Why did JJ leave in Criminal Minds?
Jareau was written out of the show after Cook was let go at the beginning of season six, for financial reasons relating to the premiere of the spin-off Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.
Fortunately, J.J. wasn't gone for long. The Season 7 premiere saw the return of Cook's character and Brewster's Emily Prentiss to the BAU, with the former now having the profiler training necessary to join the team in a new position.
A. J. Cook announced her pregnancy, a fact that was carried over to her character Jennifer "JJ" Jareau as well. Showrunner Erica Messer stated in an interview that Cook's character JJ would not appear for the first five episodes of the season as Cook was on maternity leave.
Jennifer "JJ" Jareau is a Supervisory Special Agent who was the BAU's former liaison with police and media officials. Upon her return in Season Seven, she officially becomes a profiler while her original position has gone to Aaron Hotchner (until his departure from the BAU) and Penelope Garcia.
However, at the end of the finale, it's Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) who leaves the team.
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| Jordan Todd | |
|---|---|
| Actor | Meta Golding |
| Gender | Female |
| Hair | Brown |
| Occupation | Counter Terrorism Division Agent FBI Agent (Formerly) |
Unlike some other shocking Criminal Minds character exits, there was no behind-the-scenes drama involved with Shemar Moore's departure, with the actor simply deciding that after eleven seasons it was time to leave. He felt he'd explored every facet of Morgan as a character and he wanted to pursue other projects.
As the team celebrates with Morgan, he talks with Hotchner about his departure from the team in order to protect his family and to be around for his son.
Moore made appearances in Seasons 12 and 13, bringing Derek Morgan briefly back to the world of Criminal Minds. But Season 11 was the end of his run as a main character. Morgan never appeared again in the final two seasons of the series, leaving fans to hope that his life turned out the way he wanted it to.
JJ and Reid in 'Criminal Minds'
They clearly care about each other more than just co-workers, and they definitely have some chemistry. In the finale of season 14, JJ revealed to Reid that she's always loved him while they are held at gunpoint.
Do Reid and JJ end up together?
An attempt at setting the two up was made, but ultimately, romance never blossomed. Cut to the finale episode of season 14.
Criminal Minds delivered an emotional and unforgettable moment during its 15th and final season premiere on Wednesday. The two-hour premiere saw JJ (A.J. Cook) profess her love for Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) after he saved her life when she was shot in a parking garage.
JJ welcomed a beautiful baby boy.
After announcing that Agent Jennifer Jareau was pregnant at the end of Season 10, we couldn't wait for her return. She was greeted by the team in the episode "Target Rich," where they surprised her with a fun welcome back office party.
Fans didn't want A.J. Cook to leave the show
Fans weren't exactly on board for JJ to be gone from their favorite series. Cook was eventually brought back into the fold and came back for season 7.
Cook ultimately appeared on just two episodes of the sixth season: one to make the excuse of being transferred to the Pentagon, and the other to help assist in ending Prentiss' storyline faking her death at the end of that season.
She will guest star in the series' sixth season finale on May 18 before re-joining the show full-time in the fall. Cook departed Criminal Minds after the end of last season when her option was not picked up, stirring outcry among fans of the show.
