Criminal Minds
Content Warning : This article contains references to violence , murder , abuse , shootings , trauma , drug abuse , and miscarriage
Despite being a procedural tv show and focus on the new case every episode , Criminal Mindsstill managed to inclose some bigger storylines , which , in turn , made their lead characters beam and stand out .
However , whileCriminal Mindsis full of unique and dynamic fictitious character , some fan will check that a issue of characters were seen to endure out a lot more in each season . Whether this was because the viewers cause to see their personality more , their backstories , or because the writers search some other privileged conflict , there was always one person who made each season memorable .
Season 1: Jason Gideon
Before give-up the ghost the show due to its violent nature , Mandy Patinkin was a great part of the show and fans loved the character of Gideon at the source .
determine about him and how he create the BAU was interesting and he was sorely missed after , particularly by Spencer who take in Gideon as a Church Father figure .
Season 2: Spencer Reid
Going through a traumatic event seems almost a ritual of passage forCriminal Mindscharacters , but Reid ’s abduction was arguably one of the most interesting storylines in the former show and ( justone of the time he nearly died onCriminal Minds ) .
His struggle with addiction was quite a memorable plot line for fans since they often saw harm plot line usually get traverse aside with little to no aftermath . view his conflict was hard but important .
Season 3: Penelope Garcia
exchangeable to Reid , Garcia was shot in one ofthe scariest episodes ofCriminal Minds , decease through a severe trauma that left her and her coworkers reel .
But the shooting itself was n’t the only unsound affair , it was the attack on Garcia ’s self - confidence that was more heartbreaking to watch over , as she stressed about trusting someone and believing he was into her .
Season 4: Emily Prentiss
time of year 4 was the first one that centre more on Emily , who already became a fan - favorite character . Earlier in the show , she ’s was involve in one of the more cryptical and serious storyline , which involve her and Reid going secret in a rage and strike a severe drubbing to economise Reid ’s life ( something which affected the Bureau greatly ) .
subsequently in the season , the viewer also show her struggling after another case unveil one of the dupe is her childhood ally . Since the fans did n’t know much about Emily , it was quite interesting to see how the writers decided to develop her character and show how much she had become a valued member of the team .
Season 5: Aaron Hotchner
Season 5 was among the hardest to watch because the fans could severalize how the cat - and - black eye game between Hotch and the Reaper ( who was arguablythe most memorableCriminal Mindsunsub ) , would end .
The grievous terminal episode of the season was the climax of all the episodes , and it resulted in Hotch drop off his married woman to a in series killer . The guilt he had to get by with for not being tight enough to save her became lowly because he was left with the task of upraise their boy and struggled with juggling his family and work aliveness .
Season 6: Emily Prentiss
Emily certainly had the primary storyline of time of year 6 , revolving around her past identity of Lauren Reynolds and her connecter to Ian Doyle ( one of the show ’s independent serial killers ) . Her actions from the yesteryear terminate up haunting her for most of the time of year , and the disgraceful plot finish with Emily dying ( or so everyone intend ) .
It was definitely a storyline that shone more luminousness on who Emily was as a person and what made her into who she was . It was both interesting and heartrending to watch .
Season 7: Jennifer Jareau
This season set off by highlight the broken trust between JJ and Spencer , since he was deeply hurt and angry that she lied to him about Emily being awake .
But one of the highlighting JJ had in this time of year was in episodes " Hit " and " Run , " where following a serial of unfortunate events , her partner Will is taken hostage , and JJ is forced to fight back her son in a fight with one of the unsubs . By the oddment of the installment , Will gets saved and they get hook up with in a heartwarming view let in most of the BAU dearie .
Season 8: Spencer Reid
Season 8 introduced a lady friend for Reid for the first meter . Despite her circumscribed screentime , Maeve is ostensibly someone who truly understands and appreciates him and it made fans happy for Spencer .
That was of course until she got murdered by her stalker and Reid was left reel from the traumatic events . It was heavily implied that he never in truth recovered , as he is learn conversing with Maeve year after her death in season 15 .
Season 9: Jennifer Jareau
This season delved more into the clock time JJ spent working for the Pentagon . Her life seems to be in jeopardy because of it , and she is kidnap by a former fellow worker who wants to get protection codes for an operation she was a part of ( although Hotch and Prentiss arrive just in time to save her life ) .
later on , fans learn more about the nature of her work for the State Department and see the writers explore her personal spirit more after they notice she , sadly , had a spontaneous abortion when she was caught in an explosion . While this arc is heartbreaking and difficult to watch , many critics praised Cook for delivering an amazing performance , with the next season exploring her grief and the aftermath of the tragedy in more depth .
Season 10: Kate Callahan
Despite Kate just joining the team , the writers did a respectable job developing her theatrical role in the first time of year as they obtain to know her backstory and see what she was like in the subject field .
Although Love Hewitt and the writers receive some praise for how they portrayed Kate ’s grief ( after the loss of her sister ) and how she was clamber to raise her niece , it was her overall season bow that grab the viewer ' attention the most ( as it admonish fan about the dangers that lurk online ) .
Season 11: Derek Morgan
When Shemar Moore decided to leave the show after 11 season , the writers decide they want to honor his character with an expiration that was suitable of his character development .
In an arc that shoot Derek through processing his past trauma all the way to decide that he require to focus on his family , it ’s a lovely tribute and a way for fans to get some closure . Of of course , the show was never the same after lose Derek , but the fan enjoy knowing he was happy and living his biography .
Season 12: Spencer Reid
This was a hard season to watch . After being do drugs and ready up with a execution , Reid ends up in jail , with the team sputter to shew his artlessness .
As Reid fears for his life story in prison house , he also realizes there is more going on when he recognize the unexampled nursemaid take by his female parent . It conduce to the team realizing that Reid has been set up by Cat Adams . Luckily , Reid is clear of all bearing , and Cat arrested , but watching him struggle with life in prison and having to foil some lines was devastating for fans .
Season 13: Penelope Garcia
This was a season that focused on Penelope , who deal with resurfacing hurt over being dash in early seasons . She is later on shown skin when her brother asks her to testify against the intoxicated number one wood that killed their parents when he ’s up for parole . She gives a speech that allows the gadget driver to get parole which put a heavy line on her relationship with her brother .
As if that were n’t enough , she is held at point and kidnapped by the members of The Believers cult . The storyline continues into the first episode of season 14 , where Penelope manages to escape and get help , still traumatizing her in the process .
Season 14: David Rossi
Every penis of the team has had a case that got too personal , and Lynch was that case for Rossi . He is by and by almost kill by Lynch and spends most of the time of year trying to catch him and retrieve from his near - death experience . This storyline also continues in season 15 .
On a more positive musical note , he ’s shown rekindle his family relationship with his ex - married woman Krystall and even catch prosecute , subsequently espouse her as he is reminded liveliness is too short .
Season 15: Spencer Reid
As Reid finally catch occlusion from JJ , and even encounter a girl he really like , it turns out Cat Adams was n’t done with Reid yet and makes a final attempt to ruin his life .
NEXT:15 Best Criminal Minds Quotes That We ’ll Always call back
