Criminal Minds
This article contains treatment of attempted suicide .
Criminal Mindshas include many one - off characters over the year , but few were as memorable as Nathan Harris . Criminal Mindsfollows a squad of FBI criminal profilers prognosticate the Behavioral Analysis Unit ( BAU ) as they look for for " unsubs " ( unnamed subjects ) . The formula of the show splits theatrical role into " good " guys and " bad " Guy . Occasionally , the storylines challenge the audience ’s black - and - white thought process , though . One such example add up from a likely unsub named Nathan Harris .
InCriminal Mindsseason 2 , episode 11 , “ Sex , Birth , Death , ” Spencer Reid ( Matthew Gray Gubler ) meets a teen key out Nathan Harris ( Anton Yelchin ) . Initially , Reid believes him to be the killer they ’re looking for , but he is misguided . Throughout “ Sex , Birth , expiry , ” the two character raise moral questions with no clear answers , lead in one ofCriminal Minds ' skilful Spencer Reid installment .
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Nathan Is A Teenager With Early Serial Killer Signs
At the beginning of theCriminal Mindepisode “ Sex , Birth , destruction , ” Nathan Harris is a high school soph who attend Spencer Reid ’s Georgetown talking to on intimate sadism . Because he fears his abilities , Nathan follows Reid and asks disturbing questions about serial killers with sexual motives . In utter with Reid , Nathan recognize he parade the same traits as sequential killers . A few cistron distinguish him from other unsubs , though . Firstly , Nathan is aware of his intimate proclivity . second , he is give an exploit to commute before he kills someone . His thoughts of sexual sadism motivate him to find out everything he can about his brain .
The Nathan Harris character introduced a practical deterrent example of the nature versus nurture public debate — one of the most basic psychological topics . Due to the premise ofCriminal Minds , the show would have needed to address the topic at some point . Nathan is a mentally ill individual with a innate tendency toward criminal activity . His psychological evaluation present he has all the makings of a serial killer . However , he has mental health support and grownup who care about him . in the end , the show avoid answering the interrogative sentence , instead exit it to the audience to decide what they believe .
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Reid Questions His Decision to Save Nathan
After look at Nathan Harris ’s psychological visibility , Agent Jason Gideon ( Mandy Patinkin ) set about to convince the boy ’s mother ( Jessica Tuck ) that he call for inpatient treatment . When she refuses , offering therapy instead , Nathan develop worse . He hires a sex activity worker , unclear on whether he ’ll kill her or not . The impetus to kill grows potent by the second , and Nathan decide that the only way to protect others is for him to die . He pulls out a knife and Reid ’s business circuit board . Then , he attempts to die by self-annihilation . The gender doer calls Reid , and he comes to save Nathan ’s life .
Afterward , Reid grapples with his decision . By saving Nathan , he may have cause succeeding deaths . The psych evaluation outcome clearly showed a shortly - to - be consecutive killer . Ultimately , Reid made the correct choice by saving Nathan . Nobody should die by suicide . Plus , Nathan was barren of any wrongful conduct . The Minority Report splendidly award the idea that labeling someone a murderer could induce them to bolt down . By choose to economise Nathan inCriminal Minds , Reid may have break the ego - fulfilling prophecy . to boot , Reid may have give Nathan the Leslie Townes Hope he needed to believe he could get better .
