Spencer Reid is sorely missed in Criminal Minds: Evolution, but it was actually Emily Prentiss who gave him his way out of the BAU half a decade ago.
Spencer Reid's absence in Criminal Minds: Evolution is something that Emily Prentiss may have set up more than half a decade ago. Played by Matthew Gray Gubler, Reid was a main character across all 15 seasons of the original CBS series. But in spite of his importance to the show, he hasn't made a single appearance in Paramount+'s revival series.
Due to the possibility of a return, Evolution has kept the door open for Spencer Reid's potential Criminal Minds reunion. So while the show mentioned his absence early on its run, the series has yet to give a definitive answer to where he is and what he's doing. This is likely intentional, as it allows the show to craft a better reason for his absence once his return becomes a reality. One plausible reason could date back to a story in Criminal Minds season 13 with Prentiss, who was already BAU chief.
Prentiss Set Up Reid’s Teaching Job In Criminal Minds Season 13
After his harrowing experience in Mexico and jail, Reid's return to the BAU wasn't a walk in the park. While he was reinstated as a full agent, he was mandated to take prolonged breaks. Stressed about what he was going to do with his free time, Prentiss revealed that he set him up to teach other agents about anything that he would want essentially giving him an alternative professional outlet to being a profiler. Reid eventually enjoyed his new side job so much that he started doing it more frequently. Now, it could be used as the very reason Reid is not with the BAU in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1.
Regardless of what the reason is, Reid coming back is a scenario that's certainly on the table. Contrary to initial assumptions that Gubler didn't want to join Criminal Minds: Evolution, scheduling conflicts were actually to blame for his non-involvement. In fact, between that and the renewal of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, the chances of him reprising the role of Reid are good. Showrunner Erica Messer and the rest of the cast claim that they are in constant contact with Gubler, meaning that they may already be figuring out a way to bring him back into the fold.
Why Reid’s Teaching Job Is The Best Way To Explain His Criminal Minds: Evolution Absence
As the BAU's golden boy, Reid has always been an integral member of the team. That said, when considering his intellectual capabilities, it should be noted that he has a lot of other options when it comes to his career path. He doesn't need to stay in the FBI and continue dealing with traumatic cases. He could find a job that wouldn't keep him away from his mother. But since Reid has decided in the past to stay with the BAU because of his loyalty to his teammates, it would make sense for his exclusion to be addressed at some point. Explaining that Reid is busy teaching would be a great excuse for his Criminal Minds: Evolution absence that also acknowledges his ties to Prentiss.
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