'Criminal Minds' Season 9 Spoilers: Why is Prentiss Returning for the 200th Episode? [VIDEO]
Criminal Minds is about to air its landmark 200th episode, and with it comes the return of former cast member Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss.
Brewster is coming back as Special Agent Prentiss in order to fill in some backstory about JJ (A. J. Cook) from when she went missing from the team. Brewster spoke with TV Fanatic this week about the upcoming 200th episode, explaining the ultimate purpose of her return.
"I think what they did with the 200th episode, and [Criminal Minds exec producer] Erica [Messer] told me they were doing this, was to go back in time and show what happened to JJ in the time that she was gone from the BAU, and, in a way, Prentiss going to help her was a mirror of when JJ helped Prentiss get out of the country and go to Paris," Brewster explained.
She explained that the 200th episode is a "nice way" to examine Prentiss and JJ's relationship in how they always had each other's backs.
The 200th episode of Criminal Minds will focus on JJ's kidnapping, with the BAU looking into her time at the State Department in order to investigate the incident. The team ultimately discovers that there is a secret mission involved that puts JJ's life in grave danger. This is when the team contacts Prentiss to aid in the investigation.
The episode, aptly titled 200, is set to air Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 9 p.m. on CBS.
After the 200th episode, Criminal Minds will "get back to business," according to Messer. Such episodes include a Criminal Minds take on Valentine's Day, and a big "probably two-part finale."
Criminal Minds season 9 airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on CBS.
Watch a promo for the next episode of Criminal Minds here:
