New screencaps of Rachel’s performance in episode 6.12 of Criminal Minds entitled “Corazon” have been added to the gallery. Enjoy!

HD screencaps of Rachel’s performance in episode 6.11 of Criminal Minds entitled “25 to Life” have been added to the gallery. Enjoy!

HD screencaps of Rachel’s performance in episode 6.10 of Criminal Minds entitled “What Happens at Home” have been added to the gallery. Enjoy!

Rachel Nichols knows she’s in a tough spot replacing A.J. Cook.

The new Criminal Minds cast member, who debuts tonight, says the situation is reflected by the other characters, who will speak to what the audience may be feeling.

“I knew that JJ had left and there was a lot of uproar. People were wondering, who is this new girl?” she told TV Guide. “What they wanted to do was introduce this character and have people like her because you can’t have people angry and hate her right off the bat.”

“There are some scenes in the first episode where [the characters] kind of talk about it, and they’re definitely a little wary of her. But it was all intended to be a very warm welcome for this girl who was going to be here a short period of time.”

Rachel Nichols is in negotiations to join the cast of CBS’ Criminal Minds as a series regular, the show’s first new regular addition since Joe Mantegna took over for Mandy Patinkin in 2007. Nicholson was originally tapped for a 3-episode arc, which will begin airing next week. CBS had said it would add a new female regular cast member this season following the departure of original co-star A.J. Cook. The character Alias alumna Nichols will play, FBI cadet Ashley Seaver, had been originally listed as a new regular but was eventually scaled back to 3 episodes. Seaver will first join the Behavior Analysis Unit when she is invited by Agent Hotch (Thomas Gibson) to consult on a case after learning her family history will bring a unique insight into the mind of a serial killer.