Over the course of its 15 seasons, Criminal Minds produced some incredible cases, and some which didn’t reach the same heights. The show follows the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, or BAU, as they travel all over the United States profiling and capturing serial killers and other criminals. In many ways, Criminal Minds is a fairly standard procedural drama, but the show’s complex understanding of criminal pathology makes for a fascinating investigation into the psychology of crime.
Criminal Minds went through a lot of cast changes over the years, so its only natural that the seasons should fluctuate in quality. Main characters would come and go relatively often, and the show is at its best when the team at the BAU has some time to gel. Aside from the issues with the cast, the show’s quality is also impacted by the caliber of villains that show up each week, and the guest stars who play them. There’s a huge difference between the best and worst seasons of Criminal Minds, but when everything falls into place, it can produce some riveting cases.
15 Season 10
A lack of chemistry
Season 10 marked a transition for the cast of Criminal Minds, as Jennifer Love Hewitt’s character, Agent Kate Callahan, joins the team. Callahan replaces the departing Alex Blake, who remains a fan-favorite character. This iteration of the team doesn’t gel as well as earlier seasons, and the show lacks its usual emotional impact as a result. Season 10 focuses a little more on the personal relationships of characters like Hodge and Beth, but these stories don’t have as much depth, and they are mostly a distraction from the BAU.
14 Season 14
More misses than hits
Season 14 features the show’s 300th episode, which calls back to Benjamin Cyrus’ cult from season 4. There are a few other high points, but season 14 spends too much time looking into the show’s past, and not enough time developing new and interesting story lines. The most controversial plot point of season 14 is JJ’s confession of her love for Spencer. This comes completely out of the blue, and it goes against the nature of their relationship. The fact that season 15 ignores their unlikely love affair shows how poorly received it was.
13 Season 12
An underwhelming send-off for Hotch
Thomas Gibson, the actor who plays Hotch, was fired after an altercation with a writer, so perhaps it’s not surprising that he was given a forgettable send-off. Hotch and his son are forced into witness prosecution to escape the serial killer known as Mr. Scratch. The silver lining provided by Hotch’s exit is Prentiss’ return as chief of the BAU, and there are some great episodes in an uneven season. One highlight is episode 15 “Alpha Male”, one of the best Criminal Minds episodes based on real cases.
12 Season 13
More cast changes
Following the cancelation of the spinoff Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, actor Daniel Henney brought his character Matthew Simmons to the BAU. Morgan also rejoins the team, albeit just for one episode, and there are some glimpses of Criminal Mind‘s fantastic potential. Unfortunately, these moments are few and far between. The constant upheaval of the show’s cast in its later years doesn’t allow the team to find a good rhythm, but Criminal Minds is still capable of producing some great cases.
11 Season 11
An uneven season
Aisha Tyler comes in to replace the outgoing Jennifer Love Hewitt, and she makes a charming addition to the cast. The “Dirty Dozen” arc, which runs throughout season 11, is a thrilling case, and it set up a memorable send-off for Morgan. Season 11 also features two of the best guest appearances in Criminal Minds, with Aubrey Plaza and Danny Glover each appearing in brilliant episodes. The highs are high, but season 11 struggles to sustain them for extended periods.
10 Season 6
Spoiled by off-screen trouble
Season 6 was marred by behind-the-scenes drama, as Paget Brewster and A.J. Cook were both fired after season 5. Prentiss’ final showdown with her longtime nemesis Ian Doyle is a season highlight, but it doesn’t make up for the baffling decision to rid the show of two of its best characters. Fans eventually got what they wanted, and both actors were brought back into the fold, but their temporary departures served as an unwanted distraction throughout the entire season.
9 Season 15
A fitting finale
Season 15 provided the best season in years, and it proved to be an appropriate finale for Criminal Minds. Despite its truncated length, season 15 manages to wrap up each character’s arc with care and diligence. Reid and Garcia provide many of the season’s highlights, as they deal with the mental toll of their years of work at the BAU. Despite a marked decline in its later years, the ending of Criminal Minds was a reminder of all the best aspects of the show.
