Why Did Penelope Really Leave Criminal Minds?

Criminal Minds follows the intense professional lives of FBI profilers, diving into the worst aspects of humanity.

From complex forensics to data analysis, from evaluating one’s body language to getting into the criminal’s mindset, these profilers are highly proficient and skilled in catching the perpetrator. This magnitude of work might not be comprehensible to us ordinary folks.

Although we might find their work interesting, it might be difficult to empathize with them. We need a perspective that can help us understand this line of work who is also a part of this intense profile.

And here comes along, Penelope!

Penelope Garcia was just 18 years old when she lost her parents to a car accident by a driver under the influence. But Garcia carried this guilt as she believed that she was the reason for her parent’s death.

As it turns out, her parents were out looking for her late at night because she missed her curfew. This struck her hard as Garcia decided to drop out of the California Institute of Technology, grieving her parents’ demise. Instead, she went utterly recluse. With her “underground” status, she taught herself coding, imbibed the goth culture, and was famously known in the hacker community as “The Black Queen.”

Under the mentorship of Shane Wyeth, she targeted giant corporations suspected of criminal activities. This got her onto the FBI’s “list.” Alas, in 2004, her so-called misdemeanors were caught by FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), arresting her in 2004.

But Aaron Hotchener, Chief of Quantico’s BAU, perceived Garcia in a different light. He made her an offer she couldn’t refuse– it was either serving jail or joining the FBI as a Technical Analyst. Thus, Penelope was recruited in the most difficult, civic responsible, dangerous, and influential bureau in the world.

Yet, Garcia was the greatest enigma among the BAU team. Because she was the medium between these complex individuals and the viewers, she belonged in both realms, and we saw the real face of the FBI through her eyes.

Kirsten Vangsness, who plays the role of Penelope Garcia, told the TV Insider that–

“She’s the eyes of the audience, really. She’s the empath. She’s the one who usually says if something’s gross or good or bad. They wanted to show that the BAU team — ‘the good guys’ — continue to do their jobs catching killers and helping people, so it’s the audience leaving them to their work.”

“Since Garcia’s the eyes of the audience, you pull her away.”

By the end of season 15, Penelope Garcia bid farewell to her BAU team to join a non-profit where she could contribute with her excellent technical proficiency. Although there are several factors that led to her final decision, the important reasons that pushed her away are watching her friend almost breathe his last, working in such a mentally and emotionally exhausting environment, facing the trauma of countless lives lost to inhumane humankind. Penelope is a positive character who needs a break from the Criminal Minds, but she is back in the reboot.

Why Did Penelope Really Leave Criminal Minds?

Penelope Garcia is the key to unlocking the unsolvable links surrounding a difficult case. As a technical analyst, she digs into a criminal’s digital history, scrubs through the disturbing archives, and excavates the most heinous details about them.

Yet the vibrant, frilled dress-wearing, flowery, and cheery Penelope was the light-hearted relief of the show. Amidst the intense scenes, her character would bring the much-needed break from the “our world is a dark place” perspective. Also, Penelope was an emotionally sensitive and well-drawn character who gave an insight into the other profilers’ work.

And then, she left the team after 15 seasons of unwavering support.

The penultimate episode started with a notion that Dave Rossi might be the one leaving the team, contemplating his retirement. Meanwhile, in another storyline, we see Spencer Reid more inclined towards teaching than continuing as a profiler. Then, the show alluded to the possibility that Emily Prentiss might be promoted to a higher position and leave the team.

However, the end reveal took us all by surprise when the quirky little ball of sunshine, Garcia, was the one leaving the team. She had always wanted to be a part of a more socially driven job profile.

Hence, she took a job at a non-profit, where she could work in a relatively less stressful environment. However, the implications of seeing her colleague/friend Reid face a near-death incident and navigating through the darkest side of mankind might have taken a toll on her mental health. These compiling reasons led to Penelope Garcia bidding adieu to her BAU team.

Will Penelope Be Back on Criminal Minds?

Criminal Minds started its 16th season with a spin-off-like format titled Criminal Minds: Evolution. Penelope Garcia is back on the BAU team after three years. The season started with a serial killer who created a network of other serial killers during the pandemic. Who better than Garcia to track their digital footprint when everyone is in lockdown?

After the show was picked up for a new season, Penelope Garcia has considerably more screen time as she continues to be her more cheerful self and kick your a** digitally.

You can catch the new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution on Paramount+.

What are your thoughts on Penelope leaving the BAU team? Did you like her character arc? Do you think the creators made the right decision to bring her back?

What is your guess on what she wrote on the Post-it note to everyone? Let us know in the comments section below.