Criminal Minds
Summary
By the end ofCriminal Mindsseason 17 , also lie with asCriminal mind : Evolutionseason 2 , the serial killer whale show will have aired 334 episodes , and 10 stand out as the best of the good . WithCriminal Minds : Evolutionseason 3 reassert , the serial publication could add even more instalment to the best of all time range . Criminal Mindspremiered in 2005 , and while there have been many ups and downs over the 17 seasons , everyCriminal Mindsseasonhas its high-pitched points that keep witness coming back for more .
Two years afterCriminal Mindsseason 15 marked the supposed end of the series , it was revive asCriminal Minds : Evolutionin 2022 and is still going stiff today . TheCriminal Minds : Evolutionseason 3 renewal proves there is an consultation still eager for more . Part of what stay fresh viewers tuning in istheCriminal Mindscharacters , so it ’s no surprise that some of the character reference - centrical episodes . With almost 350 episodes , it can be hard to constrict down the 10 best , especially with a cracking show likeCriminal mind .
Criminal Minds Series Overview
Season Number
Number Of Episodes
Air Dates
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
1
22
September 22 , 2005 – May 10 , 2006
Criminal Minds follows an elite team of FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit as they analyze the nation’s most complex criminal minds, led by experienced agent David Rossi. The team works to anticipate and prevent crimes by understanding the behavior of these dangerous individuals.
2
23
September 20 , 2006 – May 16 , 2007
3
20
September 26 , 2007 – May 21 , 2008
4
26
September 24 , 2008 – May 20 , 2009
5
September 23 , 2009 – May 26 , 2010
6
24
September 22 , 2010 – May 18 , 2011
7
September 21 , 2011 – May 16 , 2012
8
September 26 , 2012 – May 22 , 2013
9
September 25 , 2013 – May 14 , 2014
10
October 1 , 2014 – May 6 , 2015
11
September 30 , 2015 – May 4 , 2016
12
September 28 , 2016 – May 10 , 2017
13
September 27 , 2017 – April 18 , 2018
14
15
October 3 , 2018 – February 6 , 2019
January 9 , 2020 – February 19 , 2020
16
November 24 , 2022 – February 9 , 2023
17
June 6 , 2024 – August 1 , 2024
After 15 successful seasons , Criminal Minds ended on CBS . Despite its long time on the air , the ground for its cancelation remains challenging .
10“Piranha”
Season 17, Episode 7
Criminal head : Evolutionmarked some major changes for the series . The move from internet television ( CBS ) to streaming ( Paramount+ ) meant the seasons were shortened to 10 episodes , and the plot line were able to get even darker and more graphic . deplorable Minds : Evolutionalso commute the storytelling data formatting , with the focussing wobble from individual single - sequence case to longer arcs with one unsub or connected unsubs that unfolded over an intact season . Criminal Minds : Evolutionseason 2 , episode 7 marked a return to the original recipe .
The story inCriminal Minds : Evolutionseason 2 , episode 7briefly shifted off from the “ Gold Star ” casing to stick with another unsub . Roger Song ’s story was chilling and heartbreaking , as he deal with psychosis follow the destruction of his wife and sister during childbirth in a major plot twist . Criminal Mindsseason 17 , episode 7 also premise Jill Gideon , Jason Gideon ’s ex - wife , and revealed her preceding social function with Rossi . Due to this , “ Piranha ” became an instantCriminal Mindsclassic .
Criminal Minds : Evolution season 2 , instalment 7 featured the first appearance of a role with a foresightful story with the series and its characters .
9“Entropy”
Season 11, Episode 11
Aubrey Plaza was one ofCriminal Minds ’ best guest stars , play Cat Adams , also get laid as “ The Black Widow Killer . ” She earn the soubriquet as she was known for seducing the men she was hired to kill . She sometimes even killed her own node because they wanted her to belt down their wives . Cat was extremely manipulative and smart , and she first display this inCriminal Mindsseason 11 , episode 11 “ Entropy ” through a merging with Spencer in what was supposed to be a setup by the BAU .
Though Spencer end up pull ahead their mental conflict , Cat almost outsmarted him , which would ’ve been a great feat . Cat did eventually outmanoeuvre him , generate in multiple episodes to get retaliation on Spencer , with her fixation with him growing in eachCriminal Mindsseason . “ Entropy ” kept viewers on their toes because of how unpredictable Cat could be , making it a thrilling , entertaining sequence . Criminal Mindsseason 11 , sequence 11 might not have been as vehement and gory as other episode , but Cat was terrifying in her own rightfield .
While spectator may recognise Aubrey Plaza for her most far-famed roles , she ’s had spate of other underrated performances across motion picture and television .
