Evolution Star Reveals How Prentiss Will Be JJ's Rock This Season

Warning: the following contains spoilers for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episodes 1-3.AJ Cook, who plays Agent Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, talks about how Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) will be her character’s rock in the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3. “Time to Say Goodbye” takes place right after episode 2’s explosive ending, where JJ lost her husband, Will LaMontagne (Josh Stewart), suddenly, after having been together for 18 years. Cook has played JJ since season 1 of the original Criminal Minds. After her initial departure in season 6, the actor returned in season 7 and has been with the series ever since, including the revival season.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Cook explains how JJ and Prentiss’ relationship will evolve throughout season 3. When asked whether JJ will take the first step toward healing, the actor teased “quite a few beautiful scenes” between JJ and Prentiss, who acts as a “great sounding board” as her character goes through different stages of grief. She also revealed that there will be “a lot of really touching character-to-character” moments in this season. Read her comment below:

There are quite a few beautiful scenes with Paget, with Prentiss and JJ, where that comes up. Definitely, Prentiss is the mom in this situation where she’s like, okay, no, you need to slow down. Let’s sit down right now and talk about this. So she’s a really great sounding board. And obviously, Penelope, who is just the heart. She’s been one of JJ’s best friends through thick and thin through all of this. There’s just going to be a lot of really touching character-to-character, human-to-human moments in playing through all this grief.

What This Means For JJ In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 Centers Around Grief

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 3 dives into the reality and challenges JJ faces after Will’s death and sees the character struggling with finding a moment to process her own grief while taking care of others. Prentiss and Garcia have been paying her visits, but are shocked by the amount of pressure JJ is under. While it may seem that they are struggling to help their best friend and fellow profiler, AJ Cook’s comment indicates that both Prentiss and Garcia will find ways to best support JJ.

Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez, Joe Mantegna as David Rossi, and A.J. Cook as Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau in Criminal Minds: Evolution

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It also sounds like grief will be the main theme in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3. In the same ScreenRant interview with AJ Cook, the actor also shared that the season will explore every stage of grief, and with it comes the dynamic change. Things might get messy for JJ, but it sounds like Prentiss will be there to ask her to press pause when things get out of hand.

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JJ has always been someone who has everything together in Criminal Minds. While the series briefly touched on the challenges that came with her first pregnancy while working as a profiler in the early seasons, it has never gotten too messy or personal with the character. Throughout the original series, the show has explored the darkest moments in the main characters’ lives, including Spencer’s drug addiction, Penelope’s criminal past, Morgan’s past trauma, and Prentiss’ controversial relationship with a criminal while undercover.

Matthew Gray Gubler as Reid in Criminal Minds season 15, episode 2, talking to JJ

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It sounds like Criminal Minds: Evolution is focusing on JJ this season. While she’s bound to make some questionable decisions, her team will come together to help her through the deeply challenging time, just like they have when one of their own needs extra help and guidance. Personally, I’m excited to see how far this season will push her character.