CRIMINAL MINDS - Thomas Gibson ('Criminal Minds'): "Someone will die tonight" - Interview

by Nathalie Chuc

A beautiful deep voice sounds on the phone, it is Thomas Gibson, - alias, Aaron Hotchner of Criminal Minds, the Unit Chief of a team of FBI profilers. In all simplicity, the actor tells us more about the double episode that ends tonight, Season 8 on TF1.

NC: The killer, "The Replicator", seeks, more than ever, to harm the team of profilers: someone will die... A cast member said goodbye - we don't disclose who. Thomas Gibson, how was it?
TG: It's always difficult, especially since it's an actress I've known for a long time. We played together in theater in the 80s. All good things come to an end. But I can tell you that she'll be back in Season 9... in flashbacks! [laughs] In series, goodbye is never final.


NC: In this double episode, your character spends quality time with his girlfriend and his son, it is rare to see Hotchner smile!
TG: Indeed! It's nice for me too. I think it's important to show that our characters have a life after work. Like real FBI agents, they are struggling to balance career and personal life. In particular Hotchner,  who is very - perhaps too - invested in his job. He is torn because he would like to be the best father and take care of his girlfriend, Beth. In Season 3, we saw that his marriage failed because he was working too much. He has learned several lessons since then.

NC: Will we see again, in Season 9 for example, his girlfriend Beth?
TG: Yes, but it's complicated because Bellamy Young, the actress who plays Beth, is a regular in another series, Scandal. She plays Mellie Grant, the First Lady! So it is difficult for her to find time to come to Criminal Minds, but our common goal is certainly to bring her more often.

NC: His private life is definitely at the heart of the intrigue tonight, because everything begins with his reunion with his brother Sean...
TG: Yes! Moreover, we had not seen Sean (Eric Johnson), the brother of my character, since Season 1. It's been a while. So, with this plot (Brothers Hotchner), we understand what happened to him during that time. And fans of the series will be pleased, I think, to discover another facet of Aaron, to see him as a big brother.

NC: You've directed an episode of Season 8, the 14th: will you repeat the experience?
TG: This is very timely because I am right there preparing to direct another! I cannot wait actually. It's a good story too; will begin to film right after the Christmas holidays - the team takes a break. With directing, I'll be busy in January! [laughter] It should be Episode 16. I love being a director and I'm pleased that they let me. It's a lot of work but it's so interesting and I have the support of all.

NC: Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, plays a key role in the finale...
TG: It was fantastic to have him among us, it's Luke Skywalker afterall! He's just lovely. He's an icon in the United States. On the set, we all asked him to take photos and to sign us autographs. He happily played the game. For me, it is one of our best guest stars. And the icing on the cake, he's a fan of the series, which is always a plus.

NC: Jeanne Tripplehorn (Basic Instinct) was a rookie this Season 8: your verdict?
TG: Jeanne has really found her place. It turns out that I also knew her well before she came among us - we went to the same school in New York. In fact, if you work long enough, like me, in Hollywood you always end up finding old friends on a shoot! We are lucky to have her with us. Her talent is obvious. And she watched the series too...

Thomas Gibson is 51 years old. He began on stage at the age of 10. In 1997, he was revealed to the public thanks to the role of Greg in the sitcom Dharma & Greg, with Jenna Elfman. Recognition became global in 2005 when he landed the role of Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner in Criminal Minds.


Due to the fact that the original interview was published in French, we have posted it in its integrity after being translated into English by us. To read the original feature go to: Le Figaro

Criminal Minds: Review of Episode 8.23 'Brothers Hotchner'

For a Hotch fan, perhaps the most anticipated and long-awaited episode of the season. Built up with spoilers that we would get to see Jack, Beth and “estranged” brother Sean all in one episode, it was sure to please. But did it?

Hotch and Jack are in New York to visit Beth and to see the City's sites when Hotch gets a phone call from his brother, Sean, who also lives in NY. Sean is now a bartender at a trendy club and has just had a female patron die in his arms, bleeding out of her eyes. The local police think that she overdosed on ecstasy; Sean tells his brother that another girl (who happened to be Sean's girlfriend) died the same way the previous week—and asks for help. The NY Medical Examiner identifies three more victims who have died the same way: by boiling from the inside out (which is unlike a 'normal' overdose) and the rest of the BAU team head to NY.

