To the writers' credit, fans know right away that JJ helped fake Prentiss' death, but the divide the team faces when they learn the truth is almost worse than Prentiss' funeral scene. "I didn't love Maeve," u/Runtyyy wrote. In the investigation, he meets Maeve's former fianc Bobby Putnam (Jay Hayden), the man he believed to be her stalker. Their initial elevator meet-cute scene has enough unresolved sexual tension to fuel the BAU jet, but it's too much, too soon. [in Reid's recollection] U/Psychological_Bat865 wrote, "Honestly it's just the fact that Spencer watches her get shot that breaks my heart the most. [16] It is speculated that he may also have slight obsessivecompulsive disorder, particularly from a scene in "Out of the Light"[17] where Morgan slightly moves an item in the home of a suspect affected with OCD, and Reid immediately places it back to its previous spot.[speculation? You've always been the runner-up in this pageant. Dr. Spencer Reid Dr. Spencer Reid A full seven seasons after Gideon leaves in the first episode of season three, the BAU identifies their former mentor's body. Dr. Spencer Reid That's it, isn't it? Dr. Spencer Reid is a lovable, awkward genius, and fans adore him for it. [1] Reid and his mother have a very close relationship despite her condition. Right off the heels of Shemar Moore's departure, the arduous task proved impossible. : It was secret because she was engaged and wouldn't seek help to find her stalker. Hotchner reveals in the first season that Gideon insists on introducing him as Dr. Reid because Gideon fears that, because of his age, Reid will not be taken seriously as an FBI agent. They're a welcome reprieve from the terror going on in reality, and provide much-needed closure for Derek, who watched his father die in the line of duty as a child. i don't own anything!. Alex Blake It is revealed that she is in danger and doesn't want someone to know about her and Reid. [5], Due to his young age and genius IQ, Reid was a victim of severe bullying in high school. She then concludes their call by saying, "I love you." No romance comes of it, but they do develop a close, sibling-like friendship. Sta stay back, stay back! Dr. Maeve Donovan Diane Turner [1] Years later, Reid starts having nightmares about the incident, initially leading him to believe his own father was Riley's killer. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone. This is provoked by a suspect sending him taunting messages and challenging Reid to find him. Dr. Maeve Donovan "[4] Reid states that one way he gets back at his father is to collect more educational degrees. Dr. Maeve Donovan I know that I am one. I thought that was just me. Most BAU agents have a unique relationship with protocol, and while it yields results, the team goes too far on multiple occasions. : Dr. Spencer Reid : Cookadmitted toTV Guidethat the subject of Reid and JJ still gives her knots in her stomach "because that's such a big deal, and I protect JJ so much." The Spencer Moment That Breaks Criminal Minds Fans' Hearts. In a surprising plot twist, hitwoman Cat Adams is actually behind the setup, and she uncomfortably tries to convince Reid that he fathered her child, despite them never having done the deed. Spencer Reid was born on October 28 1981, in Las Vegas to William Reid (Taylor Nichols), a lawyer, and Diana Reid (Jane Lynch), a former professor of 15th century literature. Sometime after "The Lesson", Reid continues calling Maeve, eventually getting to know her. Even a decade after the show's debut, the team still sees Reid as a "kid." Your whole body beginning to decay. When Reid tries to phone Maeve, a computer-generate voice interrupts the call and says, "Zugzwang . However, their adorable dynamic almost didn't happen at all. Diane Turner There's this thing called the Penrose triangle. [14] In general, Reid dislikes shaking hands,[15] and becomes visibly uncomfortable when touched by strangers. She doesn't say anything.[28]. Maeve was also the focus of a dangerous stalker who had been following her around, prompting her to stay inside her house most of the time and keep the curtains drawn and the doors locked. Maybe you do have that gift. The team raced to help Spencer find her, but they didn't make it in time. Dr. Maeve Donovan Don't hurt him. : : While the show stands by the platonic nature of Morgan and Garcia's relationship,Vangsness toldParadethat Garcia was in love with Morgan, causing her to fight her future crush on his replacement, Luke Alvez. In the months following, Reid throws himself into his work when he is not able to sleep because of a recurring dream in which Maeve asks him to dance with her, but forces himself to wake up before he answers. [34], Gubler has commented