Monday, August 06, 2007

CRIMINAL MINDS: GIDEON LEAVES....HOW?


Criminal Minds: The Criminal Minds question yesterday was who should replace Mandy. The question today is: How should Gideon be written off the show?

91 comments:

Anonymous said...

No matter how I feel about what Mandy did I have always liked the character of Gideon. Since day one of the show he was brilliantly written and developed. The character deserves the respect of a quick and dignified ending.

Perhaps he retires. He has probably already put in his time with the FBI.

Anonymous said...

the easy way. the last episode made it possible. after what happened with his girlfriend and such he now easily could be written off because of having to deal with stress, with his loss and it would make lots of sense if he just leaves because of that and because he has down his job for such a long time.

Anonymous said...

Gideon is already damaged mentally. I think he cracks and takes his own life. I think he goes back to the one place he always felt safe to heal emotionally but that safe place was violated in FK1. I think he takes his own life. No fuss. No muss. A note perhaps to his son and one to Hotchner or perhaps Reid.

Anonymous said...

He leaves a note saying he is going away and leaving the job. He leaves like he lived. Detached and alone. No goodbyes. The shot could be of his office which he emptied while the team was not there.

Anonymous said...

He would not kill himself in the cabin. Perhaps the woods. He wouldn't want anyone to have to clean up the mess. Gideon has to die for the fans to have closure but I agree that it should be done gracefully.

Anonymous said...

Nervous breakdown. Gideon lost his team in Boston, and he almost didn't recover from that. Granted, that was more people than this time, but he was obviously more close to Sarah. Also, this time Gideon will probably view this as his mistake. He didn't catch Frank until it was too late. Sarah was gone.

Anonymous said...

One bullet and one broken man. It could all be over in the first five minutes of the episode. It is such a shame to have such a wonderful complex character be discontinued. There was so much potential for the growth of Gideon. The writers brought him to us so beautifully.

Anonymous said...

If he kills himself it will destroy Reid. His own father abandoned him and then to lose his father figure would have to take a toll on Reid.

Anonymous said...

I so agree that he will kill himself in a way as best not to disturb anyone else.

Anonymous said...

I don't think he would kill himself at the cabin. I see it happening at his house. Isn't that where Sarah was killed?

Anonymous said...

Suicide is for cowards and really mentally disturbed people. I am not sure that he is that disturbed and he has never been a coward.

I think he just leaves.

Anonymous said...

I think he has always been a depressed person. I think he lost his ability to cope when Frank killed his friend and the previous survivors. I totally see him offing himself.

Reid would be devastated but I think they all would. Hotchner is very close to him and all the youngsters look up to him.

Anonymous said...

So many people said that Gideon had to die for closure in the last thread but we all know he isn't coming back.

I don't think he needs to die. I respect Gideon. I respect that character's contribution to the show. I hope they do not kill him. Let him leave on his own speed. Saves the rest of the team the stress of dealing with his death.

Anonymous said...

There is no doubt that he has to die. It is sad but the reality is the character has to be permanately gone. Gideon has to die. I hope it is quick and clean. I trust the writers to be sensitive to our respect for the character if not the man who played him.

Anonymous said...

I disagree when you all say he has to die. There are so many other ways for him to leave without death being at the top of the list. Nervous breakdown, retires, transfers, etc.

Anonymous said...

I'm not as mad at Mandy for leaving the show as I am that he is the reason we lose such a rich and interesting character as Gideon. I think it is crappy how MP left but losing Gideon sucks noodles.

Anonymous said...

Kill him! Pills are cleaner than a gunshot wound.

Anonymous said...

I think he blows himself away. It makes sense. He is a deeply troubled soul. Before he dies I want him to write a note telling the BAU why he wears two wedding rings. Maybe then they can tell us and we will finally know.

Sorry to see Mandy leave. Sorry to lose Gideon. I believe in Karma.

Anonymous said...

Death is the only thing really open to the writers. He will die.

Anonymous said...

He could have the room next to Diana Reid in the mental hospital. Seriously he could just freakin lose it.

Anonymous said...

Gideon is not the type of character to just ride away into the sunset. I'm not sure he is quite ready for a total breakdown. I think death has to be the solution but maybe an unsub kills him. Maybe it is the final irony for the character. Death by unsub.

Sigrid said...

