During Criminal Minds’ 15-year run, no character was put through the motions like Dr Reid Spencer had, experiencing two shootings in season five and later in season nine.
Criminal Minds ended in 2020, after a 15-year long run on television for multiple reasons, including declining ratings and behind-the-scenes contributors to the matter.
However, before it came to an end, fans fell in love with Matthew Gray Gubler as Dr Reid Spencer, as his character was put through the most obstacles throughout the series.
What was Criminal Minds?
Criminal Minds was the hit crime procedural drama series which was created by Jeff Davis, and first aired in 2005.
The premise of the series is stated as, “The cases of the F.B.I. Behavioral Analysis Unit (B.A.U.), an elite group of profilers who analyze the nation’s most dangerous serial killers and individual heinous crimes in an effort to anticipate their next moves before they strike again.”
Criminal Minds: When does Reid get shot?
The first time that Reid was shot on the series was with the season five premiere episode titled Faceless, Nameless.
Airing in September 2009, Reid was shot in the leg when he stood in front of the person the bullet was intended for. However, the gunshot wound was used as a logistical tactic to cover Gubler’s real-life injury.
What actually happened to Matthew Gray Gubler?
If you have watched the season five premiere episode of Criminal Minds, you probably noticed that Matthew Gray Gubler was seated for most of the episode.
Gubler was reported to have suffered a knee injury, and to mask the injury as the series was shooting, they devised him being shot in the knee.
When was Reid shot again?
Dr Reid Spencer would be shot again during season nine’s penultimate episode titled Angels.
He was shot in the neck while he was attempting to protect mother figure Alex Blake, who in turn mistakenly called Reid by her late son’s name Ethan.
Was Reid’s second shooting on purpose?
Season nine played out with Reid and Alex Blake establishing a mother-and-son relationship.
Therefore, Reid taking the bullet for Alex was meant to further deepen the connection between them, to make a more impactful ending as Lex left during the season nine finale.
Final thoughts
Criminal Minds’ Dr Reid Spencer was one of the anchors for the show throughout its 15-year run.
The beloved character has been shot twice. First in the knee which was due to the actor sustaining a real-life knee-injury. The second time, it was used as a device within the story for his relationship with Alex Blake.