When it comes to support, Penelope Garcia has always been there on Criminal Minds.
She delves into the research and digitally shuts down UnSubs in real time.
However, Criminal Minds Season 19 has offered Garcia a chance to do more and to help bring an end to a gunfight. Literally!
(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)
It’s something Kirsten Vangsness delved into during her exclusive interview with TV Fanatic, including that rift with Rossi, hunting down The Fan, and so much more.
You’ve had some of the strongest writing this season. What’s that been like for you?
It’s been so much fun, and it’s so satisfying.
I love the show so much, and I’m so happy to be a part of it. When they do stuff like this season, it’s so satisfying.
It’s been real, and it’s been fun. Like the recent episode where I’m doing two cases at the same time. I got to make my own journal for it.
The Mr. Wednesday thing and the stuff that’s coming up make it an incredibly cool job. I can only hope that I do the great stuff the writers give me justice, because it’s such a gift.
(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)
You brought up the two cases at once, so let’s jump into that. What was it like to prove Garcia is the Queen on Criminal Minds?
I never knew so much about typewriter sets before!
It’s really fun, and it was a roller coaster, like driving a car really fast, where you’re trying to get the turns right.
During the breaks, I like to keep working on the craft. I’ll do a play or take an acting class, and this time, I really want to learn my lines.
(Trae Patton/Paramount+)
This time, I trusted myself to see what would happen, and some of that was real.
There were a lot of trust falls in that episode.
Then there was the episode with Maria and Ruby (Criminal Minds Season 19 Episode 7). That episode made me so angry, but I was so happy to see Garcia play such a major role.
What was it like for you to actually help the UnSub?
That one is a testament to the writers and their being around on this show for so long. Nobody can recreate what we do!
There’s something I love about this show.
(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)
That particular episode was written by Jane Archer, who started out in the costume department. She didn’t get it as a favor.
She is also a writer, and she’s worked in different departments and was given this change.
That scene, though, was supposed to be Prentiss. Paget said, “I shouldn’t have this. Garcia should be the one to do this.”
What I love about this show is the act of generosity.
Nobody is here trying to be “It.” This wouldn’t exist without all of us. We’re an octopus with many tentacles.
(Michael Yarish/Paramount+)
It was incredibly special to tap into the collective feminine experience. This is the world that we live in now, and it was so satisfying and heartbreaking.
I hope it gives a bit of soothing while they cry their eyes out.
Only Garcia could deliver that, so Paget got it right. That was Garcia’s moment.
Thank you! That episode was directed by Zach Gilford, and it was very important to all of us.
It’s a reminder to the audience and to ourselves that pretty much every woman you know, every feminine creature, has had this happen.
(Michael Yarish /Paramount+)
So you have to have a dialogue with that other person about it, because it’s happened to me, and it’s happened to you, and it’s happening to everybody right now.
We’re all acting. We all get up in the morning, go to work, and pretend, but it’s not always like that. So it’s good that it’s reflected on TV.
I need to talk about the Garcia-Rossi rift! That friendship is so important to both of them.
How was it for you acting it out?
(Trae Patton/Paramount+)
It’s scary! Joe Mantegna can hold space, so when you’re acting with him, it’s like acting with the Grand Canyon or the ocean.
There’s so much going on there. He gives you everything, and it’s the easiest thing to do.
I was worried the rift would continue for a few episodes of Criminal Minds Season 19.
Well, I’m half-Italian, and he’s full Italian! That was a lot of Italian.
(Trae Patton/Paramount+)
Let’s talk about The Fan. Two episodes left. What are you excited about?
I’m very excited for you and for me, because of how much action Garcia gets in the last few episodes.
We knew Justin Kirk would be The Fan. I was doing a play, and he came out. The writers were there, and he met them.
So I have this picture of all of them, and it was so neat. He didn’t know what he was getting into at the time. It was really nice.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Interviews like this take time and care — and we hope it shows.
If you liked hearing from me, please comment or share the article. That’s how we keep conversations like this going.
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Penelope Garcia has always supported, but Criminal Minds Season 19 has allowed her to shine, and Kristen Vangsness delved into that and more.
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As the BAU figure out who is draining women of their blood and discarding them, they also learn more about The Fan on Criminal Minds Season 19 Episode 8.
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Could you imagine a world where Tyler is The Fan? It’s something we joked about with RJ Hatanaka in this Criminal Minds interview.
You can view the original article HERE.
