The Real Reason Criminal Minds Fans Hated JJ In The End - Looper (2024)

ByTom Calen/Updated: Aug. 16, 2022 5:17 pm EST

It's impossible for a show like "Criminal Minds" to reach 15 seasons without massive support from dedicated fans who tune in week after week to see their favorite characters. Of course, that same dedication can create headaches for a series' creative team. Fans become protective of characters, decrying any divergence in portrayal. Yet, writers know they need to keep things both interesting and fresh, which typically involves giving characters new challenges and experiences. It's a fine line to walk. Change a character too drastically or too quickly and you're met with a backlash like "Game of Thrones" experienced in its last season. Change too little and you face complaints that the character did not grow enough.

There's one conversation happening on Reddit that perfectly captures that dilemma. In the penultimate season of "Criminal Minds," the series' writers took a risk with Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (A.J. Cook) that did not sit well with many viewers.

JJ crossed a line in Season 14

The Real Reason Criminal Minds Fans Hated JJ In The End - Looper (2)

CBS

While the main focus of "Criminal Minds" is the Behavioral Analysis Unit's investigations into various unsubs, viewers also get peeks into the characters' personal lives and struggles. We learn about Spencer Reid's (Matthew Gray Gubler) family as well as Derek Morgan's (Shemar Moore) horrific childhood. Likewise, we learn a great deal about JJ over the years, especially her relationship with Will LaMontagne (Josh Stewart), whom she meets in Season 2 and eventually marries. The couple seems to have an idyllic relationship, with Will even offering to retire from law enforcement and become a stay-at-home dad. For many, JJ and Will represent a modern family rising to meet the many obstacles of both couplehood and parenthood. And then came the Season 14 finale.

While JJ and Reid are dealing with an unsub, JJ — pretty much out of nowhere — tells Reid that she has been in love with him from the moment they met. If you're feeling a bit of whiplash, you're not alone. With the exception of one date in Season 1, JJ and Reid had maintained a brother-sister relationship, with each providing the other emotional support. There had never been any indication of unspoken attraction between the two.

When Redditor u/hi_michelle___ shared their opinion on the out-of-left-field confession, many voiced their agreement. The conversation is essentially a hate-fest of JJ. Commenters pointed out that JJ was happily married with two children when she proclaimed her love for Reid. Another even said the episode ruined a character the show had built up so well over 14 seasons. We can only assume the series' writers heard similar feedback after the episode originally aired because other than a short conversation between JJ and Reid in Season 15's first episode, the topic was shelved and the two remained friends.

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The Real Reason Criminal Minds Fans Hated JJ In The End - Looper (2024)

FAQs

Who is the least liked character in Criminal Minds? ›

Linda Barnes is the character fans love to hate on Criminal Minds. Ashley Seaver and Kate Callahan probably weren't created to antagonize "Criminal Minds" fans, but Linda Barnes (Kim Rhodes) seemed designed to get under people's skin from the get-go.

Did JJ have a crush on Reid? ›

It was the biggest twist of the season. In the finale of Criminal Minds season 14, an emotional episode that saw both a wedding and a hostage situation, JJ Jareau (played by A.J. Cook) told her longtime coworker, Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Grey Gubler) that she had loved him all along. I repeat: JJ loved Reid all along.

Did JJ mean what she said to Reid? ›

Did JJ mean what she said in her finale bombshell when she revealed, seemingly out of the blue, that she's been secretly in love with her friend and colleague? Turns out, JJ didn't exactly mean it when she told Reid, "I've always loved you," at gunpoint.

Who is JJ's real husband? ›

Who is the girl obsessed with Reid? ›

Catherine "Cat" Adams, a.k.a. "Miss .

Who was Reid in love with? ›

In Season 8, Dr. Spencer Reid began a relationship with a woman named Maeve, whom he had never met in person because she lived in fear of a stalker. This star-crossed relationship came to an abrupt—and tragic—end when Maeve was kidnapped by a deranged ex-student of hers.

What happened after JJ tell Reid she loved him? ›

After JJ pulled through in the hospital, the pair got another chance to share their feelings, and this time, both parties admitted they were in love with one another. However, JJ said that she also loves her husband, Will, so she and Reid decided that they would continue to be "best friends."

Who did Reid end up with? ›

With the series finale on CBS, Reid's story didn't exactly come to a satisfying end. In the final season, he has started a romantic relationship with Maxine Brenner (Rachael Leigh Cook), and the two continue in their romance after Cat Adams (Aubrey Plaza) attempts to break them up.

