TV is the New Reading

Can ‘Criminal Minds’ survive without Agent Gideon?

My first reaction wasn’t especially coherent. It was something between “NOOOOOO!!!” and ... well, if I had to guess, something in wookie.

When I read that Mandy Patinkin was leaving “Criminal Minds” this fall – abruptly, and with little love lost on either side – that was one thing. But then to read the “good riddance” buzz on my favorite discussion forum for the show – well, I need to take a moment.

I’m not sure when I became aware of Patinkin, per se. I think the “Criminal Minds” premiere two years ago was the first instance I really got to know him as a character actor, but since then I’ve discovered he was Inigo Montoya on “The Princess Bride” and Newcomer Sam Francisco in “Alien Nation.” And last summer SciFi aired a heavily-edited version of the Showtime series “Dead Like Me,” in which he played one of the grimmer of the Grim Reapers.

Thoughout his series work, he’s thrown off this unmistakable “dad” vibe, playing a father figure to his Reaper staff in “Dead Like Me” and his Behavioral Analysis Unit crew in “Criminal Minds.” Senior BAU agent Jason Gideon, top profiler extraordinaire – is gruff, no-nonsense and (perhaps counterintuitively for a profiler) never says with more words what he can say with fewer.

His crew is human and they make mistakes, and he calls them on their shortcomings. But there’s never any question about his love for them. As one of the best profilers in the FBI, he reads them pretty well and maintains an unexpressed indulgence.

Of course, he’s human too. On one mission where an injury kept him stuck in the BAU office, he invaded the sacrosanct confines of his cyberguru, Penelope Garcia, played by Kristen Vangsness. He did not have an especially good read on her and ultimately made a mess of everything. It ended up being some revealing development for his character and everyone got along all the better afterward – especially after he was back in his own office.

I must say he’s leaving at an excellent time in the development of his character. His last case involved a serial killer – one he’d been forced to release earlier in the season – resurfacing and murdering, among others, his longtime girlfriend.

That could make anyone question their judgment and their fitness to continue in their position. It could drive anyone over the edge, and it opens a perfectly plausible exit for his character.

However, until the third season premieres later this month, we won’t know exactly how they’ve handled it. Gideon’s still in the promos for Season Three, fighting with his crew about the accuracy of a profile that appears to have been made and executed a bit hastily.

I know I’ll tune in – certainly for as long as Gideon’s on there. I don’t know if I’ll be as interested otherwise. It’ll depend on the chemistry, and whether there is any. I hope it doesn’t, but without Gideon, “Criminal Minds” could turn into just another OK crime procedural with falling ratings.

As for Patinkin, I wish him all the best.

Features Editor Terry J. Aman compiles the Best Bets for The Minot Daily News.

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