With all the drama going on at Criminal Minds lately, it's good to know that some familiar old faces will be around. Now, we know that one guest star is coming back into the fold after a long time away. Actress Jane Lynch will be returning to the show after a whopping eight years away from the series.
Jane Lynch will make her first appearance on Criminal Minds since 2008 to again play Spencer Reid's mother Diana. According to TV Guide, she will guest star in two episodes early next year, with her first appearance coming in episode 11 of the new season. Her last episode on the show came in November of 2008, just one year before Glee premiered and set the TV world on fire. With her CBS sitcom Angel from Hell no longer on the schedule, this marks the first time in seven years that Lynch hasn't had a show of her own to work around when trying to make guest appearances. So, while it's unfortunate that her show got canceled, it looks like it turned out to be good news for Criminal Minds fans.
Diana Reid is, like her son, a genius, but she's also dealt with schizophrenia for most of her life. Her diagnosis led to her marriage to Reid's father falling apart, and she was forced to raise him as a single mother. It was under her tutelage that Reid learned his love of research, but, when he was 18, he had to make the difficult decision to put her in a home so he could live his life without worrying about her care constantly.
Criminal Minds executive producer Erica Messer told TV Guide that a big Reid centric story is coming up for early next year, and that's why Diana will finally show up again. As long time viewers know, just because the character hasn't been on screen in almost a decade doesn't mean she's faded from the memory of the show. Reid's mother is very important to him, and, as such, Diana has been mentioned several times over the years. Just last season, Reid took a leave of absence to go visit his mother after she'd taken a turn for the worst. Luckily, by the time he was ready to return to his work at the B.A.U., she had rallied. The two then took a vacation to Paris that fans can expect to be referenced in the Season 12 opener.
It sounds like this arc will be a big one for Reid, but I can't imagine what could be on tap for the character. If you have an idea, be sure to let us know in the comments. Criminal Minds returns to CBS for Season 12 on Wednesday, September 28 at 9 p.m. EST.