Meanwhile, there is another incident amongst some drug takers, but this time there is a survivor. Reid, Morgan and JJ are able to learn that the survivor lived because he took less of the drug than his friends. The profilers also learn that the higher the dose, the higher the heat created in the body and faster the death. Garcia is then able to identify that a more lethal version of ecstasy is being used: “PMMA” and more disturbingly, that this is the first time it has been identified on U.S. soil. The hunt widens and tension mounts.

At the local station, Hotch has Rossi interview Sean while he watches from behind one-way glass. During the interview, we find out that Sean had been a drug addict, but been clean for 2 months. Hotch is livid and storms into the interview, asking where his brother got his drugs and what else his brother has been hiding. Sean admits that his current boss, a man named Thane, got him the job and the drugs.





While all of this is going on, Blake interviews the sister of one of the victims. She is insistent that her brother was not a drug taker. On the night her brother died, they had been drinking wine; he had had white, she had red.

Next, we see a family about to eat dinner. The parents both sip their (white) wine and their poor daughter witnesses their deaths, blood streaming out of their eyes. At the crime scene, Rossi and Reid discover that the victims are seemingly random and that they ingest the drug through tainted wine. Unfortunately,the motive is still unclear.






From another profiling and investigating session, JJ, Blake and Garcia find that wine has been shipped to the 'Edinburgh Club', the Club where Sean works.
Eager to prove himself to his brother and to help the investigation, the younger Hotchner volunteers to go under cover at the Edinburgh and see what information he can get from his boss, Thane. Sean meets Thane in the Club's store room, where Thane asks for his help in dumping some wine; when they discover a missing case of wine Thane panics. Eventually, he admits to spiking wine with drugs but is adamant that he had no idea it was PMMA. But Sean is thinking of his dead girlfriend and loses his temper. He fights with Thane, exposing his wire but Hotch and Morgan come to his rescue and arrest Thane and a young woman who is also an employee of the Club. During the arrest, Sean disappears, much to Hotch's frustration. This frustration only grows when Thane's boss, Club owner Jim Peters, is found dead after his car is rammed by another vehicle, leaving Sean as an obvious suspect. The death is enough to scare Thane into divulging the drug/wine distribution chain to the BAU team.

Rossi tries to sympathize with Hotch, knowing that the brothers' relationship deteriorated following Sean being a no-show at Haley's funeral. Hotch doesn't know why Sean didn't show up, but felt he couldn't make Sean a priority after that, wondering when his brother would stop making self-destructive choices.

Further examination of the distribution chain brings the profilers to identify an airport baggage handler who had a strong, drug-related motive against Jim Peters. Morgan and Reid head to the airport, where after a quick chase, are able to bring down and arrest the unsub.  At the station, the remaining team members begin to pack up. Strauss announces that she is heading back to the hotel (with a sly look at Rossi) but before he can open his mouth, Blake has offered to give her a ride, which she accepts. The two women leave and JJ takes the opportunity to tease Rossi about his supposed 'secret' relationship with Strauss.




Finally, we are taken to Beth's apartment, where Sean is introduced to Beth, reintroduced to Jack and the brothers vow to do better. But it isn't quite a happy ending. Although Sean has been exonerated from murder, he still must face up to his involvement with the Club's activities and so the episode ends with Hotch accompanying him downstairs to an awaiting police car, where he gets in and is driven away.




Except that this wasn't quite the end! As Hotch watches the car pull away, he is captured in a black and white photo so we know he is being photographed. The scene then changes to Garcia's lair, where her computer screens are suddenly overrun with “ZUGZWANG”. And lastly, we are taken to Strauss' hotel room. The Section Chief is sleeping but is not alone,... The Replicator has arrived!


