Lets gossip about Criminal Minds this weekend. Just about everyone I met while I was on the set of Criminal Minds asked me what the viewers thought about Lola Glaudini leaving the show. So here is a thread for us to talk about whether we miss the character of Elle, did we like how she was written off the show, etc. :)
I don't miss her. I tolerated her, but I've realized after she was written out that I didn't really like her all that much. She was a good character, well-written and well acted, but I just... basically, she just didn't sit right with me, and I'm not even sure I can explain it.
ReplyDeleteThe end was... believeable, and damn, but there was some fine acting on Lola Glaudini's part in "Aftermath"!
Yes, I miss Elle; I enjoyed her character--she was kick ass and strong...a good profiler and, up until the last few eps, Hotch trusted her.
ReplyDeleteI will have to say, re: her hair cut in S2, what did she do, piss off her hairdresser? Because that was awful. /shallow moment.
As to how she left the show...I think it was Eliz. Bear who's said that this show isn't afraid to show the damage done to the characters...So, yes, it was believable and I did like the storyline--the writers didn't back down from it.
I didn't like that she did it, nor did I like that she really wouldn't own up to it. So, in that sense, I am glad Hotch went after her (and being Hotch, could he have done anything less?). That last scene in his office was great. Especially Hotch's "I'll miss you too" (paraphrase there) after she leaves his office...
I think they wrote her off as fast as they could to get her off the show as quickly as possible. It is not believeable that since she has been gone not one person has EVER muttered her name. Not once. That is just way to weird.
ReplyDeleteI liked Elle, but I wasn't too too upset when she decided to leave the show. I think if I'd heard she was just getting canned I would have been upset, but since it was mutual, I was okay with it.
ReplyDeleteBut I really didn't like the way her departure was handled. Idea was okay; execution was pretty bad. These people are profilers; it's just not credible they would have let things go as far as they did.
On the other hand, she was new to the team and didn't last her first year, and I'm sure that happens quite a lot. So maybe it's normal that the team wasn't too too surprised when she left. I dunno.
I've said before, I liked the way Prentiss was introduced. We didn't have to like her at first, because the team didn't -- she got a chance to grow on us.
But I wonder if some of the discomfort people had with Emily is that she's a very similar physical type to Elle. They don't exactly look alike, but if you were describing them to a blind person, you'd use exactly the same words. Even, as Slash said, to the very severe hairstyles at Elle's end/Emily's beginning. I suppose it's just coincidence, and we needed a non-blond to offset Garcia and JJ, but ... I think it may have hit a subliminal nerve. Almost like, hmmm, some people wouldn't notice it was a new character/actress? It was a little jarring.
I liked Elle. She was a little bit of an enigma and just like the other characters I wanted to more about her. Why did she seem so cold? What made her join BAU?
ReplyDeleteHer meltdown in season 2 was interesting. It was good that they showed how affected Elle was by her shooting but I didn't buy that she went Terminator on the rape guy because of it. That ending felt a little rushed.
I hope they will deal with the BAU department's incompetence of handling their agent trauma. It's like everyone sees what going on but no one is saying or doing anything about it, despite all of them having an academic degree in psychology.
I agree with everyone who has posted. It seemed rushed to me as well. Also, Gideon and Hotchner not so much as mentioning Elle's emotional problems when Reid staring having his seems unreal. These two bounce things off each other all the time. With Elle we were to believe that she had a meltdown, commited a terrible crime, was basically forced off the team and that she never deserved so much as a further mention.
ReplyDeleteAnd frankly since when does a B actress decide to leave a top 10 hit show because she is homesick for New York. Give me a break. That smells.
I loved Elle and I think she always had moments of doubt about her job and seemed to be conflicted in many episodes. I can understand her having a breakdown of sorts after the Fisher King episodes. Who wouldn't need loads of therapy and it was Hotch that let her come back early but she did beg him. She obviously wasn't mentally ready for field work that soon. She needed much more therapy. My immediate reaction when she left not confessing what she had done was that she was leaving the door open to come back in some form or fashion but since she has seemingly been written out of the all the other characters' memories' I find that doubtful now. And yes, I must admit that I too do not believe she left the show to go back home. That was lame. They should have known we are all too smart to believe that one.
ReplyDeleteI really miss Elle, but if she was gonna go, that was the way to do it. "Aftermath" and "Boogeyman" are a fantastic exit. I love that Hotch was the one who went after her -- not just because I've been a big fan of their mostly silent, but very palpable, connection all along, but also because he feels responsible for her and the guilt drives him forward, even though he's pretty sure he can't help her. He knows it's too little, too late, but the least he can do is listen now.
