Criminal Minds
Content word of advice : This article bear mention of lifelike violence and self-annihilation .
Matthew Gray Gubler is n’t slat to returnfor the Paramount+ reboot ofCriminalMinds , which left the internet buzzing about why . The intelligent member of the BAU is one of the most beloved grapheme of the original show , and some of the most memorable sequence are the ones where Spencer ’s sprightliness is in peril .
possibly the actor decide that Spencer had gone through enough horrifying events , which admit being held surety on numerous occasions and asterisk down the barrel of a gun in many others , to last a lifespan . It ’s also led some fans to reflect that if he does return , he may not subsist , give all the situations he ’s been put through already .
“Revelations” (Season 2, Episode 15)
James Van Der Beek ’s portrayal of the unsub in one of thescariest episodes ofCriminal Mindscreates a feeling of affright as he tortures and drug Dr. Spencer Reid , beating him close to the edge of death . Tobias Hankel suffer from multiple personality disorder and bring his bushed father back to sprightliness as he shift between three personality . He holds Reid hostage and streams a live feed on the net so the rest of the team can find out , make them experience helpless as they have no mind where he is being obtain captive .
The episode provide insight into Spencer ’s childhood , showing the parallels between the direction he and the unsub were grow , and deepening the bond viewers have for the SSA agent . The ambiance of despair rings through until the resoluteness of the episode , where Hankel is killed despite Spencer showing empathy for his own capturer .
“Elephant’s Memory " (Season 3, Episode 16)
Reid ’s empathy shines through in this episode where he relates to the unsub , who is a dupe of bullying at schooltime and finally snaps , die on a killing spree to murder those who rag him . Spencer evince his need to not have another suicide by cop scenario , like in the case of Tobias Hankel , and pretends that he ’s decease back to the office before handing his hitman to Prentiss and turn back to Owen .
He stands in front of Owen , who ’s wielding a scattergun , and begs him to let him stay alive , with the promise the unsub can return his mother ’s necklace to his girlfriend . The moment is tense as it ’s unclear if Spencer will deliver the goods in convert the teen to drop his weapon system without being harmed , and is heightened when the police catch up , surrounding the two with more guns .
“Minimal Loss” (Season 4, Episode 3)
Luke Perry stars as the unsub Benjamin Cyrus , the loss leader of a religious cult who gets justificative when Spencer and Prentiss add up in to investigate claims of child abuse within the Christian church ’s walls . They get snare at bottom as a violent shoot - out begins between officers and the cult members , and shows the depths of manipulation when Cyrus ' victim choose his side over constabulary enforcement .
The situation was inspired by the devastating case in the 1993 standoff with David Koresh in Waco , Texas . " Minimal Loss " is cite as one of thebest episode ofCriminal Minds , despite it being only in the fourth time of year , and ties into a later episode featuring Spencer being held intent by the cult once again ten years later .
“Amplification” (Season 4, Episode 24)
Dr. Linda Kimura , Chief of Special Pathogens with the CDC , meets with the BAU to severalize them about a grievous mental strain of anthrax that has kill twelve people in under a Clarence Day . The BAU profile a homegrown terrorist who created the tune , and they race to find him before he can kill again . Dr. Reid unwittingly end up walking into the unsub ’s lab and becomes exposed to the life history - threatening poison .
thing look bleak when Reid calls Garcia and ask her to memorialize a message for him to transmit to his mamma , alarming viewers that he may not survive , which is only heighten when he is taken out in an ambulance speaking incoherently with blood dribble out of his lip .
“Zugzwang” (Season 8, Episode 12)
Reid ’s liveliness was go suspiciously well throughout time of year 8 as he develops a secret relationship with Maeve over the sound . However , his luck comes to an abrupt end in this episode centered around his making love life , which is one ofReid ’s bestCriminal Mindsepisodes . Michelle Trachtenberg act the unsub , Diane , kidnap Maeve in an routine of jealous furore , prompting Reid to come to his girlfriend ’s saving .
The mission leads to Spencer ’s downfall as he witnesses Diane kill herself and Maeve . lose someone he had such a strong connection with impacted Reid more than any of the other terrible situation he had been put through up until this point , reflecting on the moment many times after this appall instalment .
“Demons” (Season 9, Episode 24)
After an intense shoot - out between the military officer and the unsubs in the old episode title " Angels , " this season finale does n’t let up on the threat until the very closing . Spencer had gone to the help of Agent Blake and was germinate in the neck , falling to the undercoat mere hour before the dread " to be uphold " came on the CRT screen , guide viewers to believe he was killed .
In " Demons , " Reid is see being carry to the infirmary , and the state of the sports fan - preferred member of the BAU does n’t bode well as he swims in and out of knowingness . The realness of how closemouthed to death he was is made known by the surgeon who stated that if the bullet had gone two more millimeters to the right the hummer would have hit his carotid artery , which would have kill him instantaneously .
“Assistance Is Futile” (Season 12, Episode 16)
Spencer is in prison after being frame for murder and he is the quarry for a wild gang in a series of episodes throughout season twelve . Reid determine to tell one of the prison guard who attacked Luis , and the same people responsible for discover out about his snitching , something that ’s known to be dangerous in the surroundings .
JJ puts an lovely drawing her son Henry pull on Spencer ’s desk in a affecting view moments before the trio burst into Reid ’s jail cellphone and begin beating him , one of them saying " snuffle him , " just before the instalment terminate . The trajectory of the instalment and primal fear for the outcome of Spencer result viewers wonder if the SSA agent will outlast his least sandpiper in prison .
“300” (Season 14, Episode 1)
This episode brings back theCriminal Mindsstoryline of Benjamin Cyrusand shows many scene of " Minimal Loss , " as Penelope and Spencer find themselves being hold confined by the same cult . The plan is for Spencer Reid to be the 300th dupe of the cult ’s sacrificial praxis , and the BAU give him with the assistance of Garcia just after he ’s tied up with a blade hold up to his neck .
After they deliver Spencer , he tells Prentiss how much he eff all of them , having never said it because he ’s afraid of telling masses how he feels . It ’s refreshing to see a happy ending as the squad reunites , squeeze Spencer , in a rare moment of ataraxis which shows the strong familial bond they all have for one another .
“Truth or Dare” (Season 14, Episode 15)
A revenge killer uses the child ’s plot verity or presume as a twisted means to pop his dupe , and when the BAU team see out his last plot they hasten to beat him there . Unfortunately , JJ and Reid find themselves trapped in a surety berth as the unsub , Casey , locks down the building and forces them to resign their guns , before link up them up .
As a way to bide time , JJ tells Casey that if his targeted victim would n’t play his game she would , allowing Spencer to get ahold of a shard of methamphetamine hydrochloride to cut his men free . Just before the unsub expire for the putting to death , Reid pulls a gun from his ankle holster and shoots him , bring through everyone ’s life and commit an end to the atrocious situation they were put in .
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