On March 5, 2025, the Criminal Minds Facebook page announced the anticipated return of our favorite profilers with an interesting photo from the round table room. By the post, "What’s in the box, Profilers?!," fans can speculate and maybe confirm the return of six BAU - the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit - and one FBI Consultant for Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 cast.
SPOILERS AHEAD FOR ALL OF THE CRIMINAL MINDS STREAMING EPISODES
David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster), Tyler Green (Ryan James), Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez), Dr. Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler), and Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (A.J. Cook) are meeting back in the round table room to undercover a secret. If it's anything like the first two installments, our beloved profilers are in for one heck of a season as it "picks up six months after the events of the previous season where prisoners attack the notorious Sicarius Killer, Elias Voit ( Zach Gilford)" in the last minutes of season 17," states Varitey in their March 2025 article.
As of last night, my husband and I finished watching all 344 (17 seasons) Criminal Minds episodes. I'll admit, I'll never tire or grow sick of this cast or the cases they solve. No matter how many evil directors and higher-ups they face, I'm a BAU stan for life. That's not the case for some reason. I scrolled through the comment section after screaming in shock and excitement over the season announcement. Unsurprisingly, many people said, "Where's Spencer Reid?" or "I only watched for Spencer." My first thought was: Where have they been in the last three years, or do they not love the other agents, too? Then, I realized that I, too, miss Dr. Spencer Reid's presence in Criminal Minds. Although he's mentioned several times through Evoultion's 20 episodes, it's not enough for the character's diehard fans.
I commented supporting both Spencer Reid (the character) and Matthew Gray Gubler (the actor).
Spencer has been on sabbatical since the end of the original ending of Criminal Minds with season 15. Criminal Minds: Evolution premiered in 2022. Matthew (Spencer) was booked solid and couldn't return for seasons 1-2 (16,17) of Evolution. BUT he is set to make at least a one episode comeback in season 3 (18) of evolution. He just wasn't as available. No fear, his desk is still in the bullpen of the BAU and he's regularly mentioned as well. He was my reason for watching too but I love the other agents and I hope you come to relove them too. The show is so well done. Evolution is a much darker version than its Original layout on Criminal Minds.
From the Dr. Spencer Reid, we fell in love with, to the one we watched endure the torture and loss, to the man he began in the end. We love all versions of Dr. Spencer Reid, and there isn't anything we wouldn't do to see him return. But he's a fictional character played by an incredible actor who has his own life and acting career outside Criminal Minds. Although we want to see him again (we will in Season 18), it was always going to depend on Gubler's availability to film a cameo.
After considering all the reasons why Dr. Spencer Reid has been on sabbatical since the end of the original ending of Criminal Minds with season 15, I came to the same conclusion every time. Gubler was following other career opportunities, and if the moment were right, he would return. But, if he never returned to the BAU, the show would still survive. I think Gubler knew that the show was in good hands if it was ever to reboot after it ended in 2020. Due to Reid's dramatic ending - almost kicking the bucket and facing down his demons - it's no surprise that he needed a sabbatical. So when Evolution was announced and he wasn't returning, it made sense. After fifteen years with the Bureau (with few breaks and many hospital stays), Dr. Spencer Reid earned his right to step away from the BAU and rest.
"...They didn't end his character, they left it open for him to return. Also he's not the only agent. Plenty more good ones carry the show. Depending on one singular character to carry a huge show is weird. Reid is amazing, yes, but he's not the only reason people should watch. Watch for enjoyment. If an actor chooses to leave behind a character that's their choice. They are humans after all, with lives of their own...I'm waiting but also really enjoyed what they put together as well while he was away. the show stands on its own with or without Spencer Reid. I'm just glad the characters are so beloved that we'll wait for their return. But we also have to remember they are real people playing fictional characters..."
Although Matthew Gray Gubler hasn't appeared on Criminal Minds: Evolution yet, according to Variety, "he remains in business with CBS and is set to star in the CBS drama Einstein, in which he plays the great-grandson of the world-renowned scientist who uses his genius to help solve murders" since this announcement in "October 2024, the pilot is in production." He may not be Spencer Reid full-time anymore, but he still accepts genius-like TV show roles to quench our need for "boy wonder/pretty boy" to solve murders.
In Early March 2025, Hollywood North Buzz dropped a more detailed storyline of the new CBS Drama: "Lew Einstein (Matthew Gray Gubler), the brilliant but directionless great-grandson of Albert Einstein, spends his days as a comfortably tenured professor until his bad boy antics land him in trouble with the law and he is pressed into service helping a local police detective (Rosa Salazar) solve her most puzzling cases."
Although fans mourn the loss of new Dr. Spencer Reid facts, we can't ignore how incredible the latest episodes have been since they started airing in 2022. Case after case, the BAU dealt with new threats, but Criminal Minds: Evolution said, "Hold my beer," and dealt the BAU threats from all sides. Not only did Prentiss address the absence of Reid and Agent Matt Simmons, who are both on different assignments but still have desks in the BAU Bullpen, but she also introduced FBI Duty Director Doug Bailey (Nicholas D'Agosto). Prentiss worked directly with Bailey throughout Season 17 until his untimely murder at the hand of the BAU's most notorious serial killer, the Sicarius Killer, Elias Voit. This was the plot twist to rival the plot twist because this incident led to the FBI director making a deal with Voit. A deal that would turn David Rossi into a basket case. Rossi is no stranger to trauma, but after being buried alive by Voit, he must work hard to prove Voit's crimes to put him away for life.
Throughout Seasons 16 and 17, the BAU works to solve the case that brought them back together. The Sicarius Killer, Elias Voit, buried bodies and kill kits around the world and started a serial killer network. Still, the BAU can't prove he's Sicarius, nor will he confess, even with abundant evidence against him. The FBI Director makes a deal with Voit to find a serial killer Voit helped called Gold Star, also the last words Bailey spoke before Voit shoots him in the head. The agreement angers the BAU, but Rossi uses this to their advantage to see if Voit slips up and confesses. After all the events of these seasons, Voit ends up in a populated prison where other prisoners attack him. Fans won't know if he survives until Criminal Minds: Evolution returns on May 8, 2025, on Paramount+. Even though he's a serial killer, I'm eager to see how his fate turned out. I'm even more thrilled to see what cases the BAU will solve next and how Reid will be involved.
What do you think is in store for the BAU profilers in Season 18?
AUTHOR BIO
Emily Craig Hooie is an author, poet, and blogger. With a Bachelor of Science in English from the University of North Alabama, she always knew writing was her future. Her background in writing covers many genres, ranging from Southern Gothic to young and new Adult. With five pieces of published poetry under her belt and after the success of her debut book, Will You Love Me Again?, she wanted to fuel her passion for writing with two sequels, thus Where Will We Go?: A Sequel and What’s Next, Lucy? were born. She lives in Athens, Alabama, with the love of her life Dustin and their dogs, Buttercup and Copper.
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