ReplyDeleteAnd the last scene of "Boogeyman," when she finally leaves... I was trying to hold it in, but on the inside, I was squeeing very, very loudly :) Hotch the Mommy Bird lost a chick, and he's feeling very sad about it. And his guilt is by no means expunged, otherwise he would never have jumped all over Prentiss like a tiger on a gazelle. I hope the guilt comes back to bite him in the butt sometime (because as much as I adore Hotch, I like his angst even more).
Oh, this thread is about Elle and I've made my post about Hotch. Oops. Well, I do miss Elle; she was unstoppable, unpredictable, just all-around awesome... but not working from a very steady foundation. She always needed to be bigger and badder to prove she was as good as the rest of them, when they already thought of her as an equal. I think Reid was even a little afraid of her :) As much as I still miss Elle and am having problems accepting Prentiss, one thing I like about Emily is she knows 100% how good she is, and although she's eager to please and to fit in, she's not going to let intimidation from Gideon or Hotch make her doubt herself.
jazz said...
ReplyDeleteShe needed much more therapy.
Yes, and Hotch insisted she go to a shrink (admittedly, after he basically gave in to her begging him to let her come back and she then shot someone in cold blood), but she skipped out on the appointment and ran. That was the end, and everybody knew it.
They should have known we are all too smart to believe that one.
Well, yeah, I'm sure they do. But it's basically a nicer way of saying "mind your own business." Which I can live with; if there were other reasons that no one wants to share, I don't really care enough to wonder for very long.
I really liked Elle. She was a strong agent but she always had some flaws, doubts and insecurities and I liked that about her. I was sorry she was written off the show.
ReplyDeleteI did not really watch season 1 until recently so I got all of my Elle at once. I must say I liked her character. She was more empathetic to her co-workers and the victims than some others ; ). It would be appropriate in her specialty of sex crimes. I see a definite difference between homicide detectives who deal with the dead and sex crimes where most of the victims survive and must be dealt with all along. Sex crimes investigators are more mentally invested in the victim.
ReplyDeleteI did not think the “write off” was particularly accurate from a procedural standpoint. I suppose it was a contractual issue with Lola so it was going to be quick no matter what was done.
I have seen a few of when she was on, but not yet seen any where she left. So I don't know what happened.
ReplyDeleteCan't offer my opinion yet. I do know that she seems to bring out strong emotions, some good, some bad in everyone. As does Emily. (who I like, btw...but that's probably because I didn't know Ellie)
Ok. Enough from the one who doesn't know what she's talking about...
Have a good weekend!
I dont really know. I had just started wathching it when season one ended. Yes my eyes nearly popped out of my head with the way it ended wit her, and I was worries sick and didnt want to see her dio. But with the way she was for the first couple of episodes, before it was her last, I was thinking it was being built up for her to leave the show. It didnt surpise me, and I wasnt disappointed or excited to see her go. (Though I would cry buckets if Reid left!)
ReplyDeleteI still miss Elle a lot. I thought she was a tough woman who would do anything for anyone on her team.
ReplyDeleteI do appreciate the "Elle goes whacko" story line as being courageous on the part of the writers. However, I think there's no way the rest of the team would not have seen Elle's impending disasterous meltdown and need for more PTSD treatment. I didn't buy it then and I still don't.
(Looks like in the current Reid story arc that he's not getting much in the way of psych assistance, either... "Hey, Reid, it'll make you a better person! And everyone clap who believes in fairies...")
Bottom line: I think Elle's exit was courageous on part of the writers; the actual end could have been better, and I sure would like to see Prentiss develop into half the kickass agent that Elle was. The gray suits that look like Hotch's look silly to me. Sorry.
She was okay, so's Padget. So what?
ReplyDeleteAnon: I think the point is to just discuss the character of Elle and her departure.
ReplyDeleteI was never a big Elle fan until she was gone and then it did feel as though the team was one short. I guess that without realizing it I had gotten used to it being the seven of them. I like Emily but I must say that I also do miss Elle.