on the differences between Reid and the similarly eccentric character Penelope Garcia: "She represents everything he's not, she's very tech-oriented and I would like to imagine he is more like 1920s smart, books and reading etc". : Following that revelation, the show does an admirable job having her work through the grief she kept hidden for so long. You figured it out. But they can't act on their mutual love, as JJ has a family. Later, she sees the killer, Robert Parker (Gabriel Olds), with another potential victim and intentionally spills her drink on the woman, pulling her away. Although Reid offered once to help her, Maeve firmly denied his help, fearing the stalker would hurt him, even though she herself had no idea who her stalker was or if Reid was truly endangered. Stay back! Devastated by grief, Reid spends two weeks alone in his apartment after Maeve's death. [1] When his father was leaving, young Spencer tried to convince him to stay by using a statistic that children of parents who remain together receive more education. But every now and then, the show takes a turn when particular criminals make it their mission to personally target a member (or members) of the Behavioral Analysis Unit. Dr. Spencer Reid established a connection with Maeve, a woman he had never seen in person because she was afraid of a stalker, in Season 8. : : [31] While filming the pilot, the show's FBI consultant informed Matthew Gray Gubler that there was nothing realistic about his character. Few things are considered more disrespectful than killing a character off-screen. Although it is suggested by other people within and outside of the team that Reid is on the autism spectrum, it is never confirmed. In. CBS Making Dr. Spencer Reid, played by Matthew Gray Gubler, the primary emotional focus of the first half of the Criminal Minds series finale was the answer to a very old and continuous call to. Stalking keeps her home-bound, and this is the only way they can get to know each other. Despite the shared love between the two, Jareau and Reid keep this a secret and remain best friends. : While the BAU team members have their suspicions about his addiction, none of them confront him about it. Adams makes Reid take her to his apartment, where Maxine is waiting and sees the two kiss. But according to an interview withPaget Brewster, it was actually due to a big-wig CBS executive wanting "new women." But in the CBS procedural's return next Wednesday, the two will meet in the flesh. [1], When Reid was 10 years old,[3] William abandoned the family. Ed Bernero, executive producer at the time,toldTV Guidethat it was "a very amicable parting." I did. November 4th, 3:46 p.m. Bobby Putnam You know, I think your writing could put you on the same plane as Jonas Salk. Reid also has a brotherly friendship with Morgan. But all that changes following this trauma. Reid choked back a tear as he said, "Goodbye, Emily." 6. One such opinion is about the otherwise admired tragic arc of Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Maeve Donovan's (Beth Riesgraf) short-lived romance. While she faces no legal retribution for murder due to a lack of evidence, Hotch knows what happened and "suggests" she leave the team. In (Season 2, Episode 15) "Revelations", Tobias Hankel (James Van Der Beek), a psychotic serial killer, kidnaps Reid, drugging and torturing him over the course of two days before he is rescued. Bobby Putnam If done well, character arcs like this can really affect fans who are impacted by addiction in their own lives. Wait. All right. : Reid is 23 years old in the pilot episode,[29] having joined the unit when he was 22. Let me take her place. He tosses the gun back to the killer, goading him into picking up the weapon so Rossi can "legally" shoot him in "self-defense." Zugzwang: Directed by Jesse Warn. "Children of the Dark" Season 3, Episode 4. Originally posted by pastanest-deactivated20221229. : RIP Jeid. [citation needed]. Please. Dr. Maeve Donovan Not true. I never cheated on you. In "Elephant's Memory", he recounts one instance where he was stripped naked and tied to a goalpost in front of other students, remaining there for hours and when he got home his mother was having another schizophrenic episode and didn't notice he was late. I just hope that I get the chance. Yikes doesn't begin to cover it. Diane Turner Diane Turner Who's Thomas Merton? Diane Turner Mafia bosses are regularly put into witness protection. Thanks to her, they are able to find the unsub and save his latest victim. CBS. : In Season 8, Dr. Spencer Reid began a relationship with a woman named Maeve, whom he had never met in person because she lived in fear of a stalker. Elle's PTSD surrounding the event leads to a complete