** No spoilers specifically from finale episode included. **

Got home this Saturday night about 8:30pm. Hopped on the computer a bit, debated going back out, decided to stay in for the night, ate supper and sat down to watch some tv. Decided to FINALLY watch this Season’s Criminal Minds Finale. Just finished about forty-five minutes ago. What an amazing finale!

Admittedly, I had been putting off watching the finale as I knew Paget Brewster was leaving; and though I wish her well in her new beginning and am excited to see what she does next, I love the Emily Prentiss character and was delaying seeing her parting episode. I so hated it the first time she was gone when she was “killed.” Hated too then that they got rid of the JJ character. So glad someone wised up, however I am digressing. So anyway, now even though Paget Brewster is leaving on good terms and such, I will still miss her character. Paget Brewster gave us a gift in creating a feeling that Emily Prentiss has become an old friend. So, I felt as if I was losing a dear old friend at the end of the finale. Way to go Paget Brewster. By the way, Paget Brewster leaving is no spoiler, it’s been all over the internet, twitter, facebook, etc.

I have watched Criminal Minds avidly from the beginning. Crime shows are my favorite and this one was a fav right off the bat! It is my Number One favorite show (it took over for Crime Scene Investigation once Bill Petersen was gone). I even stuck with it though I was not fond of the initial Elle character (just my personal opinion). I loved the other characters and the cases. The minute Elle was gone and Prentiss came on the scene, I was enthralled again in the series, the cases and the character’s interpersonal interactions. I love the team as a whole, and though I may crush a little bit on the male team members (yes, even the character of JJ’s husband Will), my favs have always been the women of the show.

Anyway, back to the finale. Two hours seem to fly by and no, that was not because I was fast forwarding through commercials (sorry ad people). The episode just started and then *poof* it was over. What a wild ride of a finale. I don’t think there has ever been an episode of Criminal Minds that was quite so intense, so dynamic, so sensitive to the characters and the emotions of those characters and an episode that was so amazingly acted. I am sure the other episodes of this show are out there, yet when I think of episodes even similar they don’t measure up as to me what makes this episode different and standout (especially as a finale) is that there was a much lighter, happier ending. This was the icing on the cake of an amazing episode.

I won’t say more as I do not want to put any spoilers in here for fans that may come across my post and have been delaying the inevitable watching of the finale as I did. Now though I am free of Internet, Twitter and Facebook skimming and averting my eyes when I see anything about the finale - ha!

Oh and pay attention to the end quote/statement of the finale. It seemed to me not to just merely be a character giving an ending, yet a true reflection of the actor and what lies ahead.

As for Paget Brewster, you will be missed on Criminal Minds for sure. Thanks for sharing your talent with us all as the character of Emily Prentiss. I wish you all the very best and hope that whatever you are searching for and desire to do comes about quickly for you. I’ll watch out for what you do next as I think you are a wonderful actress. Until you are on my screen again, I still have Sadie Doyle to catch on The Thrilling Adventure Podcasts in the “Beyond Belief” segments! (If you haven’t checked them out via iTunes or the website, check out the Thrilling Adventure Hour NOW - very funny!)

Criminal Minds - I can’t wait for next season. Though I will miss the character of Emily Prentiss, I love the whole team and can’t wait to see what next season brings. I love a few shows, and yes some more than others, yet Criminal Minds is my definite #!! See ya’ll next season!

~ Kristin (@serenityinall on twitter)

PS -I was just thinking, I own very little entertainment memorabilia - I own a signed/framed Fringe Poster, I own a framed/signed pic of Bill Petersen/Marg Helgenberger from CSI and I own two wonderfully awesome signed/framed posters from the Thrilling Adventure Hour (from my March 2012 trip and live show attendance). The only thing I thought I may want was a Criminal Minds signed poster of the whole team. Even saw one a couple months back. Should have gotten it. Ah well. Maybe in the future.