Criminal Minds Fans Need to Hear What Adam Rodriguez Just Said About Luke and Garcia

For nearly a decade, Adam Rodriguez has been a staple of the BAU as Supervisory Special Agent Luke Alvez on Criminal Minds. Since joining the beloved franchise in 2016, Rodriguez has transformed what could have been an impossible task—stepping into a fan-favorite ensemble after the departure of Derek Morgan—into one of the show’s most beloved success stories.

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Speaking with Who Let Us Out, Rodriguez reflected on his journey, the relationships he’s built on and off screen, and why Season 19 may feature one of the toughest adversaries the BAU has ever faced.

From “The New Guy” to BAU Family

Rodriguez admitted that joining such an established cast wasn’t without its challenges.

“I totally felt like the new guy,” he shared, recalling his first season on the series. “Garcia used to call me ‘newbie’ for the longest time.”

Coming into the show after Shemar Moore’s departure, Rodriguez knew fans had a strong attachment to Derek Morgan. Rather than trying to replace the character, he focused on bringing his own personality to Luke Alvez.

“All I can do is come and be me and people are either going to respond to that or they’re not.”

Fortunately, both the cast and audience embraced him. Rodriguez credited longtime showrunner Erica Messer and the writing team for helping Luke find his place within the BAU, praising their understanding of both the characters and the fanbase.

The Most Rewarding Part of the Job

While starring in one of television’s longest-running crime franchises is certainly a dream gig, Rodriguez says his favorite part is surprisingly simple.

“Just having a job is a gift.”

Beyond that, he highlighted the friendships he’s built over the years and the connection he’s formed with fans.

“To know that I’ve been able to entertain people and portray a character that people can relate to or even be inspired by is really rewarding.”

For Rodriguez, acting has always been about connection—whether making audiences laugh, cry, think, or simply escape for an hour each week.

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The Luke and Garcia Dynamic Remains One of His Favorites

One relationship fans continue to obsess over is the evolving dynamic between Luke Alvez and Penelope Garcia, played by Kirsten Vangsness.

Rodriguez didn’t shy away from discussing the fan-favorite pairing, calling their interactions one of his favorite aspects of the show.

“It’s a sitcom waiting to happen,” he joked.

He described Garcia as the emotional light that shines through some of the BAU’s darkest moments, serving as the perfect counterbalance to Luke’s more guarded and serious personality.

“She is the yin to Luke’s yang.”

While fans continue debating whether the pair should become romantic, Rodriguez isn’t entirely sure.

“I don’t know if it would be ruined or heightened by them going beyond where it is.”

One thing he does know? No matter what form the relationship takes, the bond between them is special.

“However you slice it, it’s family.”

The Set Keepsakes He’d Love to Take Home

After years on set, Rodriguez has accumulated a few sentimental favorites.

While he joked that he’d happily keep a pair of pants he’s wearing in Season 20, the items he treasures most are two photographs that sit on Luke’s desk: one featuring his late best friend Phil and another of his beloved dog Roxy.

Both items have been tied to some of Luke’s most emotional storylines, making them meaningful reminders of the character’s journey.

Is Season 19’s New Villain Worse Than Elias Voit?

Perhaps the biggest tease Rodriguez offered involved Season 19’s newest threat.

While Elias Voit remains one of the franchise’s most notorious and psychologically complex villains, Rodriguez believes the copycat killer introduced this season may be an even greater challenge.

“This copycat killer in Season 19 is, on some levels, even tougher than Voit.”

The actor teased that fans are in for a wild ride as the story unfolds, promising that the battle ahead becomes increasingly intense and unpredictable.

Why Criminal Minds Villains Continue Fascinate Audiences

Rodriguez also reflected on why serial killers remain such compelling subjects for both viewers and investigators on the show.

Discussing Voit and the many UnSubs that have come before him, he noted that the most unsettling aspect is how normal many of them can appear.

“They could have families. They could be living completely different lives, and yet they are completely sociopathic.”

That complexity, he says, is what makes these characters so fascinating—and so terrifying.

It’s also why Criminal Minds: Evolution continues to resonate after all these years, giving audiences a deeper look into both the monsters and the people trying to stop them.

With Season 19 raising the stakes once again, Rodriguez’s Luke Alvez remains at the center of the action—and if his comments are any indication, fans should prepare themselves for one of the BAU’s toughest battles yet. Watch the interview here.