InfoSearched
Published -
- June 13, 2021
- 2:00 am
“Criminal Minds” is a series with some dedicated fans. It would have to be, to still be going strong after 15 seasons.
At this point, the show is an institution that stands strong on its own merits, weathering major cast shakeups as characters have come and gone over the years.
For the most part, fans have rolled with the punches as agents of the Behavioral Analysis Unit have come and gone — with maybe one exception.
“Criminal Minds” fans showed unusual resistance to the character of Kate Callahan, played by Jennifer Love Hewitt when she joined the show in season 10. Here’s how she became the “Criminal Minds” character that fans tried to petition off the show.
What factors did the producers consider before deciding to keep JJ on the show?
In the world of television, fans play an important role in the success of a show. They invest their time and emotions into characters, often developing a strong attachment to them. However, there are moments when viewers take their passion too far, leading to unexpected consequences. In the case of Criminal Minds, a popular crime drama, fans launched a petition to remove a character from the show, with unforeseen outcomes.
The character in question was Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, portrayed by actress A.J. Cook. JJ was a beloved member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), a government agency tasked with investigating and stopping serial killers and other violent criminals. She was known for her kindness, intelligence, and unwavering loyalty to her team.
So why did fans decide to petition for her removal? The answer was twofold. First, JJ had been written off the show in season six, much to the disappointment of fans. Second, when she returned in season seven, some viewers felt that the writers had changed her character too much. They argued that JJ was no longer the same person they had grown attached to, and therefore, had lost interest in her storyline.
The petition gained traction quickly, with thousands of fans signing it in a matter of days. Social media was flooded with messages from outraged viewers, demanding that JJ be “written off for good.” Some fans even suggested that the actress should be replaced with a new character who would better match their expectations.
The show’s producers were taken aback by the sudden backlash. They had no idea that fans felt so strongly about JJ’s character development. However, they were faced with a difficult decision. Should they give in to the fans’ demands and remove JJ from the show? Or should they continue with their planned storyline, knowing that they risked alienating a significant portion of the audience?
Ultimately, the producers decided to keep JJ on the show. They stood by their decision to develop her character in a new direction, believing that it added depth and complexity to the overall narrative. They also recognized that fans would eventually come around to the new version of JJ, as long as they continued to write her in a compelling way.
In the end, the petition to remove JJ from Criminal Minds served as a reminder of both the power and limitations of a vocal fanbase. While fans have the right to express their opinions and influence a show’s direction, ultimately, the creative decisions lie in the hands of the writers and producers. In the case of JJ, it was a hard lesson to learn, but one that ultimately worked out in the end.
