Criminal Minds has lasted decades as one of TV's most interesting and consistent procedurals, and the keys to its success are clear. Storylines that involve the characters directly are some of the series' best, because of how little fans see of their personal lives outside these episodes. By bringing in the BAU's agents personally as well as professionally, Criminal Minds avoids numbing audiences to the horrors of its subject matter. The series also thrives on the strength of its cast, including an excellent guest cast.
The Season 1 finale "The Fisher King, Part 1" and its conclusion in Season 2 are the best examples of these points. These episodes were the first two-part storyline, and Criminal Minds would revisit that format time and again to drive home suspense. They also made things personal for the agents and the puzzle-based nature of the case was reminiscent of the Zodiac Killer -- one of many true crimes that Criminal Minds was inspired by.
Criminal Minds Put Elle Greenaway in Peril
"The Fisher King, Part 1" saw BAU member Elle Greenaway get shot in her home. This event would kick off the spiral into instability that Elle would experience in the first six episodes of Season 2, leading to her resignation in Criminal Minds Season 2, Episode 6, "The Boogeyman." It would also raise the stakes for viewers because it was the first of many times a BAU agent would be injured, traumatized or even killed over the course of the series. Penelope Garcia would be shot in Season 3 -- during another two-part episode -- and Derek Morgan's departure from Criminal Minds came after a controversial torture sequence and near-death experience in Season 11.
The plotline also contributed to original team leader Jason Gideon's exit in the Season 3 premiere. It started him questioning the risks of being involved in such dangerous cases, which mirrored Mandy Patinkin's reasoning for leaving the show. Elle and Gideon's early exits, in turn, necessitated the arrival of two Criminal Minds mainstays and fan-favorites: Emily Prentiss and David Rossi. Both are still with the series today. Not only did "The Fisher King, Part 1" create a new standard of risk on the show, but what happened afterward directly paved the way for two of its most important cast changes.
'The Fisher King, Part 1' Dug Deeper Into Criminal Minds' Characters
"The Fisher King, Part 1" introduced Spencer Reid's mother Diana, played by Jane Lynch. Diana was a major character in the plot who would go on to be involved with many of Criminal Minds' most intense storylines. Lynch played the role for 10 episodes across five seasons and her arrival allowed for the first exploration of Reid's backstory. The episode and the Season 2 premiere explained how he regarded the members of the BAU as family, and gave insight into many of the mannerisms that made him one of the show's most popular characters. But Reid wasn't the only character to experience significant development due to the events.
Aaron Hotchner's relationship with his wife Haley first showed signs of strain in the aftermath of the two-parter, and the couple would divorce by Season 3. Contrastingly, "The Fisher King" was the first time that BAU liaison Jennifer "JJ" Jareau started to step into a more analytical role -- a journey that would help shape her character until she became a profiler in Season 7. Morgan's relationship with Reid also developed further, so while some BAU agents suffered as a result of the Season 1 finale, others were allowed to grow. Criminal Minds introduced incredible change in its Season 1 finale that, in one way or another, is still part of the series in Season 16 and beyond.