disruption of her mental health, and no one on the team offers her much support. These are the books mentioned by Spencer Reid. Diane Turner : And what do I have, Doctor? Reader. : [19] He is often left behind during arrests, has never given chase, and jokes that it is Morgan's job to kick down the doors. The storyline is executed brilliantly, but it was the last straw for Reid fans who just wanted to see him happy for five minutes. She thought I was cute but would only meet me if I wore a blindfold. By the end of the episode, Reid offers the BAU's assistance in tracking down her stalker, but once again, she turns down the offer. With Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J. (In reality, Gubler had injured his knee and the show's writers had written Reid getting shot into the show to explain why he spent subsequent episodes with his leg in a cast and using crutches. Elle's departure from the BAU has less to do with the character and more to do with the actress herself, however. Diane Turner By the end of the episode, Diane kills herself and Maeve, despite Reid's efforts to rescue her. Okay, I think I'm simping for long hair Spence. Dr. Spencer Reid : In her letters, she would always sign off with a quote from one of her favorite philosophers. As the agent is about to become a dad himself, the paternal scenes are justified but the prolonged torture is not. Doyle joins the "let's torture BAU members" bandwagon, but Prentiss won't break. The actor later told Variety that the situation was a misunderstanding, but his removal from the show is telling. William later states that the reason he never returned was because he was too ashamed, and felt too much time had passed for him to re-enter Reid's life, although he did keep electronic tabs on his son. It was a stupid pun, but he laughed. Spencer Reid, a fictitious character on the television program "Criminal Minds," is not autistic in real life. Like Elle, he has clear intent to kill, but unlike Elle, he's smarter about it. Great. He tells Prentiss that he has not told any of the team members because he is afraid that they will "make him feel like a baby. She loved nineties rom-drams and rom-coms and her favorite was. After getting headaches in Season 6, Reid seeks out Maeve, a geneticist, to help him find what's causing them. Though he is not injured, Reid struggles with guilt over "allowing" Prentiss' beating at the hands of Cyrus in "Minimal Loss". [citation needed] In the episode "Valhalla", Reid tells Prentiss about his headaches. In the ongoing saga of Spencer Reid and Maeve, whom viewers finally saw a glimpse of in the Dec. 5 episode "The Lesson," the first attempt at meeting face to face was called off for fear of her safety. This statement surprises Reid, causing him when he nearly heads the wrong direction before realizing it. The federal government doesn't make deals with people like me. You're gonna get her to tell me about him. ][citation needed]. Now, please, will you let us go? He is the youngest member of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), has three BAs and three PhDs (in Mathematics, Chemistry and Engineering), and specializes in statistics and geographic profiling. The pseudonym she used in her letters to Reid, which is mentioned in Zugzwang, Maeve was not Reid's first potential love interest, as he had brief relationships with actress. This star-crossed relationship came to an abruptand tragicend when Maeve was kidnapped by a deranged ex-student of hers. The episode ends with Reid and Maxine kissing. It's a slap in the face, then, that Luke immediately tries to replace Morgan's irreplaceable dynamic with his Baby Girl. Throughout its many seasons, the show has included several subplots that entangle a profiler's personal life with their professional. In the list of traumatizing events, one of the original characters Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) has been through some of the worst moments. Spencer Reid began dating a woman named Maeve in 2001, and she was terrified of a stalker at the time, so she was afraid to meet him in person. After a tumultuous relationship that ended abruptly - and tragically - when Maeve was kidnapped by a deranged ex-student of hers, her future was abruptly and tragically jeopardized. Reid is a poor shot with his service pistol, as seen in "L.D.S.K." : Dr. Spencer Reid Diane Turner I did read it. Reid later becomes close to Special Agent Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn), seeing her as a maternal figure, and occasionally guest-lecturing in her forensic linguistics class. Hotch counted at least nine packets before the boy was done. Instead of playing games as they have previously done, she wants to go on a date. I