Criminal Minds

[Smilla]

On the "how will the writers explain it?" question--I would love it if they did the whole "now that he's gone, we find out he had a secret life" explanation.

Other realistically written explanations I would buy include a) getting bumped off by one of the serials they formerly busted, b) Hotchner's anti-terrorism work coming back to haunt him, possibly with a witness protection twist, c) pulling a Jason Gideon "burned out and never told anyone, now I'm running away from my old life (AKA pulling a Greg House.)"

I also wouldn't mind a pie-in-the-sky "uh, he left to go into the real estate business" kind of exit for him. Which to me would be a bigger middle finger to the ousted actor than anything else. Unless Hotch gets fired, too (which, IRL, he would have been, about fifty times over at this point in his highly controversial career.)

[CyberCathy]

I binged this show last summer because I enjoy procedurals and it was recommended. Even though the genre is set up for repetitiveness, it really became noticeably stale after Emily left. Morgan was my personal favorite, but a favorite pastime was watching for when Hotch cracks a smile. I don't think this show will last long without him unless they can write him out without it being too awkward.

When the story first broke, I imagined some sort of fit a two-year old has where he stomps his foot, pouts, and kicks a shin. Then he was fired and I'm wondering what really went down.

[Spinderella]

Aug 15, 2016 10:27:36 GMT -4 trifle said:

What love interest did Reid have in the early seasons? Besides Amber Heard and the bartender, I mean.

Heh. I totally forgot that Amber Heard was Lila and Reid's love interest in the early seasons. I still liked him with her, but clearly she won't be reprising that role!
Reid has had actually several potential love interests beyond Lila (Amber Heard) and that 'bartender'. I recall him going out with an agent that was doing surveillance on some Russian hit men and there was of course his beloved, Maeve.

Shit. I'm clearly too invested in this show or maybe just Dr. Spencer Reid.

[cabbagekid]

I hope they don't kill off Hotch only because of poor Jack! First his mom and now his dad, I know it's a show, but my little heart would be devastated.

[trifle]

Has that kid's acting improved at all?

[Smilla]

^^This.^^

I became so hideously annoyed with the actor playing young Jack that it was one factor in why I gave up the series. Hotch surviving his ex-wife's brutal murder was the other. I still just do. not. buy. that even the hardest law enforcement professional ever would be able to get through what he did in such a short period of time and still be, you know, cruising around like basically nothing happened. Especially not if he kept his fucking serial killer job.

Which is my way of saying that if his character is finally written to have bitten the dust, offed himself or drifted off to parts unknown, I will find that a satisfying explanation even if it is way overdue.

[Spinderella]

Aug 19, 2016 16:37:06 GMT -4 Smilla said:

Which is my way of saying that if his character is finally written to have bitten the dust, offed himself or drifted off to parts unknown, I will find that a satisfying explanation even if it is way overdue.

I get that and hell, if they could pull that with Gideon just up and leaving (having drifted off to parts unknown) and accepting his departure rather quickly I'm thinking they can do the same with Hotch.

Even if Jack isn't a super skilled actor (he's hardly on-screen), I still would just have that little annoyance as I said a thread or two back how leaving him an orphan would just piss me off after all that happened with his mom (Andie McPheeeeeeee!).

At least with Gideon, he had that awful invasion of his sanctuary when he received a human head delivered to his cabin and then his love being murdered by a serial killer, too. He had just had enough and they ended it with an obvious cutting of the BAU from his life.

But as you said, there has been a massive number of seasons that have passed since the death of his ex-wife and he's only filmed like two episodes for the 12th season, I'm not sure what they can do next to just killing him in some off-screen random event to allow for them to move on with the rest of the season (and keeping it as Hotch-less both physically and verbally being mentioned in the next 22 episodes).

I'll be curious how they really play it out and if they maybe had a secret set of episodes ready for this very situation.

[trifle]

What's weird is that I saw that same child actor on Grey's Anatomy--he was very good. But not on Criminal Minds. Still, I agree with you about not wanting to see his fictional character traumatized.
Ugh! This show! Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!

[Smilla]

My guess is that they'll turn it into a "Where's Mulder?" "Who killed Michael Vaughn?" style series of episodes bent around finding/catching those responsible for his 'departure.'

Still kinda hope they decide to get creative, tho. Hotchner's Secret Life would be an appropriate plot element, given the actor's own, er, variegated (read: jerky) professional past.

[waytoocheerful]

I had given up on this show, but as a result of all of this I may watch again, at least the first several episodes to see how it is all handled.