Fans of CBS' hit TV crime drama Criminal Minds are still buzzing over its unforgettable Season 8 finale, which featured the dominance of The Replicator, and the unexpected death of Strauss (Jayne Atkinson) at his hands.

Executive producer Eric Messer recently spoke to TV Guide about the killing off of the longtime character, and how he dealt with separating his feelings for Atkinson the person from the limited character development he felt was left for her part.

"Yeah, I had a hard time with that. I've known Jayne for so long and I had to really separate knowing Jayne and the creative place we are with Strauss. It's hard for the team to have an enemy like The Replicator, and for him to not do any damage just didn't seem right," he said.

The EP further explained that while the decision to end her stint on the program was a tough one, it was indeed necessary.

"Strauss seemed like the one who had to go, which makes me sad, but it made sense, story-wise. She was our sacrificial lamb. She was introduced as an enemy of the team and by this year she was so on our side," Messer added.

Does the unexpected killing of Strauss indicate that more fan favorites may abruptly bite the dust in the future? Only time will truly tell if other main characters will end up meeting their demise in order to freshen up the crime drama's suspense.

CBS' Criminal Minds is set to kick off in the fall of 2013. Be sure to keep checking back for more of the latest details on the TV series.

The promo from the Season 8 finale episode can be watched below.

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Criminal Minds, Television, CBS