It is just a matter of time before viewers of "Criminal Minds" see actress Paget Brewster return as Emily Prentiss in season 12. On its third episode, Emily returns to FBI to help her former colleagues and friends solve a case.

According to the synopsis, Prentiss returns to help the BAU investigate the disappearance of three women in the episode titled "Taboo." Fans of the show have been made aware that Brewster will be back as regular for the season, following the exit of actor Thomas Gibson from the show.

The promo shows Prentiss reunited with her co-workers and friends as they search for the bodies that have been carefully cemented to keep hidden. She tells David (Joe Mantegna), "This unsub is jumping through a whole lot of hoops to hiding these bodies." Joe, on the other hand, tells Luke (Adam Rodriguez) how the unsub seems to be perfecting his technique and, a the end of the clip, Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) warns, "Brace yourselves."

In related news, it is already publicly known that the previous episode is Gibson's last for the season, and probably for the whole show. It would be recalled that the actor got into an altercation with one of the show's writers and ended up getting suspended and eventually axed from the show.

It is still unclear how the people in charge of the show would write his character off as he was still featured in episode 2, although his exposure was minimal. The conflict happened in late July, but it was not until late September when Gibson spoke about his side of the story.

In not so many words, Gibson expressed surprise to People about the outcome of what seemed like a small issue that he has apologized about. He also expressed surprise over the decision to dismiss him from the show. He said, "It seems like they're trying to erase me from the show. That hurts. But I'm using this time to be with my kids, and I look forward to what's next."

In the same interview, he also said, "I feel like it took years to make a good reputation and a minute to damage it."

How will his absence be explained? Will Prentiss be enough to fill the void of his exit? Find out on "Criminal Minds" season 12, which airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on CBS.