Derek Morgan, "Criminal Minds"
Haha, it's so cool that you get a double dose of Derek today. Hopefully there isn't too much overlap. :)
Senior Supervisory Special Agent (and current Acting BAU Unit Chief) Derek Morgan, "Criminal Minds" (played by Shemar Moore)
I could do a intro/biography thing, but, really, if you wanted to know vital statistics, you could go to Derek's wikipedia page or his character page on the Criminal Minds wiki. So, instead of just doing a facts and figures run-down on who Derek Morgan is, I'm going to do more of a squee-ish top ten ramble/meta/picture/youtube/fic/quotes melange of impressions and thoughts. This will include major spoilers for many episodes over all five seasons of the show.
1. Derek Morgan is a superhero.
Need a door kicked open? Want an unsub taken down before he can fire a shot? Have a bad guy/building/train that needs tackling (and I am not kidding about this, he has tackled buildings [in 3.19 "Tabula Rasa"] and trains)? Are you about to blow up in a car bomb and really don't want to die? Derek Morgan is your man. Derek Morgan makes Chuck Norris look like Charlie Brown. Derek Morgan eats unsubs for breakfast. Plus, he looks fantastic in kevlar, which is always a plus.
In this clip (from episode 4.01, "Mayhem"), Derek has to drive an ambulance full of remotely-triggered explosives away from a hospital and into an open area, thus saving the building and people within it from becoming victims of a terrorist plot, while also reassuring his BFF, Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia, that she is one of the most important women in his life.
2. Derek Morgan is a marshmallow.
When it comes to children - especially children in danger, but, really, any small child will do - Derek's the squishiest, most melting and tender man you've ever seen. Pairing this big, tough guy with a wee child is mean to me, but happily, the show does it over and over again. And, despite the fact that the job the BAU does changes everyone on the team by constantly showing them the darkest parts of the human psyche and soul, I can totally picture Derek one day becoming a totally kick-ass father.
This clip, from 4.11 "Normal," shows Derek holding co-worker Jennifer "JJ" Jareau's infant son for the first time.
And this is from 4.22 "The Big Wheel:"
3. Derek Morgan trusts no-one.
There's a lot of reasons for Derek's reticence to trust, but probably the strongest reason has to do with his childhood, when his father was killed and he was subsequently mentored by a guy in his neighbourhood who coached a lot of kids, but also molested them, Derek among his victims. The truth about this molestation didn't come out to anyone, including Morgan's family, until the events of episode 2.12 "Profiler Profiled," when he was accused of murdering a number of boys in his old neighbourhood.
This is a series of scenes featuring Morgan in "Profiler, Profiled:"
I wrote a short coda-fic for "Profiler, Profiled" dealing with Morgan's internal struggle when he returns to the BAU, ' Blur.'
Some of his trust issues also no doubt have to do with the fact that he is biracial, with a Caucasian mother, and because of his long career in law enforcement, first as a police officer, then as a member of the FBI. Derek often seems to feel like he has to prove himself, even when the people around him tell him (whether in words or actions) that it isn't necessary. Derek pushes himself harder than he has to, always striving for some higher standard, and when something unexpected happens to bring him back down to earth, it can be a hard fall.
This is a clip from 2.23 "No Way Out," wherein BAU Unit Chief Aaron "Hotch" Hotcher 'profiles' his team, beginning with Derek:
Hotch: "Agent Morgan fought to protect his identity from the very people who could save him. Why? Because trust has to be earned, and there are very few people he truly trusts."
From 1.05 "Broken Mirror:"
Elle Greenaway: You took a taser hit.
Derek Morgan: Yeah, I did, so?
Elle Greenaway: So, nobody expects you to finish the Davenport file tonight.
Derek Morgan: I guess it's still fresh in my mind. Nothing like fifty thousand volts in the back to keep you motivated.
From 4.01 "Mayhem:"
Hotchner: Your actions, as incredibly brave as they were, were still the actions of an agent who doesn't truly trust anyone.
Morgan: Hotch, I did it for this team.
