybe they could have been… It would be false not to acknowledge that. At the same time, its such a deep conversation for them to have. And I think, ultimately, just showing that their love for one another rises above all of that. And I think shes asking for forgiveness in that scene and hes saying theres no need for that. It shows that there is no real road map for love. It just is what it is, and its messy and beautiful and heartbreaking. All of that.
How does Reid move on from this? What is his journey, knowing now that he has to let that aspect of JJ go in a way?
In a few episodes, youre going to see what everybodys doing on a Saturday. Reid has been having this recurring nightmare and hes actually in therapy, which has been mandated from the Bureau. In that, the therapist challenges him to go have a normal day. And hes like, “I dont even know what that looks like.” And shes like, “Right, so you need to go find out what that looks like.” Part of the discussion is about all the complications with JJ and where he gets to confirm again — its not that hes pining for her or wanting to break up her marriage; none of those things are on his radar — but he needs to go find out what makes him happy.
What makes him happy, when he talks about happiness, its always involving work. JJ said this and like, “Okay, who are you without these people around you? Who are you when youre walking in a park and you interact with a stranger?” Thats his challenge for the episode. Within that, he meets somebody, who makes him happy and makes him smile. JJ recognizes that in him and says, “You need to chase that. That thing thats making you feel so happy right now, you need to explore that further. And its her realizing, “I want that for him as much as he wants that for me.”
Reid is also dealing with the fact that his moms health is deteriorating and that after a certain amount of him, she is going to be a shell of who she is now. What hardships does Reid go through as he sees his mom go through this?
Its emotionally exhausting, but theres also such a hopefulness, especially in that second hour of the premiere. Its such a heartbreaking disease and shes been straddled with multiple issues and theres almost two ways to go with it. Its either, she dies, which we didnt want to do, or, shes going to continue to have his deteriorating brain disease that will eventually become really, really difficult to watch and live through. We thought, “Well, the truth is, there are these studies that are allowing people to have exactly what Stephanie wrote in that episode, which is, these moments of clarity and these moments of normalcy.” They might last for months, they might last for days; its fleeting. And then it could be a rapid decline after that or it could be a slow decline after that. We thought, “Well, thats a nice way to reintroduce that storyline, is that it isnt just downhill from here.” Theres going to be peaks and valleys, and its a nod to those who are dealing with family members who are struggling with this disease — that we hear you and we see you.
Its probably different if you asked different individuals but part of what we decided on in the writers room was to tell stories we hadnt had a chance to tell yet. Some of those took the shape of the episode, “Saturday” (airing Jan. 22), by Stephanie Birkitt and Breen Frazier, which is about what our team does on a day off. Its a fun jumping-off point to show our heroes in a different light. Everybodys always wondered, what does that look like? Do they ever truly turn it off? Were telling stories like that. We never did anything like, “This is a killer we wish we had always gotten to and never did.” We didnt approach any of it in that way; it was more character-based. How do we want to see these heroes interacting and what have we not had a chance to do yet?
We felt that way in the writers room. A lot of the actors felt that way. They wanted to be able to have closure on certain stories that we had set up years ago. Its a large task and very unusual, when you know its the end, and theres only 10 hours to wrap it all up. Certainly by the [end], I just wanted it to feel as bittersweet as we did writing it.
You mentioned talking to the actors about closing out their arcs. What were some of their personal desires heading into the final season?
Everybody had a different perspective, but Id say the common denominator was that everyones so protective. Certainly, Im protective of the show, and of the characters and the stories, but they come at it from a really protective place of the characters that theyve been bringing to life all these years. We would talk about, “Were considering going this way with the character, what do you think of that?” and letting the actors have a little bit more say than maybe they would in a normal 22-episode season. But it came from a place of a wish list, but also, more of a protective stance, I think.
Its about our family of heroes and the acknowledgement of how lucky weve been to be together for this long. And how, just because we wont see each other every day, it doesnt mean were not always going to be family. I think part of that was what we actually had characters say, and also, how we all were feeling at the time. But ultimately, I think its this bittersweet sensation; were just thankful for what we had. And were sad that were not going to have it the same way anymore, but we wouldnt change a thing.
