Criminal Minds has had a long television run with a grand total of over 300 episodes and has been on air since 2005. This show has become a household name, as well as the character Spencer Reid who is essentially the show’s main character. With 15 years on television, there’s undoubtedly going to be some easter eggs that some people haven’t picked up on.
Although, as subtle as these easter eggs might be, Criminal Minds has a large and dedicated fan base, meaning most details don’t go unnoticed. Here are 10 hidden details that you may have missed in Criminal Minds’ 15-season glory.
Harrison Scott’s Funeral Guests
Harrison Scott was a U.S Marine Sergeant in the Vietnam War with David Rossi and a recurring character in Criminal Minds. He first appeared in Season 8, in the episode “The Fallen” when he and Rossi run into each other after years apart. He was diagnosed with bone cancer in season 9. In season 10, during the episode “Anonymous,” Harrison Scott dies of this cause.
At Harrison’s funeral, his old pals from Vietnam showed up. In the filming of this scene, Harrison’s Marine friends were played by real-life veterans who served in the Vietnam war.
Gods Of Combat
In Criminal Minds, Gods of Combat is an online, multiplayer shooting game similar to Call of Duty. This game becomes an important detail in the episode “Wheels on the Bus,” where a school bus full of children is taken over by extreme gamers of Gods of Combat who merge reality with themes from the game.
What you may have missed is other hints to this game throughout other episodes like “Strange Fruit” and “Blood Relations.” Posters for this game are loitered throughout the show, bringing back its connection to the plot.
Rossi Shooting A Duck
When David Rossi first enters the show as a permanent character in season 3, he replaces the well-liked and pivotal character of Agent Jason Gideon. Gideon was an avid bird-watcher, this was a well-known fact about him.
If you pay attention to David Rossi’s first appearance on the show, he shoots a bird. You may have missed this scene or thought nothing of it, but this was done on purpose as a form of symbolism to show the transition from Gideon to Rossi that was happening.
Ringo Starr
Joe Mantegna plays David Rossi in Criminal Minds. Rossi’s desk at BAU has a few pictures up such as one from his days in the Vietnam war as well as curious one with Ringo Starr that many of you probably failed to notice.
This is a personal tribute given that Mantega and Starr are real-life friends. The two met during the Grammy’s and have stayed friends ever since. There’s hope that this means a special visit from The Beatles’ drummer is soon to come!
Opening Credits
When given the option, most of us would skip our favorite show’s opening credits to get to the episode itself. Although, next time Criminal Minds comes on, make sure you watch the opening credits carefully.
You may not have noticed but the creators of Criminal Minds added features of real-life murderers and serial killers in the show’s intro. The very-real mug shots displayed include the infamous Charles Manson, John Wayne Gacy, Lee Harvey Oswald, and many more notorious criminals. This adds authenticity to the show, taking us deeper into the lives of FBI agents.
Timelines That Don’t Add Up
Becoming a BAU agent takes experience and lots of time. Former agent Jim Clemente, who is also a producer of the show, said that usually, it takes 10 years of experience in the FBI before being considered for BAU.
Now, let’s analyze agent Hotchner since he seems to have quite some experience under his belt. He supposedly went to law school and worked in the field as a prosecutor before joining the FBI and then eventually went on to work in the BAU. Now, we don’t know exactly how old Agent Hotchner really is, but if you look at the details closely, the timeline of his career certainly brings on more questions than answers.
Mismatched Socks
Matthew Gray Gubler, who plays Spencer Reid in the show, is hard not to love. He’s quirky and smart whether he’s in character or not. To add to his charm, Gubler thinks that wearing matching socks is bad luck.
While in his own personal life he refuses to wear matching socks, this superstition spilled into the show and if you pay enough attention, you can catch a few instances where Spencer Reid is wearing mismatched socks too. This little detail is easy to miss, but it makes Reid’s character come to life.
Haley Hotchner’s Wig
In episode “100” in season 5, Hotch’s wife Haley and his son go into protective custody due to The Reaper returning to Washington. In this episode, she wears a dark wig which they credit to the fact that they are attempting to be incognito.
Although, this was done strategically because Meredith Monroe, the actress playing Haley Hotch had to dye her hair for her part on “Californication”. For continuity purposes, they added this little plot detail in. The Reaper even comments on the change, saying she looks good as a brunette.
Choice of Words
In the early days of Rossi’s character, he makes a comment about the offices, referring to the old BAU space as a bunker. Without knowledge of the real-life FBI and BAU, this comment seems like any other.
Though, this choice of words was done purposely and pays tribute to the real BAU offices which, in its early days, started out operating out of a bunker that was built below Quantico’s FBI headquarters. This small detail ties in real-life BAU and FBI with the fictional world of Criminal Minds.
Heavy Storylines
It seems as though all the main characters in the show have heavy, traumatic pasts. While it may seem overdramatized, this is done on purpose. You may not have noticed, but the traumas of the characters usually synch up with the theme of the crime in the episode.
In perspective, for a show about murders and high-profile crimes, it seems odd to give the characters mundane problems like dating or bills, and therefore, these tragic plots of created on purposes to match the episode and the case presented in it.