What I was disappointed with:

• Lack of any kind of explanation for Sean's lack of contact with Jack (hadn't seen him in 4 years) or for his missing Haley's funeral.
• Lack of any kind of emotion from Jack when he hears from his dad that their original plans have changed.
• Sean's phone call to Hotch after disappearing. What was the point? Sure, we learn that Hotch believes his brother's innocence but why did phone in the first place?
• Hotch's background as a “screw up”... I don't see this in his character at all. The opposite, if anything.
• Hotch not going with his brother to the station at the end of the episode. Sure, he made a few phone calls but you would think that if he wanted to “do better”, he would have gone along.

What I liked:

• Thomas/Hotch — Thomas gave an outstanding performance; it was nice to see him finally get a chance to shine. It was also great to see him smile and relax a little!
• Overall story — interesting case; great job, Rick!
• Strauss (yep, surprised me too!) — I enjoyed her somewhat surprising support of the team, especially her line “this team tends to go rogue when loved ones are involved.” I am going to miss her.
• Rossi/Sean/Hotch interview — I really loved Rossi’s calm and seeming indifference contrasted with Hotch's intensity and the underlying tension between the Hotchner brothers.
• Garcia — I thought she had some great lines throughout the episode and gave me a giggle when I needed it. :)
• Hotch/Rossi moment when Rossi shows concern for his friend and Hotch opens up a little about his past — A nice scene, even if I don't buy the actual storyline of Hotch's past.
• Reid's use of 'force' in bringing down the unsub!
• Short but funny Rossi/JJ scene regarding Rossi's relationship with Erin Strauss.

Rating:

