Best criminal minds episodes

By Amber Dowling. And they witnessed beloved actors transform into unrecognizable killers in water-cooler-worthy, guest-starring roles. Behind the scenes, there was plenty of drama to keep track of as well thanks to actor exits and returns.

Police procedural shows are among the most popular TV productions in recent years. Although not all of these shows manage to attract the audience, there have been a few that became highly acclaimed and earned their place among the most popular series ever. Criminal Minds is, undeniably, one of these productions. Over the course of its many seasons, it has grown into one of the most popular shows among traditional television viewers and streaming audiences alike. This CBS series created by Jeff Davis premiered in , introducing the criminal profilers of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit BAU , who spend their days dealing with the country's most dangerous criminals while also trying to cope with their own personal lives. Cook and Kirsten Vangsness formed the original cast of Criminal Minds , which throughout the years underwent a few departures and new additions.

Best criminal minds episodes

Criminal Minds is not a show for the faint of heart. You've got to be mentally and emotionally prepared to tackle on an episode, and depending the content of said episode, you may be a little spooked before going to bed in the evening. Since it's premiere in , Criminal Minds has been one of the most popular crime shows of the 21st century spanning 16 seasons as of this writing, and over episodes. A ratings hit during its duration on CBS, the show follows a group of criminal profilers working for the FBI to investigate crimes. Considering most shows especially in today's climate are fortunate if they can see five seasons, the original Criminal Minds was able to last a total of 15 seasons due to its high ratings and popularity. Through those seasons we saw a variety of cast lineups that included the departure of first team leader Mandy Patinkin at the beginning of the third season, and has included a number of other actors like Lola Glaudini, Shemar Moore, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Aisha Tyler. With a new season and new show in the works, we've put together a ranked list of 22 best Criminal Minds episodes that are a must-watch and re-watch. It's a race against time in the episode "Seven Seconds" as a little girl is abducted in a local mall in Woolbridge, Virginia. The young girl is believed to have been taken by a serial killer on the loose, and is thought to be his second victim. With the first victim dying within an hour of abduction, the BAU quickly locks down the mall, and the investigation begins to center around members of the child's family.

But "The Good Earth" manages to strike the balance, making Emma feel somewhat plausible while still reveling in the utter grotesquery on display.

Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission. One thing was clear when Criminal Minds premiered in The show was horrific. The CBS series was the most psychologically gruesome of its early-to-mid-aughts procedural counterparts, at times even surpassing SVU in the kinds of disturbing crimes it featured. Each week introduced a fresh serial killer and an alarmingly creative new way for humans to hurt each other. The grim nature of the show did not go unnoticed, including by cast members, and the series was characterized by several major actor shake-ups. But the show, defined not by its terrifying look into the criminal psyche but instead by the found-family aspect of the series, managed to endure and gain a devoted following. Throughout the seasons, the agents of the BAU went from being colleagues to dear friends to de facto family members, carving out a closeness in the day-to-day tragedies they endured.

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. As we enjoy the golden age of television, there's really no genre that has thrived quite like the crime procedural. From true-crime TV shows to British crime dramas , the genre is unmatched in popularity and longevity. A good crime procedural can be scary, funny, nightmare-inducing, horny, and, most of all, completely addictive. This show will have you hooked thanks to its terrifying UnSubs that's "unknown subject," for those of you not in the know , heart-pounding action, and endearing cast, all of which are on display in the absolute best Criminal Minds episodes. Tara Lewis Aisha Tyler , and more. You also need a very threatening UnSub usually a serial killer and a ticking clock a rush to save an innocent life, perhaps, or to clear someone's name. To help you navigate the many seasons, I narrowed episodes down to the 24 best Criminal Minds episodes of all time, ranked from most to least anxiety-inducing. Full disclosure: if you're not obsessed with Penelope and Derek's loving and flirty friendship, then "Exit Wounds" might not rank among your favorite Criminal Minds episodes. That said, if you, like me, believe that this relationship is the emotional heart of the BAU, then you'll also be a fan of this episode that brings Penelope out into the field, causing her to question her place on the team.

Best criminal minds episodes

Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission. One thing was clear when Criminal Minds premiered in The show was horrific. The CBS series was the most psychologically gruesome of its early-to-mid-aughts procedural counterparts, at times even surpassing SVU in the kinds of disturbing crimes it featured. Each week introduced a fresh serial killer and an alarmingly creative new way for humans to hurt each other. The grim nature of the show did not go unnoticed, including by cast members, and the series was characterized by several major actor shake-ups. But the show, defined not by its terrifying look into the criminal psyche but instead by the found-family aspect of the series, managed to endure and gain a devoted following. Throughout the seasons, the agents of the BAU went from being colleagues to dear friends to de facto family members, carving out a closeness in the day-to-day tragedies they endured.

Synonym for the word relentless

The BAU co-work with the U. Another brilliant Season 1 episode that captures the feel of the early days. The high-stakes nature of the episode leaves little room to acknowledge or even notice the lack of Gideon and served as proof the show would be just fine without him. Elle's fate is unknown, and the unsub continues dropping clues as the team scrambles to identify him before another tragedy occurs. Episode: All That Remains. Besides Will, Reid is standing vigil at the hospital, he who is angry at himself for not realizing sooner that JJ was in trouble. Even the soundtrack, consisting of omnipresent ambient cues and the occasional needle drop, is similar to what one would find on NCIS. While the group was still technically a team, they worked cases separately, consulting with one another through phone calls, and budget constraints are in full force, limiting the scope of their investigations. Police procedural shows are among the most popular TV productions in recent years. Reid heads down to the local Vegas precinct to obtain the file on the murder of Riley Jenkins, and through his investigations realizes that he lived close to the Jenkins' family as a kid, and winds up suspecting his estranged father of being the one to have killed her. The Reaper C. However, things were anything but celebratory when local police accused him of murdering three boys, forcing the BAU to find the real murderer in order to exonerate their colleague of the crime. It's a race against the clock in "Amplification," when the BAU goes up against an UnSub who targets his victims using a new strain of anthrax that, of course, has no known antidote. A greatly sadistic serial killer who disembowels women and forces them to clean it up before killing them proves difficult to catch thanks to his social charm and simple, yet clever, disguises.

TV 42 min Crime, Drama, Mystery.

Gubler's episodes are famously some of the most intense of the bunch, having previously directed "Mosley Lane" and "The Lesson," with "Mr. With the first victim dying within an hour of abduction, the BAU quickly locks down the mall, and the investigation begins to center around members of the child's family. He was a main character, after all, and as likable as the rest of the BAU could be, he was easily the most compelling. The BAU goes to St. Horror fans will delight in this twisted episode directed by Matthew Gray Gubler himself. But Rossi's obsession brings the BAU closer to the truth than they've ever been. While the group was still technically a team, they worked cases separately, consulting with one another through phone calls, and budget constraints are in full force, limiting the scope of their investigations. Episode: Lauren. The team works to clear Hotch's name after he's arrested by the DOJ for conspiracy. As the city is on high alert, the team begins to believe that they have made a mistake with the profile and that everything the terrorists have done so far may in fact just have been diversion for something even bigger. Reid is also torn in two different directions emotionally as he is called by the facility where he recently moved his mother, they wanting him to come right away. In part two of the season finale, the BAU races to understand the ultimate goal and core dynamic of the remaining Face Cards and their design in keeping Will captive and alive. This episode is the beginning of the fascinating dynamic between the characters.