Why did Reid leave Criminal Minds? ›

Matthew Gray Gubler

However, Reid is now among them, as he left the team to go on classified assignments. In reality, Gray Gubler said that he isn't interested in reprising his role in season 16 of Criminal Minds: Evolution and wants to pursue other projects. For 15 seasons, he played Dr.

What is JJ's secret on Criminal Minds? ›

JJ finds out she's pregnant there and only shares the news with Cruz, who later has to break it to her that she lost the baby after their car came under attack while en route to a location. That's only half the story though. Their mission is compromised when JJ's informant is killed by a double agent.

Why is Matthew GREY Gubler not in season 14? ›

In reality, the two actors weren't able to join the new series due to conflicting schedules. Criminal Mind showrunner Erica Messer explained to TV Insider. "We wanted [Gubler and Henny] both back, and they both had other projects, and we only had a very short window to shoot this year.

Was JJ cheating on her husband? ›

Erica Messer wants to set the record straight: JJ and Cruz are not having an affair on Criminal Minds. "I'll say it again: They did not and are not having an affair," the showrunner tells TVGuide.com. "It only seems like they are." Fall TV Report Card: How is the new class doing?

What happened to JJ's baby? ›

In February 2011, while overseas, she discovered that she was pregnant. However, in April 2011, following the events of "Lauren," during an attack on the task force, she was wounded and miscarried the baby.

Is Henry JJ's son in real-life? ›

Mekhai Andersen, the child actor who portrays Henry in "100" and onward, is actually the real-life son of A.J. Cook, the actress who plays JJ. Henry's birthday was confirmed to be November 12, 2008 ("Memoriam", "200").

Who are the LGBT characters in Criminal Minds? ›

To make matters worse, the only LGBTQ character we do see is Mark Tolson (Ivan Hernandez), a gay killer who appears for one episode in Season 12. He murders four innocent men.

Who is the longest character in Criminal Minds? ›

However, because Penelope Garcia was a recurring role during the first season, it is Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid) who holds the record as the longest-running main cast member of the series. The character of Special Agent Reid was a child prodigy, having graduated from high school at age 12.

What was Criminal Minds most popular episode? ›

  • “Heathridge Manor” (Season 7, Episode 19) Image via CBS. ...
  • “The Lesson” (Season 8, Episode 10) Image via CBS. ...
  • "The Big Wheel” (Season 4, Episode 22) Image via CBS. ...
  • “Lucky” (Season 3, Episode 8) ...
  • “Masterpiece” (Season 4, Episode 8) ...
  • “Sex, Birth, Death” (Season 2, Episode 11) ...
  • “Somebody's Watching” (Season 1, Episode 18)
Nov 4, 2022

What episode did Reid lose his GF? ›

When Reid discovers that his girlfriend has been kidnapped by her stalker, he and the BAU team band together to find her before it's too late. When Reid discovers that his girlfriend has been kidnapped by her stalker, he and the BAU team band together to find her before it's too late.

Who is Spencer Reid's wife? ›

Lilliana Reid | Criminal Minds Fanon Wiki | Fandom.

Did Reid get Cat pregnant? ›

Lindsey looked on as Reid admitted to liking his painful poisoning of his inmates, and then as he surmised that Cat was not pregnant by him, but by the guard she was in cahoots with. And it was all to leverage Reid into realizing that he wishes the baby was his, “because you and I… we deserve each other,” he allows.

Does Reid find love after Maeve? ›

Criminal Minds introduced Reid's new love interest. Max, played by Rachael Leigh Cook, made a huge impact on viewers.

Does Reid ever meet Lila again? ›

Reid and Lila kindle a short-lived romance, beginning when Lila pulls Reid, fully clothed, into her pool for a kiss. At the end of the episode, they go their separate ways, and Lila is not seen in further episodes.

Who is Penelope Garcia's love interest? ›

Sam (surname unrevealed) is the new love interest of Penelope Garcia. He appeared in Seasons Eight and Nine on Criminal Minds.

Does JJ get divorced? ›

On Tuesday, July 20, Lauren announced on Instagram that she and JJ have decided to separate after 10 years of marriage.

Does Reid get another love interest? ›

In the wake of JJ's confession, it has now been confirmed by TVLine that Reid's new love interest will be played by Perception star Rachael Leigh Cook. Rachael is set to play Max, who manages to build up an unusual relationship with Reid. Her character will appear in at least two episodes of the final season.

