The JJ Scene On Criminal Minds That Went Too Far

What makes a show like "Criminal Minds" last as long as it has? Some would say the characters, others might say the storylines, and a select few might even say the personal drama of each character — though many more would likely agree that "Criminal Minds" has mastered the art of combining those elements. Now that it's heading into its 16th season, fans are reminiscing on what made the crime procedural drama so thrilling to watch year after year.

"Criminal Minds" centers on the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, made up of special agents who analyze the inner workings of criminals to better understand their psychology and hopefully catch them as soon as they can. With beloved BAU agents like Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), and Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster), it's no wonder that the show has gained such a loyal fanbase. But despite the many things "Criminal Minds" has done well, they've had their fair share of scenes that went too far – one of the most memorable featuring Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (A.J. Cook).

Since "Criminal Minds" first aired over 15 years ago, fans have taken to various social media platforms to talk about their most and least favorite moments. In a Reddit discussion, a user asked what other viewers considered to be the worst storylines on the show. One of the top responses mentioned the final episode of Season 14. Reid and JJ are being held hostage by an unsub (unknown suspect) who had gone on a violent spree, forcing victims to shoot each other. The unsub demands that JJ confess her deepest secret, and her reply shocked fans: "Spence ... I've always loved you. I was just too scared to say it before."

The confession did not quite sit well with fans, who had plenty to say about Reid and JJ's relationship. In the aforementioned Reddit thread, user u/mi55imo said, "This just ruins their relationship for me. Look back at old seasons, there was never anything sexual between J.J. & Reid, they were always like brother and sister." Other users mirrored the sentiment, noting that JJ is (seemingly) happily married with children. User u/DansoRoboto mentioned their worries for the future of "Criminal Minds," saying, "I thought they totally dug themselves into a hole with that confession. It totally ruined what had been a great platonic TV friendship and turned into what could become just another will they/won't they cliche storyline next season."

While "Criminal Minds" fans love Reid and JJ individually, they also made it clear that they don't want to see the two together romantically. This is definitely one plot that should have been left behind in Season 1.