The Unveiling of Linda Barnes' True Motivations: JJ's Unexpected Promotions Revealed

Linda Barnes (Kim Rhodes) raised eyebrows in season 13 of Criminal Minds when she promoted JJ Jareau (A.J. Cook) to the position of Unit Chief in the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. The popular CBS series revolves around FBI agents working in the BAU, a specialized unit dealing with intricate serial killer cases. Over its long run, Criminal Minds has seen cast changes and evolved from a typical police procedural to showcasing villains with extensive storylines, including Linda Barnes.

Introduced in season 13, episode 13 ("Cure"), Linda Barnes serves as the Assistant Director of National Security for the FBI. It is later revealed that she was responsible for disbanding the International Response Team (IRT), the focal point of the Criminal Minds spin-off, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. CBS canceled the show in 2017, shortly before Linda Barnes made her appearance on Criminal Minds. Her intentions to shake up the BAU from within raise immediate suspicions among the characters.

Linda Barnes Promoted JJ Because She Was The Easiest To Control

Linda Barnes' introduction in Criminal Minds immediately reveals her as a micromanager, something the BAU team is unaccustomed to. While overseeing the team, Barnes promotes JJ to take over as Acting Unit Chief, replacing Emily Prentiss. This decision perplexed many, as there were more qualified candidates at the time, leading to suspicions of ulterior motives behind Barnes' choice.

In essence, Barnes aimed to disrupt the functioning of the BAU in order to maintain her authority over the unit. As part of this strategy, she pressures David Rossi into retiring and keeps Dr. Spencer Reid at a distance due to his past insubordination. By selecting JJ for promotion, Barnes believed she had chosen someone who would be easily controlled. Even if JJ was unhappy with Barnes' management style, Barnes assumed she would still adhere to protocol rather than openly questioning her judgment.

Barnes Was Responsible For Her Own Undoing On The BAU Team

Linda Barnes' attempt to gain power over the BAU proved unsuccessful as her plans backfired and resulted in the team uniting against her. In episode 16 of Criminal Minds season 13, titled "Last Gasp," Barnes begins rejecting cases after consistently making poor decisions. Ignoring her authority, the BAU team covertly works on a case and successfully solves it, ensuring that the BAU remains intact and functional. Recognizing Barnes' detrimental impact on the unit's efficiency, she is ultimately removed as the BAU supervisor. This ousting occurs merely four episodes after her introduction, highlighting the failure of her micromanaging approach. Undoubtedly, Linda Barnes stands out as one of the most frustrating antagonists in Criminal Minds, which likely contributed to her brief tenure on the show.