'Criminal Minds' Season 12 Spoilers: Hotch Sent on a Temporary Assignment by FBI Director; How Does the BAU Team Feel About Derek Morgan's Replacement?
The series addresses Thomas Gibson's dismissal by sending Hotch on a temporary assignment elsewhere.
Over the years, "Criminal Minds" has gotten used to change, especially when it comes to its cast. The upcoming season of "Criminal Minds", however, will see the biggest cast shake-up of all. Two major characters exited, returning ones got promoted to series regulars, and a new character will join the long running CBS series' Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU).
Another dark and handsome agent
Shemar Moore, who portrayed Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) Agent Derek Morgan in the crime procedural drama, exited in Season 11. "Criminal Minds" Season 12 will show him being replaced by another dark and handsome agent, Fugitive Task Force leader Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez).
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The tough as nails Alvez will be appearing in the season premiere when he will have successfully caught eight of the 13 serial killers who escaped last season. By the end of the episode, Alvez will be joining the BAU full-time to help in searching for the remaining five others. One of the five serial killers he will help track down is an infamous murderer who uses mind-controlling drugs named Mr. Scratch.
Will Garcia like Alvez?
Alvez will be able to prove that he is more than qualified to join the unit and that he is a worthy replacement for Derek Morgan in "Criminal Minds" Season 12. But, how does the team feel about Alvez? Many would be curious, especially how tech genius, Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), feels about the newcomer. Garcia happens to be Morgan's best friend in the series.
Executive Producer Erica Messer said in an interview that the fun in Alvez joining the team does not come from the fact that he is new, but on whether Garcia will like the new guy. It will take some warming up to him, but there is no doubt that Garcia will eventually become friends with him in the upcoming season.
Temporary assignment
"Criminal Minds" Season 12 will also be the last season that viewers will see Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner after Thomas Gibson was fired following his involvement in an on-set altercation with the show's writer-producer Virgil Williams.
Surely, not a few are curious how Hotch's departure will be addressed in "Criminal Minds" Season 12. According to Messer, Hotch will be sent on a temporary assignment by the FBI director in the third episode. Gibson was able to film two episodes before the incident which got him fired happened. Hotch's going away on a supposed temporary assignment is a way to create the storyline for the actor's dismissal from the show.
Prentiss's promotion
This, too, will pave the way for the return of Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) to the BAU, where she will supposedly be on a temporary assignment. But, since she was promoted to a series regular, it is now being presumed that Prentiss will most likely be stepping into Hotch's shoes in "Criminal Minds" Season 12.
Aside from Paget Brewster, Aisha Tyler has also been promoted to series regular as Dr. Tara Lewis. CBS made the announcement just last month.
"Criminal Minds" will return with its 12th season on September 28 on CBS.