What I've personally pictured in my mind, is Gideon getting ready to leave, emptying his office and all, and Hotch suddenly arriving back to see it. After a heated argument (at least from Hotch's side), where Hotch accuses Gideon of leaving the team, and leaving him, in a lurch, given the current situation, Hotch finally says: "Go to hell, Jason," and Gideon leaves his office.

Anonymous said...

We have read that Mandy is coming back to shoot one more episode but I find that hard to believe. I can't imagine them ever wanting him in the building or around the remaining cast. If he is truly coming to film one more episode I think it is a given fact then that he is the only actor going to be in the scene. So it is either him cleaning out his office in the middle of the night when they are not there or he is someplace and hurts himself. I suppose it could also just be him in a car leaving but that lacks a sense of closure.

Anonymous said...

I like Sigrid's idea. I would imagine that Thomas Gibson could be most believeable saying that line.

Anonymous said...

TG probably would relish the opportunity of saying a few choice morsels to MP. Not a bad scene you have planned Sigrid. Might help TG expel some pent anger telling MP to bugger off.

I do think though that he will die. I think it will be quiet and quick and sincerely respectful of the fans. Our writers always seem to know exactly where that line is and they stand behind it masterfully. They shall not disappoint us this time either. Dislike the man who spoke their words I can see but not the character they crafted for two years. Actors are nothing without the writers. The writers created Gideon and they will see him to his end.

Anonymous said...

You all have been having fun during my abscence. The last post is so long on comments I had to print them to take with me to work.

I have spent some time thinking about this since Mandy left. I think there is nothing that works like him dying. I just don't want to see the scene. I want it implied but not seen.

Anonymous said...

I don't want to see it either. Maybe show him with a gun to his head and then we hear the gunshot but I don't want to see him on the ground or the blood. I would cry if it was graphic.

Anonymous said...

i was never a tv watcher , but i love criminal minds and thought that it had an amazing powerful cast. i am sad that mandy chose to leave, but why does everyone want to see him killed off? what if somewhere down the line he wants to come back? anything is posssible. i'll leave the writting to the writting staff. they have done an excellent job thus far!

Anonymous said...

I don't think Hotch would have an argument with Gideon or say "Go to hell". He knows how much a man can take and Gideon is far beyond that. Accusing him would not help anyone.

Maybe Gideon just retires or has another nervous breakdown. I think it is also possible that he dies, either commiting suicide (he is deeply disturbed) or catching a bad guy because he is not concentrated and gets shot or something.

Either scenario will make sense as long as it is well written.

Anonymous said...

If Gideon kills himself, we have to deal with 'Gideon killed himself' angst, and I'm just not up for it.

I wanna go the Chicago Hope way. I want him to leave the BAU and adopt Sarah's children (two daughters, I think he said) and go back to teaching. Maybe make up with his son while he's at it. But since this is his second break, it should be clear to everyone that he's not coming back to the team. Ever. No fuss, no big drama, just Gideon moving on to the next thing because he's given all he has to this job.

That way if MP shows up for his one day of shooting, fine, and if he doesn't, it can fly without him.

Anonymous said...

How is going to have a mental breakdown when there is no mention of it in the final scene of Hotch and the supervisor. The scene obviously takes place well after the Frank, Jane, Sarah ordeal. I don't see him having a breakdown at a later time.

Him leaving to go retire seems lame too.

Mandy is never coming back and leaving any door open for him is just foolish but I can see why nobody wants to see Gideon die. I just think he does. Nothing to base it on other than a strong feeling that they get rid of the character in the strongest possible way.

respectanimals said...

Wow, does everybody have to get so dramatic? Suicide is a bit extreme and very final.

I would think it would be quite easy and believable to write Gideon out, without making a huge event out of it. He’s already had one nervous breakdown, so we know he’s susceptible to them and given the way last season ended, with a friend of his being killed in his apartment and the guilt that he’s likely to feel over it, I would think it would be just the thing to push him over the edge again. Let him just quit and go back to teaching at Quantico again or let him move on to a less stressful job elsewhere. In other words, leave the door open for him to come back someday or at least don’t make it so that the Gideon fans hate you for it. They made that mistake with Elle’s exit already.

Anonymous said...

This is a really hard question. I didn't realize how hard a question it is until I started reading some of the posts. I think Reid will be affected most of all. If he is killed off, maybe something like a car accident, so that his character image isn't tarnished.

Anonymous said...

Lin...

