What do you think of the premiere? ‘Criminal Minds’ Season 7 Premiere Review & Discussion
When Criminal Minds returns this fall for its seventh season, fans can rest easy knowing that familiar faces will be returning for good. After the continuous ousting of female cast members last year, the favored members of the BAU will be officially reunited in the Criminal Minds season 7 premiere.
The episode, entitled “It Takes A Village”, will mark the official return of Paget Brewster (as Emily Prentiss) to the Criminal Minds family. Of course, since the rest of her BAU team believes that she’s dead, there’s a certain amount of explanation that needs to occur.
Unfortunately, the return of Prentiss from the proverbial grave isn’t something that can simply stay within the confines of the FBI. Considering Hotchner was responsible for faking Prentiss’ death and providing her with a somewhat new life abroad, a Senate Committee is extremely interested in knowing why all of this occurred, and why she’s now returning.
For those unfamiliar with the Criminal Minds cast shake-up that occurred during the sixth season, allow me to fill you in. For some reason (likely to cut costs and move the series into a different direction), “the powers that be” initially decided that AJ Cook (as JJ Jareau) was no longer needed in the series. On top of that, it was also decided that Paget Brewster’s role would be cut down significantly.
Almost a year after the role reduction for Brewster was announced – and following the departure of AJ Cook from the series – it was revealed that Brewster would also be leaving the series. As a reunion of sorts, AJ Cook returned to Criminal Minds for Brewster’s final episode, and the producers made sure that Brewster’s character arc allowed for her to possibly return.
While all of this was occurring, both fans of the series and cast members still on the series were appropriately upset (read what series star Kirsten Vangsness said to us about this situation). With Cook and Brewster being replaced by a new female character, Ashley Seaver (Rachel Nichols), some stability was restored to the hit CBS series – though fans were still wondering when/if their favorite characters would return.
As Criminal Minds season 6 came to a close, a cliffhanger hinted that Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) may not return. In real life, Gibson was in the middle of contract renegotiations (he was highly underpaid in regards to the ratings that the series was receiving and his position on the show). With Gibson willing to walk away from Criminal Minds, a flurry of decisions were made: Rachel Nichols was let go from the series, executive producer (and showrunner) Ed Bernero left Criminal Minds, AJ Cook and Paget Brewster were rehired, and Thomas Gibson renewed his contract.
With all that craziness over, we are now a month away from the Criminal Minds season 7 premiere, and things have somewhat returned to normal. Even though the loss of Bernero from the series will certainly be felt, Criminal Minds still retains a great team of writers and producers that know how to make the series work as successfully as it has in the past.
While it’s hard to tell exactly how things will play out in the upcoming season, the return of AJ Cook and Paget Brewster is certainly a step in the right direction.
You can see photos from the Criminal Minds Season 7 premiere below:
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Click here to check out our complete Criminal Minds Photo Gallery
Criminal Minds season 7 premieres September 21 @9pm
Follow Anthony on Twitter @anthonyocasio
Source: TVLine
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love this … best on tv ive so missed the team
I can’t believe they EVER got rid of these two actresses~ they were two of the best, and their outside plot lines were actually interesting! I’m super happy they are coming back ..and I hope that Hotchner’s character is developed more this season!
hey mary my names mary two and like totally agree
thank god there back best show on tv
I am so excited that JJ and Prentice will be back! The show wouldn’t be the same if any member of the team weren’t there. I love the show, and a lot of the reason for its success is the dynamics of the cast. I would love to see Gideon come back too. There aren’t too many shows on television that I hate to miss, but Criminal Minds is one I can’t miss!
Yes, thank you for returning all the leading lady’s !
I’d stopped watching a year ago when I couldn’t find what
station to go to, then finding the new episodes I noticed
straight away AJ Cook was replaced? I just didn’t watch anymore.
Prentiss was a strong caricature & I was deeply upset when
she was killed off. Knowing she may come back I still watched,
but when JJ was replaced…well me too then, is what I thought.
I mean come on guys. You took out all the leading Lady’s?
Anyway now that I know they are back I’ll be tuning in again.
PS,
Don’t you dare take away Shamar or Thomas ~ that will
be it for me with no return period.
This is a family team & we love them, write that into your script!
PPS,
Hated Charlie Sheen till I saw 2.5 men, they replaced him, I
will not watch the new episodes. I’m sick & tired of TV productions
giving a show then changing it whenever they want.
FINE, do that, but you won’t get my hit for your wallets…
Dummy up people!
It’s all about the viewer, not U & your pockets…US ~
That’s all I have to say about that…lol :~)
Sorry, but you hit a pet peeve – the plural of lady is ladies, not lady’s (that spelling denotes the possession of one lady).
Thomas and Matthew are my cup of tea. Love them. CBS did the right thing to bring JJ ans Pretiss back. The new girl in last season was ugly and bad acted.
