Spencer Reid Finally Came Back to ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution,’ and Fans Are Still Hungry for More

The return of Dr. Spencer Reid was one of the most anticipated moments in the entire run of ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution.’ For three seasons, the BAU felt noticeably incomplete without its resident genius, and when the news broke that Matthew Gray Gubler would finally reprise the role, the fanbase erupted. The wait, it turned out, was real and the reasons behind it were surprisingly human.

When ‘Criminal Minds‘ wrapped its original run in 2020, Reid walked away as one of the most beloved characters in the procedural genre. His story ended alongside the main show, but he never returned to the rebooted version in 2022 when ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ first launched on Paramount+. That absence gnawed at fans for years, and the conversation around his potential return never really went quiet.

Why Spencer Reid Was Missing From ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’

When ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ brought the show back in 2022, fans were ecstatic about the possibility of seeing Spencer Reid again. Sadly, Gubler did not come back for the revival series, but there is a straightforward reason why. Gubler’s schedule simply did not allow him to be a part of ‘Evolution’ until the reboot’s third season, when the timetables finally aligned.

Gubler publicly discussed his interest in making a return, saying, “I would be honored. I would absolutely love that,” during an appearance on Ireland’s The Six O’Clock Show in September 2023. “They did a newer spinoff of the show, but it was filming during a time when I was shooting something else. But I can’t wait, hopefully it will soon work out.”

Showrunner Erica Messer explained that the absence was due to scheduling, and ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ covered for it on screen by establishing that Reid and Matt had been away on a special assignment. It was a tidy narrative solution that kept the door open without forcing anything, and fans largely accepted it because the alternative of a permanent exit was too painful to consider.

Matthew Gray Gubler’s Return in Season 3

Gubler, 44, made an appearance as Spencer Reid in part of one episode during season 18 of ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution,’ according to TVLine, with the Paramount+ series having wrapped filming earlier. The episode in question turned out to be one of the emotionally heaviest installments the revival had produced.

Following the devastating news of Detective Will LaMontagne Jr.’s death at the end of Evolution Season 3, Episode 2, the BAU, specifically JJ, prepared for and attended his funeral. After Emily and Penelope discussed the ornate flower arrangements at the service, sent by Derek, Hotch, and Reid respectively, the latter himself walked into the church to console JJ and her two sons.

It was shared that Reid’s supervisor at the State Department had previously worked with JJ, so he was given the morning off to attend Will’s funeral. The moment landed with real emotional weight, a quiet entrance that said everything without needing to say much at all.

Reid’s One Line and What It Meant

Reid’s reply to JJ is his only line in ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 3, episode 3. Though he makes a dramatic entrance, Reid is silent until the end of the service. The procession of well-wishers takes turns saying goodbye until it is just JJ and Reid. JJ expresses disbelief that he is even there, to which Reid replies, “I’m always here for you guys.”

A.J. Cook noted that the minimal dialogue between JJ and Reid was a deliberate creative choice, saying that they did not need a monologue and did not need a bunch of dialogue. The restraint was intentional, and for many viewers, it made the reunion feel authentic rather than performative.

Gubler himself said in a statement obtained by TV Insider, “It’s a joy to get to tell stories with people you love so I will always cherish any moment, big or small, that I get to hug my ‘Criminal Minds’ family or slip back into my dear friend Spencer’s oversized wingtips.”

Fan Reaction and the Debate Around the Cameo

Not every viewer was satisfied with what amounted to a brief appearance. Reid’s involvement was contained to a handful of mostly-silent scenes, and he only had one line in the entire episode, a mere sentence at that. Reid returned to attend the funeral for JJ’s husband but left directly after the service without an on-screen send-off.

The announcement that Reid would be returning in season 3 as part of one episode left some fans with a slight disappointment, though others took the view that the fact Gubler was even willing to appear signaled hope for future appearances. The split in the fanbase was real and vocal, with one side grateful for any glimpse at all and the other feeling the show had undersold the moment.

What Comes Next for Spencer Reid

Immediately after his cameo, viewers clamored for Reid’s return, but it seemed increasingly unlikely due to Matthew Gray Gubler being cast in an upcoming CBS crime drama called ‘Einstein,’ in which he portrays a quirky professor and direct descendant of Albert Einstein who lends his genius to local law enforcement. Though it was initially slated to premiere during the 2025-26 network television season, ‘Einstein’s’ debut has been pushed back to 2026-27.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 4 is confirmed, and it will likely feature the return of all the current BAU agents, with the wildcard Voit still in play. Reid’s cameo in season 3 has reinvigorated discussions about whether other former ‘Criminal Minds’ actors could potentially make their way back for the Paramount+ revival.

It is impossible to say with complete certainty that Spencer Reid will never return to the BAU. Now that he has appeared for the funeral, JJ may want to keep in touch with him, and the show has left the character’s future deliberately open-ended. The scheduling puzzle may eventually align again, and given how loudly the audience responded to even one silent scene, the pull to bring Reid back in a more substantial capacity is clearly there.

Whether a single funeral appearance was enough, or whether ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ owes its most iconic genius a proper, full-season homecoming, is a conversation worth having — so tell us, do you think Reid deserves a real return arc in season 4, or was his quiet goodbye to Will the perfect way to honor who Spencer Reid has always been?