‘Criminal Minds’: First Look at the Return of Paget Brewster In the Post-Gibson Era

Aubry D'Arminio August 30, 2016, 3:30 pm

Joe Mantegna, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster, and Adam Rodriguez in Criminal Minds - 'Taboo' — Darren Michaels/CBS

"Taboo" -- Coverage of the CBS series CRIMINAL MINDS, scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network. Pictured (L-R): Joe Mantegna (David Rossi), Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid), A.J. Cook (Jennifer “JJ” Jareau), Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss), Adam Rodriguez (Luke Alvez), ©2016 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The sudden dismissal of Thomas Gibson last month after an on-set altercation with a colleague won’t leave too big a hole in Season 12. Paget Brewster (second from right above, with Joe Mantegna, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J. Cook and Adam Rodriguez) makes a full-time return starting in Episode 3, when her Emily Prentiss takes a leave from Interpol to aid her buds at the BAU.

Also, CSI: Miami alum Rodriguez joins the cast as ex–Army Ranger Luke Alvez, a member of the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force assigned to help round up the serial killers who escaped in May’s finale. “Adam’s our missing piece,” says showrunner Erica Messer. “The show’s criminal profiling dialogue isn’t easy, but because of his history, he sells it without question.”

Criminals Minds, Season Premiere, Wednesday, September 28, 9/8c, CBS.