Many actors have come and gone over the course ofCriminal Minds’s 17 seasons (when countingCriminal Minds: Evolution), including Jeanne Tripplehorn, who played Dr. Alex Blake in the TV show. The CBS police procedural series, created by Jeff Davis, revolves around the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) of the FBI, which includes a team of profilers who travel the country solving crimes by utilizing behavioral analysis and profiling.Blake was one of the BAU’s team members,but she only appeared in twoseasons ofCriminal Minds.
Paramount+ renewedCriminal Minds: Evolutionfor a third season (bringing the show’s total to 18) in June 2024, just one day before the season 2 premiere. However, a release date hasn’t been announced yet.
Tripplehorn made herCriminal Mindsdebut as Blake during the season 8 premiere, taking Emily Prentiss' spot in the BAU.Blake was a forensic linguistics expertwho taught at Georgetown University. However, she was recruited by the FBI when she was only 24 years old, meaning that Aaron Hotchner, David Rossi, and Dr. Spencer Reid (who would sometimes attend her lectures) knew Blake before she joined the BAU. Blake stuck around for a couple ofCriminal Mindsseasons but left after the season 9 finale.
Jeanne Tripplehorn Decided Not To Renew Her Contract After Criminal Minds Season 9
Leaving Was Tripplehorn’s Choice
Jeanne Tripplehornexited the TV showCriminal Mindsafter season 9 of her own volition.During Erica Messer’s May 2014 interview withTV Guidefollowing the season 9 finale, the executive producer explained how the decision to write Dr. Alex Blake out of the CBS crime drama came to be. Messer said:
“As things unfold toward the end of the season, when contracts are up and all that stuff, [Tripplehorn] and I discussed what we wanted to do with the character.”
Why Criminal Minds: Evolution Is Succeeding More Than CSI: Vegas
Criminal Minds: Evolution and CSI: Vegas both revived popular 2000s crime shows, but only one has been canceled.
Tripplehorn had signed a two-year contract with CBSwhen she first agreed to play amain character inCriminal Minds. However, once that contract was up after the season 9 finale, the actress wasn’t interested in signing another one. Tripplehorn was seemingly ready to leave the police procedural series behind and move on to other projects. So, Tripplehorn and Messer came together and created what they thought to be the perfectCriminal Mindsexit for Blake.
How Did Criminal Minds Write Out Alex Blake
Blake Left After The Criminal Minds Season 9 Finale
During the two-part season 9 finale ofCriminal Minds, Blake was confronted by her past after working on a case involving a young boy. That, combined with Reid taking a bullet for her, reminded Blake of the death of her son, Ethan. Blake was distraught and began contemplating her future with the FBI. BytheCriminal Mindsepisode’s ending,Blake had resigned from the BAU,left her badge with Reid, and returned to teaching as working at the FBI was too triggering for her.
Criminal Minds
Cast
Criminal Minds follows an elite team of FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit as they analyze the nation’s most complex criminal minds, led by experienced agent David Rossi. The team works to anticipate and prevent crimes by understanding the behavior of these dangerous individuals.
