Did Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3, Episode 5 Just Set Up A Possible Romance Between Prentiss & JJ?

Criminal Minds: Evolution has taken many risks to set itself apart from the original series, but the continuation may be making a major change to JJ and Emily’s relationship. Paget Brewster’s Emily Prentiss joined the Criminal Minds cast in season 2, while A.J. Cook’s Jennifer “JJ” Jareau was present from the pilot episode, but the two women quickly grew close. Although the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit continually took down heinous killers and predators, the agents underwent major character development, including Emily faking her death in Criminal Minds season 6 and JJ marrying Will LaMontagne (Josh Stewart) in season 7.

Yet, despite the compelling personal narratives lying beneath, the disturbing unsubs in Criminal Minds took precedent and demanded most of the screen-time in each episode. As a revival, the storytelling in Criminal Minds: Evolution is much more balanced between the heroes and villains, offering opportunities for new conflicts to arise and old storylines to be explored in a new light. Alongside new additions like Tyler Green (Ryan-James Hatanaka) and Rebecca Wilson (Nicole Pacent), the original BAU members— including David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez), and Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler)— took on surprising new depth.

Prentiss’ Reason For Breaking Up With Mendoza Has Ties To JJ Explained

The Agents Broke Up Prior To The Events Of Criminal Minds: Evolution

While some new faces emerged, certain characters disappeared without explanation in Criminal Minds: Evolution, and their fates are condensed to side comments or brief mentions. One such victim is Andrew Mendoza (Stephen Bishop), Emily’s ex-boyfriend who briefly appeared in Criminal Minds seasons 14 and 15. Yet, after the Criminal Minds season 15 finale, Mendoza was never seen again, and his absence from the continuation was never explained until now. Emily, in the aim of comforting a grief-stricken JJ, finally divulges the reason for her off-screen breakup: Mendoza pushed for a threesome until Emily dumped him.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 5 takes the story a step further when JJ asks a few follow-up questions, leading Emily to imply JJ would have been the other woman to join them. Though she never outright says it, JJ asks if she was the third they had in mind, to which Emily replies “We never got that far.” The point of the conversation is to warn JJ against using work as a distraction from her pain, but it only succeeds in leaving one burning question— why JJ would be Emily and Mendoza’s hypothetical threesome partner.

JJ Being Mendoza’s Personal Choice For His Proposed Threesome Doesn’t Make Sense

Mendoza’s Late Arrival Makes JJ’s Hypothetical Involvement Confusing

Emily and Mendoza’s relationship never had much depth, but there are very few explanations for JJ being involved— even indirectly— in his threesome fantasy. Given how serious Will and JJ’s relationship in Criminal Minds had been for the years by the time Mendoza was first introduced, it doesn’t stand to reason that he would be the one to suggest JJ as an extramarital partner. If anything, Mendoza would be more likely to suggest one of Emily’s single coworkers, like Penelope. As such, JJ’s involvement was probably tied directly to Emily, which could have serious implications for their future.

Will and JJ got married in the Criminal Minds season 7 finale, whereas Mendoza didn’t appear until season 14.

It’s possible that Mendoza asked Emily what woman she’d be most comfortable with, and Emily could have chosen JJ due to their close friendship. Similarly, Mendoza could have picked up on their tight bond and suggested JJ to ease Emily into the idea of a threesome. Regardless of how it happened, Emily choosing JJ as a sexual partner suggests that she may have feelings for her best friend that are beyond platonic. Whether Criminal Minds: Evolution will expand on this and confirm Emily has romantic feelings or leaves them as lust, the revelation could be massively consequential.

Can Prentiss & JJ Actually Be A Couple In Criminal Minds: Evolution?

“Jemily” Is Not A New Concept

Criminal Minds: Evolution may have laid the groundwork for JJ and Emily— or “Jemily”— to have a romance, but that doesn’t mean the revival will follow through. Previously, Criminal Minds: Evolution had a love triangle subplot between Penelope, Tyler, and Luke that dragged on throughout the first two seasons. Yet, Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 has forgotten their complicated dynamic altogether. Similarly, Matthew Gray Gubler’s Spencer Reid suddenly had a story in the final season of Criminal Minds about his love for JJ, which wasn’t entirely unrequited. Unsurprisingly, Criminal Minds: Evolution has ignored JJ and Reid’s romance completely.

All episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution are streaming on Paramount+.

That said, if the continuation wanted to implement a serious love story with saving power, JJ and Emily would undeniably be their best bet. Since the original run of Criminal Minds, JJ and Emily have had one of the closest relationships out of the entire ensemble, with JJ even being the only one who knew Emily was alive during her “death” storyline. Now that Will’s death in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 leaves JJ widowed, it also leaves Emily to help her pick up the pieces as she continues her journey with grief.

JJ and Emily’s potential relationship is more than possible, however; it would enrich their storylines…

JJ and Emily’s potential relationship is more than possible, however; it would enrich their storylines and add unique new conflicts. Whereas Tara and Rebecca’s romance in Criminal Minds: Evolution has been in a stable position since season 3 premiered, JJ and Emily realizing their feelings for each other and wondering whether to act on them could add a healthy dose of underlying tension. Additionally, building onto their friendship and using it as the foundation for a slow-burn romance would give Criminal Minds: Evolution the golden opportunity to explore what many fans have been clamoring for since Emily’s first episode.

What A Possible Romance Between Prentiss & JJ Means For Criminal Minds & The BAU?

Evolution Would Have A New Love Story To Root For

Though there is now space in the storyline to develop JJ and Emily romantically, that doesn’t mean implementing Jemily would be without its challenges in Criminal Minds: Evolution. As her boss, Emily dating JJ could turn into a complicated power dynamic. Even if they were on the same level in the FBI’s hierarchy, JJ and Emily pursuing a relationship would completely change the team’s dynamic in Criminal Minds: Evolution. Just as Tara and Rebecca’s breakup posed unique challenges for the BAU in season 1, two members of the team dating would be risky.

Of course, if Emily and JJ were to date and end on poor terms, they are both seasoned enough to not let it interfere with the BAU’s work. Naturally, though, Emily and JJ’s friendship would never be the same if they were to try and fail to explore something deeper. It may be safer for Criminal Minds: Evolution to keep them strictly platonic, but JJ and Emily also have clear chemistry that would lend itself well to a romance plot. It wouldn’t be without ramifications, but JJ and Emily’s potential love story might be exactly what Criminal Minds: Evolution needs.