I like your scenerio but would there really ever be a time when he would not be welcomed back in the BAU in some compacity or another?

I don't think there would be any Gideon dies angst because our writers never write in that kind of angst. When Elle left her name was never once mentioned again. She killed someone and they never uttered her name once. Their individual guilt over not realizing she was deeply troubled lasted as long as one episode and poof she was gone.

If Gideon kills himself or dies in the line of duty I think the angst would fit in the 40 minute time period and then we would never hear about it again or him for that matter. No matter what course of action the writers take I think the name Gideon will only be heard in one more episode.

Anonymous said...

Is there ANY way that the character of Gideon itself could be recast?

Instead of a new character could we just find a great actor to assume the part from Mandy?

Anonymous said...

I don't think it could just be recast. It has been done before I guess but Gideon is so associated with Patinkin I think it would almost impossible.

Anonymous said...

I did not tape NWO-2 so I can't go back and watch it.

Is there anything from that last scene that could be used as an easy tie in to get rid of Gideon? I just don't remember the details that well on this one. The episode was so intense that by the time we got to that scene I was just mad at the woman for trying to fire Hotch.

I personally don't think it is in Gideon's personality to just retire. I think he works until he drops.

Anonymous said...

He is a hero but heroes are still human beings and Gideon was always fragile and damaged. He came to us that way and he became more so with every few episodes. He was mentally challenged so many times during the last two seasons. He is scarred and human. Whatever they do to him I just want it to be like a band-aid being taked off of your knee. Quick and over.

I can't even imagine the show without Gideon.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the youngsters all look up to him and him & Hotch have some i-already-know-what-you're-thinking-before-you say it type of thing going. Gideon dying would be the best option i think, That way we'd get to see how the team react, Plus he'd be gone, with no 'Will he maybe come back one day' hanging over everyone. <3

Anonymous said...

I really do think he kills himself. I think the components are all there for a quick fix. It doesn't mean I have to like it but it just seems to fit. Gideon was a larger than life fixture of the show and you can't just send him back to school. I hope others are right but I think everyone needs to be open minded about all the possibilities.

Anonymous said...

How does Gideon retire? How would that even work? He thought the old profiler Max was nuts for retiring and he pitied him. He has no life to retire to.

How do they demote or fire him? They can't do that. Even if they use the excuse of another mental breakdown to fire him or put him on medical leave then every fan, especially me, would be waiting for the day he returns. I would absolutely be waiting for Gideon to come back.

The character dies I think because Elle was easier to write off of the show. She could leave on her own steam. I loved Lola but her part was tiny in comparison to Gideon's and walking away into the sunset doesn't quite work here imho like it did with Elle.

Suicide or death in the line of duty. I don't think we get to pick. We are just going to have to roll with whatever they decide to do with him.

The Boss said...

No no no ..i don't think they should kill Gideon off (I for one couldn't watch that, he was the reason i started watching the show in the first place). The best thing i think is for him to quit due to stress. After the last episode and the very nature of the character it would be very plausable. He then could be written out in a compassionate, emotional storyline. (I will have the tissues at the ready for that!!) Also i think the repercussions of his leaving should be seen over a number of episodes unlike when Elle left and was almost never mentioned again as if she never existed.

Anonymous said...

I'm guessing that it'll be a combination of the two most common ideas being thrown around here - suicide and death in the line of duty.

Maybe after Sarah's death, Gideon becomes even more determined to catch criminals (if that's possible!) and, in turn, becomes more reckless, partly because of a wish to do good to overcompensative for the guilt he feels for Sarah's murder, and maybe even by a diminished sense of self-worth, also brought on by guilt. Maybe he'll subconsciously be trying to kill himself without even realizing it, to atone for his "mistake" with Sarah by trying to do some good in death.

Anonymous said...

I think killing him off is a bit extreme and could put off a lot of people. I see two options that could be really nice, simple and to the point.

Option 1: Gideon took a few weeks off to "recover" from NWO2 and is supposed to come back on the Monday that the episode starts with. Except when the rest of the team gets in that morning the his office is empty and there is a note on the round table explaining that he just can't do this anymore. Some good emotions could come from that depending on who finds the note - probably best with Hotch or Reid.