8 Season 9
JJ in the spotlight
Season 9 keeps returning to the mysterious relationship between JJ and the new BAU section chief, Mateo Cruz. Eventually, it’s revealed that the two had previously worked together on a mission to capture Osama bin Laden. It’s a fairly ridiculous premise, but the show manages to sell it fairly well. Season 9 has its ups and downs like any other, although it’s excellent two-part finale, which sees the team tracking down a serial killer known as “The Preacher”, makes up for its shortcomings.
7 Season 8
Self-referential high drama
Linguistics expert Alex Blake’s addition to the team was short-lived, but she still has a great dynamic with Spencer in season 8. Criminal Minds introduces “The Replicator”, a serial killer who mimics the techniques of criminals the BAU had pursued before. It’s a meta twist to the series, but rather than feeling like an uninspired retelling of the greatest hits, the show manages to keep things fresh. The main downside to season 8 is the absence of Emily Prentiss.
6 Season 1
An eye-catching first outing
Criminal Minds doesn’t nail down all of its strongest elements in its first season, but it’s still a remarkably strong debut. Fans will always have a debate between Rossi and Gideon, despite Gideon only appearing in the first two episodes. But he provides something completely different, and his more divisive presence is a constant source of conflict. Season 1 ends on a thrilling cliffhanger, as Elle is shot in her own home. This raised the stakes for the rest of the show, as it showed that nobody was safe.
5 Season 7
The BAU back together
After the turbulence of season 6, Criminal Minds started fresh with the full team working together. Prentiss’ return after faking her death cuts an emotional rift through the team, which is an interesting undercurrent as the team work together throughout the season. As usual, Criminal Minds ends with a brilliant season finale. JJ’s husband Will gets taken hostage in a bank robbery, and the team face a race against the clock to save his life.
4 Season 5
Hotch’s darkest hour
Among a string of gripping cases, season 5 delves further into the personal lives of the team, including a trip to Rossi’s hometown. Season 5 also features one of the best episodes directed by Matthew Gray Gubler, “Mosley Lane”. But the outstanding story of the season by far is Hotch’s confrontation with “The Reaper”. This leads to the most devastating moment in the entirety of Criminal Minds, when the team hears Hotch’s wife being killed over the phone, unable to help.
3 Season 2
No signs of a sophomore slump
Criminal Minds improved on an already strong first season with a remarkable sophomore outing. The show began to hit its stride, and season 2 develops some of the team’s most interesting story lines. Spencer begins to struggle with addiction, and Elle’s traumatic episode at the end of season 1 causes her to shoot an unsub. Season 2 also starts to introduce more graphic and compelling serial killers than the first season, one of the ingredients which is vital to the success of the show.
2 Season 4
A perfect blend of crime and character
Season 4 introduces the Reaper, as well as plenty of other delightfully despicable criminals. Prentiss and Spencer infiltrating a grisly cult provides one highlight, as does Spencer’s relationship with his mother, played by the excellent Jane Lynch. In episode 8, “Masterpiece,” Jason Alexander plays a narcissistic serial killer who sees his crimes as an expression of his genius. He makes for one of the show’s most chilling villains, and “Masterpiece” holds a claim to the title of the best episode of Criminal Minds.
1 Season 3
The BAU in full flow
The 20 episodes of season 3 are packed with so many highlights that it can be difficult to keep track. Rossi joins the BAU, and his arrival solidifies the show’s best line-up. Rossi brings a completely different approach to Gideon. He’s much less dour, and more sociable. With the team all together, season 3 delivers on the premise of the show better than any other. The team use their unique skills to face off against some incredibly compelling killers, and this makes season 3 the ideal introduction to Criminal Minds.
