Criminal Minds: Jane Lynch to Return for Season 12 Arc as Reid's Mother 

More than eight years after her last

visit, Jane Lynch is set to reprise her role as Reid’s schizophrenic mother.

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Lynch in fact will return as Diana for a pair of episodes, to air in early 2017, as part of a “heavy Reid story,” showrunner Erica Messer told TVGuide.com.

Lynch first guested as Diana in the long-running thriller’s Season 1 finale. She last played the role in back-to-back Season 4 episodes, when a case sent the BAU to Las Vegas, where the character lives.

RELATEDCriminal Minds: Paget Brewster Upped to Series Regular in Season 12 Following Thomas Gibson’s Firing

Lynch’s other TV acting credits include, of course,

opens Season 12 next Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 9/8c, on CBS.

, or for any other show? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.

That’s awesome that she’ll be back for a couple of episodes!

Don’t forget that Jane hosts Celebrity Game Night (fun show!)…and Criminal Minds starts next week, not tonight! :)

Date fixed. The credits are denoted as being for acting.

So happy about this. Reid is my favorite character so “heavy Reid story” sounds good to me. Can’t wait to see what they’re coming up with. Loved Lynch’s portrayal as his mother.

Very excited for the new season. Pretty sure this will be to kill her off, but I hope not.

That was my exact thought…which, Jesus, between Morgan being gone and Hotch leaving and something up with his mom, Reid is going to be pulling some emotional weight this season.

It’s been eight years since her last appearance? Wow!

Yay!!! Although I’m afraid this means she will be killed off and how much heartache does poor Reid have to go through? :(

YAY Oh, that is fantastic news! About freaking time.

I’m nervous about the description of her return being part of a “heavy Reid story”, though. If the show kills her off, I swear…

With the return of Emily Prentiss and now a promised “heavy Reid story” that includs his mom, I am excited for season 12!

Remember what happened when they brought the woman he was in love with onto the show?

Remember what happened when they brought back the man he loved most for an episode?

Yeah, I can’t get excited about this. Too afraid she’ll die.

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