Option 2: Somewhat simular, but this would work if he actually came back to film a last scene. The team, minus him, are walkig back into the office to drop off their things when coming back from a case at the end of the episode and Hotch/Reid catches him leaving the building with his box of stuff and runs after him. Then there is a brief conversation about why he needs to leave and what this means. This could be really good with Reid, some closer with their father/son relationship.

Anonymous said...

How do they not face demons when all they see daily is demons and victims? The emotional toll has to be enormous on profilers. I would like to know if there is a study on the suicide rate within this type of sub class of worker.

Anonymous said...

Ness might have expressed my guess the best out of all of you. Whatever happens I will miss Gideon.

Anonymous said...

If Gideon doesn't die then what is the episode? A shot of his car driving out of the parking lot packed with books. I guess that would be okay. I don't think that is how they will do it but I think I am okay with it no matter what they write.

I really just want it to be over. It is over now because we know Mandy is gone but here we are watching him every Wed. in repeats. Some commenters have mocked others for using the word closure so I am sorry to say that I need some. I need the story of Gideon to end one way or another so that I get past it. Mandy is the reason I started watching. Gideon is my favorite character. I deserve the ownership of my feelings and frankly I am not sure I would want to watch a long drawn out Gideon mess.

Anonymous said...

What is so terrible about Gideon retiring? As Ken wonderfully explained, people who retire are not expected to come back. Just because he's not killed off doesn't mean he would come back because he could. We all saw his reluctance at the very start of the series. This would be a final straw for Gideon; I think he'd have a nervous breakdown, and be done with the BAU. Someone mentioned that Gideon thought Ryan was crazy to retire. Gideon thought that Ryan was crazy to retire to Philly to catch the Keystone Killer, not crazy to retire. As far as I'm aware, Gideon has no problem retiring.

I still do not understand why he must be killed off. I don't see Gideon committing suicide. Why would he lower himself to Frank? Yes, I'm sure his pain is great, but suicide? I think that Hotch knows Gideon enough to know whether or not this would cause him to be suicidal. Hotch would look out for that. Also, if Gideon was going to start being more reckless, I can't see Hotch allowing him to go with them. I think they learned their lesson with Elle. I just don't think it's likely that Gideon would commit suicide.

Anonymous said...

I am amazed at the passion and ideas on this thread. Gideon was a great character and he deserves the attention his departure is getting.

I think that no matter what the writers come up with it it is going to go over 50/50 in the fandom. There is no perfect solution that will make everyone happy. I trust that they are even more invested in the character than we are and will come up with the best course of action. If there is a perfect closed door here than I don't see it.

If you kill him people will balk and if he rides quietly into the sunset others will balk.

I think that the bottom line is that even non-Gideon fans are not happy with the character leaving. We all like what is familar and the BAU team X 7 is what we are used to.

My question would be: Does it really matter how he goes as long as he is gone? Mandy has left the building and he isn't coming back.

Anonymous said...

Being a Mandy Patinkin fan myself I can say that I intend to still watch the show. I really like it. I did tune in for Mandy at first but by the middle of the first season I was hooked.

I don't think because you are a fan of Mandy's you should have any problem with however they get rid of Gideon. Gideon is make believe. It isn't Mandy. It is not as if someone is taking a gun to his head. This is a make believe character that we are losing. Mandy is in concert all over the US right now. He is alive and well and busy making money. I wish him well and would not hesitate to buy tickets to see him if he came to my area of the world.

The show has to deal with the character of Gideon and the only reflection that has directly on Mandy is that he is the cause of the situation. If Gideon kills himself it is not being disloyal to Mandy to get over it and watch the show. One thing has nothing to do with the other.

I just thought I would throw my cents into the already growing pile!

Anonymous said...

gideon reires and moves to new york where he works as a consultant for the NYPD

Anonymous said...

The divorce, addiction and suicide rate for members of law enforcement is something like triple that of other members of society. It is a noble profession for sure but there is nothing matter of fact about it.

Do they grow old and retire? Sure. Do they decide they have just had enough one day and turn in their badges? Sure

But since when has Gideon ever been normal or done the first normal person thing!!!!

Anonymous said...

I think Sarah dying was it for him. One too many things to deal with. We talk about how fragile he is all the time. Hardly a new notion. I don't see a happy ending for a man who hasn't known true happiness in all the time we have known him.

Anonymous said...

But since when has Gideon ever been normal or done the first normal person thing!!!!

