Yeah, poor JJ’s been in peril so many times, just as the other characters have too.
Spence[r Reid] has been in trouble so many times and Kirsten [Vangsness] - Garcia.
I think we’ve all been killed a couple of times and come back to life.
It’s just the nature of being on such a long-running show.
We do kind of laugh about it on set.
It is what it is, but I love that stuff.
They’ve been through it.
That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
We’ll see what the future holds for the LaMontagne-Jareau family.
It’s been a journey, for sure.
I love how involved JJ’s home life was throughout the season.
You really got to see this other side, and it’s such an important part of her character.
What was it like for you to revisit that on a deeper level for the revival?
AJ Cook: It’s been really lovely.
I really think that’s a big part of why the show has lasted as long as it has.
It’s never a dull moment, shooting the show.
As we all have.
It would be weird if she didn’t ever change in these almost twenty years of doing the show.
It’s been fun to feel like AJ and JJ sort of had this parallel journey.
It’s been really cool.
And vice versa, weve stolen things from my life too and given that to the character as well.
As all of our characters have.
It’s been a hell of a ride.
Just when I think, “What are they possibly going to do next?”
they come up with something that I was not expecting, and they always just blow me away.
I’m even starting to hear about some ideas for next season, and I am so excited.
I’m not kidding, I have in my notes a very specific question about JJ’s evolution.
AJ Cook: Oh, I love that you just said that!
Thank you, that’s so sweet.
That’s what it’s all about, right?
We’ve been able to see it all.
That’s been really exciting and fun for me, to see that she’s okay.
She’s struggling, but she’s okay.
And I somehow draw strength from that in my own life.
[Laughs]
It makes total sense to me.
AJ Cook: Oh, yeah.
I can’t wait to hear audience reactions to it.
I think there’s going to be a lot of curse words going around.
Like, Are you effing kidding me?
That’s how you’re going to leave us, going to leave us hanging like that?
The story is not over yet.
We kind of thought it was going to be one thing, and then it turned into another thing.
Part of me [didn’t know] until I watched it myself.
I didn’t know because I’ve heard so many different endings.
Ive never been part of a show like that!
It’s pretty cool.
It feels all very classified.
Is there anything at all whatsoever that you could maybe tease about season 2?
AJ Cook: Oh, God.
Like, “Where are we right now?”
I think I’ll just say you’re not going to be disappointed.
Trust us on this.
I know the audience is, like I said earlier, pissed off.
Just like, What?
How is it ending like this, and you’re going to make us wait?
I’ll just say it’s going to be worth the wait.
Stick with us, folks.
We’ve got some really cool things in store.
TheCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 1 finale is now streaming on Paramount+.
