Character Sketch: Emily Prentiss

Criminal Minds (CBS)

      Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss of the Behavior Analysis Unit (BAU) in Quantico,  Virginia, has always known how to stay ahead of the game. Beautiful, brilliant and compassionate, Emily is the type of woman that makes men uncomfortable just standing next to her. Although an incredible agent, Emily has an uncanny ability to sense the deeper issues in someone's private life. Emily has her own past she has been running away from for years and her hard life experience has made her sensitive, but also incredibly wise to others that are struggling.

     Emily grew up traveling all over the world, because of her mother's work as an American diplomat. At 15, while living in Italy, Emily became pregnant and had an illegal abortion which haunted her for the rest of her life. Before joining the BAU, Emily was a member of Interpol. Halfway through the series, Agent Prentiss must revisit her former job when she becomes a target for an escaped criminal bent on revenge. While working at the BAU, Emily has a rough start, but her generous nature, practical thinking and calm reasoning soon wins everyone over (even Hotch).  

     While Emily has many great attributes, her greatest is her strength of character. She picks herself up when she has been beaten down, she remains in control even though she's terrified and she doesn't let her past mistakes dominate her future dreams. Emily is selfless and sacrificial to a fault and there isn't anything she wouldn't do for the people in her life. Although she loves deeply, falling in love has been a consistent struggle, but it doesn't prevent her from encouraging other people to pursue relationships of their own. 

     At the end of the day, Emily Prentiss is an ordinary woman who takes extraordinary measures to better the world she lives in. A consistent favorite on the show, Emily has been an on/off character and no one ever really knows if she's coming back or if she's going to stay. However, what time Emily has on the show, she always makes the most of it. There is a general reality to Emily Prentiss whether as a working woman, a friend or someone who cannot escape her past. However, I think deep inside of every person is the desire to be an Emily Prentiss; someone who can look fear in the face and say, "I am going to win."