wonder if this might not be that bad thing we were expecting. Not like that. I know, but that wasn't a request. : You turned me down because you couldn't handle the competition. In "Truth or Dare", the Season 14 finale, Jareau confesses to Reid that she has loved him ever since they first met. You're choosing me over her? Bobby Putnam : On the "Criminal Minds" subreddit, fans took to expressing why that was the most distressing storyline on the show. Reid carried a Glock handgun for the first three seasons but from season four and onward, he began carrying a Smith & Wesson Model 65 as he fares better using a revolver. Diane Turner However, as their relationship grew, it became difficult for them to stay apart, and the stalker began unraveling. With such a tumultuous and out-of-the-blue removal necessitated, writers had to come up with a credible way of writing out one of the show's staple characters. Reid finds out his father's address from Jenkins 17 years later, as well as the fact that his father never changed jobs. : Profiling is the only profession Reid ever considered, and he was groomed specifically for the BAU. Yes. Did you guys ever compare lists, the different people you dated? No one wants to see the heart of the BAU hurt but of course, in the high-stakes world of prime-time television, that only ensures his suffering. Working with the BAU meant that you saw the most horrific side of humanity every day for most of your adult life. Gubler tweeted that Reid is also germaphobic. : At the end of the episode, they go their separate ways, and Lila is not seen in further episodes. I have to show her that I can take everything that she has. Jareau wakes up and eventually tells Reid that what she said was true, and that he will always be her first true love. Dr. Maeve Donovanwas a recurring character who appeared as SSA Spencer Reid's girlfriend in Season Eight of Criminal Minds. Criminal Minds fans will know that Spencer Reid birthday is celebrated by the BAU team. She calls Reid and they talk about his progress with his headaches and sleep deprivation. He attended Caltech, where he rode his bike to classes. To be with you. [2] This was a genuine concern, both for in-universe and for audience acceptance, since in real life the minimum age to become an FBI Special Agent is 23,[30] with at least three more years to obtain Supervisory Special Agent status, and appointments to the BAU do not usually occur until after at least eight to ten years in the FBI. When Garcia hosts a Day of the Dead celebration, she asks everyone to bring a photo of a deceased love one for a shrine. However, when the receiver of her heart, Reader, doesn't write back, Spencer goes on a poorly-motivated mission to find her. When we had the near miss at the restaurant a couple of week ago, she left me a book with a quote by Thomas Morton written inside. Diane Turner Reid obliges, and they dance before a curtain closes. When he contracts anthrax in "Amplification", he strictly refused to take any narcotic painkillers in an attempt to remain clean. When Reid discovers that his girlfriend has been kidnapped by her stalker, he and the BAU team band together to find her before it's too late. When Reid was 18, he realized his mother's condition had deteriorated to the point where she could no longer take care of herself. Dr. Maeve Donovan Diane Turner In season 15, Reid is given a task by his therapist to have a normal conversation with someone outside of work. Spencer Reid's middle name is Walter #topsecretreidfact", "CM_SetReport Chat Transcript for Executive Producer Janine Sherman Barrois and Matthew Gray Gubler 12/15/2011", "Special Agent Frequently Asked Questions", "Full Transcript Live Chat with Writer, Sharon Lee Watson and Line Producer, Harry Bring", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spencer_Reid&oldid=1138801617, Maeve Donovan (significant other, deceased), This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 18:13. His intellect has led him to deliver some memorable quotes over Criminal Minds' 15 seasons. According toVariety, ABC ordered Thomas Gibson, who played Aaron Hotchner, to attend anger management classes in 2010 after a "violent outburst" with an assistant director. | | : : Inside, she has written a quote by Thomas Merton; "Love is our true destiny. You can't build it. : After getting headaches in Season. At the end of the episode, she and Reid are talking over the phone, and he opens a package at his desk that contains the card that he gave herwith a lipstick kiss on the back. Luke and Garcia get the ending meant for Morgan and Garcia and many fans will never get over it. He has an IQ of 187,[2] an eidetic memory, and can read 20,000 words per minute. Dr. Maeve