The JJ Moment That Criminal Minds Fans Love To Watch
With its truly gruesome subject matter and episodes that are sometimes too haunting, the thing that keeps Criminal Minds fans coming back season after season has always been the characters. Even now, since the show has officially ended, fans rewatch their favorite moments — not the serial killer of the week's unfortunately creative MO, but the heartwarming or action-packed success of the team. Over 15 seasons, one Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (AJ Cook) scene in particular stands out as a fan-favorite for how it shows her fiercely protective side.
Though an unofficial Reddit poll crowned JJ the least-liked character on Criminal Minds, she still has her fair share of fans. They can't exactly agree over whether she should have gotten together with Emily (Paget Brewster) or Spencer (Matthew Gray Gubler), but they're united in loving the season 7 finale for her face off against the bank-robber-turned-kidnapper Izzy Rogers (Tricia Helfer).
In the two-part finale, a bank robbery turns personal when JJ's family is put in danger: the robbers kidnap her husband and strap him to a bomb while simultaneously holding her young son hostage. JJ's team rushes to save her husband while she heads to her house, confronting Izzy, who's maliciously looking after her son, Henry. With a surprise gun pointed at Izzy's face, JJ gets the drop on her for only a moment before the rescue mission turns into an all-out fight. It's a desperate scene, as Izzy tries to grab Henry for leverage, but JJ wins the scuffle by roundhouse kicking her in the head.
Fans love how JJ goes all out to protect her son
Within the tight-knit team, protectiveness is a well-loved trait that's the basis for many fan-favorite Spencer scenes, but it's JJ's particular brand of motherly fury that makes this episode stand out. On Reddit, user RealBittyKitty started a thread about the scene, writing, "Can we talk about Mama Bear JJ? I'm watching the season 7 finale and loving how Jennifer kicks Izzy's absolute A** for endangering her son. Ugh. Amazing."
Fans commented in agreement, adoring how JJ fights for Henry's safety. For user chippypip, the scene resonated on a physical level, as they commented, "I just watched that episode today! I had this weird feeling in my stomach, like I could feel the amount of rage and parental protectiveness JJ was feeling at that moment. Intense in an amazing way." User Ok_Detective_8446 admitted to actually cheering her on, as if they weren't watching a television show and JJ's could actually hear the encouragement.
This episode showcases JJ's motherly side like no other, as she declares to Rossi (Joe Mantegna) that she's a mother before a federal agent (a balance with which all the parents on the team struggle). User AngelDoee3 posited that Cook's own feelings fueled the intensity of the scene because it's her own son (Mekhai Andersen) playing Henry. Even though Cook knew the danger wasn't real, the fear of losing Mekhai must have been seriously good fuel for acting the part. As far as the fans are concerned — that authenticity shows.