Who is Reid's girlfriend after Maeve? ›

Maeve was not Reid's first potential love interest, as he had brief relationships with actress Lila Archer and art teacher Maxine Brenner; Reid also flirted with another woman, a bartender named Austin. However, she is the first to actually tell him "I love you".

Who is Reid dating in season 15? ›

Criminal Minds is showing Reid some love in its 15th and final season. TVLine has learned exclusively that Rachael Leigh Cook (Perception) has been tapped to play Max, a quirky, kind-hearted, candid woman who strikes up an unusual relationship with Matthew Grey Gubler's alter ego.

Why did Reid have a cane for so long? ›

Because Matthew Gray Gubler busted his knee while partying with his 500 Days of Summer (2009) co-stars, poor Dr. Reid had to get shot in the leg in this season opener.

Why did Elle Greenaway leave? ›

What Happened To Elle Greenaway In Criminal Minds. Speaking to LA Times in 2006, Criminal Minds writer and producer Ed Bernero shared that Glaudini was leaving the show to return to the East Coast as she was unhappy living in Los Angeles.

Is Hotch coming back for season 16? ›

Plenty of actors left Criminal Minds during its 15-season run, but Gibson's departure sparked the most controversy. Hotch was written off the CBS procedural as a result of Gibson's firing following an on-set altercation in which he reportedly kicked one of the drama's writer-producers.

Did Reid ask JJ out? ›

He also asked JJ out on a date, after being handed tickets to a football game by Gideon, who tells Reid that JJ is a big fan of football.

Who is the new section chief to JJ? ›

Unbeknownst to the rest of the team, JJ (A.J. Cook) has a history with newly instated section chief Mateo "Matt" Cruz (Esai Morales), with whom she worked at the State Department during her year away from the BAU.

Why did Hotch collapse? ›

As the hour opens, Hotch is “working long hours, like he always does, and presenting a case when he collapses” in front of his colleagues, Thomas Gibson tells TVLine. The cause: Internal bleeding from the scar tissue of the stabbings he suffered years ago at the hand of The Reaper aka George Foyet.

What is Reid's IQ? ›

Dr. Spencer Reid : I don't believe that intelligence can be accurately quantified, but I do have an IQ of 187, an eidetic memory, can read 20,000 words per minute. Dr. Spencer Reid : Yes, I'm a genius.

Why is Reid not in season 15? ›

Apparently, Reid is absent from the Criminal Minds reboot because Gubler wants to venture out in his career. She cites that playing the BAU's boy genius was Gubler's first job out of college, and for 15 years, he regularly appeared on the series.

Why isn t Reid in season 13 a lot? ›

Opening up to Deadline (opens in new tab), the show's executive producer Erica Messer said that schedule-wise it was very difficult for Matthew to come back as Spencer Reid in Criminal Minds: Evolution. “He's been doing other projects and a lot of those were lining up during our window.

Do JJ and Reid end up together? ›

An attempt at setting the two up was made, but ultimately, romance never blossomed.

What is jareau and cruz relationship? ›

Cruz met JJ in October 2010 in the Middle East, and nowadays, they frequently meet to exercise and socialize outside of work, but they are forced to keep their friendship a secret from the team as it originated from when both worked together for the U.S. State Department in a highly sensitive case that had yet to be ...

Are JJ's sons her real sons? ›

“We're trying to make it very real and boy, J.J. is exhausted.” Cook even got the chance to direct a few episodes herself. To add to the series' uniqueness, her children on-screen are her real-life sons. She said the show is a big “love fest” on set and the whole cast loves to see one another succeed.

Was JJ pregnant in real life in Season 4? ›

Yep and she was really pregnant while filming and instead of her leaving the show they added it in the script !!! I remember them saying that a few years ago. Beautiful women, inside and out!

How old was JJ's sister when she died? ›

Answer: Rosaline

Throughout the seasons, JJ revealed more and more about her sister's tragic death. In Season 10's "If The Shoe Fits," JJ—prompted by her mother's visit—sits down with Henry to tell him about Rosaline, who tragically committed suicide when JJ was 11 years old.

In what episode does JJ tell Reid she loves him? ›

In the finale of Criminal Minds season 14, an emotional episode that saw both a wedding and a hostage situation, JJ Jareau (played by A.J. Cook) told her longtime coworker, Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Grey Gubler) that she had loved him all along.

What is JJ's second baby's name? ›

William LaMontagne, Jr. Michael LaMontagne is the second son of NPD Detective William LaMontagne, Jr. and SSA Jennifer Jareau, and a recurring character on Criminal Minds.

Who was the worst serial killer in Criminal Minds? ›

#1: George Foyet (aka the Reaper)

George Foyet is arguably the most memorable unsub on “Criminal Minds.” He first appeared as the only surviving victim of the Reaper. But when the Reaper returns to Boston, the team finds out that Foyet and the Reaper are one in the same.

What is the saddest case in Criminal Minds? ›

Top 10 Saddest Criminal Minds Episodes
  • #8: “Sex, Birth, Death” ...
  • #7: “Hope” ...
  • #6: “Seven Seconds” ...
  • #5: “Zugzwang” ...
  • #4: “Profiler, Profiled” ...
  • #3: “Revelations” ...
  • #2: “Mosley Lane” ...
  • #1: “100” Arguably the worst unsub the BAU has ever faced is George Foyet (aka the Reaper).

What are the most disturbing Criminal Minds episode? ›

15 Creepiest 'Criminal Minds' Episodes That Will Forever Haunt Viewers
  • 8 "The Uncanny Valley"
  • 9 "Lucky" ...
  • 10 "Mosley Lane" ...
  • 11 "Birthright" Season 3, Episode 11. ...
  • 12 "Scared to Death" Season 3, Episode 3. ...
  • 13 "North Mammon" Season 2, Episode 7. ...
  • 14 "The Capilanos" Season 13, Episode 17. ...
  • 15 "200" Season 9, Episode 14. ...
Apr 6, 2023

Who is the longest running character on Criminal Minds? ›

As of Season 13, Matthew Gray Gubler and Kirsten Vangsness are the only two cast members to have remained on the show since its inception, with other members having left the show (and return in some cases) or be fired.

Which agent killed the most unsubs in Criminal Minds? ›

Of course the most prolific killer of the entire series had to make the list. Frank Breitkopf killed more than 175 people. He was never actually caught by the BAU, choosing to kill himself and the love of his life by jumping in front of oncoming train instead of letting Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) take him in.

Who was the last bad guy in Criminal Minds? ›

Everett Lynch, also known as The Chameleon, is the final antagonist of the CBS TV series Criminal Minds, serving as the main antagonist Season 14 and Season 15. He is the second archenemy of David Rossi.

Who has the highest body count in Criminal Minds? ›

Though Gideon calls Breitkopf "the most prolific serial killer ever", there is evidence that other real-life serial killers have much higher kill counts than Breitkopf: Harold Shipman, a.k.a. "Dr. Death", killed around 250 people and is believed to have killed many more, his victim count easily surpassing Breitkopf's.

What is Reid's mental illness? ›

Gubler stated in an interview in the show's second season "[Reid]'s an eccentric genius, with hints of schizophrenia and minor autism." Writer Sharon Lee Watson stated in a Twitter chat that Reid's Asperger traits make the character more lovable.

Who is the pretty boy in Criminal Minds? ›

Morgan often calls Reid "Pretty Boy." Off-camera, Shemar Moore calls Matthew Gray Gubler "Pretty Ricky" and Gubler calls Moore "Baby Boy" in reference to Morgan's nickname for Garcia "Baby Girl." This is the first appearance of Reid's mother. The music played by the music box is Forellenquintett by Franz Schubert.

Who is the youngest Criminal Minds killer? ›

Jeffrey is the youngest serial killer in the entire run of Criminal Minds, only being twelve years old at the time of his final murder. However, the youngest killers in the show's run were Danny Murphy and the youngest son of the Romani Family, both of whom were only nine years old when they committed one murder each.

What is the most popular season of Criminal Minds? ›

1. Season 2 (2006-2007) There was thankfully no sophom*ore slump when it came to Criminal Minds. The second season builds on the brilliance of the first with bold storylines, personal arcs for characters, and sets the stage for the future by introducing important figures within the world.

How many hours would it take to watch every episode of Criminal Minds? ›

'Criminal Minds' (12 seasons, 277 episodes)

If Netflix adds the final three seasons of this CBS procedural, you'll have 13 days and 14 hours of grisly serial killer drama to watch.

What is the IQ of Reid? ›

Man : What, are you a genius or something? Dr. Spencer Reid : I don't believe that intelligence can be accurately quantified, but I do have an IQ of 187, an eidetic memory, can read 20,000 words per minute.

Has anyone been in every episode of Criminal Minds? ›

To support just how different Criminal Minds could have been without their series-changing chemistry, Penelope Garcia ended up appearing in every episode of Criminal Minds but one, which is more than any other character in the series.

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