TV

Criminal Minds Sequel Most Devastating Storyline Is Based On BAU's Member Real-Life Tragedy

Criminal Minds Sequel Most Devastating Storyline Is Based On BAU's Member Real-Life Tragedy
Image credit: CBS

The Criminal Minds reboot follows the tragic storyline of the original series, but thankfully, not to the full extent.

The writers don't often use the stories of real-life actors in the show, but when they do, the character development is as complete as possible and engages the viewers.

Joe Mantegna has already told his story. He invited a friend to shoot for one of the supporting roles, but later it turned out that the friend had cancer, the battle with which he later lost.

Then Joe, along with the show's creators, decided to say goodbye to the actor on screen with dignity and filmed an episode in which Mantegna's character, Rossi, goes to a friend's funeral to say goodbye and pay tribute for the last time.

Turns out this isn't the only such story among the Criminal Minds cast.

JJ faced many challenges on Criminal Minds, but in the Criminal Minds: Evolution reboot, a member of the BAU team faced perhaps her toughest challenge yet.

JJ's husband, Will, is suspected of having cancer, and this storyline was added to the show for a reason. In real life, AJ Cook's husband, Nathan Anderson, was also diagnosed with cancer, which he was eventually able to beat.

The actress shared the good news on her Instagram page.

"It's been a hell of a year @nathanandy. I know you hate when I get all sentimental but #Cancer picked the wrong guy to mess with. You won baby! You're #cancerfree. It's like the weight of the world has been lifted," the actress wrote.

The actress used her experience to play the most believable wife whose husband is in such great danger. Cook admitted that she didn't even do her hair or put on makeup during filming because it showed how exhausted her character was.

"We've given J.J. a lot of my stuff. And in turn, I feel like I've been able to steal J.J.'s strength in times when I've needed it. She's such a badass, and she's not afraid to stand up for herself. I can't tell you how many times I've had to channel that energy," the actress said in her interview with Good Housekeeping.

While the character's development turned out to be deep and believable, fans hope the actress doesn't have to go through a similar experience on the show's set again.

The second season of Criminal Minds: Evolution has been renewed for a second season, but there is no release date yet.