Top 20 Times Spencer Reid Was the Best Character on Criminal Minds

Spencer was consistently the best "Criminal Minds" character. For this list, we’ll be looking at the doctor’s funniest, most brilliant, and most triumphant moments. Our countdown includes the star puzzle, playing chess, Reid vs Tobias, and more! What’s YOUR favorite Reid moment? Let us know in the comments!
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[@MsMojo]

What’s YOUR favorite Reid moment? Let us know below, and be sure to also check out our video of the Top 10 Best Criminal Minds Episodes - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmfHaZ2Iir17d80

[@iluvdissheet]

I think the kid who dressed up as Spence is actually his child. I think he and his wife have 3 kids....😍

[@bluebillieberry]

There should have been an honorable mention with the iconic "This is calm and it's doctor". It was so iconic.

[@stefaniii1990]

That’s literally the like that made me watch the show hahahaha

[@cyritag.5986]

I was for sure this would be #1 if not top 5! But no mention at all?! Sadly disappointed.

[@chrissybabyist]

That line was epic!

[@vyyo5025]

Amazing line. Can’t believe it wasn’t brought up

[@Bayougirl78]

That should have been number one. Love that scene.

[@larsbrandl2352]

Considering that Matthew Gray Gubler is AJ Cook’s son’s godfather in real life, it makes sense that it happened in the show

[@lynnerose7891]

And that Henry is also her son irl

[@ROCKONplaceboforever]

Really I didn't know that that is even more amazing 😊

[@melisasueldo24]

nop! AJ herself said it wasn't true

[@larsbrandl2352]

@@melisasueldo24 both of her sons were in the show according to Paramount and yes Matthew is the godfather to her sons

[@allisoncastle]

@@lynnerose7891 awwww really!

[@chiaradavis4927]

Something always gravitated me towards Reid when i first watched this show. His brains, his wit, his adorable puppy face, his quiet strength. He is just the all around best character. They couldn’t have found a better actor to perfectly portray Spencer Reid then Matthew Gray Gubler.

[@notwerkinginthishouse8634]

Yeah, matthew is so cool in real life, the way produced some criminal minds episodes, the way he reads books in series, the way he has empathy, the way he wears different socks irl is quiet interesting to me

[@margaretschaufele6502]

Me too. Another reason I couldn't bear to watch the episode where he's kidnapped and tortured by Tobias Hankel in full more than once. Though the episode in the same season where Morgan is framed for murder was another one I couldn't bear to watch in full after the first time. In season 3 where they confide in each other about being bullied and picked on in high school is traumatic. I liked Morgan's lines of "it wasn't about vanity. It was about survival" when he describes bulking up and working out over one summer JUST so he wouldn't be picked on anymore (even harder for Reid since he had barely reached puberty before he graduated from high school), and his line after hearing how Reid was humiliated in high school "we forget half of what they teach us, but the bullying we all have an elephant's memory" rang so true (also what the unsub went through in high school, like that horrible video and what his girlfriend went through, along with the abuse from their parents is HORRIBLE).

[@kathyastrom1315]

I always figured the show would end in one of two ways. Either #1: Reid would go evil and become the most dangerous serial killer the profilers ever imagined, impossible to catch, or #2: it would flash forward 25 years and it’d be Reid’s retirement, with him using a cane to support his bad knee, having become an even bigger legend in the agency than Gideon was when the show began.

[@kaleemarie13]

The way you described Reid at his retirement just gave me a flash of Dr. House for a sliver of a moment 😅

[@user-xd1cm9vu9s]

when prentiss “died” and reid started going to the shooting range more, i kinda thought he was gonna lose it and turn into some violent killer. and because he’s so smart and works (or would have worked, in this case) for the bau, he would’ve been one of the most dangerous unsubs

[@yldzyldz790]

Thank God that dont happen, Reid deserves better.

[@reganram7594]

Man being a Dexter fan all I ever wanted was evil Reid completely destroying B.A.U

[@michaellivingston7471]

Your a genius for that first option tho that would've been so interesting

[@cazia9]

The scene when Reid takes down the evil child psychiatrist in Uncanny Valley is one of my favourite moments of Reid, right up there with ‘this is calm and it’s Doctor’

[@vulpixfairy1985]

And the fact that he gave the dolls back to the unsub and treated her with care and kindness. He knew that she only wanted her friends back. What the father did was horrific…

[@notwerkinginthishouse8634]

​@@vulpixfairy1985ikr, the empathy in criminal cases is very much important and im glad all the members have it, esp reid with what he went throygh

[@Rainbow.Pegacorn.Cosplay]

Reid went through so much crap throughout the course of the series. One of my favorite moments is later in the series when he meets a new girl in the park. Although, I did get heavily emotional when Maeve was murdered right in front of him. And the fact that Kat and him were basically Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty in terms of intellect and personality is riveting and frightening at the same time.