8“200”
Season 9, Episode 14
As aforementioned , some of the bestCriminal Mindsepisodes are the single that focus specifically on one grapheme , usually a BAU squad extremity . ByCriminal Mindsseason 9 , watcher had already learned a sight about JJ , who was first introduced as the squad ’s media amour in the show ’s second sequence . Criminal Mindsseason 6 , episode 2 was even titled “ JJ , ” as it was supposed to be her last episode on the show , asAJ Cook ( Jennifer “ JJ ” Jareau ) and Paget Brewster ( Emily Prentiss ) were sack that time of year . as luck would have it , it was n’t the last fourth dimension viewers consider either character .
Rookie agent Ashley Seaver replace JJ at the BAU for the respite ofCriminal Mindsseason 6 . When JJ returned inCriminal Mindsseason 7 , she was raise to profiler .
Criminal Mindsseason 9 , installment 14 , the show ’s two-hundredth sequence , reunited the devotee favorites over a season after Emily left again . In “ 200 , ” viewers also learned what take place to JJ during her time at the State Department , and it was a withering plot line . The installment go between flashbacks of JJ ’s time with the CIA and the present day , where she ’d been kidnapped and tortured . Though it was intemperate to watch at times , Criminal Mindsseason 9 , instalment 14 had a well-chosen conclusion , with Emily and the BAU squad saving JJ just in time .
7“Revelations”
Season 2, Episode 15
Some of theCriminal Mindsepisodes that stand out the most are the I that keep viewers up at dark because of how creepy the unsubs are . One ofthe most memorableCriminal Mindsunsubswas Tobias Hankel , played by James Van Der Beek . As Plaza did in “ Entropy , ” inCriminal Mindsseason 2 , episode 15 , Van Der Beek eerily and convincingly slipped into the serial slayer role . Van Der Beek ’s carrying into action was made even more impressive by him basically playing multiple characters at once , with Hankel diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder ( DID ) .
Hankel could become one of his alters at the drop of a lid , making him improbably dangerous , as he did n’t know he had DID or that his abusive father had decease . He abduct Reid and drug him with Dilaudid , the drug he was addict to . Reid narrowly get away death , defeat Hankel himself . The decision tortured Reid , as he felt dingy for Hankel . It also leftReid with a drug dependency inCriminal Minds , though that storyline was mishandled and suddenly leave out .
Reid is one of the most beloved characters in Criminal Minds , but there are many liveliness - threatening situations he ’s put in during his fifteen season .
6“Profiler, Profiled”
Season 2, Episode 12
Shemar Moore star as Derek Morgan in the show ’s first 11 seasons , andthough he has n’t appear sinceCriminal Mindsseason 13 , Morgan is still one of the most beloved characters in the series . Viewers are still hopingMorgan will return inCriminal mind : Evolution , as he was such a life-sustaining part of the serial publication due to his role as a BAU squad member and his relationship with his fellow team members . Derek was known as shady , attractive , acrobatic , and flirty , andCriminal Mindsseason 2 , episode 12 , “ Profiler , Profiled , ” offered a raw spirit at his type .
In “ Profiler , Profiled , ” the team journey to Chicago , where Morgan grew up , to try and crystallize his name when he was accuse of off a adolescent football game musician . The episode revealed some of Morgan ’s thick , moody enigma , let in the fact that his football coach and wise man , Carl Buford , molested him throughout his puerility . This discovery was heartbreaking for characters and viewers alike and changed the flight of his character inCriminal Minds . “ Profiler , profile ” also read off Moore ’s range and further explore the racism his quality confront as a Black man .
Derek Morgan was on the Criminal Minds squad from season 1 until time of year 11 . Here ’s why Shemar Moore left Criminal Minds , and if he ’ll turn back .
5“Lauren”
Season 6, Episode 18
While it tookCriminal Mindsthree seasons to reveal what happened to JJ during her time away from the BAU , they explained Emily ’s absence in tangible time . TheCriminal Mindswriters had to get creative to rule ways to pen JJ and Emily out of the show , at least temporarily . Criminal Mindsseason 6 , sequence 18 , “ Lauren ” , was the culmination of a multi - episode discharge about Emily ’s past times as a spy for the JTF-12 squad assembled by Interpol .
This was a surprising breakthrough about Emily , with the instalment deal point about her complicated human relationship with her mark , Ian Doyle , and his son , Declan . “ Lauren ” referred to the simulated name she used while undercover , Lauren Reynolds . The episode and storyline provided nifty depth to Emily Prentiss , who has one of the most interesting backstories inCriminal Minds . It also lead toCriminal Mindsfaking Emily ’s demise , which was one of the show ’s craziest storyline .
Criminal Minds said goodbye to Paget Brewster ’s Emily Prentiss on two occasions , and she left and take back to the BAU for unlike reasons .
4“Penelope”
Season 3, Episode 9
Though Penelope Garcia was part ofCriminal Mindsfrom the offset , she did n’t become a master character until time of year 2 . Garcia is also the only fibre from the pilot who made the startle toCriminal Minds : Evolution . short details were apportion about her fictitious character before , butCriminal Mindsseason 3 , episode 9 , “ Penelope , ” was her most important instalment . “ Penelope ” was n’t just a nifty episode because it revolve about around one of the show ’s good characters , but because of the case it dealt with .