Reid later began to avoid JJ and Prentiss as he was angry with them for not telling him she was alive. He reveals that he went to JJs house for ten weeks after Prentiss died, crying, and also revealed that he had thought about taking Dilaudid again. Prentiss later talked to him, and he forgave her and JJ. (“Proof”)
JJ receives several calls as the BAU investigates the current case. The callers identity or the nature of the calls have yet to be elaborated upon. At the end of the episode, she goes to a plaza with a center fountain, expecting to meet up with someone, when someone grabs her from behind and drags her away. (“The Road Home”)
JJ reveals to Blake that her sister committed suicide. She also locates a planner and several other items belonging to Judy Morrison, which the team uses this to clear Bruce Morrison and incarcerate his daughter Sera for the crimes. In the same episode, she is held at gunpoint by Sera before Morgan and Reid rescue her. (“All That Remains”)
When the team captures Ian Doyle and his son is abducted, JJ and Hotch realize that they cannot get information from Doyle without Prentiss. She is flown in as Hotch tells the rest of the team that she is alive. The team realizes that Declans mother Chloe Donaghy, is behind the kidnapping, and they manage to save Declan, though Doyle and Chloe are both killed in the process. Following this, JJ and the rest of the team were placed under investigation, though Prentiss managed to clear them. (“It Takes a Village”)
It is revealed in this season that JJ knows the new BAU Section Chief Mateo Cruz (who was brought in to replace the late Erin Strauss) from her time working at the Pentagon. However, for reasons currently unknown, they keep their relationship a secret from the rest of the team. In “Strange Fruit,” the nature of their secrecy is partially clarified, in which it doesnt involve them having an affair. (“To Bear Witness”)
Following Wednesdays premiere, ET spoke with Messer about JJ and Reids heartbreaking conversation at the hospital, what this means for Reid moving forward (hint: a new love interest) and wrapping up 15 years of Criminal Minds.
After six months of dancing around each other, BAU team members JJ (A.J. Cook) and Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) were forced to confront their feelings once and for all during Criminal Minds two-hour season premiere on Wednesday. Did JJ mean what she said in her finale bombshell when she revealed, seemingly out of the blue, that shes been secretly in love with her friend and colleague? Turns out, JJ didnt exactly mean it when she told Reid, “Ive always loved you,” at gunpoint.
You mentioned talking to the actors about closing out their arcs. What were some of their personal desires heading into the final season?
Its emotionally exhausting, but theres also such a hopefulness, especially in that second hour of the premiere. Its such a heartbreaking disease and shes been straddled with multiple issues and theres almost two ways to go with it. Its either, she dies, which we didnt want to do, or, shes going to continue to have his deteriorating brain disease that will eventually become really, really difficult to watch and live through. We thought, “Well, the truth is, there are these studies that are allowing people to have exactly what Stephanie wrote in that episode, which is, these moments of clarity and these moments of normalcy.” They might last for months, they might last for days; its fleeting. And then it could be a rapid decline after that or it could be a slow decline after that. We thought, “Well, thats a nice way to reintroduce that storyline, is that it isnt just downhill from here.” Theres going to be peaks and valleys, and its a nod to those who are dealing with family members who are struggling with this disease — that we hear you and we see you.
Its about our family of heroes and the acknowledgement of how lucky weve been to be together for this long. And how, just because we wont see each other every day, it doesnt mean were not always going to be family. I think part of that was what we actually had characters say, and also, how we all were feeling at the time. But ultimately, I think its this bittersweet sensation; were just thankful for what we had. And were sad that were not going to have it the same way anymore, but we wouldnt change a thing.
How does JJ die in criminal minds?
Everett “The Chameleon” Lynch, who will be the seasons main villainous character, shot J.J. after trying to rescue his daughter Grace from prison. The Season 14 finale ended with J.J. getting held at gunpoint, but The Chameleon didnt pull the trigger until the next seasons premiere.
FAQ
How does JJ die?
Why did they get rid of JJ on Criminal Minds?
