Nichols first guest starred in three episodes of the CBS television series "Criminal Minds" and was then promoted as a series regular. Her role was Ashley Seaver, an FBI cadet assigned to the BAU. The casting choice came amid uproar from the series' fanbase as she was brought in to replace exiting actresses A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster. However, as the season progressed, viewers eventually warmed to the character. "It just kind of worked. It was a long process," she said. It was eventually announced that Nichols had been let go from the show. Nichols next starred in the independent romantic comedy "A Bird of the Air" (2011) as "a librarian who joins a highway patrolman to uncover the mysteries behind the cryptic sayings spoken by an ancient parrot." She described the production as a "quirky, edgy love story" and felt that her part was a "departure from some of the roles I've been offered". The film received a limited theatrical release and a mixed critical response. "The New York Times" remarked that the actress "is consistently appealing in the kind of role Zooey Deschanel has pretty much cornered", while the "Village Voice" found her character to be a "grating twit".