[@GoddessPallasAthena]

Had hoped to see him in a happy relationship. He so deserved it.

[@Rainbow.Pegacorn.Cosplay]

@@GoddessPallasAthena I absolutely 💯 agree. He needed some joy in his personal life.

[@lonnieeastin6401]

I'd have to go with; When Morgan and he were trying to put out flyers at a night club. And Reid does magic on the sketch. And she immediately wants his number... And he says "It's behind your barrette". Baller move!!!

[@Rainbow.Pegacorn.Cosplay]

@@lonnieeastin6401 I had a Morgan-esque reaction with that moment: "Alright, stud...."

[@GoddessPallasAthena]

@@lonnieeastin6401 Ohh! Yes!! That was fantastic!

[@sarahvenable4710]

Spencer Reid is ✨️ *ICONIC* ✨️!!!

[@Unknown-oo4hh]

Reid

[@void1313]

i love how you can see his obvious development from season 1 to season 15

[@precious_muse]

All of these are great, but one of my favorites moments is, “This is calm, and it’s ‘Doctor!’ I was like, “Yeah, you tell ‘em!”

[@kristenbergeron8515]

For number 2 I wish they played the part where Hotch asks Reid is okay and he says something along the lines of "I was a child prodidgy at a Las Vegas public high school. You kick like a 9 year old girl."

[@williamsummerson1204]

Spencer will always be my favorite character on the show. His relationship with JJ was something special.

[@malloryweeks3306]

I like them as friends and that is it. I wish they hadn’t ruined their friendship like that

[@williamsummerson1204]

Agreed

[@ElvisRose_]

Did you know that Matthew Gray Gubler is the real life godfather of AJ Cook's son? It gives their on screen romance an emotional weight.

[@ctfangirl]

@@malloryweeks3306agreed about how they ruined things. It’s like someone refused to believe that a guy and a girl can be friends, even very close and loving friends, and not be romantic or sexual. It’s a notion that goes all the way back to Plato (and reid would know that because what hasn’t he studied). When that happened on the show I wondered if Jeff Davis had something to do with it because he pulled a similar unnecessary stunt on Teen Wolf (and he helped create the bones of Criminal Minds before he moved on to TW)

[@malloryweeks3306]

@@ctfangirl exactly

[@Pixelcatlady]

Reid is the best. He was a huge crush of mine. Still is, lol. I wish he came back for the new show.

[@kathyastrom1315]

In #1, I love Reid’s final, dismissive, “I don’t know, maybe…” as he leaves. Hilarious! My favorite episode of the series is The Uncanny Valley.” The entire episode is all about Reid, from the chess opening and closing, the rare reference to Gideon and what his leaving did to Reid, the close parallels between the unsub Samantha’s and Reid’s mom’s mental illnesses, and that final quote being from Asimov, Reid’s deadbeat dad’s favorite writer. That final scene with Samantha is wonderfully gentle on Reid’s part, making a nice contrast with how he very efficiently eviscerated Samantha’s evil dad in the previous scene. And that was hinted at in the prior scene where the team learns exactly what her father did to Samantha. Reid was so furious that he started pacing the room, clueing in Hotch that he was about to blow, which is why the leader sent Rossi along, to moderate Reid’s anger. The two then executed the good cop/bad cop routine perfectly, completely bamboozling the father. I appreciated that the writers didn’t forget about Reid’s drug addiction after the episode arc in season 2. Having it come back in season 3, then hinted at again in his refusal to take pain meds in the anthrax episode, made it believable as an ongoing struggle for him.

[@deathbykonami5487]

That interrogation of the abusive father was one of the many times Rossi was genuinely impressed by how Reid operates in the field. Reid was right, there were many treatments for bipolar disorder or whatever mental disorder the unsub had and EST (Electric Shock Therapy) was NOT one of them, and that's what got Reid so pissed more than anything.

[@HariSeldon913]

I choose to believe that response was completely calculated. His 'profile' was him figuring out what the killer wanted to hear rather than what was true. The maybe at the end was him denying the killer any insight into himself and making sure he knew he'd been played.

