For Criminal Minds fans everywhere, there are several options for rewatching the series. Thanks to both Netflix and Ion Television’s airing of repeats on television, anyone can watch anytime they want! The show is considered one of the best crime dramas on television, but it wasn’t always easy to watch. Special agent Emily Prentiss left in Season 2 and didn’t return until four seasons later! It was impossible not to notice her absence even though she only appeared every so often throughout that fourth season.
What happened to Emily on ‘Criminal Minds?
After six years on the series, Paget admitted that she was ready to pursue new opportunities. The brunette beauty made the most of her time away from procedural crime dramas by appearing in light-hearted shows such as Modern Family and Community.
In 2015, Paget landed the lead female role on the Fox sitcom Grandfathered, which co-starred John Stamos. The timing of the project was perfect because it lasted just one season and yet brought great success.
Two episodes into filming Season 12 of Criminal Minds, showrunners fired Thomas Gibson (Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner) following an on-set altercation, leaving a gap in the cast lineup. Paget agreed to return after Grandfathered’s cancellation. “Criminal Minds contacted me and said, ‘Would you come back?'” she recalled in a 2016 interview with TVGuide.com. The 51-year-old’s new contract allowed her to occasionally accept other roles while juggling the crime drama’s shooting schedule.
Paget Brewster has talked about how she loves being Emily Prentiss and is able to have more creative freedom with Criminal Minds since, after twelve seasons of the show, it is known for its rigid structure. She also said that getting a chance to work on Another Period and Drunk History was something else that made her time at CM fulfilling. It seems like Paget would not be opposed if they did another season of this show! One thing we know she really wanted in Season 12 though was having Aisha Tyler join full-time as Dr. Tara Lewis – which happened last year after recurring previously.
“The fact of the matter is, there really aren’t that many shows that I love as much as Criminal Minds,” the Friends alum explained. “I left at the right time for the right reason, but I love those guys. We’ve never stopped being friends. It’s such a great group there.”
SPOILER: Paget is grateful that Emily Prentiss was never killed off of the series.
When the Massachusetts native first left Criminal Minds in 2012, the writers decided to give her character a job at Interpol’s London office so that she could periodically make guest appearances. “I came back whenever it was possible,” she told TV Guide. “I never, ever [wrote] it off like, ‘Oh, I’ll never do that again.’ It’s the best situation I’ve ever been in.”
Emily Prentiss temporarily takes over as unit chief before being asked to step into the role permanently. The character ends up becoming head of the team, but almost becomes the first female director in the FBI’s history. In an interview with the Boston Globe earlier this year, Paget said she had mixed feelings about saying goodbye to the drama. “It’s bittersweet. We had a great time but it’s also a grueling day,” she confessed.
“The days are very long and you don’t have much of a life outside it,” she added. “So I feel good to come out the bunker and see the sky, what is going on in this world, my friends or family.” We do miss each other; we know that our time together was excellent. No matter what happens, reruns will always be there for us.