Spoilers about season eight!

[klutzy-girl.livejournal.com]

Got any new information on Jeanne Tripplehorn's character on Criminal Minds? — Cynthia

ADAM: Yep! Her name is Alex Blake and she's a seasoned FBI linguistics expert, who has some history with Reid. "People like Reid learned from [her]," executive producer Erica Messer tells us. "She is also a professor at Georgetown and Reid has guest-lectured at her forensic linguistics class before." And before you even ask, don't look for her to be striking up any interoffice romances. "She is in a relationship," Messer teases. "When you get your heroes involved romantically, it just changes the show so much. I feel pretty strongly about that as a rule."

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Comments

[klutzy-girl.livejournal.com]

So what I'm getting from this is no Morgan/Garcia. At least let it happen in the series finale, please!

And I don't know why and I'm probably wrong, but I have this weird feeling that Alex will have a girlfriend or a wife. But like I said, most likely wrong on that.

[spriggina.livejournal.com]

I have this weird feeling that Alex will have a girlfriend or a wife.

Oh, that would be so wonderful! Damn, now the idea is in my head and I'll be disappointed if/when it's not true.

Hmmm, no inter-office relationships. Emily's not working at the BAU anymore, so technically she now could be involved with any of the other characters in the cast. :P

[blue-sunflowers.livejournal.com]

I don't know why, but I'd still rather it be Reid if the writers chose to go that route.

[e-rousset.livejournal.com]

Same thing here, I would really prefer it to be Reid.

[eiko82.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that there is no romance between our heroes.

[sammet.livejournal.com]

Same here. What Morgan and Garcia has got going on is enough (and perfect!) in its platonic way. ♥

[calanthe-b.livejournal.com]

I do like the sound of her! This is the good thing with bringing in new character played by mature actors - you have to give new characters backstory and context, and when your actors are older there's time and space to do it in so that it works.

Really happy that they're adhering to the no-romance rule still.

[jennygadget.livejournal.com]

agreed. on all counts. :)

[blue-sunflowers.livejournal.com]

I'm really excited about this. At the very least, I'm thrilled they're giving her a backstory that'll explain why she can so immediately be so buddy-buddy with everyone. That was one of the things I hated about Seaver. Here's this new upstart - a complete stranger no less - and suddenly she's all family enough to "tease" Reid when in reality she barely knows him. Alex OTOH will know Reid well enough to know what he's like, and she's someone he can immediately be comfortable with. Of all the characters, it's Reid the writers have to worry about, since he does such odd things all the time that constantly make people go WTF. With Alex, the writers are foregoing all that and bringing in someone who will know him. I'm really not going to miss Prentiss, but I *am* going to miss a character capable of pulling off such lines as "he's so life-like" and "there really is a lot to hate about you, Dr. Reid" and have it come out as endearing instead of bitchy. Sounds like they're setting up that familiarity with Alex so that maybe she can continue it on.
.
~ Plus, believe it or not, I always had a fic idea that Reid went to an old linguistics teacher of his for help on a case. She was a bit mom-like to him, since she knew him as a child. He needed her help because their suspects were twins with their own made up language, and the two of them together worked on deciphering and translating it.

[full-metal-ox.livejournal.com]

She was a bit mom-like to him, since she knew him as a child.

And, I should think, because his mother was in fact a professor.

He needed her help because their suspects were twins with their own made up language, and the two of them together worked on deciphering and translating it. .

That sort of communication challenge suggests analogies with the case of Donald Lang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Lang_(deaf-mute)).

[blue-sunflowers.livejournal.com]

And, I should think, because his mother was in fact a professor.

Yeh, my idea was she'd known him at CalTech, when he was only 12 or so. I like to imagine Reid had a lot of people treating him as "sweetie" :D

That sort of communication challenge suggests analogies with the case of Donald Lang.

Ooooooooh.

[reseda-3067.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I usually don't like it when they bring in a new character to a show after so many seasons. But I could be wrong. Hopefully, she might turn out great. At least better than poor Seaver.

PS. I will *always* hope for Morgan/Garcia no matter what. :)

[sammet.livejournal.com]

Not sure how to feel about a brand new character which sounds like a female version of Gideon, but I'm not going to shoot down the idea until I've seen her in action.
I actually like the idea that she's been something of a mentor for Reid and am quite happy to hear there'll be no romantic interest in the team.

(I don't count the platonic relationship Morgan and Garcia has, which is perfect, but I'd also like it to stay the way it is!)
Here's to hoping Kevin and Garcia doesn't get back together, though.

[rebak1tten.livejournal.com]

Not sure why she reminds you of Gideon - if Reid's guest-lectured at her class, then she might think of him as a peer? Anyway, nice to have someone new and potentially mature. Would like if they get back to cases and less personal stuff so I can make up whatever I want without that annoying canon in the way!

[tryxkittie.livejournal.com]

I'm digging it. I just really hope she's a woman of color but I know she won't be.