With Criminal Minds very likely returning for a limited series, focusing only on one case, many fans have been rewatching the original show, wondering who from the original cast will come back for the revival. Despite optimistic news in February, things have been surprisingly quiet lately, regarding the question of bringing the show back.
Regardless of whether they decide to create the miniseries for the streaming site, Criminal Minds has been one of the most popular crime procedurals and left fans with many iconic character moments to remember.
Luke Alvez
Criminal Minds has seen characters come and go from the beginning of the show. Some were beloved, some people were glad to see them go. When the newbie Luke Alvez joined the team, people liked him, but he didn't win them over until he showed his protective side.
When Reid is in prison, Luke takes it into his hands to help him in any way he can. This results in a scene where he threatens a prisoner named Shaw to secure Reid some backup. It was a wonderful scene, showing people how far Luke is willing to go for the people he cares about. It proves that Luke can fill the void left by Derek Morgan, especially in looking after his team.
Tara Lewis
It's often said that how someone treats people who have hurt them is a true test of character. And if that's true, Lewis has the best character on the show. Even after she was hurt by her ex-husband, who struggled with addiction, she still showed up for him when he reached out and believed him when not many others would.
She trusted his instincts and even made peace with the situation in the end, but it was truly iconic to watch her show so much compassion and empathy for someone who hurt her. It gave fans insight into her backstory and showed them she was a complex character.
Matt Simmons
One of the main characteristics of Matt on the show was that he was a devoted husband and father. So naturally, when his wife accidentally ends up being part of a hostage situation, he goes into rescue mode immediately. The protective side of characters was one of the most loved characteristics, and fans adored it when they showcased it on the show.
As he takes down the unsub, he struggles with his wish for revenge, but his wife reminds him that's not who he is. It was as iconic as scenes get, as it included the pivotal moment where a character has to decide whether to stay true to their character or give in to their primal instincts. At the end of the day, that decision is what separates them from the unsubs.
David Rossi
David Rossi went from being the guy that was too cool for everyone to being everyone's favorite Italian dad. However, he still had moments where his ego came through and made for some iconic hilarious moments. One such was when he and Reid were tasked with investigating a ditch. He makes Reid go down there, despite having been shot in the leg because Rossi has new leather boots that he doesn't want to get dirty.
He leaves Reid there without offering assistance to climb out of the ditch. It's mean, but it's iconic, showcasing how important his appearance is to him. However, the scene only works, and is funny, because fans know he'd jump in immediately if Reid needed help.
Penelope Garcia
Garcia has so many hilarious moments that are undoubtedly iconic and memorable, especially her interactions with Morgan. She is known to be a person with a huge heart who surrounds herself with happy cute objects to compensate for the horror she sees on her computer every day. She's not a field agent and her badass usually happens on the screen.
But she proves in a critical moment she would do anything to protect her loved ones. So despite being opposed to violence, she doesn't hesitate to shoot Reid's attacker, when he's about to kill him at the hospital. She's shell-shocked afterward but admits that Reid saying she saved his life makes it a little better. Despite the horrible situation she was put in, she's comforted by the fact she saved a friend.
Aaron Hotchner
Hotch does not lack memorable moments either, always defending his team and taking a stand for what is right. But sadly the most iconic scene that will remain in every fan's mind forever is his last phone conversation with Haley in the 100th episode of the show, which was among the best.
When the Reaper takes Haley and Jack, Hotch knows in his heart that he will be too late to save her. In a desperate attempt, he tells Jack to hide before sharing a heartwrenching goodbye with his ex-wife. It delivers an emotional punch no other scene ever did. It reminds everyone watching just how much these characters have to sacrifice. To be able to help others, they often put their loved ones at risk.
Jennifer Jareau
While JJ has had many iconic scenes in the show, the one that stands out the most was when she shot Garcia's shooter. JJ wasn't even a profiler at the time when the unsub that shot Garcia took a hostage at the FBI headquarters. Nobody had a clean shot except JJ, who sneaked in from behind, shooting the unsub through the glass.
When Penelope later apologizes to her, JJ admits that she never even blinked and that she would do anything to protect her family. A truly iconic scene that is a testament to how brave and badass JJ is. Despite the shocked expression that can be seen in the picture, the scene also shows how calm and collected JJ was during that moment, foreshadowing that she will make a great profiler later in the show.
Spencer Reid
Throughout the seasons, Reid has been put through hell, but one of his most iconic scenes comes from him standing up for himself. From the beginning, it can be seen that his superiors like Gideon and Hotchner call him Doctor so that others would take him more seriously. He is often underestimated and even infantilized despite having the highest intellect on the show.
But nothing is more iconic than him asserting his self-confidence when being questioned about his decision on a certain case. He tells the facts and when being asked to calm down, he replies "This is calm. And it's Doctor." His voice is calm and assertive - a direct opposite of his usual demeanor, which is why it stands out. The fans cheered loudly for finally taking a stand.
Emily Prentiss
Even though Emily has plenty of action scenes, perhaps the most memorable one is one of the funniest scenes on Criminal Minds. When the team is out having a good time at a bar, Emily brings a guy to the women's table who claims to be a real FBI agent.
The fact that she saw through this guy and even brought him over to their table to share the entertainment with her friends is pretty iconic. It's also a testament to how important it is to see these women being badass at what they do and refusing to see someone taking credit where it isn't due. It's light but important at the same time, reminding people they're not just waving their FBI badges around.
Derek Morgan
Derek had a lot of iconic scenes in the show, but one that stayed with all his fans the most was him finally facing his childhood abuser. The storyline came a bit out of nowhere because it wasn't disclosed from the beginning, but when the team did learn of it, they did their best to support Derek.
It was an incredibly powerful storyline and the scene where Derek finally faces Carl Buford. In a wonderful emotional scene, he goes through the stages of guilt for not coming out earlier, anger at the nerve Buford has, and finally acceptance. He delivers one of his best lines in Criminal Minds: "Because of you I'm someone who gets to spend the rest of his life making sure guys like you go down."