[@vulpixfairy1985]

I love him so much and I enjoy every moment of his character development. His intelligence is just brilliant and his resilience and wits are just so beautifully integrated in his personality. But most of all, I love his sense of kindness and empathy to save others, even the unsubs.

[@MCG525]

Physics Magic. It might have been short, but it's funny and just so sums up just how awesome Spencer really is.

[@scg81790]

James Van Der Beek truly showed his acting chops as Tobias as well. BRILLIANT acting in this show.

[@juliemissick4206]

That episode really got to me.

[@anniekinsmishkamouse7575]

"I was aiming for his leg." Spenc rocks.

[@HariSeldon913]

Spencer would definitely be a fan of Firefly and in the first aired episode one of the good guys shoots a bad guy in the leg and responds to the "good shot" with, "I was aiming for his head."

[@preciousgems6789]

He is one of the main reasons I tuned in ....the castings were great. I loved his shy genius persona ....Reid's and Morgan's bromance epic.....

[@vampirejournals]

1. how DARE you not include "this is calam and it's DOCTOR!" cause lemme tell you, yes he's pure and sweet and innocent, but that man can be an absolute SAVAGE when he wants to be 2. even though it was extremely hard and traumatizing for him, literally all of season 12. 3. while the scene from uncanny valley you mentioned was good, i like another one from the same episode better, when Reid confronts the unsubs father about vitimizing his former child patients and they both keep calling each other doctor and engage in an epic battle of wit.

[@simbeau2012]

To bad Spencer being the middle name of Derek’s son isn’t on this list. That scene got me to tears and showed a better bonding moment and got Derek to admit to Spencer that he views him as a younger brother

[@carolynbrewster8262]

Reid has been captured and kidnap so many times , revealed many skeletons, been shot ! lost his gf …went through so many emotional turmoils especially when he thought prentence was dead 😩🤦🏾‍♀️ not to mention he solves dang near every case !

[@karmarose16]

plus drug addiction

[@jkmoon7937]

Number 19! Spencer and Henry was so cute!!! 🥰🥰🥰 And number 1. The way Spencer totally tricks Chester to forget about the time, is pure GENIUS!!!

[@cazia9]

They even got MGG’s mismatched socks on Henry too - now that is attention to detail

[@Kasja11]

It's impossibile to choose a favourite Spence moment. He's just amazing at all times. Him, Garcia and Hotch were my favourites 💚

[@angiebunny921]

Sorry but he’s always the best character ❤

[@kiaradevine8235]

“This is calm and it’s Doctor” hands down my favorite part

[@chelseacanales8763]

The interrogation scene with Aubrey was so good. Given that she ruined Spencer’s life they would make a hot couple

[@MissHunterbelle]

I knew ! I like them or Kat Dennings and Matthew

[@scg81790]

Dodged a bullet (and literal shit show) with Lyla (Amber Heard) in season one.

[@rinotilde2699]

Never knew how much I miss them until now

[@leesashriber5097]

The reboot isn't the same without him. 😢

[@henryknippling2408]

Begging they get him back for a later season

[@williamsummerson1204]

No it is not.

[@musicwithmay]

Ikk

[@LaineMann]

I did not watch the reboot specifically because Reid is not their.

[@faepan]

I think there's a pretty high chance he'll be back for the next season ;)

[@kit-n_kat.]

Im sad they cut out "I was a 12 year old prodigy in a Las Vegas public highschool. You kick like a 9 year old girl" thats one of my favorite lines that and "I am calm and its doctor"

[@MetalMama-Mimi523]

You could do a TOP 100 on all the characters and still have plenty of scenes to pull from. This show will always be ranked in my Top 10 ALL Time Favorite Shows .

[@lolly5657]

Love Reids compassion, its one of the characteristics that set criminal minds apart from other shows.

[@KirumiNoa]

I disagree that Reid and Prentiss were not shown to be very close, they did have very fun moments through the series but to me the moment that really shows how much they respect and appreciate each other is when Reid opens up to Prentiss about possibly having his mother's illness and how he's only felt comfortable telling her because she's the only one who won't baby him about it but still worry

[@iJeshu]

For me Reid opens up a lot with Prentiss maybe is not shown on camera but you can see it a lot in the details. He is close to JJ and then Prentiss

[@Boundwithflame23]

Favorite Reid moment… Can I say every second he’s onscreen or do I need to be more specific? Also love Garcia and now I wonder what would have happened if CM had crossed over with NCIS and Garcia met Abby

[@jenniferedwards1752]

Spencer was ALWAYS the best character on Criminal Minds.

