JJ

It seemed that the writers felt the same way cast and fans did about A.J.'s sacking. So they wrote an ode of love and respect.


In JJ's final episode, we learn that she is being promoted against her will. Hotch fights for her, just as many fans fought for A.J.

In the end, it was beyond his control. All he could buy was a little bit of time. Likewise, we were gifted with seeing A.J. for the first two episodes of this new season.

And not peripherally – her prominence in the season opener was brilliant. BRILLIANT.

Hotch declares JJ is irreplaceable, and refuses to replace her. And though it is known that someone will eventually come along, we are satisfied that, for at least one episode, the they will let the hole be.

I loved the Ray LaMontagne song that was used in the final sequence. But I couldn't see how it fit. Was it a message from the team to JJ? Was it a message from JJ to the team?

And while it could be both, I think, perhaps, it was a message from the cast and crew to A.J. From them, and on the behalf of her fans, they declared "We love and support you. If you need us, we'll be there."

Criminal Minds - Aftermath

It's done. JJ is leaving, and this will be Prentiss' last year.

The whole Prentiss issue made the new CBS commercial irritating in its irony. Why use Prentiss' image to represent Criminal Minds if you're plannig to reduce the number of episodes she'll appear in?

I don't know how things are done in Hollywood, but did it really take a petition to get producers to close out JJ's storyline? Were they really going to have the character disappear with little explanation? Were they really going to leave JJ's position (communication liaison, aka media wrangler) empty?

This clearly caught the actors off guard. They might've been told before the news got out, but the anger and frustration lead me to believe that at the very least, some common courtesy was violated. Actors (or writers or anyone else for that matter) shouldn't feel like they've been slapped in the face or stabbed in the back.

The effect on the rest of the cast cannot be underestimated. Part of the reason they appear to be a loving work-family on-screen is because they are a loving work-family off-screen. Yes, they're professionals. Yes, the show must go on. But it is often harder for those who remain than it is for those who leave.

On Criminal Minds

While searching to find out what Wednesday night Criminal Minds episode would be airing, I learned that the contract for A.J. Cook (who plays JJ) would not be renewed, and that Paget Brewster's role would be reduced (she plays Prentiss) .

The first reports said it was for "financial reasons". An unfortunately logical but no less upsetting excuse. Then it was emphatically clarified to "creative reasons".

You want creativity? Have a few more episodes where no one is saved (e.g., A Shade of Gray or Tru Night); have a few more episodes where men are the victims; have Reid start dating; explore a possible relatioship between Morgan and Tamara Brown (and have him tell Garcia she was right); give Prentiss a shock to her self esteem (I know in the end she can handle it). But lose JJ? And 'replace' her with someone else? This is not Law & Order, this is not Monk. JJ is a pillar of the team, the Voice. You can freshen the series without main characters disappearing or (in Prentiss' case), fading.

Which leads us back to the initially reported reason. Money. We're all adults here. Why can't CBS just call it what it is?