...when he collects trains, when he taught school, when he watches old movies, when he watched birds, when he cooks, when he gets together with old friends from college, when he becomes a mentor to a young man without parents, when he gets upset over the things going on around him, when he is short with the people he works with when he's frustrated...

I never saw Gideon as an unhappy person. He was very intense and very private but I never got the sense that he was an unhappy person.

Anonymous said...

I do think retirement/transferring out is part of the fabric of the BAU reality. I remember when they're talking to Katie in P911, something is said about how no one has ever done the job as long as she has. Not only would they accept that she needed to do something else, they actually expect it. I don't think it would be much different with Gideon.

Oh, and my never coming back comment from before -- I can see that coming from the witch who's after Hotchner, whose name I refuse to remember.

Alice said...

i see where people are coming from with the death theory and it would be good closure...

but i just dont want to have to watch the team get through that, especially reid having another father figure leave him in an almost selfish way which contrasts so much with what the writers have built gideon up to be (strong against the odds etc) it could tear them apart and we've already been left slightly uncertain at the end of season 2

i think it would be completely understandable if he just called it a day after the death of his friend, if he wasnt in the bau at the time, his friend (or girlfriend etc) would never have died after all

respectanimals said...

Anonymous said... "I don't think because you are a fan of Mandy's you should have any problem with however they get rid of Gideon. Gideon is make believe. It isn't Mandy."

I think you might have it backwards actually. It seems to me that maybe the reason so many people are quick to having Gideon commit suicide, or killing him off in some other way, is because they are angry with Mandy Patinkin and they are taking it out on his character. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing that it probably won’t bother Mandy in the least what they do to his character now that he's gone, but the Criminal Minds fans, and especially the Jason Gideon fans, will care. And it's not because I am a Mandy Patinkin fan that I object to killing off the character of Gideon, it's because I am a Jason Gideon fan. Jason Gideon is, and has been since I first started watching the show, my favorite character, so I just don't want them destroying that character. I wasn't a huge Elle fan, but I sure didn't appreciate what they did to her character, when Lola left the show. As others have mentioned, people leave jobs all the time, and it isn’t always a major dramatic event. Don’t get me wrong, I love strong emotions, I love heavy dramas, but just don’t mutilate my favorite character please. LOL! Some of the worst things that popular shows do after the first or second season is turn them into soap operas (CSI Miami is a major offender) and while I like character development and heavy emotional scenes involving the main characters, the real reason for the show is the tracking down of the unsubs, not seeing which main character will get tortured, attacked, arrested or killed off next.

slashgirl said...

While CM does try to reflect the real BAU, it is still a tv show and one that takes liberties with the truth. An example would be Reid--who's been with the team since he was 21; in real life you can't join the FBI until you're 23. The jet is another fictional addition to the show. So they may do things that aren't true to life. Except, unfortunately, the suicide of those in law enforcement is all too real.

I'm afraid Gideon's end will have a lot to do with the show making it clear that MP will never be returning. I honestly don't see suicide as outside the realm of possibility for Gideon, either--how much pain and darkness can someone take before they snap. He has PTSD, he's gone through a lot in these last two years...and given that he's such a private person, it's unlikely he'd reach out for help even when he should.

I agree his suicide will be hard for the team to take, but it will hardly make CM into a soap opera--our writers are far too good for that.

Anonymous said...

Well said respectanimals. I couldn't agree more. While Mandy may or may not deserve the wrath of both writers and fans, Jason Gideon (and yes i know he's fictional) deserves better.I will miss him more than Mr. Patinkin.

Anonymous said...

I agree with what Ness said earlier. That Gideon will likely become more reckless. He has a history of doing dangerous things and being reckless to catch his guy. I could see Gideon seperating from the group due to not wanting to put any of the others in danger and due to the pressures on Hotch for the teams recklessness. Then Gideon gets killed by the Unsub because he is on his own without any backup.

I have a hard time seeing Gideon just riding into the sun set because doing so would be like leaving the people that matter to him at a difficult time.

Suicide is possible, but a really dangerous option for the show. I can think of a lot of people that wouldn't watch the show again if they did that. I also have a hard time believing MP showing up to shoot that kind of scene

Anonymous said...

I love the character of Jason Gideon. I have wanted to fix him and I have rooted for him since day one of the show. He is, as has already been said several times, a broken and troubled man. He is brilliant but brilliance sometimes cannot hide behind mental illness.

