Criminal Minds rewatch thoughts (s14-15, s15-1)
Season 15 was the final season of the original run so the writers could have had some satisfying conclusions for our beloved characters, these two episodes however were the opposite.
JJ telling Spencer that she loves him I can accept because love comes in many forms. If they had left it with JJ's explanation that she had to say something that would get both Reid's and the unsubs attention; ok fine. The writer's could have still used this as a catalyst for Spencer going to therapy to deal with his fellings.
My issue come in the next episode when she further elaborates that he was her first love. Why ? How does it serve the story? The whole thing contradicts a scene in an earlier episode where she explains to Emily about how Spencer asked her to a Redskins game not realizing he meant it as a date and invited Penelope along. No hint of romance or 'what if' feelings, it's so inconsistent. Also, if true she did have those feelings why didn't they do somthing more with it? The Redskins 'date' happed in season one, way before Will (and Emily). There was no tension between them. No hint beyond this episode that there was anything beyond friendship.
In my opinion, this is just fan service from the writers to the jreid shippers and is no better than queer baiting because it goes nowhere.
I think having JJ tell him that he was her first love just serves to hurt Spencer and cheapens thier friendship. Also the way they frame it as some secret makes JJ relationship with Will as less. Either way the whole thing just felt wrong and ultimately went nowhere.
