Criminal Minds Getting a Reboot Makes Zero Sense to Fans
Not everyone is stoked to hear about a Criminal Minds reboot. Some wonder if this is just using the show's popularity as a cash grab. Although sad to see the original series end, most fans felt the final episode wrapped things up satisfactorily. So why the reboot?
The short answer is because they can. Producers obviously pitched the idea and did one hell of a good job to get the financial backing for this project. Fans who felt all was well and experienced a sense of peaceful closure don't care what the reason is.
After a 15-season run, the show ended in 2020. A date not lost on some viewers. There's been speculation that producers in 2020 hadn't planned to end the show for good, it was just placed on pandemic-induced hiatus.
If this were indeed the case, then it brings everything into question. What was really supposed to happen and how does it impact the characters and storyline? It's extremely doubtful that Thomas Gibson, who was fired from the original series, will be back to reprise his role as SSA Aaron Hotchner. That's bad news for a group of fans who've been dubbed the "no hotch no watch" club.
The truth is a reboot has been discussed pretty much since the show ended. After being tagged in a Twitter post in July 2021, Paget Brewster, who played Emily Prentiss on the series, responded to a question if there was any news on when the new series would premiere. Brewster's answer, "No, and sadly we think it's dead." ParamountPlus (which will air the series) execs were quick to deny this, responding the show is "still very much in development."
We now know the new series has been in production since at least August 2022 and is set to premiere in November. Avid fans of the original may need extra incentive to watch since some of the most popular OG cast members will be missing. It isn't difficult to understand why producers didn't include Thomas Gibson in this series, but when it was announced fan fave Dr. Spencer Reid, played by the super talented Matthew Gray Gubler, declined to join the cast citing "personal reasons."
The statement left some wondering if this was the swaying of the first domino before they would all come crashing down. Tune in to Criminal Minds: Evolution on Thanksgiving and if the show's a dud, at least you'll have some ham to go with your turkey.
The 10-episode Criminal Minds: Evolution will premiere with two episodes on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24