Summary

• Emily Prentiss' fake death story was a way to pursue Doyle and take him down for good, keeping her team safe.
• Her deception impacted her unit, especially Reid, who struggled to adjust but eventually reconciled with her.
• Paget Brewster decided to leave Criminal Minds on her own volition after CBS released her and A.J. Cook from their contracts.

The Emily Prentiss fake death revelation in Criminal Minds shocked her entire team. Criminal Minds could often be intensely dark and disturbing, but its likable cast of characters prevented it from becoming too overbearing. One of the longest-serving characters on Criminal Minds was Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster). Prentiss appeared from seasons two through six on Criminal Minds, before apparently dying while apprehending terrorist Ian Doyle. However, this was revealed to be a fakeout in Criminal Minds season 7.

This was one of Emily Prentiss's most dramatic storylines in Criminal Minds season 6, where her old relationship with former terrorist Ian Doyle came back to haunt her. During her time with Interpol, she went undercover and entered into a relationship with Doyle, which included getting him imprisoned in North Korea and faking his son's death. Doyle escapes and targets both Emily and her former colleagues, and he later kidnaps and tortures her. This led to her apparently being killed. However, Prentiss had faked her own death, and the reasons why added several layers to her already deep character.

Why Criminal Minds' Prentiss Faked Her Death

Thinking Prentiss Was Dead Meant Doyle Let His Guard Down

While Emily Prentiss' fake death story might be seen as extreme, she did it to keep her team safe from Doyle.

During the Criminal Minds season 6 episode "Lauren," Emily Prentiss and Ian Doyle engage in a vicious fight that ends with the latter stabbing her. She's later taken to the hospital and declared dead, devastating her teammates. However, the episode's ending heavily implies she's still alive, which is later confirmed in season 7. The Emily Prentiss fake death was a way she could pursue Doyle and take him down for good.

Criminal Minds season 7 episode "It Takes a Village" wraps up this storyline, though it took some of her unit — especially Reid — time to adjust to her "betrayal" by lying to them. While Emily Prentiss' fake death story might be seen as extreme, she did it to keep her team safe from Doyle. Criminal Minds at least explored the implication such a deception would have in Reid's reaction, although the two later make up and become close once again.

What Paget Brewster Has Done Since Criminal Minds

The Prentiss Actress Has Continued To Have An Active Career

The real reason Paget Brewster left Criminal Minds in season 6 was because CBS released her and A.J. Cook (J.J.) from their contracts in a cost-cutting move (via Entertainment Weekly). Fans rebelled and CBS brought both women back, which allowed the Emily Prentiss fake death storyline to immediately play out the next season. However, the damage was done and Emily decided to leave on her own volition at the end of season 7.

"It was only a matter of time before Brewster was back on Criminal Minds."

On-screen, Emily chooses to return to Interpol. In real life, Brewster wanted to do more comedy in her career. She joined Dan Vs, where she voiced Elise in the animated series. She chose to also take on roles in Drunk History, Community, Another Period, and Grandfathered. She also picked up an Emmy nomination for voicing Delia Duck on DuckTales. However, it was only a matter of time before Brewster was back on Criminal Minds.

Criminal Minds: Evolution premiered in 2022 as a reboot, although Paramount+ listed it as the official 16th season of the original series. Not everyone returned, as Matthew Gray Gubler didn't return as Spencer. However, both Paget Brewster and AJ Cook returned as Emily and JJ respectively, along with Joe Mantegna as Rossi and Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope. It was a big return for Brewster, and it seems she is back on Criminal Minds full-time once again as a second season is coming in the future.