Criminal Minds Revival: Will Hotch Return In Season 16?

Revival of Criminal Minds is coming technically for the 16th season of Criminal Minds and this opens up the possibility of Aaron Hotchner and Thomas Gibson finally returning. Two years after the final departure of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit BAU the team returned to the meeting. This time instead of being a network show Criminal Minds season 16 will be on Paramount+. Most of the cast returns to Criminal Minds except Matthew ray Gubler and Daniel Henney It is not yet known whether or not they were involved in the reactivation of the procedure. When Criminal Minds debuted in 2005 there were only seven main characters. Over the years it has undergone many changes with a few insides and out. While the show used to change players Gibson's sudden departure on Season 12 of Criminal Minds remains a controversial topic especially since he was one of how the show's few original characters. As the 16th season of Criminal Minds unfolds it's fair to wonder if there are any plans to bring the former head of the British Business League back into action.

CBS managed to find an effective way to explain Hoch's sudden departure from BAU. As the target of serial killer Peter Mr. Scratch Lewis Body Elfman Hotch decides to go into witness protection to keep him and his only son Jack safe. Once BAU finally brought in Mr. Scratch Hotch decided to leave the FBI permanently and focus on raising Jack. However, for several years since this happened, Mr. Scratch is gone and Jack is much older which means he doesn't need constant supervision. This gives Hotch a chance to return to revive Paramount+ criminal minds. Unfortunately, that probably won't happen due to the drama behind the scenes. Gibson's departure from Criminal Minds was controversial. He was fired from the show after an altercation occurred. From there a variety of themes emerged. Given the fact that the same cast and crew are expected to return for the 16th season of Criminal Minds Gibson's chances of reprising Hotch are slim if not nil.

Further evidence that Criminal Minds had no intention of bringing Hooch back is the fact that after Thomas Gibson's character was written out of the series he is hardly mentioned again. After Emily Prentice Paggett Brewster and David Rossi, Joe Mantegna inform the Business Unit of the former unit chiefs' decision to leave they stop mentioning it entirely. Granted Criminal Minds made an effort to focus on its current roster but the series still dropped Jason Gideon's name from Mandy Patinkin who has since left multiple times. Shemar Moores Derek Morgan also appeared as a guest showing that the show is willing to incorporate former cast members into its storytelling. But even as Criminal Minds reviewed old cases and flashbacks surfaced Gibson never appeared in any of them. So despite the narrative opportunity to bring Hotch back, it's safe to say that season 16 of Paramount +s Criminal Minds won't see his return. Admittedly it would be great to see Hotch return. Despite Gibson's off-screen troubles, his character was a great boss of BAU perfectly portraying the calm and collected leader. However, at this point, Prentiss has proven himself solidly in the role and is doing a great job with it. Given that hell may keep this position on Criminal Minds 16.