I think the show has always held a healthy balance between the case and the individuals in the BAU. Nobody seems to have complained up to this point. All of a sudden everyone is jumping up and down anticipating a problem that has not even happened yet. We have no idea what they are planning for Gideon.

I am mad at Mr. Patinkin. I think what he did was irresponsible, nasty and totally unprofessional. I also think that no other actor could ever have brought Jason Gideon to life like he did. He did it with the superb writing he was given.

Everyone is arguing in a circle here. Kill him, let him retire, let him find contentment, etc. Whatever they do to Gideon is fine with me. I think I have read that a few times before as well. I will happily echo the statement.

I do think he will die. I don't think they will kill the character out of vengence or an ill sense of payback, which seems to be an implication being made in some of the posts. I think they will do it, if they even do it, because the show has always been about the battle between good and evil and the men and women who walk into it trying to help others. It is a wonderfully dark show because it deals with dark topics. There is not always a happy ending. Not every unsub is caught in time. Not every victim is saved. Not every profiler stays intact and goes home at the end of the day to a steak dinner and a smiling wife who is standing next to their 2.3 children and a dog named Boo.

Lisa said...

As someone mentioned earlier, Hotch should walk into Gideon's office, early morning when no one is around, to find an empty office and a note on the desk. As Hotch picks it up it turns to a Hotch voice over and shows in black & white Gideon flipping through his murder book slowly turning the pages while the letter explains that although his work has helped many, he failed to help someone he loved when he needed to the most. As the pages keep turning Gideon writes a special something to everyone on the team and as the last pages turn to Sarah he leaves Hotch with a final few words (because they were so close), to watch over everyone, that Hotch might be the only unit commander he knows, but the best one to do the job on any counts, to take of the tie once and a while, and to never let the job consume all that is loved in life.

As the book closes and the scene goes back to Hotch, the rest of the team arrives and is standing in the doorway of Gideons empty office....Hotches face tells them the story before he even shows them the letter (if he does).

I think that would be a good send of, and very tasteful. I don't know, thats just a thought. What Mandy did sucks, but his character ment a lot to everyone in the show and I think they should reconize that, and use it to tape into some emotion that can be used even in future episodes.

Wow, that was long!

Hope it sounds ok:)

Lasell

Anonymous said...

I have been reading all these comments and it makes me so depressed to think he is really not going to be with us in season three. I love the show but he was such a huge part of it for me. It is just sad.

jenn said...

ALthough Gideon may be damaged mentally as it has been put, I find it hard to believe he would ever, under any circumstances commit suicide. That would be lame. Even damaged he is very strong. They should do him justice and give him a dignified out such as retirement or job placement elsewhere. I agree with what Cat said, it is sad to read the scenarios. It makes it that much more real. He is a great character who I will miss.

Anonymous said...

Lasell: Job well done in my opinion!

Criminal Minds Fan said...

I was the person who posted the original exclusive statement from Ed Bernero telling us what the situation was with Mandy. The email came with a short paragraph to me explaining what I was about to read and what Mr. Bernero wanted done with it so the fans of the show could know the truth. I read the first few lines of the statement and stopped reading and just posted it. I wanted it posted before I read it entirely because I was a huge Mandy fan and it wasn't the best news in the world.

I started watching the show because of Mandy's participation in it. I loved the character of Gideon and still do. When I was invited to the set the first time I made it clear that I would not come if I could not have time with Mandy. Sitting in Gideon's office was a rush. No fooling. It really was. Jason Gideon was a fascinating invention of many incredible writers' minds. The talent that went into writing that part is probably beyond my ability to imagine. Mandy used his incredible talent and took those words and made Gideon great in my opinion.

I do sorta kinda have a feeling how this is going to go. I will admit that a couple of people, not Mr. Bernero, have done a bit of hinting. In the end whatever they do is going to be the correct thing. It is going to work into whatever story arches they have put into place. It is going to work because when you get handed lemons you make lemonade and hope it tastes alright.

It won't please everyone. That has been said a few dozen times now. There is no way to please everyone. I think our writing staff is the best in the business but pleasing everyone this time is not even within their powers.

I am surprised at how many people have written that if the episode doesn't go their way that they will stop watching. Not everyone has loved every episode and I don't think they just stopped watching. I think everyone needs to just let whatever it is happen and then watch a couple more episodes if they are not happy with it. I think it will turn around. It sucks. Of course it does. Nobody could say this doesn't suck but it is what it is.

