Andrew Robinson
When news broke earlier this month that CBS’s long-running crime procedural Criminal Minds would return in the 2019-20 TV season for a 10-episode fifteenth (and final) season, fans had mixed emotions. While it was well-received that fans would be blessed with a definitive ending to one of the longest-running crime procedurals in recent memory, it’s also hard to see a beloved show put in the pasture.
Upon coming on the air for the first time in 2005, Criminal Minds was immediately hailed as gritty, intense, and considered to be one of the most violent shows on network television. Mandy Patinkin, the original star of the show, left early in the third season because he believed the show was too violent. (The actor then went on to star in the long-running violent show “Homeland,” but I digress). In fact, it is probably fair to say that Criminal Minds helped usher in an age where network television – including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and the CW – was allowed to get a bit darker; to be a bit more violent. Without Criminal Minds, it’s likely that shows such as The Following, Hannibal, American Crime, How to Get Away With Murder, and The Exorcist, to name a few, would never have seen the light of day on network television. Criminal Minds, then, is a major reason why television looks the way it does today.
There are a few actors that have been with the show since the beginning (or very close to it). Matthew Gray Gubler has portrayed Dr. Spencer Reid for the last 14 years; A.J. Cook has done the same for Jennifer Jareau; Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia; Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss (though she did take a couple seasons off in the middle); and Joe Mantegna as David Rossi (though he joined in season three).
These actors have dedicated over a decade to this show, and have become synonymous with the characters that they portray. As someone who has seen every episode of Criminal Minds, this writer will be sad to see the characters – and the actors that portray them – leave the small screen.
The hard part about producing a crime procedural is that it can get dull after awhile. Maybe the same basic crimes are being committed; the same shoot-outs are happening at the end; etc. While this writer believes that Criminal Minds fell into this trap somewhat often from about season eight until season twelve, it has done something over the past few years that most shows cannot even dream of doing: it has regained much of what made it so original and captivating early on in its run. The past three seasons or so have been vintage Criminal Minds, and no one was more surprised by this development than yours truly. I had considered giving up on Criminal Minds – I had began watching it on Netflix when I was in a bit of a crime procedural phase, but I have found myself watching less and less crime procedurals – especially those on network television – as time has went on.
Instead of giving up on it, though, I kept watching. Why, I don’t really know, but it’s probably fair to say that it was because I had already invested 175+ hours of my life into it, and I wanted to see it through to the end. Now, Criminal Minds is the final network crime procedural remaining that I watch, and I find myself drawn back in often. The storylines feel fresher, and the show feels much more watchable. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a once-tired show.
Best Episodes
Criminal Minds has also featured some incredible episodes.
In chronological order, a few that stick out are “Sex, Birth, and Death” (season 2/episode 11), “Revelations” (S2/ep15), “100” (S5/ep9), my personal favorite “Mosley Lane” (S5/ep16),
“Hope” (S7/ep8), “Zugzwang” (S7/ep12), “Entropy” (S11/ep11), “Red Light” (S12/ep22), and “Believer” (S12/ep22).
These episodes, along with a few others that I failed to include, will be remembered by fans for years to come.
In short, when Criminal Minds ends next year, it’ll be the end of an era.
Enjoy the ride, and never forget the fifteen-year importance – and excellence – of Criminal Minds.
