Criminal Minds: Every Time Spencer Reid Was Almost Killed

Content Warning: This article contains mention of graphic violence and suicide.

Matthew Gray Gubler isn’t slated to return for the Paramount+ reboot of Criminal Minds, which left the internet buzzing about why. The intelligent member of the BAU is one of the most beloved characters of the original show, and some of the most memorable episodes are the ones where Spencer’s life is in danger.

Maybe the actor decided that Spencer had gone through enough horrible events, which include being held hostage on numerous occasions and staring down the barrel of a gun in many others, to last a lifetime. It’s also led some fans to speculate that if he does return, he may not survive, given all the situations he’s been put through already.

“Revelations” (Season 2, Episode 15)

James Van Der Beek’s portrayal of the unsub in one of the scariest episodes of Criminal Minds creates a feeling of terror as he tortures and drugs Dr. Spencer Reid, beating him close to the edge of death. Tobias Hankel suffers from multiple personality disorder and brings his dead father back to life as he switches between three personalities. He holds Reid hostage and streams a live feed on the internet so the rest of the team can watch, making them feel helpless as they have no idea where he is being held captive.

The episode provides insight into Spencer’s childhood, showing the parallels between the way he and the unsub were raised, and deepening the bond viewers have for the SSA agent. The ambiance of despair rings through until the resolution of the episode, where Hankel is killed despite Spencer showing empathy for his own captor.

“Elephant’s Memory ” (Season 3, Episode 16)

Reid’s empathy shines through in this episode where he relates to the unsub, who is a victim of bullying at school and finally snaps, going on a killing spree to murder those who tormented him. Spencer expresses his want to not have another suicide by cop scenario, like in the case of Tobias Hankel, and pretends that he’s going back to the office before handing his gun to Prentiss and backtracking to Owen.

He stands in front of Owen, who’s wielding a shotgun, and begs him to let him stay alive, with the promise the unsub can return his mother’s necklace to his girlfriend. The moment is tense as it’s unclear if Spencer will succeed in convincing the teen to drop his weapon without being harmed, and is heightened when the police catch up, surrounding the two with more guns.

“Minimal Loss” (Season 4, Episode 3)

Luke Perry stars as the unsub Benjamin Cyrus, the leader of a religious cult who gets defensive when Spencer and Prentiss come in to investigate claims of child abuse within the church’s walls. They get trapped inside as a violent shoot-out begins between officers and the cult members, and shows the depths of manipulation when Cyrus’ victims choose his side over law enforcement.

The situation was inspired by the devastating event in the 1993 standoff with David Koresh in Waco, Texas. “Minimal Loss” is cited as one of the best episodes of Criminal Minds, despite it being only in the fourth season, and ties into a later episode featuring Spencer being held captive by the cult once again ten years later.

“Amplification” (Season 4, Episode 24)

Dr. Linda Kimura, Chief of Special Pathogens with the CDC, meets with the BAU to tell them about a dangerous strain of anthrax that has killed twelve people in under a day. The BAU profiles a homegrown terrorist who created the strain, and they race to find him before he can kill again. Dr. Reid unknowingly ends up walking into the unsub’s lab and becomes exposed to the life-threatening poison.

Things look bleak when Reid calls Garcia and asks her to record a message for him to send to his mom, alarming viewers that he may not survive, which is only heightened when he is taken out in an ambulance speaking incoherently with blood dripping out of his mouth.

“Zugzwang” (Season 8, Episode 12)

Reid’s life was going suspiciously well throughout season 8 as he develops a secret relationship with Maeve over the phone. However, his luck comes to an abrupt end in this episode centered around his love life, which is one of Reid’s best Criminal Minds episodes. Michelle Trachtenberg plays the unsub, Diane, abducting Maeve in an act of jealous rage, prompting Reid to come to his girlfriend’s rescue.

The mission leads to Spencer’s downfall as he witnesses Diane kill herself and Maeve. Losing someone he had such a strong connection with impacted Reid more than any of the other terrible situations he had been put through up until this point, reflecting on the moment many times after this horrifying episode.

“Demons” (Season 9, Episode 24)

After an intense shoot-out between the officers and the unsubs in the previous episode titled “Angels,” this season finale doesn’t let up on the terror until the very end. Spencer had gone to the aid of Agent Blake and was shot in the neck, falling to the ground mere minutes before the dreaded “to be continued” came on the screen, leading viewers to believe he was killed.

In “Demons,” Reid is seen being transported to the hospital, and the state of the fan-favorite member of the BAU doesn’t bode well as he swims in and out of consciousness. The reality of how close to death he was is made known by the surgeon who stated that if the bullet had gone two more millimeters to the right the bullet would have hit his carotid artery, which would have killed him instantly.

“Assistance Is Futile” (Season 12, Episode 16)

Spencer is in prison after being framed for murder and he is the target for a violent gang in a series of episodes throughout season twelve. Reid decides to tell one of the prison guards who attacked Luis, and the same people responsible find out about his snitching, something that’s known to be dangerous in the environment.

JJ puts an adorable drawing her son Henry drew on Spencer’s desk in a touching scene moments before the trio burst into Reid’s jail cell and begin beating him, one of them saying “snuff him,” just before the episode ends. The trajectory of the episode and primal fear for the outcome of Spencer leaves viewers wondering if the SSA agent will survive his stint in prison.

“300” (Season 14, Episode 1)

This episode brings back the Criminal Minds storyline of Benjamin Cyrus and shows many scenes of “Minimal Loss,” as Penelope and Spencer find themselves being held captive by the same cult. The plan is for Spencer Reid to be the 300th victim of the cult’s sacrificial practices, and the BAU reaches him with the help of Garcia just after he’s tied up with a blade held to his neck.

After they rescue Spencer, he tells Prentiss how much he loves all of them, having never said it because he’s afraid of telling people how he feels. It’s refreshing to see a happy ending as the team reunites, hugging Spencer, in a rare moment of peace which shows the strong familial bond they all have for one another.

“Truth or Dare” (Season 14, Episode 15)

A revenge killer uses the child’s game truth or dare as a twisted way to kill his victims, and when the BAU team figure out his end game they rush to beat him there. Unfortunately, JJ and Reid find themselves trapped in a hostage situation as the unsub, Casey, locks down the building and forces them to relinquish their guns, before tying them up.

As a way to bide time, JJ tells Casey that if his targeted victim wouldn’t play his game she would, allowing Spencer to get ahold of a shard of glass to cut his hands free. Just before the unsub goes for the kill, Reid pulls a gun from his ankle holster and shoots him, saving everyone’s life and putting an end to the horrifying situation they were put in.

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