I always liked Elle because she really was tough and she spoke up when she did not like something. She was strong. I do have some problems with the way she was written off. If they knew she was being canned or dumping the show then why not just have her die in the Fisher King. She would have died in the line of duty as a hero but instead she has a breakdown, murders a man in cold blood, impedes the internal investigation, verbally abuses Hotchner and then leaves the BAU. I am just not sure that all that was necessary. It almost makes me think we will see her again or she had a contract for a certain number of episodes that she had to fulfill before she could leave. Either way I do miss Elle. I thought Lola did a great job with her. So I hope they left the door open for her to at least visit.
ReplyDeleteI guess I am the odd duckling out because I did not like Elle. I thought she was way too in your face but I did not like the way they turned her into a victim and then a murderer. I agree that they should just have killed her in FK2.
ReplyDeleteI would have been MUCH more sad to see Lola leave if she had ever learned to deliver a line. She was an awful actress and it is just the truth. The tone in her voice never went up or down so she rarely showed any emotion. Even when she got mad and yelled her voice stayed at the same level. She never worked with her face which to me is so important to acting. Her eyebrows never went up or down, her eyes never blinked...ugh. Sorry but the character in general was fine but I think they should have worked a little harder on casting.
ReplyDeleteJust my 2 cents.
Lee :)
I can't say that I disagree with Lee on Lola's delivery of Elle but I did not like how they ended it and not mentioning Elle makes them all look very cold hearted to me.
ReplyDeleteI miss Elle a little. Sorry for Prentiss but I prefer Elle ! In my opinion she was more integrated into the team than Emily. But it is only my point of view !
ReplyDeleteMy 2 cents, for what it is worth . . .
ReplyDeleteI may be completely wrong, but I get the feeling that they shot FK2 right after they shot FK1 and before whatever happened between Lola and CBS took place--whether she wanted to go back home to New York (Sherry Stringfield left ER for similar reasons about 10 years ago and then came back a couple of years ago), whether the rumors that she is pregnant are true, or that the PTB decided to go another way with the show and write her off the show--whatever. If they had gone on hiatus before FK2 was shot and the decision about Lola's leaving the show had been made yet during the hiatus, they could have let her die in FK2 when they started up shooting again for season two. To sum it up, I think that when they shot FK2, they didn't know that Lola would be leaving the show. Again, just my 2 cents.
I liked the Elle character. I thought that she was impetuous and enjoyed harrassing the criminals a little too much, but I also think that her background as a sex crimes cop would make her that way--at least that is how we see cops act on other shows, Law and Order SVU comes to mind. I personally miss her but I don't think that her absence has impacted the show. I do agree with your comments about no one mentioning Elle at all after she left--weird.
Her exit from the show was awkward, but in thinking about it, I think that is how the writers meant us to feel about it. No good byes to any of the other characters besides Hotch, no closure, no loose ends tied up, just gone. It does leave the door open for a visit from her at some point. Her yearnings for a life or relationships outside the BAU in earlier episodes were telling in hindsight. We may see her again but I kind of doubt it.
THE HAIR! The haircut in season 2 was awful! I remember watching the DVD with the comments on the pilot episode and the producers were talking about Lola's hair and all the discussions they had about it, which I found pretty funny. But I remembered it when watching the episodes and her hair is different all the time! Sometimes she had bangs, sometimes she didn't, sometimes it was soft and feminine and sometimes kind of severe--it was hilarious!
I like Emily Prentiss and though her introduction to the BAU was awkward, again I think it was probably planned that way, to get the viewers used to the fact that she was going to be the new team member. They have brought her along nicely and although some fans will never like her. But, that's the way of the world. Either you like her or you don't.
It takes a lot of courage to play a character that isn't likeable and though many people are starting to warm up to Emily, the character will always have her detractors. That's what makes us all unique and able to see things other people don't see--which is what I love about this blog--reading other people's insights. It opens up new avenues of thinking.
I miss Elle a ton. I really liked her aggression, her awkwardness, her insecurity, and her cold nature. And I loved how she was with the victims and the criminals. It sucks that she left, no way around it for me. There was so much unresolved! Her relationship w/Gideon (admiration for her mentor), her mysterious phone calls, how she met Morgan, etc. Emily is too boring and plain. At least I can hope for J.J. showing some emotions...
ReplyDeleteLori: I tend to agree with you that both the FK episodes were probably made at the same time and then they were either stuck with Lola or she was stuck with them.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I have the feeling you know more about this than you are telling us?
ReplyDeleteI liked Elle and I have always like Lola's work. I agree the haircut was dreadful. Really bad. She did really good work in the Fisher King episodes. I miss her and that is really no reflection on Paget Brewster.
wren said.....