What a sigh of relief, Pheww!! So happy to hear that Emily and JJ are returning for good. When the show started revamping the cast, with JJ leaving and then Emily’s role being reduced tremendously, I was so upset with the producers and one point had considered stopping watching this show entirely. Then there’s the rumor that Penelope may be leaving too. Thank goodness that the original team is back again. Can’t imagine the BAU w/o any of them. Sad to hear Ashley Seaver’s role is no more. Though her addition never could fill in for JJ and Emily’s departure, but she is quite interesting. I was hoping that maybe they would just add another permanent cast to the team but then, this is good enough…. Thank You!!!Looking forward for an awesome season 7…
I am so happy that you returned all the cast to Criminal Minds. I was thinking about not watching it so much, but now that you returned AJ and Premiss to the show, I will faithfully watch it!!
Marie
I am doing a mad happy dance! Just saw the season opener and I cannot be more pleased that the producers saw fit to reunite the cast. It truly is an ensemble cast and the show was terribly weakened by the banishment of AJ Cook and Paget Brewster.
Also, Prentiss’ return was handled BEAUTIFULLY; there aren’t too many ways to bring someone back from the dead that could be called “believable”; this is one of the few. As for the storyline itself, inevitably there were so many loose ends from Prentiss’ pseudo-death particularly Ian Doyle’s escape; no way Morgan was going to let that go unresolved. I think they handled those details as well as was initially possible. No doubt there will be more adjustments as time goes by and that is as it should be. That there was no mention of what happened to Declan is appropriate although I expect him or a mention of him to crop up in the future even if onl indirectly.
One question though, my fellow ranters, am I the only one to notice that Ian was shot from behind? Remember he reached to the back of his head/neck area and came back bloody, reached out to take Declan’s hand in his and then died. Not only did he not he not turn his back on Lachlan McDermott; he WOULD NOT turn his back on Lachlan McDermott. Sooooo, who REALLY shot him, hmmm?
reid was Great last night as was everyone these and NCIS really proven why they have a huge fan base
Did anyone eles hear that Jack was with Hotch brother could we be seeing Hotch brother again
Now we need to see Giedion also even for a cameo apperance. Love that show.
I AM SO HAPPY THAT AJ COOK AND PAGET BREWSTER ARE BACK IN SEASON 7 OF CRIMINAL MINDS!!! Frankly speaking, i would have lost interest watching this series without them..and all of the other original cast!!
Rachel Nichols was okay but i still prefer my favorite JJ & EMILY!!
CONGRATULATIONS!! I will be an avid fan eagerly waiting to watch Criminal Minds season 7 from the Philippines!!! YEHEY!!!
I love Criminal Minds but the way that these characters have been developed to show that each of them has a close relationship outside of their jobs comes across as really weird. There was never much interaction between them and now all of a sudden there is! There didn’t seem to be any build up between the change in their relationships and to me now it just comes across as false.
Where can I go to watch the 7th season premier.
YouTube
I so love the return J.J n Emily can’t wait to see them on season 7 ! n don’t u tink of taking neither of the team … not sweet pnelope, Morgan or Reid daaaamn I love them al ! I love how Hotch’s character is simple n precise ! Kenya loves Criminal Minds
#akili za majambazi#
And we love Kenya!!!
Hey!!!
I love criminal minds! Best Cast
When will series 7 be shown in the UK? Its got that bad I keep watching the re-runs!! Glad JJ & Emily are returning, it wasn’t the same. Seaver didn’t gel with the others like JJ & Emily.
it was a big mistake getting rid of jj and emily. the other actress to me just couldn’t feel right to me
a jcook and paget brewster are hard to replace. I love the show and that really bothered me that they left. the stories are all great and this cast works together very good. I hated when garcia was shot. I thought they were getting rid of her. she’s a class act in her own right. If I were in control, I would get rid of strauss. I love the actress but can’t stomach erin strauss and she is devious. I think when hotch profiles her that the reason she loved her son more then the other children is because he is a result of an affair. I would also LOVE to see them finally get elle greenaway…that would be a good one too… just some thoughts that’s all. I also love the connection and true friendship and love between morgan and garcia. that’s what true friendship is like. I have to find out what nights criminal minds is on my local station, I havent seen any of the new ones yet. I am so looking forward to them. thank you all
Me encanta criminal minds,todoslos personajes son increibles,pero mis favoritos son Emily Hoch no podria ver la serie si no estuvieran todos no pongan mas personajes porque no creo que le haga bien a CM , yo creo que como ya estan todos con una historia bien escrita no necesitan a nadie mas,ellos son los indicados y los que le dan vida a los personajes a la perfeccion solo tienen que seguir como estan y les ira muy bien ,deseandole lo mejor a todos me despido.
Yipeeeeee so glad J.J is bck and Emily can`t wait i have box set of this and its so adicitave love it x
Hey,but did u see the other part emily isn’t leaving they faked her death.
Why does the show have to keep killing off main chacaters? I thought they are a “family” the show is successful because they keep the main chacaters. I’m very disappointed that Emily is leaving. Shame on you
Nobody dying or being killed off
Hey my name is Derricka but I love Criminal Minds and a show called Law & Order Special Victim Unit but I defenetlelly love Criminal Minds.
This is a great show!
Keep the actors and actresses. Stop Killing them!
Thank god; They have not killed the show off by budget cuts.
And were able to keep the best actors and actresses.