Hotchner: My opinion doesn't matter, the job's yours if you want it.
Morgan: Hotch! Your opinion matters to me.
Hotchner: My life matters to me, and I have, and always will, entrust you with it. Would you do the same for me?
4. Derek Morgan is a team player.
Despite his caution even with the people who are closest to him, when the team needs him, Derek is there for them, in any way that he can be. He's a tiger when anyone threatens his team, and he likes to be the first one on the front lines, keeping everyone else safe. It kills him when anyone on his team comes close to harm's way. We really see the depth of his feelings for his colleagues in episodes like 3.09's "Penelope," when Penelope Garcia is shot and ends up in the hospital. I wrote a missing scene from that episode, ' Threesome.'
In this clip from 4.24 "Amplification," Dr. Reid locks Morgan out of a unsub's house that they both realize too late is contaminated with anthrax:
This is especially significant in that at the end of the episode, when everyone else has gone to be with their loved ones, Morgan is the only one at the hospital with Reid when he wakes up. I'm pretty sure he wasn't only there for the strawberry jello. :)
This is from episode 5.05 "Cradle to Grave:"
The job that Morgan references in that scene is one that he turned down, in part, because Hotch had expressed reservations about recommending him for, due to his trust issues, back in season 4. It says a lot that Hotch now is turning to Morgan specifically to be the one to hold the team together.
5. Derek Morgan is the king of innuendo.
It's mostly with his bff and favourite verbal-sparring foil, Penelope Garcia, but Derek's actually very playful and fun with everyone. He loves to tease Dr. Spencer Reid, who is the youngest member of the team, and is also a freakin' genius (and, as Derek likes to point out to the audience, also very pretty):
This is from episode 1.22 "The Fisher King (1)," and features Derek with SSA Elle Greenaway and Dr. Reid, proving he's an equal-opportunity flirt:
This is from episode 2.05 "Aftermath:"
This is from episode 3.10 "True Night:"
From 3.16 "Elephant's Memory:"
Reid: Sorry I'm late.
Rossi: I hope she was worth it.
Morgan: I hope it was a she.
And, of course, his favourite partner in crime is Penelope Garcia:
From 2.17 "Distress:"
From 3.02 "In Birth and Death:"
Morgan: Garcia, baby girl, please tell me something I want to hear.
Garcia: You are a statuesque god of sculpted chocolate thunder.
Morgan: How about something I don't already know?
Garcia: (after an intentional pause) I have a sweet tooth.
6. Derek Morgan will do absolutely anything for the people he loves.
One of the reasons that Morgan likes to put himself out there, and be the first one through the door, is not only because of his trust issues, but also because of his protectiveness of the other members of his team. Everyone gets the same treatment - he respects them all, but he's got a natural affinity to be a caregiver and protector. This is especially apparent with Reid and Garcia, but it also happens with other team members, from driving Hotch 3 hours back to D.C. in "Mayhem," to following Rossi to Indianapolis to help him solve a cold case in 3.14 "Damaged," to trying to help temporary team member Jordan Todd fit into her new job in 4.08, "Masterpiece."
He also absolutely refuses to leave the scene of the bombing that has injured Hotch and SSA Kate Joyner in episode 4.01, "Mayhem," despite the fact that the BAU had previously warned first-responders away from the scenes of the terrorist attacks, for fear of secondary attacks on them. Morgan appeals to the lead responder on site, using his Marine background to remind him of the code to leave no man behind.
And insisting upon staying over at Garcia's apartment after she's been shot, in 3.09 "Penelope:"
And in a more light-hearted moment, helping Reid learn to pick up girls, from 4.09 "52 Pickup:"
As you can see, Derek is a mass of contradictions, but then again, aren't we all? He's a complex and interesting character, and I love that the show doesn't try to pretend otherwise. He's one of the most interesting characters I've had the pleasure to watch every week on my tv, and, for my seventh point, I am going directly to the shallow end of the pool.
7. Derek Morgan is a stone-cold fox.
The eyes, the smile, the ink, the biceps, the thighs, the - oh, why bother speaking, when pictures say so, so much more?