Donovan I was hoping you'd figure out my riddle. Dr. Spencer Reid or Spencer Walter Reid, is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds, portrayed by Matthew Gray Gubler. Her relationship with Reid lasted for a total of ten months. Bobby Putnam Maeve appears in a dream, in which she sits and talks to Reid in a coffee shop located in a library, and then asks him to dance with her, stating that she wants him to feel her before she becomes a memory. Dr. Spencer Reid Do you know what genius is? Bobby Putnam Bobby Putnam "Baby Girl" Garcia and "Thunder God" Morgan, managed to get Brewster 17 more episodes than planned. : She and Reid had been in contact with each other for six months during the events of Season Eight and the calls were intimate for some time. I'm getting bored. You included your parents. As a crime drama, "Criminal Minds" has dealt with more than a fair share of terrifying serial killers. How? Spencer Reid is a pretend person on the TV show "Criminal Minds" and an actor named Matthew Gray Gubler plays him. In Season 12, she creates an elaborate plan that ends with Reid being arrested and his mother being kidnapped. Reid and Lila kindle a short-lived romance, beginning when Lila pulls Reid, fully clothed, into her pool for a kiss. Once I got a note from this girl I had crush on. Diane Turner : Diane Turner In the case of his girlfriend Maeve, it manages to be both. And what you have is very valuable. [25] It is not mentioned again until "Coda", when he is seen once again wearing sunglasses and is carrying a book on migraines. : : I've already sent it to the NIH. Viewers follow the FBI's BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) as they create behavioral profiles used to catch cannibals and kidnappers alike. It is implied in "Plain Sight" that Reid has a crush on Jareau, and Gideon even prods him to ask her out after giving him Washington Redskins football tickets for his birthday. [35], It is speculated that he may also have slight, "Fisher King (Part 1)", season 1, episode 22, "Sex, Birth, Death", season 2, episode 11, "Pleasure Is My Business", season 4, episode 16, "What Happens At Home", season 6, episode 10, "Nameless, Faceless", season 5, episode 1, Last edited on 11 February 2023, at 18:13. However, in season six, after JJ's successful negotiation with serial killer Flynn is broadcast, the Pentagon recruits her and they don't take no for an answer. Dr. Maeve Donovan At several points, the show's writers drew the ire of upset fans due to a plot or subplot, or characters being written off. If the writers didn't plan to give Reid's addiction any real attention, it shouldn't have existed at all. Later, while being held at gunpoint by murderer Phillip Dowd (Timothy Omundson), Reid grabs Hotchner's backup Glock 26 pistol and kills Dowd with a headshot. Can you feel it? Prior to his death, Gideon catches wind of the dormant kidnapper for the first time since he was a young agent. Patinkin left the show in a similar manner: He ghosted Criminal Minds before the term even existed. But the issues didn't stop there. [1] It has also been stated that he attended MIT, but episode writer Breen Frazier admitted the MIT line was a mistake,[7] although it was never corrected onscreen. Unfortunately, that means his love life tends to be either tragic or nonexistent. : Sometimes they succeed. Even the team ships it. He pursues his father as a suspect, even after it becomes clear that Michaels is the more likely perpetrator. Sometimes they fail. That's why you're doing this? Diane, Diane, there's still a way out of this. At age 12, Reid graduated from high school. But seriously: Has anyone ever platonically called someone their "God-given solace"? By the end of "Alchemy", Reid is able to complete the dream by accepting Maeve's request to dance with her. "Our hearts are still with Maeve . "A Penrose Triangle?" She said. The horrifying scene shows Derek's tormentors frying his skin and displaying him on a makeshift cross. I'm sorry, Bobby. Brewster originally asked to be killed off, and got her wish until she didn't. : Why don't you just kill me? Sorry. Reid is a genius with an IQ of 187 and can read 20,000 words per minute with an eidetic memory. Diane Turner Diane Turner . It was kind of confusing. According toDeadline, the show originally chalked her leaving up to budget cuts. : Dr. Spencer Reid That's it. No. Dr. Spencer Reid : Not true. Sometimes, however, even the popularly-loved plots were victim to unpopular fan opinions. Redditors also called out Maeve's repeated refusal to take the BAU's help to track down her stalker, and the fact that she didn't tell Reid about her fianc. U/jiffyfly6 said, "It's not even that it was kept secret because of a stalker.