[@marybennett8047]

One of my favorite is when Reid was kidnapped by Dawson off Dawson's Creek.

[@Zyryne1]

I honestly don't remember the episode where JJ did the confession thing. But it's awesome. And Reid is an amazing character. 😊❤

[@irongorillafederation1082]

How is him helping with JJ’s grief not on here. Most of this is him being the ultimate Deus Ex Machina but “All I know is my friend is hurting and I want to help” is honestly my favorite line in the show.

[@Bayougirl78]

Henry dressed as Reid is the cutest damn thing ever. Even down to the mis-matched socks, lol! Which is a Gubler thing, apparently he does that in real life as well, lol!

[@GoddessPallasAthena]

Pretty much every scene he's in??? This could easily go up to 100. But seriously, here are some more. Where he's at a hearing, and I think they tell him to calm down and call him agent. He answers "I am calm, and it's doctor." When he and Garcia are dressed up and nerding out, ready to go to a convention (I think was something like a Comic-con). When he's bonding with and helping the autistic boy who plays the piano and whose parents were murdered. His various ramblings, like, about the origin of Halloween, etc. Shooting a rocket in the office. He and Morgan are trapped in an elevator and he's clearly afraid. SO MANY MORE!

[@Zyryne1]

Morgan and Reid being petty children together was amazing. Aubrey Plaza did amazing on this show. 😊❤

[@martinwestern3334]

Spencer Reid is a legend especially when he told that Senator "This is Calm and it's Doctor" Awesome 👍😎

[@user-gj8bd]

Oh, this is my favourite character in the series. He has matured and grown so much, it was exciting to watch him. Plus, he is frank and handsome =D

[@lordkibekun]

I wish he came back

[@brennathecatlover4360]

Didn’t he say that if his schedule is open he will?

[@lunaedits5089]

​@@brennathecatlover4360Yes, according to some articles

[@richieking9685]

the thing is with the team is that they can solve cases themselves but reid gets the job done faster 😄😄😄

[@Hernothim1992]

I love Reid. My favorite character from day one

[@jesss8980]

I love any Spencer and Henry moment ❤

[@kristylewandowski8485]

He's my favorite for so many reasons, all the ways he brings me joy, and I just love how bits of MGG seep into the character.

[@Pamcatmom]

I also love the episode with Reid trying to save Adam Jackson.

[@thatsorandommarvelfanbuc-if1mo]

Honestly he was my favorite character throughout the show in my opinion he's literally THE best character 😂 ❤

[@Unknown-oo4hh]

What about the time Reid saved Blake 9x24 "This is calm and it's doctor" 7x01 Reid seizures 15x10 "If you go, I won't" 13x15 Reid and Tara arrest someone 14x12 Reid stabs himself 12x21

[@sydneyelna]

alternate title: *spencer reid being the best character aka every moment he’s on screen

[@saintsforchristnation185]

He was the best part of the whole show every time you sing on you were just an all because you didn’t know what he was saying, but then he would get it and you’re like how to see that smart I just wish he was in the new one

[@autumnjostaggs5130]

I have been in love with Reid for YEARS!

[@grogvaughan5649]

Best quote ever.. "i was aiming for his leg."

[@ChristyTina22]

#3 on this list will always be my #1. I'm transfixed every time this episode is on.

[@preciousgems6789]

Omg tears of melancholia I so miss this show. IT was truly the best of all crime dramas....

[@jessicafarwell723]

"This is calm and it's doctor"

[@tanjahassler312]

Ich liebe die Rolle von Spencer Ried. Er ist so klug, fürsorglich, beschützend und brilliant. ❤😊

[@daryl772003]

When he gave the hooker $2,000 from video poker and when he did magic for the bartender are my favorite

[@elliexcoeur]

where is the scene where he is a professor and all female students are just crushing on him so hard??❤😂

[@benmulder6487]

We was the best character on the show, him and Morgan were like brothers. I loved it whenever they had him involved in some kind of love interest, it showed a side of him that didn't come out much

[@isaacjohnson3384]

All of these moments are amazing among others

[@ROCKONplaceboforever]

Love all of Reid moments he is truely one of the best characters I was upset when he didn't return but anyway love this list and all things criminal minds 😊

[@exo_xoxo91]

Prank wars was my favorite 😂😂🎉 and when garcia and Reid go for a run 😂😂

[@SuperAllelujah]

Love Spencer!