ReplyDelete"If they knew she was being canned or dumping the show then why not just have her die in the Fisher King. She would have died in the line of duty as a hero but instead she has a breakdown, murders a man in cold blood, impedes the internal investigation, verbally abuses Hotchner and then leaves"
Lin said...
"if I'd heard she was just getting canned"
Well I guess...no I heard she was canned. So here goes...
Not to many shows have the opportunity to present and build a really strong believable female character. Elle Greenaway (as portrayed by LG) was just that.
What I miss is her empathy and her ability to connect with the victims, and her drive to learn, (she carried that little notebook around for-ever). The best example was in "Plain Sight" - how good she was at comforting the lady who was nearly raped and pointing out that the victim was "surrounded by men". Her involvement in "Machismo", with the language barrier, and again her insight and decency with "rape victims".
I loved the "family" quality she brought to "the team", she was something to everyone...sister, mom, daughter, again convincing and real.
The "ending" was really unjust, awkward, insulting and embarrassing to not only "Elle and the Team", but certainly to Lola Glaudini.
It was just not presented in good-faith. Is that the shows prerogative...certainly but "Postal", and to never even mention her name again??
ELLE: "The men I hunt down are cowards. For the most part, they target the weakest members of society, women and children. There's nothing I'd rather do more than put the bastards away"
SSAJentzer: Bravo and you nailed it. It was both insulting to Lola as a professional and insulting to the viewers. Is that their right? Sure. You nailed that one as well but they could have come up with something better than she was homesick. I am left to wonder what kind of big bucks they had to pay her to agree to let that bull story run in the press. Elle was a great character and Lola is a great actress. She must have pissed off someone big time.
ReplyDeleteElle was never one of my favorites on the show but I had some problems with the way she was written out. I thought after she shot the rapist, there should have been a few more shows dealing with the aftermath, mainly the rest of the team feeling like they can't trust her to keep her perspective and her not trusting herself and having her realize the consequences of her actions over a period of time.
ReplyDeleteI liked her character well enough. I liked her attitude, and her go-to-it-edness. I liked her motivation and drive.
ReplyDeleteHowever I do like how she was written off the show. Personally the character dying sketch is the one that is way overplayed. It seems that's how they write off most characters these days. So I like how they addressed the situation a bit differently, and showed it from the standpoint of a lady who couldn't handle the stresses of the job (understandably).
As for them not mentioning her name again, there are references to her leaving in future shows, especially with Prentiss present. The reason I don't think they mention her, is that they already have to get a case in, and the roles of seven other characters into a 40-some minute period. Every line is crucial to the show, and too many focussed on a character not there anymore might seem rather wasteful. I'm sure that in the show-sense, the characters still talk about her (behind the scenes), Hotch still feels the same guilt that he did when she first left, and for all we know the team is thinking about Elle the whole time they are watching Reid's apparant downhill travel, but they've also been resigned to the fact that not everyone can do it, and perhaps they are used to seeing profilers leave, especially those who don't "make the cut". The entire rest of the team have been together for a period of time prior to the show beginning, whereas Elle was a newbie. Perhaps they are used to seeing people leaving because they can't handle it. And if we're on the topic of "them vs. her", she didn't exactly make the attempt to say goodbye to any of her team either, so how important we they to her after all? You'd think if she cared a heck of a lot she'd at least have said goodbye. The way she did leave makes me think that if she didn't have to, she wouldn't even have said bye to Hotch, but she had to give her gun, badge, and notice to somebody. But that's just my take on it.
I realize that while she was a member of their team, the show must go on, and it can't dwell on past characters. That's just one reality of primetime television I think.
Unless they bring her back some day for an ep or two, and give a little more insight into it, which some shows have done. Guess we'll just have to wait and see!
I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Elle to show up in an episode in the future. Lola was not happy doing the series. I don't see her dropping by there anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteI figured it had to be something like that. I loved Elle. She was strong and tough and I really admired her. I actually like how they got rid of her. It gave us a chance to see episodes that had her as the off center. She was great and them not talking about her at all is strange.
ReplyDeleteWhen I watch the season one dvds I miss Elle. I liked her. Thought LG did a good job. It has nothing in my mind to do with PB at all. I just was used the show with Elle in it. I liked how stubborn and strong she was.
