17 Years Later, Criminal Minds’ Most Beloved Character Might Return After Ugly Exit

written by Zoe Wallace

April 5, 2024 8:20 am

17 Years Later, Criminal Minds’ Most Beloved Character Might Return After Ugly Exit — Image credit: CBS, Paramount+, Legion-Media

No, it’s not Spencer Reid.

Criminal Minds has been one of the most popular crime shows for nearly two decades – it first appeared on TV screens in 2005 and immediately won the hearts of millions of viewers.

Over the years, the show has gone through an incredible evolution – it started out as a pretty typical procedural, full of dynamic investigation scenes and complicated cases. However, with each season, the show became more complex.

The writers put more emphasis on the internal problems and team dynamics, giving the audience a chance to get to know the characters better. More attention was paid to the psychological aspects of the BAU team's work, as well as the relationships between the team members.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Gets Some Exciting Cast Additions

In 2022, the reboot, Criminal Minds: Evolution, was released and was so well received by fans that the show was renewed for a second season. As production continues on the new chapter, it was recently revealed that viewers can expect additions to the cast that will surely impress the hardcore fans of the show who have been following it since season one.

17 Years Later, Criminal Minds’ Most Beloved Character Might Return After Ugly Exit - image 1 — Felicity Huffman

Season two will see a new addition to the BAU team in the face of Dr. Jill Gideon. If that last name sounds familiar, you are not wrong – Jill, played by Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman, is the ex-wife of Jason Gideon.

Although it is not yet known whether Dr. Gideon will be a guest star or a recurring character, her appearance as a biological psychiatrist will definitely add spice to the investigation of the Gold Star case.

Jill's appearance also brings hope that one of the most fan-favorite characters, Jason Gideon, will return to the small screen. Mandy Patinkin, who played the head of the BAU, shocked both viewers and the creators of Criminal Minds with his unexpected departure from the show in 2007.

17 Years Later, Criminal Minds’ Most Beloved Character Might Return After Ugly Exit - image 2

Mandy Patinkin’s Exit Was Ugly

Without warning, Patinkin simply didn't show up on set one day, leaving the writers in the awkward position of having to justify Gideon's sudden disappearance from the series.

The actor later admitted that the sheer amount of violence shown on Criminal Minds was so detrimental to his mental health that at one point he realized the only way out was to leave the show for good.

17 Years Later, Criminal Minds’ Most Beloved Character Might Return After Ugly Exit - image 3

Though the actor's departure was chaotic and rather rude, the audience's love for him was almost unaffected by it – many fans still consider Gideon to be one of the best Criminal Minds characters ever seen.

Later in the show, it was revealed that Gideon was killed off-screen by a maniac named Donnie Mallick, so Mandy Patinkin's character will definitely not be able to return as a full-fledged member of the BAU team.

New Cast Member Brings Hope for Gideon’s Return

17 Years Later, Criminal Minds’ Most Beloved Character Might Return After Ugly Exit - image 4

However, we can hope that Gideon will be able to appear in a flashback of his ex-wife Jill, which would not only reveal her backstory, but also bring those who stopped watching the show many years ago back to the screens.

Besides, it has been 17 years since the scandal involving Patinkin's departure, and who knows, maybe the show's creators and the actor himself have already forgotten about the conflict and are ready to work together one last time?