Spencer Reid

Spencer Reid
Criminal Minds character
First appearance	S1 E1 "Aggressor" September 22, 2005
Last appearance	S15 E10 "And in the End" February 19, 2020
Portrayed by	Matthew Gray Gubler
In-universe information
Nickname	Spence, Spencie, Crash, Pretty Boy, Boy Genius, Einstein
Gender	Male
Title	FBI BAU Supervisory Special Agent
Occupation	FBI Special Agent
Family	Diana Reid (mother) William Reid (father)
Seasons	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Spencer Reid is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds , portrayed by Matthew Gray Gubler. He is a Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) and has appeared since the show's pilot episode in 2005. Reid is characterized as a genius and prodigy with an eidetic memory and an IQ of 187, possessing multiple doctorate degrees in mathematics, chemistry, and engineering. ^[1] Known for his social awkwardness and analytical brilliance, Reid’s intellectual capabilities and unique quirks have made him an integral part of the BAU team, remaining a regular theme in the series even after not returning for the renewal, Criminal Minds: Evolution . ^[2]

Character

Backstory

Spencer Reid was born on October 12, 1981, to Diana and William Reid. His mother, a college professor of literature, suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, a condition that deeply influenced Reid’s childhood. His father left the family when Reid was a young boy, unable to cope with Diana’s illness. Reid’s academic prowess was evident early, as he graduated from high school at twelve and went on to earn multiple advanced degrees by the age of 22. When Reid was eighteen, he institutionalized his mother, a decision that left him with lingering guilt, leading him to maintain regular correspondence with her.

Reid joined the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit at the unusually young age of 22, becoming one of the team's youngest members. Despite challenges with the physical aspects of FBI training, he was admitted due to his exceptional intellectual talents.

Personality

Reid is depicted as socially awkward and is known for his verbose and tangential explanations. His eidetic memory allows him to retain and recall vast amounts of information, often leading to rapid, information-heavy responses that occasionally overwhelm or shock his colleagues. Reading at a rate of 20,000 words per minute, Reid demonstrates a love of books and traditional methods of learning. His colleagues, particularly Derek Morgan, often light-heartedly tease him for his lengthy explanations and obscure knowledge. Reid has an IQ of 187 and is characterized as a genius throughout the series. Reid is autistic, a major contributor to his exceptional intelligence and social awkwardness. ^[1]

While intellectually brilliant, Reid’s emotional maturity and social skills develop more gradually. He sometimes misses social cues and is uncomfortable with modern technology, showing a preference for physical books over digital media. He also exhibits mild obsessive-compulsive behaviors, such as his habit of meticulously organizing his belongings. Reid’s aversion to physical contact, especially with strangers, further highlights his social discomfort. For example, he usually refrains from shaking hands after meeting somebody. Notably, he becomes more comfortable with his teammates over time.

In addition to his academic strengths, Reid displays emotional resilience, overcoming a traumatic kidnapping and forced drug addiction in Season 2. This experience affects his empathy and deepens his understanding of human suffering, and he admits that it helped him connect with victims’ experiences more profoundly.

Matthew Gray Gubler has been known for his many hairstyles throughout the series, resulting in a completely different hairstyle for Spencer Reid in almost every season. ^[3]

Storyline

Season 1

In Season One, Reid, at age 22, is introduced as a socially awkward genius with a profound intellect. Reid’s youth and inexperience in fieldwork sometimes isolate him from the team, though he begins forming bonds with colleagues, especially JJ, to whom he asks out on a date. As was revealed in Season Fourteen, JJ did not know that the outing was supposed to be a date. In "L.D.S.K.", despite failing his weapons qualification, he saves a room full of hostages, gaining a measure of respect from his teammates. ^[4]

Season 2

Season Two sees Reid face significant trauma. In "The Fisher King, Part 2," he reveals his mother’s schizophrenia, which he fears inheriting. ^[5] Later, he is abducted and tortured by Tobias Hankel, who injects him with a drug, leading to Reid’s struggle with addiction. His traumatic experience in captivity affects him deeply, and he begins attending support meetings for law enforcement officers struggling with substance use.

Season 3

In Season Three, Reid confronts the lingering effects of his past traumas. He reveals a painful bullying experience from high school to Morgan in "Elephant’s Memory" and relates to a young criminal who was also a bullying victim. ^[6] Reid also forms deeper friendships with his team members and begins opening up more, especially to Morgan, who acts as a mentor and older brother figure.

Season 4

Reid’s backstory and family ties are further explored in Season Four. In "Minimal Loss," he and Prentiss go undercover at a cult, and he feels guilt when Prentiss is harmed while protecting him. ^[7] In "Memoriam," Reid reconnects with his estranged father who abandoned him and his mother. This painful reunion stirs unresolved anger, but Reid ultimately finds some closure. He also becomes godfather to JJ’s son, Henry, solidifying his bond with JJ. ^[8]

Season 5

In Season Five, Reid’s storyline focuses on physical recovery and emotional growth. Early in the season, he is shot in the leg while protecting a civilian, which temporarily limits his field activities. During his recovery, Reid reflects on his purpose within the team, and his relationships with his teammates, particularly JJ and Morgan, deepen.

