Profilers, anyone else wondering what’s up with Jemily? Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 has, overall, had some great moments. (No surprise there.) The series has already, in the four episodes available to stream so far, featured solid guest stars—the name on viewers’, especially new viewers’ lips is, of course, Connor Storrie…but let’s not sleep on the likes of Dash Mihok who killed it in Episode 4, or Cress Williams in Episode 3, and Jeri Ryan (who saved the season premiere’s case of the week), to name a few—some throwbacks for the OG storytelling style, effed up UnSubs. Most importantly, we’ve seen some outstanding performances from our main cast. As usual, these actors are at their best when it’s personal for their characters. See also: Adam Rodriguez in Episode 3 and/or AJ Cook in every single scene focusing on JJ and the boys.
…but, on that last point, something about this season has felt off. Other than a grouchy morning chat about Brian Garrity and his stupid podcast that could’ve involved Prentiss and just about anyone, JJ and Emily have barely interacted. In a 10-episode season, with such an ambitious ongoing arc, nobody expects Criminal Minds: Evolution to suddenly be all Jemily, all the time. After all, there a lot of other interesting and meaningful relationships to explore. There’s also still the whole procedural aspect of the series to deal with. (I mean, some of us would kill for a Criminal Minds: All Jemily spinoff! We just know, deep down, this series is about the whole BAU, first and foremost.)
But the disappointment and confusion still stand. What’s with the sudden distance? Because Prentiss is currently the boss, it makes sense that she can’t always take off and do things like helping JJ move. On the other hand, it’s kind of weird that she couldn’t be there for the big day and wouldn’t step in when the new place unexpectedly had, uh, maintenance issues. The same mixed reaction applies to JJ, rightly, acknowledging the special place Penelope and Luke have in her and the kids’ life. It’s not wrong at all that she called Garvez her “village.” Quite the opposite! Seriously, the scene by the elevators with Luke in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Episode 4 is an instant favorite and a lovely tribute to that specific part of JJ’s found family.
But, for some reason that would take a brain like Spencer Reid’s to figure out, the series has been cutting Prentiss out of the Jareau/LaMontagne village. And um. No. We’re never going to be here for that. Absolutely not.
Apparently, Jemily talked more when “Cheeto Breath” (JJ) played online Scrabble with a “dead” Emily than she does now. Forget the fact that, once she was back home where she belonged in Season 7, Emily credited those games—and, let’s be real, Cheeto Breath herself—for helping her get by when she was hiding in Paris. And that wasn’t the only time these ladies kept each other alive either. Not even close!
Remember the 200th episode? (Just kidding! Who could actually forget that?) When JJ was kidnapped and tortured, the BAU called Emily for help. She was barely on the phone with Hotch for a few seconds before saying she’d be on her way. Prentiss didn’t even wait for a debrief because she could learn the details on the plane. Her person needed her, and that was that. Then, not only did she actually help save JJ, it was her—not Will, not anyone actually actively on the team at the time—JJ hallucinated coming to her rescue. Alone. She says it out loud when the real Prentiss saves the day, too: “Emily. I knew they’d call you. I knew it.” Imagine knowing you can count on someone like that!
What Paget Brewster and AJ Cook did together, in both the imaginary rescue and the real one, spoke of the type of closeness we’d already witnessed, and fallen in love with, many times over by that point—and plenty of times since. It’s continued, even strengthened in some aspects, during the Criminal Minds: Evolution era. Just two seasons ago, in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 Episode 6, JJ reminded Emily of Paris. She also reminded her, “you didn’t quit on me after my miscarriage.” And most memorably, there’s this: “You know what? This—this job takes. A lot. But you know what it gives? It gives me you.” So, how did Jemily go from “it gives me you” then, to impersonal colleagues in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19? Make it make sense.
Then, when Will died last season, Emily and Penelope both took care of JJ, in their own ways. They are two unique people with unique relationships with JJ, after all! That’s good! But as we investigate the case of the missing Jemily, let’s examine the history here. It was Emily, checking to make sure JJ was eating and sleeping. And it was Emily with the “I am just trying to help you to take care of you.” It was her, answering with that breathless “anything” when JJ asked for “one more favor.” So, with so many changes in JJ’s life and it only being a year since Will’s death, it’s a major disservice to these characters—not to mention, the longtime viewers who know what they mean to each other—to keep them on opposite sides of some imaginary brick wall.
Whether they ship Jemily romantically, totally value the friendship and nothing more, or even just see the way they’ve stood up for and supported each other all these years as part of the larger BAU found family, this is a fan favorite pairing. It’s special, so much so that not even Cook and Brewster being forced out (thankfully, temporarily) or the original series being canceled could dim their light or take away from the magic that belongs only to them.
So, yeah. We definitely have questions about why Emily’s way on the outside, not even heartbrokenly looking in so much as too far away to see, in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19. At least, that’s what we’ve seen so far. If that doesn’t change, we really hope there’s a good explanation—and there could be plenty! Because, seriously, how is Emily not around for things like moving (or moving again), or even something as small, but meaningful, as being someone to listen—a shoulder to lean on—when Henry’s about to go off to college? It’s out of character. And with so much going well, on a series that has so much to offer, the absence of something so precious is a painful distraction.
Basically, we’re going to need some of those magic cheese puffs to numb ourselves if this pattern continues.
Do you miss Jemily?
What are your favorite Jemily moments from over the years? And what’s your theory for why they’re not them at this point in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19? Leave us a comment!
New episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution stream Thursdays on Paramount+.