Penelope was also a main character in the short - livedCriminal Mindsspinoff , Criminal head : Suspect Behavior .
“ Penelope ” picked up where the previous sequence left off , with her particular date surprisingly shoot her . Fortunately , Garcia survived , but her attempted murderer , Jason Clark Battle , was still at large . When they finally catch him , JJ , who was n’t a theatre agent , was tax with claim him out . It was a cliff-hanging episode as the fictitious character uneasily look Penelope ’s fate , revealing how crucial she is to the team and its members , and tried to enamor her assailant . Criminal Mindsseason 3 , installment 9 also introduced Kevin Lynch , Penelope ’s first major love interest .
Penelope Garcia quit the BAU in Criminal Minds , but when the terror of Sicarious come up in Evolution , she was impel to repay her old squad .
3“L.D.S.K.”
Season 1, Episode 6
It did n’t take long forCriminal Mindsto find its channel , with the show impress from the archetype on . While some episodes have lackluster first seasons as role player essay to build their characters , the mold builds alchemy , and writers learn what knead and what doesn’t . Criminal Mindsseason 1 , episode 6 , “ L.D.S.K. ” proves that the series was great from the beginning . “ L.D.S.K. ” stands for “ long - distance nonparallel killer , ” which is what the sequence ’s unsub was .
Criminal Mindsseason 1 , episode 6 took viewers through a series of twists and turn to discover who the unsub was , and the episode became even more intense when they obtain out who he was . The BAU is n’t stark , and there are multiple instalment in which their profile was off , or they had the incorrect suspect . “ L.D.S.K. ” was one of these episode , but , as per usual , the BAU came out on top in a thrilling fit between Hotch , Spencer , and the killer .
A lot of Criminal Minds fans ask ' what does unsub intend ? ' and ' is it used in the show accurately ? ' Here ’s how accurate the serial publication is about profiling .
2“100”
Season 5, Episode 9
ThoughCriminal Mindsdoesn’t defeat off its primary or supporting characters often , it does materialize now and again . The rarity also makes it lurid and devastating when a character is killed off , as was the lawsuit with Haley ’s death inCriminal Mindsseason 5 , episode 9 , “ 100 . ” Like “ 200 , ” this milepost instalment is one of the show ’s best . George Foyet , “ The Boston Reaper , ” first come along inCriminal Mindsseason 4 , episode 18 , and remain to haunt the role through “ 100 . ” In particular , he move after Hotch , almost pour down him and then pour down his ex - wife .
Foyet was one ofCriminal Minds ’ most pitiless and deranged unsubs , and the viewers and characters knew it would n’t end well when he captured Hotch ’s ex-wife - wife , Haley , and their young son , Jack . The moment Foyet burn his gun off camera , with Hotch and the others mind through the phone , is one of the show ’s most durable . The viewers deal in Hotch ’s pain in the ass and choler in “ 100 , ” which was combine with the embossment that Jack was fine . Foyet and Haley ’s dying continue to haunt Hotch and the squad , with the characters even seem in visions .
There are Criminal Minds episodes that are both reasonably straight written matter of substantial killers as well as episodes using real - aliveness case as a quotation .
1“Mosley Lane”
Season 5, Episode 16
Criminal Mindsoften relies on great performances from guest stars to help keep each installment refreshful and interesting . This was the typesetter’s case withEvan Peters inCriminal Mindsseason 5 , episode 16 , “ Mosley Lane , ” and his mother , played by Ann Cusack . Cusack ’s character Sarah Hillridge refused to give up on retrieve her boy , Charlie ( Peters ) , who had been abduct geezerhood before . Though officer usually dismissed Sarah , the BAU team took her claims seriously . In doing so , they saved multiple kidnapped kids .
A twelvemonth after appearing onCriminal Minds , Evan Peters had his breakthrough idiot box performance inAmerican Horror Story : Murder House .
The Roycewoods rename the kids , altered their appearances , and shout them . When they reached a certain age , they ’d burn them to death in a crematorium . Charlie was an exclusion , as they used him to nobble more child . “ Mosley Lane ” had a bittersweet ending , as while Charlie and others were rescued in a heartwarming scene , another older son name Stephen was kill just before the BAU establish them . When Stephen ’s father realized how skinny he ’d been to reunify with his Logos , he say the heartrending telephone circuit , “ He was alive yesterday?”This moment secure “ Mosley Lane ” the claim of the bestCriminal Mindsepisode .
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Cast
Criminal Minds follows an elite team of FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit as they analyze the Carry Nation ’s most complex criminal minds , led by experient broker David Rossi . The squad works to anticipate and prevent offence by understanding the behavior of these dangerous individuals .