I will always hold the highest regard for the character of Jason Gideon. He was a masterful creation. :)

Anonymous said...

I just think Gideon will leave the BAU to go what they called "Soul searching." Cause nothing matters to him anymore and thus decides to go on the road to find his purpose in life.

Either way, whatever the writers do, I am okay with it.

I never liked Gideon to being with.

Anonymous said...

There must be some way to just send him off graciously...without dispect to his character. But...my HEAD CAN'T THINK THAT MUCH YET!

Anonymous said...

d said...
I just think Gideon will leave the BAU to go what they called "Soul searching." Cause nothing matters to him anymore and thus decides to go on the road to find his purpose in life.

Either way, whatever the writers do, I am okay with it.

I never liked Gideon to being with.


Whoopsie, I misspelled a word: Meant to say, "Begin" with.

Anonymous said...

I think the writers will do a masterful job about Gideon's leaving the show. As has been said earlier, Elle's leaving was a bit abrupt, but she wasn't a main character, and I think the original premise of the show as built around the Jason Gideon character, so they will probably tread carefully and give the character a dignified ending, whatever that may be.

Something someone said earlier, hit a funny bone with me--Gideon leaves to go soul searching. A vision popped into my head of Gideon joining the counter-culture, in a commune, and growing his hair long! Either that or going to a tropical locale like Matisse (is that the artist who did that?) and painting, singing, and living life to the ultimate. Either way, it could end with him singing! lol!

Anonymous said...

DNY LOVES CRIMINAL MINDS said...
I am surprised at how many people have written that if the episode doesn't go their way that they will stop watching.

I would ask you please forgive just one more post from me on this topic. I know I have droned on and on but I think this is no small thing. As a person who has too intimate a knowledge of the effects of suicide I have stated that I would no longer continue to watch the show if they were to go this route. I say that because I truly believe it would be disrespectful to both the character and the audience. If this were the route that the writers were planning to take from the begining I could accept that as they would be prepared to deal with the issue and its effects on everyones lives. To use this as a means to simply get rid of a character is morose. Because it might be realistic (while I would debate that)is not relavant. Those who say this would not create a soap opera effect are perhaps being short sighted. Right now we are prepared to deal with a team who's leader is looking at a pink slip, one of the team members has been asked to help that happen, and another is still in the throws of dealing with a very recent case of PTSD. Put the suicide of a loved and respected team memnber on top of that, while coping with the very job they are devoting their lives to and what time would you have left over for doing any work. The only thing that would be worse would be for Gideon to kill himself and for them not to deal with it appropriately.
As far as closure goes...suicide brings no closer. Those who want Gideon to be part of the psyche of the show forever should want this, not those who want closure.

Anonymous said...

I think we are beating a dead horse here. Nobody is going to be happy and the episode has probably already been shot already so lets all chill.

He's gone one way or another and that sucks but oh well. We have 6 top notch actors left and that works for me.

Anonymous said...

I will watch the show with or without Gideon. If I don't like what the do to him then I will strike it up to a bad episode and tune in next week for a better one.

I do think he dies.

I don't however believe there is a snowball's chance in hell that MP went back and filmed an episode for them. I will have to see that to believe it.

Part of me is looking forward to seeing how creative the writers became with all of this. The poor dears.

Anonymous said...

respectanimals said: "It seems to me that maybe the reason so many people are quick to having Gideon commit suicide, or killing him off in some other way, is because they are angry with Mandy Patinkin and they are taking it out on his character."

I was thinking the exact same thing as I was reading all the comments and shaking my head. I think killing him off or having him commit suicide is extreme. I agree with all the people who say he should resign or take retirement. I do like the idea of them finding a letter from him, or seeing him leave. I cant really see him telling them in person he's leaving.
However they do, and whatever happens to Gideon, I know the writters will do an excellent job at how they do it, and it will be a spetacular episode.

Anonymous said...

I agree w. DNY, Love2teach and many others that our wonderful, masterful writing staff will find something that is both realistic and respectful to the character. It's also likely that it won't be to everyone's taste.

I trust them, and although I know I'll cry all through the "Gideon Goes Away" ep, I'm still crazy waiting for Season 3. Yeah, I'll keep watching.

Anonymous said...