[@susanrobinson910]

Oh yeah…here we go 😊😊😊❤️❤️❤️ In other news, thanks for doing this video!

[@caseymacmacl7463]

THANK YOU!!

[@catlover5998]

This is another great reid moment reid was able to find out how get information out of a austic boy that did not talk to help solve the case.

[@user-vb4lu6ox1i]

Reid is my absolute favorite characted on criminal minds.I love his camaraderie with the BAU team. There was one time when the police they are working with asked Rossi where they got Reid and he jokingly said he was left outside fbi's doorsteeps, so funny

[@elizabethmarlow9985]

Awesome video I love this show & reid is one of my favourite characters,I’d like to see more videos on this show,one video I’d like to see on here some day is the best characters

[@catrinenataliesmith6835]

“I was aiming for his leg” Lol

[@A_Rose_From_Concrete]

A video I never knew I needed😊😊

[@g-bh8kg]

My favorite was when spencer shot someone in the head and said he was aiming for the leg.

[@J0hn5935]

Great moments.. but you can't miss out on an honourable moment of Reid outsmarting Morgan and Sam Callahan (played by Jenifer Love Hewitt) in season 10 calling out his genius work. They weren't convinced that what he said was accurate till the info was looked up. And that moment was hilarious once it's proven Reid is never or barely wrong.

[@autumngreenglen5706]

All of them are my favorite Reid moments 😍❤️

[@thomasdaniel2669]

That one where he does the magic trick to the bar waitress was cool.

[@LyleAshbaugh]

My fav❤

[@catherinewilliams9680]

Spencer would be a fabulous uncle/godparent.

[@monicamarieadams717]

1:58 the mix match socks

[@lndseymsp]

I'm loving the Criminal Minds content

[@sarahkohl9648]

even though I haven’t seen criminal minds,he sounds like a cool character! I might want to see it soon

[@blackbeautythrives2622]

My man my man my man ♥️♥️ I loveeeeeee Spencer ♥️🤭

[@Lotiel03]

I love all his moments.

[@ElvisRose_]

I must admit, I did not like how his "romance" with Maeve was handled. I liked the cute moments when he meet the actress, the bartender, and even Max in the last season much better than him over the phone with Maeve and because of how it ended, I felt like it wasn't worth becoming invested in emotionally like other relationships on the show. If Cat hadn't played a psychotic killer, Aubrey Plaza would have been a great choice for a romantic partner for Reid since they have so much chemistry it was played into despite her being a psychotic killer.

[@matthewjones3553]

You could probably make 1-3 more of these on Reid alone. He’s easily the best character

[@keithharrington3137]

Hotch assaulting Reid long enough for Reid to grab the gun

[@cassandraspoelhof3752]

#5 I remember that moment so well. God that was terrifying.

[@lenastorm6280]

Ah, Dr. Spencer Reid... My favourite character and 70% the reason why I watch this show. :D

[@kram9850]

although what this video achieved is i went and started binging criminal minds from season 1

[@Zyryne1]

Henry's costume made me cry. So precious. 😊❤

[@kevinkocher9347]

James Van Der Beek playing a murder that I never saw coming this guy plays romance shows didn’t think he had it in him

[@gb1reinwald]

He was actually that good in that episode and even trained the voice of his on-screen father so that he could impersonate him perfectly. The commentary on this episode on the DVD is really recommended. Many interesting details that make the episode so much more interesting.

[@kevinkocher9347]

@@gb1reinwald all I said was I thought he didn’t have it in him not that he could not do it for a actor all he has to do is put the time and effort and he pulled it off damn good

[@abornbuyer]

Reid has always been my favorite character on Criminal Minds. The episode with Amber Heard I must say is still my favorite. I think it's because it's more of a sweet episode with Reid vs. the serious episodes that he always plays in. And the one with Maeve just broke my heart!

[@eldudereno204]

Reid is definitely my favourite character.

[@josefk7437]

Painless was my favorite episode of Criminal Minds. It gave the unsub a good story and had asshole victims.

[@introvertsrock9843]

Spencer is awesome. Hope Gubler's schedule is open enough to return for the next season

[@ishy7856]

I love Spencer.....love a spin off!

[@Sistik123]

03:39 she always playing nutty characters, like when she shot booth.

[@luciomarx]

I know most ppl were against he and JJ getting together, but I think it would have been great

[@anitaburch3094]

Love this show

[@dalnimoujo1496]

court scene will always be the coolest for me.