Criminal Minds: Evolution up and running after a long wait and some of our favorite BAU agents are back on our screens after a short hiatus. While favorites like David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) and Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) doing what they do best again, there are a couple of notable absentees. One of these missing agents is Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler). As well as leaving the show feeling like something was missing, given that Reed was in every season, it also changed the group’s dynamic. His relationships with his co-stars gave the series a lot of soul and a personal feel, and one of those relationships was stronger than most.

COLLIDER VIDEO OF THE DAY

Jennifer “JJ” JaroAJ Cook) has been one of Reed’s closest confidantes throughout the show’s existence after they worked together on hundreds of cases. Reed previously showed a romantic interest in JJ which later developed into an unbreakable friendship and he even became godfather to JJ and her husband Will (Josh Stewart) son of Henry. As a result of this friendship, JJ became one of the Criminal minds’ the most lovable characters as her caring nature and compassion for others were fully revealed.

This has always given JJ the opportunity to add an extra dimension to his character development, and so without Reed, the question arises. Will JJ be able to show this side of his personality? Thankfully, with Will’s increased presence in the new season, the writers have managed to further develop the personal side of the character. This need for the other person is not something that is dismissive of JJ as a person or Cook and her stellar portrayal of everyone’s favorite agent, but it will always take someone to take care of, and that’s it. , which makes Will important to the series.

Will is a key character in JJ’s story

AJ Cook as JJ Jaro and Josh Stewart as Will in Criminal Minds at their wedding
Image via CBS

Will Lamontagne was first introduced back in the second season and has been a recurring character ever since. We watched his romantic relationship with JJ grow and eventually become a family, but despite that, his appearances were sporadic. Appearing in an episode here, an episode there, it was hard to really appreciate how important he was to JJ, but that changed with the appearance Evolution. So far, Will has appeared in every episode of the season, giving us more insight into one of the most enduring relationships on the show.

Times seem to be tough for our beloved couple, and numerous instances point to a lack of alone time between them. Between JJ’s work, unexpected encounters, and their children, JJ and Will have found that there are fewer and fewer moments of intimacy, potentially causing a breakup in the relationship. However, this allows JJ to show a determined and passionate side outside of her work at BAU. She is determined to make time for Will, which further emphasizes how much he means to her. No one doubted that JJ is completely dedicated to her work and has always been determined to do everything in her power, sometimes even risking her own life, but the presence of Will allows you to see this in her personal life. This gives her character extra complexity, showing the kind of person she is.

Will’s storyline with his health offers another path to JJ’s story

AJ Cook as JJ Jaro and Josh Stewart as Will in Criminal Minds
Image via CBS

Another way Will is used to develop the JJ character is through the disturbing storyline that he could potentially face a serious illness. This, of course, created a deep sense of dread in the couple, but it seems to have affected JJ far more than it did Will. He seems to be more receptive and unsurprised by the news, while JJ uncharacteristically shows signs of panic. She almost always kept her cool, even in the most stressful situations, but the thought of her husband facing health problems seems too far away. It’s something we don’t often see with any of the show’s characters. While some cases can get personal and emotions can run high, in most cases our agents can turn off their emotional side and focus on the job at hand. As previously mentioned, Reid was a conduit for JJ to show that side, and so a storyline like this involving Will is crucial in Reed’s absence to allow the writers and AJ Cook to fully show off JJ’s personality. .

Will’s presence on the show also brought out a trait in JJ that we had rarely seen in the previous 15 seasons: fear. After discussing Will’s medical issues and the importance of being more open with each other, the couple agreed that JJ would call Will when she thought she might be in a dangerous situation. The mid-season finale showed us this pact in action when JJ called Will before investigating a suspicious shipping container. AJ Cook did a great job here, as she really captured the emotions that someone in JJ’s situation might feel and portrayed the feeling of fear brilliantly in a very short call. Agents often showed concern, but rarely showed fear. This is again related to JJ’s marriage. When working in a team, each team member is in about the same boat, and at a professional level, this reaction never shows up. However, due to an agreement she made with Will, JJ takes a moment to think about her emotions and shows us viewers that she is susceptible to all the same feelings as any other person.

Through her previous association with Reed, and now through Will’s increased presence on the show, JJ has become one of criminal minds‘The most complex characters. We’ve seen glimpses of the personal lives of all the agents in the BAU, but none of them have developed as complex a personality as JJ and that should be categorized as a minor character in her life. It’s always interesting to watch her personal life, and it’s a huge plus that Will appears as a recurring character in the rebooted series, and his presence is very welcome.