‘Criminal Minds’ season 12: More on key Matthew Gray Gubler episode

If you are a diehard fan of “Criminal Minds” and of Matthew Gray Gubler’s character of Spencer Reid in particular, we feel like you should mark the date of Wednesday, February 15  on your calendar. This is going to be an episode entitled “Spencer” that could change almost everything for him. It’s a big, life-changing hour that could define him in the same way that “Derek” did with the character of Morgan. Let’s just hope that in the process, we don’t end up seeing the character leave the show. (For the record, we haven’t heard anything suggesting that this will happen.)

For the most part, specifics on this episode are not clear beyond that Glenn Kershaw is directing it, and series showrunner Erica Messer will be writing it alongside cast member Kirsten Vangsness. The last time these two collaborated for an episode, it was Shemar Moore’s farewell “A Beautiful Disaster.” On this occasion, here is what Messer had to say to TVLine:

“It turns out [Kirsten] and I go big. It is absolutely a change of course [for Reid] — a journey, for him and for the team, that I would argue we never even imagined would happen. And yet it happens, and we’re along for this ride. And it’s an intense one.”

We also know that Jane Lynch is going to be returning for multiple episodes coming up as Reid’s mother Diana, and you can see the first photo of her return below via the aforementioned website. We would imagine that much of the character’s journey moving forward is going to be tied to Lynch’s return to the series — we just hope that she finds a better way to be and a safe place after she was dropped from a treatment center for Alzheimer’s.

There is no new episode of “Criminal Minds” this week, unfortunately (the People’s Choice Awards are on instead), and the same goes for the following week. It’ll be back to kick off the February sweeps, and likely air new episodes throughout then.

What do you want to see for Spencer moving forward on “Criminal Minds”? Be sure to share some of your thoughts with a comment, and head over to the link here to get some further news when it comes to the show. (Photo: CBS.)