I would hate to see the Gideon character "die off" in any fashion. I think if they write him out leaving the BAU, it would have to be for something extremely deep, like maybe something to do with his son, possibly him being in danger of some sort, or an un-sub even! He would have to go on his own, not wanting the rest of the team to know, or to be involved. These loose ideas might be plausible if the executives haven't already made a decision.

Phoenix said...

Even though I don't agree with the method (or lack there of) that MP left the show, I think that having his character commit suicide or otherwise die, is a bit extreme and short sighted.

While MP may be persona non-grata now, who knows what will happen in the future. As much as we all love the Gideon character, why not leave it open for a "special appearance" in a future show? I'm sure right now MP doesn't want to do it, and probably the writers & executives are saying "he'll come back over our dead bodies". But time heals. Things change and stranger things have happened. CM isn't a sci-fi, so they can't bring Gideon back from the dead the way Stargate did with Daniel Jackson when Michael Shanks walked away from a great character role.

Killing off the character is an unnecessary long term solution and I hope the writers think 'big picture' and what's best for the show overall.

Anonymous said...

I will bet anyone a buck that he is not coming back in the future for a guest appearance. No way he puts them through all of this and then they role out the welcome mat. I think CBS did that once with CH and they got slapped in the face.

I am sure the writers will come up with some great way to end the character whether it is death, retirement or something.

Anonymous said...

I posted on in the wrong comment section a moment ago so if a moderator could delete it please.

I said that it sucks and there is NO good way to write him off of the show. At least we had a few months warning before we have to see it.

Anonymous said...

Quickly and permanately. I don't want a door open. That isn't fair to anyone. Gone is gone as far as I am concerned. I would be shocked and appalled if they let him back on the cast in the future. That CBS press release would be a shocker.

Anonymous said...

Maybe fiction should mirror life, and he should just leave. Then the characters are all where is he and then Hotch says one of the refrains of the show, and it's never the same again. The end.

...that's a horrible idea, isn't it?

Anonymous said...

I don't think death should be solution, but perhaps a mental breakdown. Or just have him disappear, sort of leave the ppl at BAU wondering what happened to him. Just like at first in real life.

Anonymous said...

ler said
my first blog ever - so I don't think have the Gideon character kill himself or getting killed in the line of duty is appropriate. there is way too much violence in the show already. let the character leave to rest him mind and soul and then teach or write or join some other force that is not so violent. the character is written as a very intelligent, well read and well spoken man - give him a dignfied ending like he deserves.

PAOLAFROMPARIS said...

Suicide? *evil grin*
OK, I'm being bad. Sorry, but I still feel very angry.

PAOLAFROMPARIS said...

Killed by a bunch of CM fanatics fans mistaking him for...Mandy Patinkin?
ACH...even humor sounds gloomy...sorry!
Despite it all I loved Gideon...

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the laugh Paola. I think we need the season without somebody new and then start with a new fresh face next season.

Anonymous said...

i started to watch the show because of Mandy patinkin, who is just so hot and sexy. why not just have him, walk away. no need to kill him, he just leaves. i unfortunately have not seen the last episode of season two so you can bet that i will be in line at midnight when it comes out.

Anonymous said...

I think the higher ups at the FBI will force Gideon out after a second "major depressive episode" following the last encounter with Frank.

Anonymous said...

I think people are completely over-estimating Patinkin's value to the show. Sure he is a brilliant actor and has made the part of Gideon a great one but his departure is not going to be the end of the show. I didn't think I would ever like Elle's replacement, now I'm glad she left, Emily is a much better character. We need to wait and see what happens and have faith in the wonderful team that make Criminal Minds not start sounding the death toll. I think Gideon should be killed so there is complete closure to the character.

Anonymous said...

I think he's going to make himself an omlet at the cabin(the eggs he's going to use will probabbly have gone bad) He's going to call his girl(the one left the BAU...Elle) to join him but when she gets there he will have crapped himself to death from the bad omelet. Hotch and the others will come because they have been called. Together with a swarm of flies the team will look upon his body(doused in human waste)gaging and choking from the smell. Reid and Morgan will break down everyone else will pass out from the smell. Hotch(remaining stoneface) will most likely quote a saying that goes like this: "The Craphouse Poet once said- I've crapped in Britain, I've even crapped in France but before I crap in this cabin, I'd rather crap my pants."

Gutierrez said...

He could have the room next to Diana Reid in the mental hospital. Seriously he could just freakin lose it.