Criminal Minds Officially Says Goodbye To An OG Character After 19 Years

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Members of the BAU in Criminal Minds season 18.

Published May 30, 2026, 5:16 PM EDT

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After 19 seasons, Criminal Minds is permanently saying goodbye to one essential character from the original series. Since the 2022 continuation picked up two years after the initial series finale, Criminal Minds has made many changes to its formula, hoping to set the reboot apart from the CBS original. Some alterations, like moving away from the censorship of its TV-14 past and embracing a new, TV-MA identity, have undeniably changed the series for the better. Nevertheless, Criminal Minds: Evolution has taken just as many big swings that fans saw as misses, especially when the changes retconned the original run's ending.

Regardless, the character's sudden departure wasn't the end of his story. Rather, JJ spent the bulk of season 18 mourning her late husband, reflecting on their life together and struggling to stay strong for their two children. Plus, Will was mentioned constantly throughout the season, remaining a pivotal figure who haunted the narrative every time JJ was on-screen. Yet, Criminal Minds season 19 has seemingly introduced a brand-new storyline for JJ that will effectively make Will a character of the past.

Criminal Minds Season 19 Sets Up A New Direction For JJ’s Grief

Saying Goodbye To Their Home Is Saying Goodbye To Will All Over Again

Given how important he was to JJ's entire arc, it never felt like Will truly disappeared. Criminal Minds season 19, episode 1 completely changed that, however, by having JJ immediately undergo a major life change: moving. Alongside sons Henry and Michael, JJ enlisted Penelope's help to pack up the house she shared with Will, essentially closing the door on their family home to make space for new life. The scene was a somber affair, with sound-bites of JJ and Will's most important relationship milestones accompanying her wistful goodbye.

There was some practicality to the family relocating, but the most consequential impact it had on the overarching narrative was shifting focus for JJ's season 19 storyline. Instead of Will being the most important character in her life (even posthumously), JJ's attention has now shifted to Henry, who is months away from leaving home for college. To make matters worse, he has his sights set on a school in California, meaning he'll be on the opposite side of the country.

As a result, JJ is transitioning out of her widow era to tackle her imminent empty nester syndrome. Season 19's first episode has already made the switch, as JJ's closing scene saw her comforted by the reminder that Henry still needs her, even if it's just for laundry advice. Of course, she isn't completely over Will— nor will she ever be— but JJ moving away and prioritizing Henry indicates that she (and Criminal Minds season 19 as a whole) is ready to leave his ghost in the past.

Will’s Death In Criminal Minds Season 18 Cut Deep, But It Was Necessary

The Tragedy Completely Changed JJ's Character In Criminal Minds: Evolution

Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (AJ Cook) and Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) attending Will's funeral in Criminal Minds season 18.

To an extent, Criminal Minds backed itself into a corner with Will's death, but it served the reboot well from a narrative perspective. Very quickly, the original series understood the power of one of Criminal Minds' major character deaths. They could mark the end of an era, inspire a character to turn their life around, or simply rattle the audience beyond belief. Yet, when Will collapsed in season 18, it was difficult to find any merit in it.

Criminal Minds Season 19 Marks The End Of An Era For An Original CBS Character

Criminal Minds season 19 sees a huge shift for one of its CBS original characters, marking the end of a long-running era on the intense series.

Beyond the pain of losing an original series regular, it felt as though Will's death was written purely for the shock value. As the season progressed, however, it became clearer that JJ's character needed the type of change that could only be roused by a personal loss. Since losing Will, JJ has been a far more proactive profiler, taking center stage during group scenes and providing invaluable insight on the episodic cases. Though it may sound counterintuitive, JJ's loss was Criminal Minds: Evolution's gain, and the crime drama is now switching gears to shake up her character once again.

Release Date September 22, 2005

Showrunner Erica Messer

Directors Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Rob Bailey, Matthew Gray Gubler, Joe Mantegna, John Gallagher, Douglas Aarniokoski, Guy Norman Bee, Larry Teng, Nelson McCormick, Alec Smight, Charles S. Carroll, Rob Spera, Charles Haid, Diana Valentine, Rob Hardy, Tawnia McKiernan, Bethany Rooney, Karen Gaviola, Sharat Raju, Thomas Gibson, Aisha Tyler, Anna Foerster, Gloria Muzio, John Terlesky

Writers Bruce Zimmerman, Virgil Williams, Edward Allen Bernero, Janine Sherman Barrois, Chris Mundy, Simon Mirren, Debra J. Fisher, Kimberly A. Harrison, Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin, Karen Maser, Oanh Ly, Stephanie Sengupta, Aaron Zelman, Kirsten Vangsness, Erica Meredith, Andi Bushell, Holly Harold, Alicia Kirk, Jeff Davis, Randy Huggins, Edward Napier, Jayne A. Archer, Chikodili Agwuna