Warning! Spoilers ahead for Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2, Episode 7, “Piranha.”

Just a week after they had their emotional talk, Emily Prentiss secretly insults JJ Jarreau in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, cheapening their previous conversation. As the BAU enters the final stretch of its investigation on Gold Star, everyone is starting to get more impatient with how slowly they are progressing to getting to the bottom of the case. It doesn’t help that while the profilers are busy trying to decode the mystery and how they actually get themselves involved with the so-called North Star, Elias Voit is in prison making moves on his own for his benefit.

The longer form of storytelling comes with its set of benefits. Aside from being able to do a deeper dive in more sinister cases, it also allows Criminal Minds: Evolution to spend more time with its characters. Season 2 has been particularly difficult for both Prentiss and Dave Rossi. The former is because of the unexpected return of Criminal Minds villain, Brian Garrity, and the latter is because of Voit’s mind games. JJ’s arc, however, is often overlooked, and she may very well have the shortest end of the stick among the BAU during its current run.

Prentiss Groups JJ With Tyler Green As The “New Generation” Of BAU

This Discounts JJ’s Years Of Working In The FBI As A Profiler

In Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, episode 7, “Piranha,” the team tries to learn more about the pioneering paper that Rossi and Jason Gideon created that led to Gold Star. It’s also revealed Gideon’s ex-wife and therapist, Jill Gideon was a silent partner in the beginnings of the BAU. This prompts Prentiss to seek her out despite Rossi “forbidding” her to get her involved. As expected, Jill isn’t exactly thrilled to be roped into the matter. Ultimately, she starts to be convinced when the subject of JJ comes up as part of catching up with each other.

Prentiss tells Jill that JJ has been promoted from being a media liaison to an agent. That’s an accurate description of the show’s events. After all, JJ wasn’t a profiler during the first few years of Criminal Minds. The issue comes up when Prentiss lumps JJ with Tyler Green as the so-called new generation of BAU agents. It insinuates that they are at the same level as profilers, which cannot be further from the truth. JJ has been with the team for almost two decades, including her post-SSA stint. Meanwhile, Green isn’t even an official member of the squad yet.

JJ Talked To Prentiss As Equals In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2, Episode 6

Prentiss Was Finally Confronted About The BAU-Gate

It’s uncertain if Prentiss means her comment or if it’s just a ruse to convince Jill, but regardless, it doesn’t sound great considering her heart-to-heart conversation with JJ in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, episode 6, “Message In A Bottle.” In an effort to comfort Prentiss while also bringing up the subject of BAU-Gate, JJ gave her team leader a heartfelt pep talk about how they are far stronger than Aaron Hotchner or even Gideon because they never left BAU. Despite everything that they have endured, they remain strong and effective in their job.

JJ framed her pep talk in a way that she views themselves as equals. Granted that Prentiss has a higher rank, but her pep talk came from a loyal friend more than a subordinate. In any case, this has always been the nature of their relationship. Unlike running the BAU like Hotch did, where there’s a clear hierarchy of power, she is more democratic. That comes with years of Prentiss being peers with her team, which should also make her more aware of how much work JJ put to be in the position that she is now at the BAU.

Why JJ Is More Important To The BAU & Criminal Minds: Evolution Than Perceived

JJ Is Proof That Having A Personal Life While Working At The BAU Is Possible

All members of the BAU bring something to the team. This is why they’re effective in their job because they all complement each other, resulting in a well-rounded squad. JJ is great at handling PR, considering her original role, but she has also grown as a capable agent after years of being on the field and working with various iterations of the profilers. Beyond her contributions to the BAU, however, JJ is also vital in Criminal Minds‘ storytelling, especially looking at what has been happening in Criminal Minds: Evolution.

JJ is the only member of the BAU who has been able to maintain any kind of family life. Everyone else who wanted to do so had to leave like Derek Morgan did. It hasn’t been easy, but JJ and Will prove that it can be done. There are still concerns over their future, considering Will supposedly being written out of Criminal Minds: Evolution, but that shouldn’t discount how they were able to manage to stay together and have a loving family amid the chaos of hunting down serial killers.