Senior Supervisory Special Agent (and current Acting BAU Unit Chief) Derek Morgan, "Criminal Minds" (played by Shemar Moore)
I could do a intro/biography thing, but, really, if you wanted to know vital statistics, you could go to Derek's wikipedia page or his character page on the Criminal Minds wiki. So, instead of just doing a facts and figures run-down on who Derek Morgan is, I'm going to do more of a squee-ish top ten ramble/meta/picture/youtube/fic/quotes melange of impressions and thoughts. This will include major spoilers for many episodes over all five seasons of the show.
1. Derek Morgan is a superhero.
Need a door kicked open? Want an unsub taken down before he can fire a shot? Have a bad guy/building/train that needs tackling (and I am not kidding about this, he has tackled buildings [in 3.19 "Tabula Rasa"] and trains)? Are you about to blow up in a car bomb and really don't want to die? Derek Morgan is your man. Derek Morgan makes Chuck Norris look like Charlie Brown. Derek Morgan eats unsubs for breakfast. Plus, he looks fantastic in kevlar, which is always a plus.
In this clip (from episode 4.01, "Mayhem"), Derek has to drive an ambulance full of remotely-triggered explosives away from a hospital and into an open area, thus saving the building and people within it from becoming victims of a terrorist plot, while also reassuring his BFF, Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia, that she is one of the most important women in his life.
Click to view2. Derek Morgan is a marshmallow.
When it comes to children - especially children in danger, but, really, any small child will do - Derek's the squishiest, most melting and tender man you've ever seen. Pairing this big, tough guy with a wee child is mean to me, but happily, the show does it over and over again. And, despite the fact that the job the BAU does changes everyone on the team by constantly showing them the darkest parts of the human psyche and soul, I can totally picture Derek one day becoming a totally kick-ass father.
This clip, from 4.11 "Normal," shows Derek holding co-worker Jennifer "JJ" Jareau's infant son for the first time.
And this is from 4.22 "The Big Wheel:"
3. Derek Morgan trusts no-one.
There's a lot of reasons for Derek's reticence to trust, but probably the strongest reason has to do with his childhood, when his father was killed and he was subsequently mentored by a guy in his neighbourhood who coached a lot of kids, but also molested them, Derek among his victims. The truth about this molestation didn't come out to anyone, including Morgan's family, until the events of episode 2.12 "Profiler Profiled," when he was accused of murdering a number of boys in his old neighbourhood.
This is a series of scenes featuring Morgan in "Profiler, Profiled:"
I wrote a short coda-fic for "Profiler, Profiled" dealing with Morgan's internal struggle when he returns to the BAU, ' Blur.'
Some of his trust issues also no doubt have to do with the fact that he is biracial, with a Caucasian mother, and because of his long career in law enforcement, first as a police officer, then as a member of the FBI. Derek often seems to feel like he has to prove himself, even when the people around him tell him (whether in words or actions) that it isn't necessary. Derek pushes himself harder than he has to, always striving for some higher standard, and when something unexpected happens to bring him back down to earth, it can be a hard fall.
This is a clip from 2.23 "No Way Out," wherein BAU Unit Chief Aaron "Hotch" Hotcher 'profiles' his team, beginning with Derek:
Hotch: "Agent Morgan fought to protect his identity from the very people who could save him. Why? Because trust has to be earned, and there are very few people he truly trusts."
From 1.05 "Broken Mirror:"
Elle Greenaway: You took a taser hit.
Derek Morgan: Yeah, I did, so?
Elle Greenaway: So, nobody expects you to finish the Davenport file tonight.
Derek Morgan: I guess it's still fresh in my mind. Nothing like fifty thousand volts in the back to keep you motivated.
From 4.01 "Mayhem:"
Hotchner: Your actions, as incredibly brave as they were, were still the actions of an agent who doesn't truly trust anyone.
Morgan: Hotch, I did it for this team.
Hotchner: My opinion doesn't matter, the job's yours if you want it.
