Criminal Minds fans are still frustrated by one major Morgan and Garcia plot hole

Criminal Minds has provided us with some of the most heart-stopping moments, as well as the most cherished relationships. The one unbreakable connection fans consistently adore is between Derek Morgan and Penelope Garcia. And rightfully so, given the banter, mutual respect, and emotional depth they shared. Sadly, this does not lift the fact that there is one detail about their relationship that remains unsolved.

Over the course of 15 seasons, Garcia and Morgan’s adorable friendship only seemed to deepen as the seasons progressed and felt genuine. It is shocking, therefore, that Criminal Minds would show viewers two completely different flashbacks of how the pair met, without offering any real explanation.

In S03’s “Tabula Rasa,” the series presents one version of their encounter. Yet six seasons later, S09’s “The Black Queen” completely rehashes the history of how they met. Both moments claim to be the first time Morgan and Garcia meet, and yet both cannot coexist.

Even now, the fandom still points out the discrepancy and questions why something so critical to the show’s emotional essence is still left unresolved.

Two first meetings, one big inconsistency

As the BAU team engages in vivid flashbacks while revisiting an old case in “Tabula Rasa,” we witness what Morgan describes as his first jaw-dropping sight of Garcia. At the time, she was a new technical analyst. It’s evident that none of the agents appear to be acquainted with her. This is what makes Morgan address her as “Baby Girl” for the very first time — a phrase that later becomes quintessential to their bond.

Everything fits neatly until here, but things start to get complicated when we push further. In “The Black Queen,” viewers are transported even further back in time, to when Garcia was a black-hat hacker who had been arrested by the FBI. In that flashback, it’s not only Hotch who ‘brings her in.’ Morgan is there too, appearing much earlier than ‘Tabula Rasa’ leads us to believe.

Can this Criminal Minds plot hole be explained?

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One widely accepted fan theory suggests that Morgan did not recognize Garcia in “Tabula Rasa” because she looked completely different. In “The Black Queen,” Garcia sported dark hair, no glasses, and a goth wardrobe — a stark contrast to her cheerful, BAU-friendly attire. Fans adored Garcia for her bright dresses, which she adopted to fit in at the BAU. As such, Morgan may have found her unrecognizable.

But what about Garcia? Why didn’t she mention they’d already met? Some believe she did remember Morgan, but chose to conceal their prior encounter to avoid drawing attention. At that point, her secretive past was still under wraps from the rest of the team. Given that she was working to erase her past, it stands to reason she would be willing to play along if it meant staying out of the spotlight.

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