Criminal Minds Fans Refuse to Watch the Show While This Character Is Away (It’s Not Dr. Reid)
The actor's exit from the show was ugly, but fans still love the character he played.
At the turn of the century, CBS created one of the most successful procedurals in history, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which revolutionized television by bringing "scientific" mystery solving to an unprecedented level of clarity and conviction.
Having secured the lead in the genre, the network launched an indirect competitor to CSI in 2005: the crime series Criminal Minds, which emphasizes psychology rather than evidence. The showrunner for this project was Jeff Davis. He created a classic show whose characters are law enforcement officers who, time and again, prove stronger than the odds.
The undisputed advantage of Criminal Minds has always been its cast. And while fans are constantly expressing their sympathy for characters like David Rossi, Dr. Reid, or Emily Prentiss, one of the BAU team members who was once an integral part of the show is often forgotten.
Aaron Hotchner Was One of the Best Characters in Criminal Minds History
Aaron Hotchner, a stern and level-headed FBI agent, seemed like the perfect choice to play the head of the BAU team. Meanwhile, Thomas Gibson, who played Hotch, not only acted in the project, but also directed six episodes.
However, hardcore fans still remember Hotch and some even refuse to watch the show after his departure.
“I watched one or two episodes after he left...I couldn't continue, he was my favourite character and I felt there was too big a hole when he left. So I stopped watching,” Reddit user Tarrenshaw wrote.
Thomas Gibson's Criminal Minds Exit Was Ugly
However, Thomas Gibson's departure from Criminal Minds was not pretty. For a long time, Gibson was forgiven for his aggressive behavior on the set.
At first, the actor was given a chance, and after the first incidents, he was sent to anger management classes without being suspended from filming. But the last straw was the incident when Gibson allegedly kicked a screenwriter.
Even those actors whose characters are loved by thousands of viewers have a line that cannot be crossed. Gibson crossed that line and after an internal investigation was removed from the role and his character disappeared from the show after Season 12.