‘Criminal Minds’ season 12: When could a revelation on Thomas Gibson’s Hotch come?
As we continue to move further into the run of “Criminal Minds” season 12, the question still has to be out there: Is the show going to ever touch on the story of Aaron Hotchner any further than they have?
On this past episode of the show entitled “Taboo,” the only major update that was given on Thomas Gibson’s character was that he was on temporary assignment elsewhere, which was in turn the show’s code for “the actor is suspended.” The episode was written with that in mind, and we wonder if the next few were constructed with similar sentiments given that there was a stretch of time when Gibson was still in contention to come back. The public did not learn of his suspension until a good bit of time after it was initially handed down.
So with this article, we want to pose a question as to when the show’s producers could potentially address the exit of Hotch, if they ever do in a significant way. It’s possible that when the show returns following its debate-related hiatus on October 26, we get a small update then. Yet, there hasn’t been much in the way of updates suggesting this one way or another just yet.
The episode we’re actually circling on our own personal calendar right now is “Elliott’s Pond,” the sixth episode of the season set to air on November 9. Why is that? There are two reasons for it: Showrunner Erica Messer is writing it, and series star Matthew Gray Gubler is directing. Messer is involved in every episode, but she tends to write solo / co-write the big stories. Meanwhile, Gubler over time has become one of the show’s premier directors. There is only one other episode in the series where we had this particular combination: Last season’s “A Beautiful Disaster,” which was the send-off to the Derek Morgan character. (Messer has co-written episodes before this one directly by Gubler.)
While we’re not saying for certain that this is an episode with some sort of Hotch news, we are saying that this is probably a pretty significant episode in the course of the series. You’re probably not seeing that combination otherwise.
For some other news on the October 26 episode, be sure to head over here. (Photo: CBS.)
Elaine Adams
October 16, 2016 @ 1:13 am
CBS overreacted to a ridiculous degree. I’d love to see Thomas Gibson return to his role, if for no other reason that to properly handle his character’s exit. The Corporate Machine owes at least that much to the character, the actor who brilliantly brought “Aaron Hotchner” to life, and to the fans who hung on every episode, and winced and cried (and even laughed a little) with this television family. To write it off as “Oh yeah, he died” would be hopelessly heavy-handed and veering far off course of the canon this series carved into stone twelve years ago. But as it is, I’m done with the series itself, as much as I love the characters who populate the BAU. I’m done with CBS, and this also concludes my dozen years hanging on every episode of NCIS. Clearly, CBS does not value the opinions of the people who pay their bills, and I cannot continue to support such obvious disdain. This is about principles and honor, and we don’t write off family where I come from. A million “thank you’s” to Thomas Gibson and his cast-mates, who brought these people to life and compelled us to slightly avert our eyes from the horror as they fought the monsters who populate our world. Those eleven years were stellar, and we will cherish those always.
JT
October 16, 2016 @ 5:18 am
Out of all the networks out there, I personally think CBS does a decent job listening to what fans want. I remember years ago when they cancelled Jericho. After fans’ requests, which at one point included delivering a lot of peanuts to them, they brought back the show for a shortened second season. The ratings weren’t as good as they expected/wanted and it got cancelled for good.
With Criminal Minds, during season six when they wrote JJ off and eventually Prentiss for the first time, once again, many fans, myself included revolved. By season 7 JJ and Prentiss were back. I don’t have an idea what really happened with Mr. Gibson and I wouldn’t be surprised if both sides fudged on the details. But, if it’s true that this was his third incident and that he had already attended anger management from a previous one, then I can certainly see those in charge taking the three strikes and you’re out approach. Again, I believe that both sides embellished on both the details and the severity of the the incidents. Still, in any instance of real life, we’re supposed to treat our employers with a certain amount of respect.
Craig Crisostomo
October 16, 2016 @ 7:11 pm
You’re overreacting.