Criminal Minds

About Criminal Minds TV Series

Criminal Minds premiered September 22nd 2005 on CBS. This police (sort of) drama follows a team of profilers from BAU – Behavioral Analysis Unit FBI and although they based in Quantico, Virginia, they get to travel anywhere there are series of violent crimes – by their special unit jet and last minute. Seriously, very engaging series with some great characters and the amount of analysis and details and the ideas, twists and turns are second to none and truly making this series one of a kind, remarkable and addictive to follow.

Criminal Minds main characters:

Aaron “Hotch” Hotchner

Aaron “Hotch” Hotchner – The Unit Chief & Senior Supervisory Special Agent (SSSA), played by handsome Thomas Gibson, who throughout the series shows incredible resilience and is always true to what’s right as well as when going through unimaginable tragedy of his wife’s incoming murder while on the phone to her, dealing with single parenthood and continued pressure from director Erin Strauss played by Jayne Atkinson always shows great strenght of character.

Jason Gideon

Jason Gideon – Second Senior Supervisory Special Agent (SSSA) in Season 1 and Season 2  played by Mandy Patinkin who is well known and one of the bests profilers, unfortunately after series of emotional cases as well as murder of his friend Sarah he feels burned out and decides that it is time to leave.

David Rossi

David Rossi – Second Senior Supervisory Special Agent (SSSA) from Season 3 to current, portrayed by Joe Mantegna who being one of the original profilers after taking earlier retirement to write books and lecture seminars decides to come back to BAU.

Derek Morgan

Derek Morgan – Supervisory Special Agent & Tactical Trainer, played by sexy Shemar Moore who after troubled youth and being raised by single mom with two sisters joins Chicago Police bomb squad then moves to BAU.

Emily Prentiss

Emily Prentiss – Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) played by Paget Brewster, replacing SSA Elle Greenaway after Season 2. Prentiss is a daughter of an ambasador who after travelling the world with her mother learned many languages and different cultures which are very useful in her current job. It is said that Paget Brewster has decided to finally leave Criminal Minds for good after the Season 7 end.

Dr. Spencer Reid

Dr. Spencer Reid – Supervisory Special Agent played by Matthew Gray Gubler. He is the youngest BAU member. He is a genius who graduated from a Las Vegas public high school at age 12, and holds PhDs in Mathematics, Chemistry and Engineering, as well as BAs in Psychology and Sociology and from Season 4, is working on a BA in Philosophy. He has an IQ of 187, can read 20,000 words per minute, and has an eidetic memory. He is often an object of little jokes played by his team mates picking on his lack of social skills. His mother suffers from schizophrenia and had to be committed to a mental facility. Reid is also the godfather of fellow Supevisory Special Agent Jennifer Jareau’s son Henry. Matthew Gray Gubler stated Reid has mild autism, Asperger’s Syndrome.

Jennifer “JJ” Jareau

Jennifer “JJ” Jareau – Supervisory Special Agent & Communications Liaison played by A.J.Cook – Andrea Joy Cook-Andersen. She portrays more personable approach to distressed families as she is a young mother of son Henry that she has with long time boyfriend, New Orleans police officer William LaMontagne. Together with Prentiss (tall brunette), JJ (pettit blonde) often uses her “charms” to help solve cases or intimidate suspects.

Penelope Garcia

Penelope Garcia – Technical Analyst & Communication Liaison played by Kirsten Vangsness. She joined BAU after illegally accessing some of their equipment and was offered a job in lieu of jail sentence. Very colorful and excentric character with unmatching technical skills usually supporting team from her multiple screens office in Quantico but ocasionally joining BAU in the field. Although finds herself also technical boyfriend enjoyes special platonic love relationship with SSA Morgan which leads to many raised eyebrows while often heard by bystanders.

Elle Greenaway

Elle Greenaway – Supervisory Special Agent played by Lola Glaudini. SSA Greenaway appears only in Season 1 And part of Season 2. Redhead specialist in sexual offence crimes, suffers extreme emotional trauma after being shot by an unsub (unidentified subject) as they call offenders before they catch them. After shooting an unsub with cold blood deeming self-defence resings before Hotchner and Gideon can make her fficially unfit for duty as a profiler.

Ashley Seaver

Ashley Seaver – FBI Cadet & Probationary Agent played by Rachel Nichols. Brought to the BAU to work on one off case because of her unique family ties – her father was serial killer. Stayed for a while shadowing Prentiss while training. If you liked this beautiful actress you may wish to follow her in her new series where she plays leading role – Continuum

What makes Criminal Minds different from other procedural criminal dramas is that the characters concentrate on the criminals themselves rather than the crime committed. Definitely great to watch and will keep the viewer glued to their seat screaming at any potential distractions

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Criminal Minds Episodes List