JJ’s Heartbreaking Farewell: The Emotional Reunion You Can’t Miss!

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 3, “Time to Say Goodbye”.

In the third episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution’s third season, JJ and the Behavioral Analysis Unit bid farewell to Will, a character who had been a significant presence in their team for 15 years. Given the scarcity of happy, enduring relationships within Criminal Minds, JJ and Will were a shining exception. Over the years, they built a strong partnership, with Will providing unwavering support as JJ transitioned from Communications Liaison to a fully-fledged profiler. Simultaneously, they raised two sons together. Will, a charming man from the South, proved to be an ideal match for JJ.

In the third season of “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” Will’s unexpected demise in episode 2 seemed somewhat anticipated due to his health issues in season 1, yet it still took viewers by surprise. Although Will wasn’t a primary character in season 3, the show provided a fitting goodbye to him. His funeral served as a catalyst for Spencer Reid’s comeback to “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” making the episode feel momentous and significant.

The BAU’s Breakthrough On The Sicarius Case Explained

Voit’s Memories Are Starting To Come Back – But Does It Matter With Different Brain Chemistry?

Since David Rossi appears to have a beneficial impact on Elias Voit, he reluctantly consents to spend more time with him. Notably, Rossi isn’t pretending to be Voit’s father; instead, Voit understands that Dave is there in his role as an FBI agent. The BAU’s strategy seems to involve providing Voit the least amount of information, allowing him to recollect his past without bias on his own. An unusual aspect of Rossi’s influence on Voit’s healing process is this beneficial impact.

Evolution season 1, where he was kidnapping Dave; however, he mistakes this event for a camping trip.

The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) controversially decides to involve Ramona Havener, a real estate agent who bears an unfortunate likeness to Voit’s wife Sydney and operates her office on Second Street, which is Voit’s hunting ground, from the first season of “Criminal Minds: Evolution”. Ramona was one of Voit’s surviving victims apart from Rossi. Voit abducted Ramona and made her impersonate his wife to confess his crimes and seek forgiveness, but she barely managed to survive the ordeal.

In the event of a trial, Ramona is prepared to serve as the voice for the 61 silent victims. Despite not recognizing her, she recalls him and his confession, making her a crucial asset for the BAU’s case against Voit, alias Sicarius. By the end of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 3, Voit is in a deeply troubled state, riddled with guilt over actions he can’t remember yet—a stark contrast to the cold-blooded killer the BAU pursued. With a gentle gesture from Tara, Rossi offers a consoling touch to a crying Voit.

How JJ & The BAU Says Goodbye To Will

JJ’s Vacantness Shatters In A Devastating Eulogy

Five days following Will’s demise in Criminal Minds season 3, episode 2, Prentiss and Garcia grow worried about JJ’s apparent resilience. Instead of showing signs of distress, JJ seems to be managing tasks with a detached, systematic approach. It isn’t until she encounters her younger son, Michael, wearing one of Will’s ties – a gift from his father – on their way to the funeral, that JJ visibly starts to break down.

Mrs. LaMontagne, the wife of Mr. LaMontagne, has been remarkably self-absorbed in her mourning, implying that her loss is more significant than JJ’s because losing a child is against nature. Rossi manages to empathize with her by recounting his own experience of losing an infant, which she maintains is distinct. However, Rossi urges her not to allow the bond between her son’s family and hers to perish along with their son, leading Mrs. LaMontagne to apologize to JJ.

Key Criminal Minds Episodes For JJ & Will
Episode Title Episode Number Logline
Jones Season 2, Episode 18 Will meets JJ on a case in New Orleans.
In Heat Season 3, Episode 17 JJ announces her relationship with Will to the BAU.
Memoriam Season 4, Episode 7 Henry is born.
100 Season 5, Episode 9 JJ & Will run errands with baby Henry.
Hit & Run Season 7, Episodes 23 & 24 JJ decides to marry Will after a near-death experience.
Sick Day Season 12, Episode 2 Will encourages JJ to talk about a difficult case.
The Tall Man Season 14, Episode 5 Will gives JJ the perfect gift after a personal case.
Sicarius Season 16, Episode 2 JJ and Will recommit to making their marriage a priority.
Oedipus Wrecks Season 16, Episode 4 A health scare forces JJ and Will to be more honest.
The Zookeeper Season 18, Episode 2 Will dies unexpectedly from an aneurysm.

Indeed, the Behavioral Analysis Unit makes an appearance to stand by JJ. While Aaron Hotchner and Derek Morgan are absent, they send beautiful floral arrangements for the funeral. Prentiss addresses the gathering, recounting how a brush with death was what made Will realize his desire to marry JJ. Garcia follows suit, narrating a heartfelt story about how Will always made everyone feel valued. In an unexpected yet touching finale, Spencer Reid unexpectedly shows up at the funeral, offering his support to his best friend and his godchildren during their time of need.

