Across 15 seasons and three decades from 2005-2020, CBS's explored the ins and outs of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (aka the BAU). This was achieved by giving viewers engaging characters to root for over the years, with Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore), Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (A.J. Cook), Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster), and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) bringing the compelling cases to life for most of the series.
After a two-year hiatus following the end of the 15th season, a new installment titled "Criminal Minds: Evolution" premiered on Paramount+ on November 24, 2022. The restart of the program is being labeled as "grotesque and upsetting" but also faithful to the daring audacity of the original series (per
But the charm of one Special Agent Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) is nowhere to be found in the revival. Despite Reid's engaging personality and never-failing interest in the science and psychology of criminal behavior, the character Special Agent Reid was always part of the story in every season of the show, so it was undeniable his absence would be felt in the continuation. After a few episodes of the new "Evolution" season, fans can't help but notice his absence and the effect it is having on the "Criminal Minds" viewing experience.
In an interview with , "Criminal Minds: Evolution" showrunner Erica Messer spoke about the absence of Special Agents Spencer Reid and Matt Simmons (Daniel Henney). She commented, "Our hope is that the team members we ended the series with on CBS will be able to come back and play at some point, but everybody does have other projects.
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