[s4e7] Memoriam ✓ <Certified>

is one of the most significant character-driven episodes in the Criminal Minds series, serving as the conclusion to the two-part storyline that began with "The Instincts." It focuses heavily on Dr. Spencer Reid as he attempts to reconcile fractured childhood memories with a cold case in his hometown of Las Vegas. The Investigation into the Past

: While the investigation unfolds in Vegas, J.J. (Jennifer Jareau) goes into labor three weeks early. At the end of the episode, she gives birth to her son, Henry, and names Spencer as the godfather , reinforcing the BAU's role as his "chosen family". [S4E7] Memoriam

: Reid suspects his estranged father, William Reid, may have been involved in the murder. This leads to a tense reunion between the two, as Spencer confronts the man who abandoned him and his mother years earlier. is one of the most significant character-driven episodes

: Spencer’s mother, Diana (played by Jane Lynch), is forced to confront her own suppressed memories. In a dramatic move, she goes off her medication to help Spencer uncover the truth about what happened the night Riley died. Key Reveals and Twists (Jennifer Jareau) goes into labor three weeks early

: It is eventually revealed that Reid's father, William, did not kill Riley Jenkins. Instead, he confessed to killing Gary Michaels, a pedophile who had targeted Spencer after already murdering Riley.

: Guest-starring as Spencer's father, William Reid.