ReplyDeleteI still miss Elle. :(
ReplyDeleteI really liked the character of Elle (she was tough and smart and empathic and funny and sisterly and brave--somewhere, I described her as "second-best at everything," which I think is a pretty good place to be), and the way she left the BAU, whatever the meta issues were, are one of the two things that totally cemented my love for the show. I think it was handled exceptionally well, and what happened was shocking and I hated it, and that, really, is exactly the reaction I should have had.
ReplyDeleteGood work.
I miss her relationship with Morgan and with Reid, and vice versa, and I miss the way she would buck the guys on the team and force them to pay attention to things they might not otherwise notice, like the emotional needs of a rape survivor. Or the condition of the back seat of their car.
Also, I miss her correcting Reid's statistics. *g*
I never really connected with Elle but I do miss her even though I do like Prentiss since the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI never "warmed" to her character. I felt like I had to almost nudge her along...sort of like, "Give us the words or emotions, please!" I felt she was in slow-motion most of the time. "Aftermath" was probably the closest to good performance by her.
ReplyDeleteI love Emily's "bounciness" and outward glow from the first. I didn't have to take a hot branding iron and prod her forward!
Does this make sense? Probably not; but I know what I'm saying (ha!)
Sorry. I do not miss Elle at all. I like Emily better.
ReplyDeleteWell last year I started to watch the show because my roommate made me!! I fell in love with it. Since then (we) have noticed a lot of changes.
ReplyDeleteI really miss the character of Elle Greenaway. I thought in season one she brought a real sense of "complete" to the team. I thought that was so important.
This year (season two) the BAU has turned into a real disfunctional family...and I see with the season finale, that is clearly what CBS has had this in mind for the team all year. Do I like it, its OK, but I'd rather have Elle back, as opposed to Prentiss just filling in. (which is not a bad thing Padget, but it is not what I really loved about the show).
I too like Emily better. I didn't care for Lola, its almost like she didn't belong with the team.... seems like Emily is more involved in each case then Lola was. Maybe that's why Emily comes across better. Emily seems more like a BAU Agent like the rest of the team, Lola's personality I think didn't fit the show that well....
ReplyDeleteJasmine hit it on the head. The BAU unit is very dysfunctional at this point but I did like Elle. The jury for me is still out of Emily. I don't like her or dislike her.
ReplyDeleteChris said...
ReplyDeleteI didn't care for Lola, its almost like she didn't belong with the team.... seems like Emily is more involved in each case then Lola was. Maybe that's why Emily comes across better. Emily seems more like a BAU Agent like the rest of the team, Lola's personality I think didn't fit the show that well....
Interesting Chris,
In regards to Emily, Dr Spencer Reid can't stand her, Gideon blows her off, Hotch does not trust her, and she has not once had Morgans back. In Revelations she certainly was not very understanding towards JJ's plight.
I thought Elle had a great working relationship with all "the guys" and with JJ and Garcia, respectful of each others roles anyway.
I don't know much about Lola Glaudini personality or character. Although in most articles and interviews I have ever read, she seemed very excited and challenged to play the role of "Supervisory Special Agent Elle Greenaway".
And in saying that, I think she remained professional to the end, which might have been really hard to do.
(Lori, I agree about the shooting of Fisher King I and II)
I think she'll take on her new "role" of being a mom, in fine fashion!!
Haircut aside..(?) Lola Glaudini is one of the worlds most beautiful women, and I do miss elle.
I missed Elle for one episode and then I never looked back so I guess I was not too attached.
ReplyDeletehey i'm a spanish fan of criminal minds and i don't like lola glaudini leaving the show because elle was and independent and a strong woman.
ReplyDeleteIf you?d like to contact me this is my email:vaily88@hotmail.com
I really liked the character of Elle, but I think they did a good job of writing her exit from the show. not much else to say, really.
ReplyDeletejacqui
Everyone who is a true CM fan misses Elle. I love Elle and Emily so I can't say that I wish Elle never left, but I do wish she could've stayed longer. I feel like there's still a lot to unravel with Elle's character, things we havent seen. I wish we could've had the time to see it. I honestly think that the way she was written out was all a bit too much too fast. Her character developement shouldn't have come and gone so fast. Again I wish she could've stayed longer. I agree with slashgirl she was kick ass lol :) and yes that was a bad hair cut but no one can rock it like her :D I also agree with allie they wrote her off fast as I said and then no one ever speaks of her again. That's weird. Same with Gideon only they at least mention him a few times. I just wish they can have all of those wonderful characters all at once. They're all great.
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