I read this post at HotchHoneys.com about an hour before the show began …
In seven years, we’ve met Hotch, Reid, Morgan, and Garcia. We said hello and goodbye to Gideon and Elle. We’ve said hello to Rossi. We said hello, goodbye, welcome back to JJ and Prentiss. We tried out Jordan Todd and Ashley Seaver. We’ve mourned the death of Haley Hotchner. We welcomed the birth of Jack Hotchner and Henry Lamontagne. We’ve had Un-subs and some small victories and some large defeats.
Anyone who has watched Criminal Minds from the beginning would have been through all of this with the team. I am one of those people and I can’t stand the summer hiatus, I live all summer in anticipation of the return of my favorite show!
This year was a little tense – we all knew that AJ Cook (JJ) was returning after the nasty joke that was played on us last season, but none of us was really sure about Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss) or Thomas Gibson (Aaron Hotchner) and so we waited patiently to hear the news that our team would be back together. The announcements came May 28th that Paget was signed, then shortly after, to my total relief, it was tweeted that Gibson would be coming back, too.
We all breathed a sigh of relief. Over the summer, we tried to decide how it was that these characters were going to be brought back and how the show was going to get back to its roots.
As someone who has watched the show from the very first minute of the very first episode, last year’s complete departure from the show’s normal premise, which was continued into this year’s premiere, just didn’t fit for me.
This is a show about a tight team that solves crimes that no one else can. This is a show about piecing together a puzzle that is at the centre of the crimes. This is a show about profiling the criminal. This isn’t a show about INTERPOL, international spies and terrorists of a global nature. I know this storyline was written as a vehicle to end Prentiss’ character if need be, but it just didn’t seem right.
Well as the Director said to Reid, “At least you got her back.” Yes, Ms. Strauss, at least we have our full complement again!
I enjoyed watching the team’s reaction when Prentiss walked through the door, and the worry throughout the episode – until the last minute – on how they were really going to receive her. And I did love the addition of Timothy V. Murphy as Ian Doyle. After all, I am a sucker for an accent.
I thought “Hairy Hotch” was scrumptious and Garcia was just that little bit of comic relief in an otherwise very edgy story line.
While as a whole I did enjoy the Season 7 premiere – it’s hard for me not to like this show – I am not so secretly wishing that now that our team is back, we can get back to the business that made this show a success, one un-sub at a time!
Remember when the BAU was looking for the Reaper? Remember the 100th episode which had us gasping as George Foyett pulled the trigger and we didn’t know if Haley was dead or alive? Remember watching Hotch react to finding Haley’s body? Remember the moment of relief when Jack popped out of the toy box and said “I was working the case Daddy!” Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Previews of this season show that we are going to see some of JJ’s baby and husband and that Rossi is going to get a love interest. We may even get an answer to what is causing Reid’s headaches.
On to next week!
Photo Courtesy of CBS
Jack will appear in episode 4, Dorado Falls.Hotch is apparently concerned that he may be bullied at school.I am curious to see how the story will play out.
Hi Roxane, I am glad you commented. I can’t wait to see Jack in episode three. I think that last time we saw Jack was in “Out of the Light” when Hotch was coaching the soccer team. I think that is my favorite of all Criminal Minds episodes. The interaction between Hotch and Rossi and the interaction between Hotch and Jack! Very endearing! Then again I do love my Hotch! See ya next week!