When Criminal Minds returns for season 7 in a few weeks they will be bringing back Prentiss (Paget Brewster) and JJ (AJ Cook); two characters who were cut from last year's cast much to the horror of a large part of the audience. Thankfully this dissatisfaction from viewers was heard loud and clear and both women will return as regulars for season 7. Now we have a look at their return in the Criminal Minds season 7 premiere "It Take a Village."
The first episode focuses on the BAU team and a serious matter that could tear them apart. They have to face a Senate Committee that features Desperate Housewives and Mad Men star Mark Moses to explain their actions after the loss of Prentiss. It appears that Prentiss has to resurface to protect the team that protected her and the promo photo below shows her taking part in these proceedings alongside Hotch (Thomas Gibson). It looks like there will be both personal and professional complications with Prentiss' return as they pursue the terrorists who led to her faking her own death. Executive producer Erica Messer told TV Guide that the ramifications of being dead to the world hits home when Prentiss sees her photograph amidst other fallen agents:
"For her, it's a very public display — 'Oh, my gosh, I was dead to the entire world, It wears heavily on her. But the mood lightens up when Joe [Mantegna's character, Rossi] comes up alongside her and tries to remove her photo. She says, 'I tried that. It's screwed in.'"
For all you Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) fans out there wondering when the health issues that have teased will be addressed, well that won't be happening in the first few episodes but he will discuss the drug abuse from his past. In other Matthew Gray Gubler news, he will be stepping behind the camera again later this season after the success of his previous two outings (season 5 "Mosely Lane" and season 6 "Lauren"). Gubler told Entertainment Weekly his reasons for preferring to direct later in the year:
"I kind of like to do them later in the season because I find that everybody has worked so hard at that point, that while we're kind of tired, we're operating on a more instinctual level as a crew. It's when things become a little more guerrilla style."
So Criminal Minds fans are you excited for season 7? Let us know what you are most looking forward to with the new season in the comments below.
Criminal Minds returns Wednesday, September 21 on CBS.
Does no one notice that Prentiss is styled to look like Morticia Adams? The jet black hair, kabuki white-face make-up, and tarantula fake eyelashes? Or that Rossi, in his Mom jeans, adds nothing to the show? Hotchner is the team leader and Elle was a much better character than Prentiss.
I don't understand why CM doesn't evolve except when they fire female actors. If they want to fire someone, look toward the clown who plays on-line games at work and routinely compromises the security of the computer system?
Prentiss reminds me of Morticia as well! I've always said that.
I'm really most looking forward to Reid's issues! I hope that the headaches are addressed at some point and that it makes sense! I'm also very pleased and excited that Reid's past drug abuse is going to be addressed. It's about time! That situation was sort of dropped and it shouldn't have been. Addicts are not cured. Reid is always in danger of suffering a relapse. This needs to be looked at and I hope the writer's will address the issue in such a way that it will be without Reid having to leave the team. Reid/MGG are keepers! However, the abuse should be gone into in some detail not just a passing mention like it is no big deal. It is a big deal! And Reid is an important character. I hope the show will deal with the drug situation realistically and that Reid will be shown either going to or coming from NA meetings from time to time. Also, if Strauss were to find out…how could this be handled without the team and us losing Reid?
If Mathrew Gubler goes behind the camera more than in front of it, the show will loose it's character. Don't do it Mat. You have plently of time in your years to play "director".
I don't mind MGG directing as long as it does not affect his time in front of the camera. I agree we need to see more of Reid not less of him as he is a major character! But MGG does a good job directing and if he can handle both roles it's okay by me. Just make sure Reid stays on screen!