Season 6

Season Six reveals Reid struggling with migraines, fearing they might signal the onset of schizophrenia. His anxiety over potential mental illness leads him to see multiple doctors, none of whom provide answers. This subplot highlights Reid’s longstanding fear of inheriting his mother’s schizophrenia. When Prentiss is believed to have died in "Lauren," Reid is devastated, and he later reveals that he considered relapsing to cope with the loss. ^[9]

Season 7

In Season Seven, Reid learns that Prentiss’s death was faked as part of an operation, and he feels betrayed by JJ, who withheld the truth. This strains their friendship, as Reid reveals the depth of his grief and the struggle he endured, nearly relapsing into his addiction. Over time, Reid forgives JJ, and their friendship is restored. Reid also confronts unresolved questions about his near-death experience in Season Two.

Season 8

In Season Eight, Reid begins a relationship with Maeve Donovan, a geneticist he consults about his health concerns. Their relationship is exclusively long-distance, as Maeve is being stalked. In "Zugzwang," Maeve is kidnapped and later killed by her stalker, Diane Turner, in front of Reid, leaving him heartbroken and traumatized. ^[10] This loss profoundly impacts Reid, and he withdraws from his teammates as he grapples with grief and guilt over her death.

Season 9

Season Nine explores Reid’s continuing struggles with grief over Maeve’s death and his fears about mental illness. In "Angels," Reid is shot while protecting a colleague. ^[11] The season ends with him beginning to mend emotionally, as he receives support from his teammates, especially Rossi, who consoles him and helps him confront his grief.

Season 10

Reid’s grief resurfaces in Season Ten after the murder of his former mentor, Jason Gideon. He begins playing Gideon’s unfinished chess game as a way to process his feelings. His bond with the team, particularly with Rossi, continues to strengthen as they share memories of Gideon. This season solidifies Reid’s role as an emotionally resilient profiler who remains devoted to his team despite his struggles.

Season 11

In Season Eleven, Reid’s attention shifts to his mother, who has developed dementia. He takes a sabbatical to care for her and expresses concerns about his genetic risk of developing the condition himself. In "Entropy," Reid reveals the extent of his fears about his own mental health while undercover to take down a hitman network targeting the BAU. ^[12] This mission brings his bravery and resilience to the forefront.

Season 12

Season Twelve sees Reid facing one of his greatest challenges when he is framed for murder and sent to prison. He endures physical threats from inmates and moral dilemmas, struggling to survive the violent environment. His time in prison leaves him with PTSD, which he grapples with in later seasons. Reid’s ordeal tests his loyalty and resilience, and his teammates rally to prove his innocence, reflecting his importance to the BAU family.

Season 13

In Season Thirteen, Reid is reinstated at the BAU after his prison release, though he now suffers symptoms of PTSD. He receives mandatory time off to manage his recovery, during which he begins teaching seminars for FBI trainees. Reid’s prison experience alters his approach to fieldwork, and he adopts a more aggressive stance against suspects, showing how deeply his imprisonment has affected him.

Season 14

Season Fourteen focuses on Reid’s gradual reintegration into the BAU and his complex relationships with his team, particularly JJ. In "Truth or Dare," during a hostage situation, JJ confesses that she has always loved him, though she remains committed to her family. ^[13] Reid acknowledges his own complicated feelings, and they agree to maintain their friendship. Reid also demonstrates his combat skills in several cases, reflecting his growth as a more confident agent.

Season 15

In the final season, Reid seeks closure for past traumas. His lingering feelings for JJ are seemingly resolved, and he forms a new connection with Maxine Brenner, whom he meets as part of his therapy. When he suffers a brain injury and hallucinates people from his past, including Maeve, Reid gains emotional clarity and finds peace with his memories. By the end of the season, he has transformed into a resilient, mature profiler who has overcome profound personal struggles. Reid's last appearance (excluding flashbacks and mentions) was on the original series finale, "And in the End." ^[14]

References

1. Etemesi, Philip (2021-08-13). "Criminal Minds: 12 Hidden Details You Missed About Spencer Reid". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
2. "'Criminal Minds' Producer Explains Matthew Gray Gubler's Absence". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
3. Hope, Stephanie (2020-12-18). "I Ranked Spencer Reid From "Criminal Minds" Haircuts From Worst To Best". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
4. S1 E6 "L.D.S.K.". Criminal Minds Season 1. November 2, 2005.
5. S2 E1 "The Fisher King: Part 2". Criminal Minds Season 2. September 20, 2006.
6. S3 E16 "Elephant's Memory". Criminal Minds Season 3. April 16, 2008.
7. S4 E3 "Minimal Loss". Criminal Minds Season 4. October 8, 2008.
8. S4 E7 "Memoriam". Criminal Minds Season 4. November 12, 2008.
9. S6 E18 "Lauren". Criminal Minds Season 6. March 16, 2011.
10. S8 E12 "Zugzwang". Criminal Minds Season 8. January 16, 2013.
11. S9 E23 "Angels". Criminal Minds Season 9. May 7, 2014.
12. S11 E11 "Entropy". Criminal Minds Season 11. January 13, 2016.
13. S14 E15 "Truth or Dare". Criminal Minds Season 14. February 6, 2019.
14. S15 E10 "And in the End". Criminal Minds Season 15. February 19, 2020.