The Phenomenal Return: Unveiling the Epic Comeback of Spencer Reid in Evolution Season 2

Summary

Reid's absence in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1 was due to a scheduling conflict, but fans hope he will return in season 2.

To reintroduce Reid, we can transform him into an unsub, leading to a season-long investigation by his former teammates to unveil his hidden identity.

Alternatively, Reid could rejoin the team as a consultant for the BAU, utilizing his vast knowledge and expertise without becoming a regular member of the series.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 offers multiple possibilities for the return of Dr. Spencer Reid, played by Matthew Gray Gubler. After their 15-year run on CBS, the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is now back on Paramount+, taking on even more challenging cases. In the first season of Criminal Minds: Evolution, the team reunited to dismantle a vast network of serial killers. Despite being underfunded, Emily Prentiss and her colleagues successfully completed their mission, which is even more impressive considering they were understaffed. The BAU was missing two members: Matt Simmons, portrayed by Daniel Henney, and Reid, portrayed by Gubler.

The reason behind Simmons' absence is straightforward. Due to Henney's commitment to Amazon's Wheel of Time season 2, he couldn't join Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1. However, Reid's absence is a bit more complicated. There remains confusion surrounding why he didn't participate in the revival. Initially, it was reported that he didn't want to be involved, but later it was attributed to a scheduling conflict as well. Nonetheless, fans and even his co-stars continue to hold onto hope that Gubler will finally make an appearance in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2. Fortunately, there are several seamless ways to incorporate him into the storytelling.

6 Reid Gets Re-Assigned Back To The BAU

In Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1, BAU Chief Emily Prentiss collaborates with Deputy Director Bailey, a new boss who holds animosity towards her and the BAU. Bailey's actions suggest that he is undermining the team for personal gain, causing tension between them. During a conversation, Bailey cryptically mentions that Simmons and Reid have been re-assigned elsewhere, refusing to disclose their specific whereabouts. However, Prentiss and her team successfully demonstrate their capabilities at the FBI, providing them with the leverage needed to have their missing SSAs transferred back to the BAU. As they begin working on a new case, they also delve deeper into the enigmatic Gold Star mystery.

Showrunner Erica Messer disclosed that the location of Reid and Simmons was intentionally left vague. It is important to note that their absence in the Sicarius case does not imply their exclusion from the team. Both profilers retain their value as crucial members of the FBI's BAU. This facilitates a smooth integration of Reid and Simmons without causing much disruption when they eventually become involved in the Paramount+ project. By keeping the possibility open for their return, Messer and her team have a clear plan on how to reintegrate them into the BAU going forward.

5 Reid Becomes An Unsub

Criminal Minds has never explicitly confirmed if Reid has paranoid schizophrenia or if he is on the autistic spectrum. However, there is a dark theory that suggests Reid has the potential to become an unsub himself due to his traumatic past and implied mental state. If Paramount+ decides to incorporate this theory in Criminal Minds: Evolution, it would provide an unexpected way to reintroduce Reid in the revival.

In a season-long case, the BAU's attractive team member could become the prime suspect, leaving his former colleagues to uncover his true identity. We have seen glimpses of Reid's ruthlessness and cunning during his time in prison, and it would be intriguing to explore that further in Criminal Minds: Evolution. This storyline would also offer Gubler the opportunity to step out of his comfort zone while reprising his most iconic role, potentially sparking his interest in returning to the police procedural.

4 Reid Dies & Becomes A Subject Of BAU's Investigation

3 Reid Returns As A BAU Consultant

Criminal Minds effectively maintained tension for CBS by subjecting the BAU to the perils of their cases. The most recent loss suffered by the team was when profiler Stephen Walker met his demise in season 13. Given Reid's previous encounters with personal tragedies in the original series, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that he may become a casualty in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2. Such an event would not only intensify the gravity of the BAU's upcoming case, but it could also serve as a means for Gubler's character to be written out of the show entirely. Notably, CBS' Criminal Minds has utilized this narrative approach in the past to explain the fate of Jason Gideon, played by Mandy Patinkin.

Reid's unparalleled knowledge made him an integral part of the BAU since the inception of Criminal Minds in 2005. His absence in Criminal Minds: Evolution was sorely felt, despite the profilers demonstrating their ability to function without him in the past. In the original series, he would often be focused on his ailing mother or his teaching responsibilities. To incorporate Reid into Criminal Minds: Evolution without making him a series regular, assigning him a consulting job would be the most fitting option.

2 Reid Makes A Brief Cameo To Explain His BAU Exit

Aside from playing the role of an unsub or being the victim in a case, Criminal Minds: Evolution could opt for a more straightforward approach. If Gubler has no plans to return to the franchise, it would be best to acknowledge this sooner rather than later. By doing so, there would be no need to maintain the illusion that there is still a possibility for Reid to make an appearance. To achieve this, a one-time cameo from Gubler's Reid would suffice. He could make a brief appearance, explain his decision to leave the bureau, and bid a proper farewell to his teammates—similar to how Shemar Moore's Derek Morgan did when he departed from Criminal Minds.

1 Reid Attends Will's Funeral

The BAU's Sicarius case wasn't the only surprising element in Criminal Minds: Evolution. The revelation about JJ's husband, Wil, provided one of the biggest plot twists. In episode 4, "Pay-Per-View," he received the news that he might have cancer. Contrary to expectations, the narrative didn't take a turn for the worst. By the end of season 1, Will and JJ were still happily together. However, Messer cautioned that Will's situation is not completely resolved. Depending on how his story unfolds in season 2 of Criminal Minds: Evolution, there is still a chance that he may not survive.

Not only does the situation have a significant impact on her and her family, but it also presents an opportunity for Reid to return to Criminal Minds: Evolution as part of the narrative. Should Will pass away unexpectedly, it's hard to imagine that Reid wouldn't be present at his funeral, given his close friendship with JJ. Despite the controversial romantic storyline between the BAU profilers, which was quickly abandoned, they opted to maintain their friendship. Therefore, Reid is determined to provide her with unwavering support in the face of this tremendous loss.