Criminal Minds: Season 7 Premiere

At the end of Season 5, my interest in this police procedural waned because of the shows constant cast member changes. But it appears the powers that be at CBS have listened to the fans’ protests and injected a few surprises of their own.

Beginning with its trademark quote, the hour-long Season 7 Premiere of Criminal Minds was presented in a series of pivotal flashbacks surrounding the dubious investigation into fellow agent Emily Prentiss’ (Paget Brewster) untimely death, implacable suspect Ian Doyle (Timothy Murphy), and his innocent, missing son Declan (Conrad Bluth), and each agent’s severe cross-examination by the chairman of the Senate committee, Senator Cramer (Mark Moses).

As the BAU team members stood their ground and defended their moot actions, it was evident that Cramer and the committee believed they acted inappropriately in a case involving one of their own. Flash to a worried Penelope Garcia (Kristen Vangsness) and an irate Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) waiting out in the hallway for J.J’s (A.J. Cook) query to be over. As is expected, Morgan comforted Garcia.

This episode wasn’t without its memorable one-liners and surely didn’t disappoint as every scene heightened the ambiguity surrounding the main pivotal moment. As each agent was interrogated, the responding flashbacks were shown to either support their answers or elicit further questioning. Senator Cramer took his job a bit too seriously, but he had to make the tough decision to either reinstate or dissolve the unit. He continued his harsh, over-zealous line of inquiry only to be abashed by David Rossi (Joe Mantegna): “Have you ever been in the field?” Cramer bridled at the question but answered, “I have. But I’m not the one on trial agent.”  Rossi countered with a pivotal response: “Then maybe you can imagine what it was like for agent Morgan to find Emily Prentiss dying at the hands of Ian Doyle….Was it wrong for him to want to take that man out?”

At a time when nerves were frayed, and viewers left wondering what’s next, the coup de gras was delivered by a bearded Special Agent Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), who gathered the team and made a stunning revelation – Emily Prentiss is alive. This revelation could only illicit a collective sigh of relief.  Undoubtedly, such a miraculous act does “take a village.”

Bested, but not defeated, Cramer seized upon a visibly piqued Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), whom he asked, “Why haven’t you requested reinstatement to the BAU team?” In a departure from his usual mild-mannered temperament, Spencer fervidly defended his decision. The Chairman retorted, “Calm down, agent!” Spencer’s response: “This IS calm and it’s DOCTOR.”

With all storylines brought to a tidy end, the BAU team is poised and ready for a fresh start. But as the fever-pitch episode winds down, the final decision on the team’s future is still imminent. All seven agents were seated together before Senate committee. In the final moments, it is Prentiss’ fervent contention and poignant recital of the BAU oath the team endeavors to uphold, that keeps them together. The show fades to black with its trademark closing quote.

Amidst updated fashions, a new group attitude, and questionable hairdos, I ‘m delighted to see the team back together again. And if this impressive episode is any indication of what’s to come this season, I’ll make sure to set my DVR.