I'd give Episode 8.23 a solid 8/10. Good story, lots of Hotch (essential for this Knight), some Jack and plenty of great, subtle team interactions. Hope we don't have to wait so long for the next brothers Hotchner reunion.


~~~~Galahad

NOTE: All the images can be seen full size clicking over them.

Criminal Minds Boss on The Replicator Reveal, the Finale Death and What's Next in Season 9

By Joyce Eng

So it was Luke Skywalker after all.

Criminal Minds' season-long unsub/stalker The Replicator was finally unmasked on Wednesday's two-hour finale as Mark Hamill's federal agent/biochemistry nut John Curtis. At the end of the first hour, Curtis breaks into Strauss' (Jayne Atkinson) hotel room, after which he forces the recovering alcoholic to drink before drugging her with "Doctor Death," the meth/ecstasy mix at the center of the case the BAU had just solved. He lets Strauss wander the New York streets, where the section chief dies on a bench in the arms of Hotch (Thomas Gibson) - not her BAU-member-with-benefits Rossi (Joe Mantegna).

So who is John Curtis anyway? And why was he targeting the BAU? It turns out Curtis worked in the Department of Justice, which receives the team's case reports, and like Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn), he was screwed over by Strauss when they had to take the fall for a mishap in the Amerithrax case 12 years ago. Needless to say, he did not take it well that Blake managed to join the BAU all these years later. Strauss had actually been investigating The Replicator rogue after having told the team that the case was dormant in the 16th episode. Believing that The Replicator was on the inside, she doctored the team's case report from last week, listing a fake M.O. that The Replicator used on Strauss.

After kidnapping Blake when the BAU's chopper was forced to crash-land on his property, Curtis planned to kill the whole team via a bomb in his house, but Rossi - whom Curtis had drugged earlier to lead him to believe that Morgan (Shemar Moore) was The Replicator - instead locks Curtis in the booby-trapped room and escapes the room by using Strauss' sobriety chip as a wedge in the lock. The house explodes... but we never see Curtis' body.

So is The Replicator really dead? And why did Strauss have to die? Showrunner and executive producer Erica Messer answers our burning questions.

Read more about the season finale, why no cliffhanger, why Strauss, and what to expect for season 9 going to SeattlePI.com

Criminal Minds Comments Thread for episodes 8.23 'Brothers Hotchner' and 8.24 'The Replicator'

Here, you can post comments and talk about tonight's Criminal Minds season finale episodes titled 'Brothers Hotchner' and 'The Replicator', written by Rick Dunkle and Erica Messer respectively.

Enjoy tonight's 2 hours Criminal Minds season finale!

'Criminal Minds' season finale: Sneak peek at 'Brothers Hotchner'

by Sandra Gonzalez

All season long, Criminal Minds has been teasing the arrival of The Replicator, and this Wednesday on the two-hour season finale, we'll finally be able to put a face to the name. But first, the Hotchner brothers are going to find themselves dealing with a tricky situation.

As you can see in this exclusive preview from the episode, Hotchner is called away from a seemingly lovely reunion with Beth (guest star Bellamy Young of Scandal) after receiving an urgent call from his younger brother, Sean, who may have gotten himself mixed up in a crime. (Per the episode description, Sean's predicament will likely tie into a string of ecstasy-related deaths.)

You can see the sneak peek video at EW.com

Thanks to @Quinny150 for the information!

Criminal Minds Boss Previews Finale Face-Off With The Replicator: 'He Throws the First Punch'

By Matt Webb Mitovich

It is time for The Replicator to be revealed — but at what cost?

This Wednesday at 9/8c, CBS’ Criminal Minds closes Season 8 with a pair of episodes, the first of which tests one family – the brothers Hotchner – and then the finale proper, which will put the BAU bunch in jeopardy as they close in on their aforementioned season-long stalker.

Showrunner Erica Messer spoke with TVLine about delivering this dire denouement, ruling out one “suspect” while teasing grave consequences for at least two characters.

To Read More: TVLine.com

Criminal Minds: Lily Kershaw new song that will be featured in the season 8 finale this Wednesday at 9pm on CBS

Lily Kershaw is known to the Criminal Minds fans as the talented singer/song writer who wrote the song 'As it Seems' that was used in the season 7 finale dancing scene at JJ and Will's wedding. Lily is back with a new song  'Ashes like Snow' that will also be featured on the Criminal Minds season 8 finale!

The song will be available tomorrow on Itunes and for more information about Lily Kershaw and her music you can follow her on twitter at @Lily_Kershaw

You can see the video and listen to 'Ashes like Snow' here: youtube.com

Mark Hamill plugs Criminal Minds season 8 finale on Jay Leno

Thanks to @suceress for the heads up about this video!

Criminal Minds Sneak Peek for the season 8 Finale

Joe Mantegna on 'Criminal Minds' Finale, Revisiting 'Glengarry Glen Ross'

By: Brittany Frederick

