Jason Gideon (played by Mandy Patinkin) is one of the best investigators of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), together with David Rossi. Gideon is divorced and has a son, but the contact between father and son is only sporadic. He shows how difficult it is to keep both an intact family life and his job as a profiler. Gideon is a passionate chess player, reads, likes philosophical essays and collects bird paintings.

Years ago, Jason Gideon had sent six of his colleagues from the FBI to raid a house. Shortly after, a bomb exploded, and all six colleagues lost their lives. Since Gideon was responsible for the deployment, he was under heavy criticism, and shortly after he collapse and resigned from the unit to find himself. He later confronted the bomber and finally managed to escape the guilt he suffered for months.

He returned to the behavioural analysis unit of the FBI (Federal Buerau of Investigation) in Quantico only at the beginning of the series Criminal Minds. The former experiences encouraged him to intensify his efforts in capturing dangerous psychopaths and serial killers yet. He is the father figure of his colleagues on the show Criminal Minds, always available when they want to talk about something. The employment Dr. Spencer Reid in the BAU is also thanks to Gideon, who has enrolled Reid directly from the FBI academy for the Behavioural Analysis Unit.

Senior Supervisory Special Agent Jason Gideon advises his colleagues again and again, thinking outside the box. Emotionally, Gideon may usually seem rather chilly, but, on the contrary, he is willing to risk his life for others.

After the serial killer Frank has murdered a long-time friend of Gideon’s, Sarah's loss becomes very painful for the investigator. Through these experiences he feels restricted in his judgment and doubts his abilities as a profiler. He also loses his belief that cases can have a happy ending.

During the next case in which it came to the search for a culprit in Arizona, Gideon struck a wrong decision, through which both perpetrator and victim lost their lives. Gideon's confidence is greatly shaken by this experience. Due to the outcome of this case, Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner was suspended for two weeks of service.

Shortly after, Gideon went to his lonely wooden cabin back in the woods to reflect on his life. At the local shooting the audience will realize how deeply Jason Gideon is affected by the incidents. He writes a suicide note on an envelope and addresses it to Dr. Reid. Then he puts his badge and his gun out and leaves the hut.

Without a word to his colleagues, he leaves the BAU unexpectedly and tours the country. A journey without route or target. Gideon hopes to find the confidence that he has previously lost on this road trip.

After Gideon stopped showing up for work and was unreachable by phone, his teammates started to worry about Gideon. Thereupon, Dr. Reid made ??his way to the cabin, where he found the letter addressed to him.

You may find all episodes of the series Criminal Minds here.