As JJ delivers her eulogy, she begins to openly convey emotions she had kept hidden. Throughout her speech, she reads the Post-It notes that Will would leave for her daily, right up until his final day. One of the reasons behind her stoicism has been her self-blame, believing she should have detected Will’s health problem sooner and thus feeling responsible for his demise. Rather than being sad, JJ is consumed by anger towards herself and her sons. She also harbors resentment towards Will, as they had faced every challenge together, and now she feels abandoned.

Why Matthew Gray Gubler Returns As Spencer Reid In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3

Spencer Reid Comes To The Funeral To Support His Best Friend & Godson

JJ has maintained a unique bond with the character Dr. Spencer Reid, portrayed by Matthew Gray Gubler in Criminal Minds. Initially, their friendship even hinted at a romantic relationship, but this aspect appears to have been overlooked or ignored in the latest series, Criminal Minds: Evolution. It’s often stated that scheduling conflicts are behind Gubler’s absence from Criminal Minds, though it seems plausible that if character development alone wasn’t enough to bring Reid back, a powerful emotional trigger like attending JJ during Will’s funeral might have been more compelling.

Just as anticipated, Spencer arrives for Will’s funeral at the last possible second. Reid’s arrival is given a grand welcome, fitting for a movie star. It’s a brief scene, but it hints at Spencer having a bond with JJ’s children, a connection that the audience may not have been aware of earlier. The kids referring to him as ‘Spence’, a nickname used by JJ privately, is an emotional touch.

In Criminal Minds: Evolution, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of nostalgia witnessing Spencer’s emotional reunion with the entire BAU team – it was a moment fans have eagerly anticipated. It’s clear that the show hasn’t overlooked the strong bond between JJ and Reid, who’ve stood by each other during their darkest hours. Yet, when Spencer said, “I’m always here for you guys“, it struck me as a touch understated given his absence over the past three seasons, barely a whisper in the narrative.

Will’s Final Birthday Present For Michael Explained

Henry Was Hiding Will’s Homemade Present For His Brother Michael

In her deep sorrow after Will’s passing, JJ frantically searches high and low for the gift he had bought and hidden for Michael. It seems that this frenzied search is a way for her to cope with her grief, as the gift represents the last present Will will ever give their children. Its significance lies in its ceremonial value.

In a delightfully unexpected manner, Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 3 concludes the mystery of the missing birthday present. JJ discovers their son Henry engrossed in “The LaMontagne How-To Guide,” a homemade book that Will crafted for Michael to impart his knowledge to him.

Henry expresses regret for taking the book a few days prior to Will’s demise, which made it difficult for JJ to locate it later. He acknowledges that he is familiar with much of the content in the book and offers to assist Michael in a manner that mirrors how Will would have wanted him to do so.

Will LaMontagne was an exceptional father, and his influence will continue to be beneficial for JJ’s sons, even following his unfortunate death.

How Will’s Death Sets Up JJ’s Arc For The Rest Of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3

JJ’s Struggle Will Be A Major Focus Of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3

After the passing of Will, JJ finds herself functioning automatically, as one might expect. She confides in Tara that she’d prefer to remain in a state of unconsciousness, for in her dreams Will continues to live, whereas in reality, she must confront the harsh truth of his demise. The sorrow stirred by loss can sometimes propel individuals to perilous, compulsive depths, as seen with Rossi following Krystall’s death in Evolution season 1. Notably, JJ was already tense prior to Will’s death, having been convinced that her son may have been tainted by BAU-gate during the events of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2.

As a single mother, JJ faces additional challenges since her mother and mother-in-law exacerbate rather than alleviate her mental health issues. This complicates JJ’s grieving process even further. Despite needing to be strong for the boys, it appears that Henry, being an astute teenager, has already deduced Will’s cancer diagnosis on his own. Therefore, it seems implausible that JJ can keep him entirely unaware if she is grappling with her own struggles.

Prentiss intends to provide JJ with all the necessary time and freedom, acting both as her superior and confidante. She even contemplated slipping some edibles to JJ during the wake. However, if there’s a shift in Voit’s legal situation due to his mental health or if Sicarius’ influence triggers a chain reaction of serial killings in “Criminal Minds: Evolution” season 3, it could escalate into an emergency situation requiring immediate action. Under such circumstances, Prentiss might need to reintroduce JJ to active duty before she feels fully prepared.

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2025-05-22 11:18