Did Criminal Minds: Evolution Finale Subtly Set Up Reid's Comeback?
Fans certainly hope so.
Criminal Minds: Evolution has revived the beloved CBS procedural on the Paramount+ streaming network.
The story, which ended in 2020 to the dismay of millions of fans, has been given a strong continuation, bringing fan-favorite characters back to the small screen.
But while fans are happy to catch up with the iconic BAU team, including Emily Prentiss, David Rossi, Jennifer Jareau, Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez, and Tara Lewis, there is at least one member of the original cast who broke many hearts by not appearing in the revival.
Matthew Gray Gubler's Dr. Spencer Reid was the title and fan-favorite character of Criminal Minds for all 15 seasons the show aired on CBS.
With unique qualities such as an IQ of 187 and an eidetic memory, Reid was the sole reason for many viewers to watch the show, and his absence from the revival was a hard blow.
Though it was explained that the actor was too busy with his other projects, the show left the door open for him, and fans still hope to see him in future seasons. And the Season 1 finale may have given them hope.
In the episode, it was revealed that the season's main unsub, Elias Voit aka Sicarius, had a bargaining chip that could get him out of trouble.
He knew some top-secret information hidden behind the cryptic phrase Gold Star.
Even though Voit had killed more than 60 people, including Deputy Director Doug Bailey, this knowledge landed him in a high-security interrogation room where the negotiation for his future will surely take place next season.
In the cliffhanger final scene, the door to the room opens as if inviting someone to enter. Although viewers didn't see who was about to come in and talk to Sicarius, many fans theorized that it could be none other than Dr. Reid.
And indeed, the legend that Evolution has created for Reid's absence fits this theory. Reid is said to be on a top-secret assignment, so important that the agent couldn't even return to help his unit with its most prolific killer.
Given the unprecedented secrecy surrounding both Reid's assignment and Gold Star, it would be natural to assume that they are somehow connected.
And that, in turn, would mean that Reid will be back next season to deal with Voit and the FBI's secrets. Fingers crossed.