Criminal Minds
ACriminal Mindsseason 16 revival is come to Paramount+ , but Matthew Gray Gubler is n’t among the returning cast and the show has a good understanding why Spencer Reid is n’t coming back . While the absolute majority of the shape is come back , there ’s one famed absent , Gubler , who run mastermind Behavioral Analysis Unit ( BAU ) member , Spencer Reid . This is understandably unsatisfying for viewers who have been waiting to seeReid return forCriminal Mindsseason 16 , as Spencer is one ofCriminal Minds ' most popular characters , if not the most popular .
WhenCriminal Mindsdebuted in 2005 , there were only seven main characters , which included Spencer Reid . Through the long time , it undergo several cast changes with a few entrance and departure . But Gubler and A.J. Cook , who play Jennifer " JJ " Jareau , were the only two original histrion from season 1 who stuck by the show until it wrapped up in 2020 after 15 successful seasons . Now that Paramount+ is in the process of revivingCriminal Minds , farsighted - time fan of the police procedural understandably expect both of them to star in the show ’s new iteration . But based on initial theme , only Cook has signed on to be back and not Gubler .
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However , there ’s actually a respectable reasonwhy Spencer Reid wo n’t be backwith the BAU when the show returns on the small screen . One of the large plot twist in the series ' history involved JJ admitting to Reid during a near - dying experience that she ’d always loved him . Spencer had also harbor secret feelings for his fellow FBI federal agent but never made a move since she ’s married and has small fry . While JJ and Reid continued asCriminal Minds ' heart agent , the confession ensue in awkwardness between them . While Reid accepted the fact that they would never be together , it must have still been unmanageable for him to continue working with JJ . So , as part of his therapy , he likely realized that the best way to move on was to physically distance himself from her , henceReid leaving the BAU .
How Likely Matthew Gray Gubler’s Criminal Minds Reboot Return Is
At this point , there ’s still a hypothesis that Matthew Gray Gubler eventually joinsCriminal Mindsseason 16 on Paramount+ . After all , the project is still in its early developmental stage , and it does n’t seem to have any target yield date . Perhaps the producer could ultimately convince the worker to reunite with his former co - stars . In any case , he does n’t appear to be busy with any other projects , which means that it could be easy to bestow him back in . But in the case that he decided that Gubler is really done withCriminal Mindsafter devoting 15 yr to the series , it ’s good to be intimate that Paramount has a justifiable narrative rationality as to why Spencer Reid wo n’t return forCriminal Mindsseason 16with his fellow BAU worker . Considering how important and pop he was during the show ’s original run , masses will expectedly have strong opinions about his absence seizure . Explaining that he had to will the bureau to take attention of his genial wellness makes sentiency , though , particularly as he ’s been through a lot .
While the narrative thread that have led Spencer Reid aside from the BAU have been properly excuse , many are wonder if Matthew Gray Gubler had something to do with the character leave behind the show . Ultimately , this does n’t seem to be the case , as he left the serial on good term and there were n’t any disputes over contract bridge or creative differences . The actor carry that he was pitiful the show had to terminate but also teases that his character could come in back in the future tense . In an interview withTVLine(viaYahoo ! ) , Gubler discussedtheCriminal Mindsseries finale , saying , " I know that everything has its clip , and I ’m in no way deplorable that the show is close because I feel like we ’ve done it attractively , and I feel like there are ascendant there for it to re - hatch later . " So , while the Spencer Reid actor may not be returning forCriminal Mindsseason 16 , it does n’t mean that he could n’t come in back for the next installing . Gubler extend on to remark , " I kind of compare it to if you go to a concert , at a certain item the set has to leave the stage to have an encore . It ’s just the natural progression . "
IfCriminal Mindsseason 16is rent this route , however , it will have to take on JJ ’s reaction . away from being secretly in love with Spencer , it ’s also deserving noting that they ’d been friend for a recollective time , so not having him around would intelligibly be difficult for her . In price of the BAU as a whole , not having Reid will also pose some challenges , especially given his rational capabilities . Either way , it will be interesting to see how the revival handles his absence .
