[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 Episode 3 “Time to Say Goodbye.”]
“I’m nonetheless mad,” A.J. Prepare dinner says of that devastating loss for JJ on Legal Minds.
It was within the second episode of Season 18 that JJ was shocked when her husband, Will (Josh Stewart), collapsed at house, then died. His funeral is held within the third, and it encompasses a formidable efficiency from Prepare dinner as JJ tries to carry it collectively and stay robust for her family members earlier than breaking whereas delivering the eulogy. It additionally contains the long-awaited return from Matthew Grey Gubler as Reid reveals as much as be by JJ’s facet in the course of the robust time.
Under, A.J. Prepare dinner discusses JJ’s main loss, reuniting with Gubler, and extra.
This was such a heartbreaking episode.
AJ Prepare dinner: I’m sorry for doing this to you.
All the load is on JJ, too, as a result of she’s making an attempt so onerous to carry it collectively for everybody else, for herself, for many of the episode. After which she breaks in the course of the eulogy.
What a time to interrupt.
Michael Yarish / Paramount+
I do know, however how a lot did she must maintain it collectively when she did after which additionally break when she did?
Nicely, I believe that’s what JJ does. Her default mode is simply, “Hold it collectively, maintain it collectively.” And I believe we form of see somewhat glimpse — that scene when the ladies are leaving the home and Garcia [Kirsten Vangsness] says, you’re the glue that retains everybody collectively. And simply her response proper there says all of it. She’s like, “What different choice do I’ve?” That’s simply how she is. However as they are saying goodbye, the door slowly closes and also you slowly see her begin to break simply sufficient. And in case you’re not listening to it, you nearly don’t even see it. However it’s, for me, Joe determined to shoot — Joe Mantegna who directed it, determined to shoot the scene that method. And I believe it is likely one of the most telling and heartbreaking components of the entire story of her. She’s making an attempt so onerous to not break in entrance of anybody. However the irony is that each one everybody needs is only for her to let it out. And that’s what Rossi says to her on the finish. However that’s not how JJ rolls, however she’s going to should be taught. She’s going to should discover ways to cope.
How was filming the church scene and JJ lastly actually breaking in entrance of everybody after which speaking to her sons and all the pieces? Additionally as a result of your sons are enjoying these roles…
It’s simply, what are we doing? We’re so bizarre. I don’t know. Yeah, it was multilayered and lots happening. Quite a bit happening. Clearly, this one actually hit house for us. I’ve recognized Josh without end. My sons have recognized Josh without end. Josh and my husband are buddies. It was a very unhappy — it felt actual. This was actual for me. So, clearly, entering into character wasn’t all that tough for me.
My largest concern in all of this was my boys. After we lastly determined that, oh, we have been going to do that and we have been going to shoot this. And Erica [Messer] was like, “What concerning the boys? Ought to we write round them?” And so I went and talked to the boys they usually checked out me. They’re like, “What? Are you loopy? In fact we’re okay.” So my youngsters are very clever and emotionally steady, grounded individuals, they usually get it. They perceive that. And what individuals don’t see is after minimize, they’re chasing Matthew Grey Gubler across the church and getting flung round and hitting up craft service, consuming their fifth donut of the day. It’s actually, actually enjoyable for them. However yeah, we have been having to ask them to go to actually deep, emotional place, which they did splendidly.
The church scene was lots as a result of that was the second the place she lastly breaks. And even in her breaking, she’s making an attempt so onerous to not break, which form of simply makes it even worse. I simply suppose that Erica wrote this episode so superbly.
And what you’ll proceed to see by means of the season is simply all the ranges and layers of grief. There’s so many, they usually form of intestine punch you whenever you least count on it. And we’re going to see JJ possibly discover some therapeutic and discover therapeutic by means of some uncommon locations and thru some uncommon individuals. So yeah, it’s going to be an attention-grabbing journey.
Michael Yarish/Paramount+
We did get Reid’s return, nice to see him once more. How a lot did JJ want him there? As a result of we really feel their bond and the way clear it’s and what they imply to one another by means of so little dialogue.
Yeah, and I believe that was by selection. They didn’t want a monologue. They didn’t want a bunch of dialogue. It’s all in seems to be. And after we have been within the conception part of this episode, Erica and I — it could really feel like one thing main was lacking if we didn’t have Spence, it simply would. It might really feel bizarre not having him there. So I, in fact, picked up the telephone and known as him and stated, “Hey, clarify what we have been doing.” And he was identical to, “Are you kidding me? In fact I’ll be there.” Like a real buddy does. You present up in these moments. And we have been so fortunate to get him again. And sure, it was a quick second, but it surely was so impactful and it felt so nice having him there, simply form of felt like a homecoming. And my youngsters love Matthew and Matthew’s like my third child. [Laughs] It was fairly cute. Seeing him again on set with all people, it was fairly particular.
You introduced up JJ and Rossi, which was considered one of my favourite scenes of the episode as a result of to listen to somebody who truly is aware of what she’s going by means of… We noticed him undergo that. Would she have listened to anybody else say that to her in that second?
