Spencer Reid’s Character Arc In Criminal Minds, Explained

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Since its initial premiere in 2005, Criminal Minds has captivated audiences with its unique cases and intriguing character arcs. Yet, despite the wide array of alluring characters on offer, many fans would agree that Spencer Reid is their favorite. Alongside his boyish charm and complex backstory, Reid is best recognized for his superior intelligence, helping him to solve even the most intricate of problems.

Spencer Reid, played by Matthew Gray Gubler, has appeared in the show since the beginning, making him a pivotal part of the entire lore. However, he has not always been the same charming man throughout all 15 seasons. But how did Spencer Reid change over the course of the show, and what motivated his character arc to shift?

Who Is Spencer Reid?

Penelope Garcia was originally meant to star in just one episode. But, since her character was so popular, she has appeared in all but one episode.
In the show’s opening sequence, a collection of real-life serial killers is presented, including John Wayne Gacy, Lee Harvey Oswald, and Aileen Wournos.
Criminal Minds also had a minor spin-off called Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, which lasted for just one season.

Spencer Reid is a Supervisory Special Agent at the BAU, meaning that he is responsible for getting into the psyche of the suspect before they strike once again. Yet, Reid’s role in this department isn’t centered around paperwork or admin, but he often travels alongside the rest of the team to examine a wealth of disturbing crime scenes. Boasting PhDs in maths, engineering, and chemistry, as well as a handful of BAs, it seems that there’s nothing that this whizz kid can’t handle. Yet, despite his immense understanding of literature, physics, and philosophy, this character struggles to connect with others on a social level. Thus, he often feels detached from the rest of the group.

One of the reasons Reid is so popular with fans is that his vast portfolio of knowledge helps to keep the plot flowing smoothly. When the rest of the team is stumped about solving a riddle, Reid simply swoops in to answer it. Thus, as the plot moves faster and faster, the audience enjoys trying to solve the case at the same pace as the characters on-screen. In turn, Reid may display all the stereotypical traits of a child prodigy, but his impact on the BAU makes his character much more valuable to the entire arc of the show.

Reid’s PTSD Shows That He’s Not as Cold as He Seems

The show was initially named Quantico.

Just like his character, Matthew Gray Gubler grew up in Las Vegas.

Throughout the show, the words “Ethan” and “Hightower” are repeatedly used. Yet, they have never been placed together.

At first glance, it’s easy to think that Spencer Reid is just an average nerd. During the earlier seasons, he fails to fully come out of his shell, causing him to seem cold and unsocialable to his peers. Yet, as the audience scrapes the surface of this character, they learn that his traumatic past may have led to his aloof nature later on in life. For example, In Season 1, Episode 10, “The Popular Kids,” Reid admits to having nightmares about his past. This was obviously a hard thing to speak about, and he ended up feeling very frustrated when he learned that this information had been spread around the team. Though this may seem like a very minor thing to get upset about, especially as an adult, Reid’s reaction subtly shows the audience how he truly feels. Thus, Reid’s embarrassment highlights that he feels uncomfortable sharing his real state of mind with his peers, even if they also relate to his issues. Therefore, the audience must accept the fact that they know nothing about their favorite character and that he is potentially holding onto a lot more secrets than they could ever imagine.

In Season 3, Episode 2, “In Name and Blood,” the audience notices once again how the simplest of triggers can send Reid back into the dark corners of his childhood. During this episode, Reid travels to Gideon’s cabin, where he finds a note from the latter explaining why he took off so suddenly. This episode is particularly sentimental because not only is it Mandy Patinkin’s last appearance on the show, but Gideon’s letter reminds Spencer of the note his father left when he abandoned him and his mother as a child. As such, Reid’s difficult past is instantly reinforced in the audience’s mind, reminding them that he is not just moody or awkward but struggles to let his true self shine through due to years of relentless trauma.

Though His Decline Is Missed by the BAU, It’s Noticed by Fans

In Season 6, Spencer Reid was totally revamped, giving him a much more disheveled and disturbed exterior. Though some fans believe that these changes were an attempt to give this fresh-faced heartthrob a new bad-boy image, it’s clear that the writers want to show Reid on a steep downward spiral. For example, in Season 6, Episode 12, “Corazon,” a bizarre cult leader tries to convince Reid that his painful headaches

are due to the fact that he has been carrying the souls of the dead for so long. This is a prime example of Reid’s downfall as it showcases that his change in personality is not caused by stress or fatigue but something much more sinister. Plus, it could be argued that Reid’s own mental struggles only work to foreshadow his mother’s mental health struggles, something he feels very strongly about. Overall, Season 6 is a huge turning point in Reid’s character arc as it showcases that he is finally buckling under the pressure after so many years.

Season 7 also shows Reid’s undoing, forcing audiences to recognize that this isn’t a phase and that this innocent young man is quickly falling apart. Fans will remember when Reid was consistently injected with heroin by a criminal named Tobias Hankel. This led to a short-lived addiction arc that had viewers questioning whether Reid would ever go back to his usual self. In Season 7, Episode 2, “Proof,” Reid expresses his upset upon learning that Prentiss faked her death and stated that he’s been thinking about using again. Again, this is just another example of how quickly Reid is traveling down a slippery slope, and it seems that the rest of the BAU is so shocked by his actions that they don’t really know how to get him back on the right track.

What’s Next for Spencer Reid?

Though Criminal Minds had a primetime spot on CBS for 15 years, the show concluded in 2020. Reid’s final moments on the procedural were incredibly touching as fans saw him wake up from a distressing coma and be comforted by his mother, Diana. Yet, fans were not without their favorite crime drama for very long as the show found a new home on Paramount + as Criminal Minds: Evolution. Though this reboot has been a great success, Matthew Gray Gubler is yet to reprise his role as Spencer Reid due to scheduling issues.

Regardless of whether Spencer Reid will join the rest of the crew in Criminal Minds: Evolution, fans will never forget his impact on the show. From the beginning, Reid has used intelligence and kindness to help others, taking the sting out of this fast-paced, sometimes upsetting show. However, if the reboot continues to grow from strength to strength, there’s no reason why this fan-favorite genius wouldn’t be allowed back on the show.

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