Criminal Minds has lasted decades as one of TV’s most interesting and consistent procedurals, and even returned with a revival series, Criminal Minds: Evolution, and the keys to its success are clear. Storylines that involve the characters directly are some of the series’ best, because of how little fans see of their personal lives outside these episodes. From Aaron Hotchner’s marital issues, to Spencer Reid family dramas, delving into the personal lives of the BAU members has turned up some of the best Criminal Minds episodes. By bringing in the BAU’s agents personally as well as professionally, Criminal Minds avoids numbing audiences to the horrors of its subject matter. The series also thrives on the strength of its cast, like Matthew Gray Gubler, Shemar Moore and Mandy Patinkin.
The Season 1 finale “The Fisher King, Part 1” and its conclusion in the premiere episode of Season 2 are the best examples of these points. This episode also features Jane Lynch as Dr. Reid’s mother, Diana Reid, in her first guest-starring appearance. These episodes were the first two-part storyline, and Criminal Minds would revisit that format time and again to drive home suspense. It was also the first time an unsub targeted the BAU team directly, before other criminals like Mr. Scratch and George Foyet. “The Fisher King” also brought to light more information about the BAU agents and their personal lives, and the puzzle-based nature of the case was reminiscent of the Zodiac Killer, adding another sense of danger to the story.
Updated on April 15, 2024, by Florencia Aberastury: Criminal Minds has seen its fair share of unique and twisted storylines, and “The Fisher King,” Part 1 and 2, was the first to raise the stakes for the BAU team. This article has been updated to include more information about this memorable two-part episode from Criminal Minds, as well as to bring the article up to current CBR standards.
“The Fisher King” Put Elle Greenaway in Peril
“The Fisher King, Part 1” saw BAU member Elle Greenaway get shot in her home. This event would kick off the spiral into instability that Elle would experience in the first six episodes of Season 2, leading to her resignation. But when does Elle leave Criminal Minds? Elle Greenaway continued working with the BAU until Criminal Minds Season 2, Episode 6, “The Boogeyman.” “The Fisher King” would also raise the stakes for viewers because it was the first of many times a BAU agent could be injured, traumatized or even killed over the course of the series. Penelope Garcia would be shot in Season 3, during another two-part episode, and Derek Morgan’s departure from Criminal Minds came after a controversial torture sequence and near-death experience in Season 11.
The plotline also contributed to original team leader Jason Gideon’s exit in the Season 3 premiere. It started him questioning the risks of being involved in such dangerous cases, which mirrored Mandy Patinkin’s reasoning for leaving the show. Elle Greenaway and Jason Gideon’s early exits, in turn, made possible the arrival of two Criminal Minds mainstays and fan-favorites: Emily Prentiss and David Rossi. Both are still in the series today, starring in the revival series Criminal Minds: Evolution. Not only did “The Fisher King” create a new standard of risk on the show, but what happened afterward directly paved the way for two of its most important cast changes.
Penelope Garcia wasn’t part of the main cast during Criminal Mind’s first season, only credited as a recurring character in most episodes before becoming part of the main cast. However, “The Fisher King” also put Garcia at the center of the story, as the unsub targeted her as well. The Fisher King played an online game with Garcia while she was at the BAU office, and this is how he was able to hack into the BAU’s database and access the personal information of the agents.
“The Fisher King” Dug Deeper Into Criminal Minds Character’s Backstories
“The Fisher King” introduced Spencer Reid’s mother Diana, played by Jane Lynch. Diana was a major character in “The Fisher King” two-part episode, and would go on to be involved in many of Criminal Minds’ most intense storylines. Lynch played the role for 10 episodes across five seasons, and her arrival allowed for the first exploration of Reid’s backstory. The episode and the Season 2 premiere explained how he regarded the members of the BAU as family, and gave insight into many of the mannerisms that made him one of the show’s most popular characters. But Reid wasn’t the only character to experience significant development due to the events of the episode.
Aaron Hotchner’s relationship with his wife Haley first showed signs of strain in the aftermath of this two-part episode, and the couple would divorce by Season 3. Jason Gideon felt upset that the unsub was able to easily find his cabin in the woods, and chastised Penelope Garcia for playing online games inside her office, even if it was on her personal computer. On the other hand, “The Fisher King” was the first time that BAU liaison Jennifer “JJ” Jareau started to step into a more analytical role, a journey that would help shape her character until she became a profiler in Season 7. Morgan’s relationship with Reid also developed further, so while some BAU agents suffered as a result of the Season 1 finale, others were allowed to grow.
Criminal Minds introduced an incredible change in its Season 1 finale that, in one way or another, is still a staple of the series today. It showed audiences how being an FBI agent, and especially a profiler tasked with investigating some of the most dangerous and prolific criminals, can be extremely dangerous. Criminal Minds finished its run on CBS with Season 15, before moving on to Paramount+ for Season 16, also known as Criminal Minds: Evolution. And while Evolution saw a few minor changes to the original line up, it still maintained the level of danger, character development, and high stakes that “The Fisher King” first introduced.