Yeah, and I believe you see this determined look in JJ’s eyes of, when he says, “You need recommendation?” She’s like, “Please, sure, you’re the one individual I do know, you’ve lived this. I do know you’ve gone by means of all the fears in your thoughts of like, did he know? Did I say it sufficient? Does he know I really like him? I do know you felt that.” So it was simply such a good looking — and taking pictures that scene was simply, oh, Joe simply melts my coronary heart. I imply, we’re so fortunate that we’ve got him and that he obtained to direct this episode. I used to be in such good arms. However yeah, it was simply such an sincere, pure, true second, that scene between these two those who have been struggling. So yeah, that one was one.
And I really like the stuff with JJ and Connie. And also you had Linda Lavin on for considered one of her final roles. And so they’re in a a lot better place by the tip of the episode. So how does JJ really feel about the place they stand now?
I believe she is relieved. I believe that was actually weighing on her as a result of she’s a pleaser and he or she’s like, “Oh my gosh, his mother is upset and I don’t know, did I’m going about it the improper method?” And she or he’s all in her head about that. So the truth that they form of come full circle and issues are okay, I believe we wanted to know that they have been okay. And they’re. And we have been so wanting ahead to possibly having her again and seeing her with the grandkids. After which life simply punches you within the intestine. And gosh, she was taken from us too quickly. She was so lively. And gosh, I really feel so honored that I set to work along with her and get slapped by her, is likely one of the biggest honors of my appearing profession, was attending to work along with her. She and I, we have been simply form of on the identical frequency. We labored rather well collectively and he or she’s simply such a good looking, lovely soul. So she will likely be missed.
We watched JJ and Will’s entire relationship, from assembly to this heartbreaking ending. How will you bear in mind it?
He’s her rock. He’s her rock. He’s the one she goes to work by means of these issues that she is pretending to be so unaffected by at work and all through life. He’s the one which she would go to speak by means of it. And to have that gone is to have a bit of herself gone. Will was all the time such a — he’s simply there, identical to the fixed. He’s the fixed. And to have that gone is devastating for her.
However I really like Josh. I really like attending to work with him. We’ve recognized one another for thus lengthy. We’ve shot films collectively. I’ve such admiration and respect for him, and I’m unhappy that I don’t get to do it with him on the present anymore. However this episode actually felt like a memorial and a nod to him. That’s how a lot his character meant, not solely to JJ, however to all people and the viewing viewers. This household was the American household for lots of people. And so it’s simply devastating to lots of people that that is now taken from us. I do know it’s for me. I’m nonetheless working by means of some issues, guys, as I’m positive you guys are. However we’ve all the time written to life on the present and that is what life dealt us. And we not had Josh and we needed to transfer ahead and someway be capable to nonetheless inform JJ’s private life story with out him in it. So I don’t know. We’re simply placing one foot in entrance of the opposite and hoping y’all go on this journey with us and simply know we didn’t wish to go on this journey. I’m like, I’m nonetheless mad.
Nicely, additionally as a result of on streaming, now you’re going house with the characters extra.
I believe we may have made it work within the CBS model. There have been seasons the place you didn’t see him, however that wasn’t the format. This new format could be very completely different. An enormous a part of JJ’s character is her household. So to be advised that, oh, we are able to’t go house with you anymore, is like, how can we make this work for this format?
And once more, I believe Erica Messer knocked it out of the park and pulled a rabbit out of the hat and was the unicorn that she all the time is and made all of it work. And we’re not saying that it’s not going to sting and that it doesn’t harm as a result of it does. And it’s going to for some time. However we at the moment are going to go on this new journey with JJ and there are such a lot of girls on the market that do that which are single mothers and have misplaced their family members, they usually do it. So now I look as much as them, they’re my inspiration. I don’t have to do that in my life. I’ve a tremendous, supportive husband and I’m so grateful, and I actually suppose lengthy and onerous about these girls which have misplaced their vital others and are doing this alone. And now that is my tribute to them and that is me honoring them, this subsequent journey right here.
Additionally with this streaming format, we are able to see the grief course of. And also you began speaking about {that a} bit, however how a lot is JJ going to be additionally throwing herself into work now going ahead? As a result of they’re nonetheless coping with Voit (Zach Gilford)…
And we’re nonetheless coping with JJ. That’s her protection mechanism. She reveals up and he or she works and he or she compartmentalizes and she’s going to attempt to lose herself in her work. However you may solely do this for thus lengthy. We positively contact on a variety of the grief phases. And it isn’t like we shoot one episode and he or she’s gone by means of all of it and it’s tied up neatly with a pleasant bow. That’s not how grief works. So that is going to be one thing that we’re going to see all through the entire season. After which past that. This by no means goes away. This now has formed her into this new single mom, and it’ll proceed shaping her as she now learns to work by means of life this manner. So I’m excited to see what that appears like for her. It’s been a journey already, and it’ll proceed to be a journey in Legal Minds type.
I imply, I wish to see her snap at Voit, particularly the way in which he’s now.
Oh, lady! Mmm….
Attention-grabbing.
I’ve stated an excessive amount of.
Legal Minds: Evolution, Thursdays, Paramount+