Joe Mantegna is one of the great actors in show business. Whatever the medium or the genre, he always delivers an outstanding performance. On television, he's best known as Special Agent David Rossi on CBS's long-running procedural Criminal Minds. Mantegna joined BFTV yesterday to discuss next week's double-length Criminal Minds season finale and what it's been like for him to bring Rossi to life for the last six years.

"It's a two hour episode," the actor said of Wednesday's final installment. "It's like a little movie in a way. We're able to pull out all stops and devote our energy, our finances and all that for two separate episodes into one, which I think it makes it more exciting. We get some time to explore this thing. We're able to give a proper end to our season. I think it'll be very satisfying."

One of the things the season finale does is put a period on the mystery of "The Replicator," the Unsub that's been stalking the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) team throughout this cycle. It's the latest recurring-villain plot for Criminal Minds, and Mantegna told us, "I think we've done a good job of kind of playing both sides of that street. We're certainly not like a soap opera, where it's continual story that you kind of have to tap in every week.

"For the most part, probably 80 percent if not more of what we do are stand-alone episodes and I think that's a good thing. That's what really happens in...

To Read More: Starpulse.com

Criminal Minds Promotional pictures for the season 8 finale 'The Replicator'

Criminal Minds Promo video for 'The Replicator' from CBS

Criminal Minds Promo Video for The Season 8 finale 'The replicator' from CTV

Criminal Minds Press Release for 8.23 'Brothers Hotchner' and 8.24 'The Replicator'

THE REPLICATOR RETURNS TO TARGET A MEMBER OF THE BAU, AND HOTCH’S BROTHER IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TEAM’S LATEST INVESTIGATION, ON THE TWO-HOUR EIGHTH SEASON FINALE OF “CRIMINAL MINDS,” WEDNESDAY, MAY 22

Mark Hamill Guest Stars

Bellamy Young Returns as Hotch’s Girlfriend, Beth Clemmons and Eric Johnson Reprises His Role as Hotch’s Brother, Sean

“Brothers Hotchner” and “The Replicator” – The Replicator zeroes in on the BAU when the killer targets one of the team as the next victim. Also, the BAU is called in to investigate a string of deaths in Manhattan tied to apparent ecstasy overdoses, and Hotch discovers that his estranged brother, Sean, is caught in the middle, on the two-hour eighth season finale of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, May 22 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Mark Hamill guest stars. Bellamy Young returns as Hotch’s girlfriend, Beth Clemmons, and Eric Johnson reprises his role as Hotch’s brother, Sean.

CHEAT TWEET: #TheReplicator faces off w/the BAU – who will win? Find out on the 2-hr. season finale of #CriminalMinds 5/22, 9pm http://bit.ly/15XTdvC

SERIES REGULARS:
Joe Mantegna (David Rossi)
Thomas Gibson (Aaron Hotchner)
Shemar Moore (Derek Morgan)
Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid)
A.J. Cook (Jennifer “JJ” Jareau)
Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia)
Jeanne Tripplehorn (Alex Blake)

GUEST CAST (“Brothers Hotchner”):
Jayne Atkinson (FBI Section Chief Director Erin Strauss)
Bellamy Young (Beth Clemmons)
Eric Johnson (Sean Hotchner)
Cade Owens (Jack Hotchner)
Kara Luiz (Liz Leonte)
Annabelle Borke (Anna Johnson)
Sean Maguire (Thane Parks)
Steve Wastell (Jim Peters)
Matthew Grathwol (Greg Matulic)
Brie Eley (Kimberly Sullivan)
Paul Shaw (Bernard Hatchitt)
Meghan Strange (Catherine Hatchitt)
Avery Kristen Pohl (Kiegan Hatchitt)
Tony Mirrcandani (Walter Beaird)
Richard Augustine (Larry Feretich)

GUEST CAST (“The Replicator”):
Jayne Atkinson (FBI Section Chief Director Erin Strauss)
Mark Hamill (John Curtis)
Nicholas Brendon (Kevin Lynch)
Teresa Huang (Dr. Weiss)
Kara Luiz (Liz Leonte)
Brian Appel (Agent Anderson)
Mark Moses (Senator Cramer)
Breanne Hill (Strauss Child #1)
Emma Marcus (Strauss Child #2)
Jordan Ledford (Strauss Child #3)

WRITTEN BY: Rick Dunkle (hour one); Erica Messer, one of the series’ executive producers (hour two)

DIRECTED BY: Rob Bailey (hour one); Glenn Kershaw (hour two)

CRIMINAL MINDS’ Ramping up to the Season finale

                   picture taken on location while filming episode 8x23 'Brothers Hotchner'. Picture @CM_setreport

The Replicator is going to rear his ugly head in the season finale of Criminal Minds, and, with a two-hour finale in store, you know it’s going to be big. Shemar Moore tells me he’s excited about the upcoming clash.

To read more go to EW

Criminal Minds Behind The Scene picture episode 8.23 'Brothers Hotchner'

Cade Owens, who plays Aaron Hotchner's son Jack, and Bellamy Young, who plays Hotch's girlfriend Beth, on set on Criminal Minds getting ready for a scene in episode 8.23 'Brothers Hotchner', written by Rick Dunkle.

Pictures by @CM_setReport

Criminal minds SPOILER for episode 8x23 'Brothers Hotchner' and the season finale

Mike: So sad to see Criminal Minds on the TBD list in your CBS story about renewals. Can I get scoop to make me feel better?

TBD doesn't necessarily mean definitely canceled. But we will give you some cheer-up scoop! The penultimate episode of (maybe) Criminal Minds final season will revolve around a case involving a baggage handler who goes on a murdering spree to get revenge after this daughter dies of an ecstasy overdose. You know, the usual lighthearted stuff we expect from Criminal Minds.

To Read More... E!Online