Morgan: Hotch! Your opinion matters to me.
Hotchner: My life matters to me, and I have, and always will, entrust you with it. Would you do the same for me?
4. Derek Morgan is a team player.
Despite his caution even with the people who are closest to him, when the team needs him, Derek is there for them, in any way that he can be. He's a tiger when anyone threatens his team, and he likes to be the first one on the front lines, keeping everyone else safe. It kills him when anyone on his team comes close to harm's way. We really see the depth of his feelings for his colleagues in episodes like 3.09's "Penelope," when Penelope Garcia is shot and ends up in the hospital. I wrote a missing scene from that episode, ' Threesome.'
In this clip from 4.24 "Amplification," Dr. Reid locks Morgan out of a unsub's house that they both realize too late is contaminated with anthrax:
This is especially significant in that at the end of the episode, when everyone else has gone to be with their loved ones, Morgan is the only one at the hospital with Reid when he wakes up. I'm pretty sure he wasn't only there for the strawberry jello. :)
This is from episode 5.05 "Cradle to Grave:"
The job that Morgan references in that scene is one that he turned down, in part, because Hotch had expressed reservations about recommending him for, due to his trust issues, back in season 4. It says a lot that Hotch now is turning to Morgan specifically to be the one to hold the team together.
5. Derek Morgan is the king of innuendo.
It's mostly with his bff and favourite verbal-sparring foil, Penelope Garcia, but Derek's actually very playful and fun with everyone. He loves to tease Dr. Spencer Reid, who is the youngest member of the team, and is also a freakin' genius (and, as Derek likes to point out to the audience, also very pretty):
This is from episode 1.22 "The Fisher King (1)," and features Derek with SSA Elle Greenaway and Dr. Reid, proving he's an equal-opportunity flirt:
This is from episode 2.05 "Aftermath:"
This is from episode 3.10 "True Night:"
From 3.16 "Elephant's Memory:"
Reid: Sorry I'm late.
Rossi: I hope she was worth it.
Morgan: I hope it was a she.
And, of course, his favourite partner in crime is Penelope Garcia:
From 2.17 "Distress:"
From 3.02 "In Birth and Death:"
Morgan: Garcia, baby girl, please tell me something I want to hear.
Garcia: You are a statuesque god of sculpted chocolate thunder.
Morgan: How about something I don't already know?
Garcia: (after an intentional pause) I have a sweet tooth.
6. Derek Morgan will do absolutely anything for the people he loves.
One of the reasons that Morgan likes to put himself out there, and be the first one through the door, is not only because of his trust issues, but also because of his protectiveness of the other members of his team. Everyone gets the same treatment - he respects them all, but he's got a natural affinity to be a caregiver and protector. This is especially apparent with Reid and Garcia, but it also happens with other team members, from driving Hotch 3 hours back to D.C. in "Mayhem," to following Rossi to Indianapolis to help him solve a cold case in 3.14 "Damaged," to trying to help temporary team member Jordan Todd fit into her new job in 4.08, "Masterpiece."
He also absolutely refuses to leave the scene of the bombing that has injured Hotch and SSA Kate Joyner in episode 4.01, "Mayhem," despite the fact that the BAU had previously warned first-responders away from the scenes of the terrorist attacks, for fear of secondary attacks on them. Morgan appeals to the lead responder on site, using his Marine background to remind him of the code to leave no man behind.
And insisting upon staying over at Garcia's apartment after she's been shot, in 3.09 "Penelope:"
And in a more light-hearted moment, helping Reid learn to pick up girls, from 4.09 "52 Pickup:"
As you can see, Derek is a mass of contradictions, but then again, aren't we all? He's a complex and interesting character, and I love that the show doesn't try to pretend otherwise. He's one of the most interesting characters I've had the pleasure to watch every week on my tv, and, for my seventh point, I am going directly to the shallow end of the pool.
7. Derek Morgan is a stone-cold fox.
The eyes, the smile, the ink, the biceps, the thighs, the - oh, why bother speaking, when pictures say so, so much more?