Disturbing TV crime drama still thrills after 15 years

By Erin Hayhurst

Jeff Davis’ Criminal Minds has been a staple crime drama on CBS for the past fifteen years and while the last episode aired in February of 2020, streaming services allow viewers to continue to binge watch all of the intriguing and exciting episodes. 

Criminal Minds follows a team of FBI agents who work in the Behavioral Analysis Unit, using psychological profiling to catch criminals ranging from kidnapping to arson. Their specialty, however, is catching serial killers. 

While this grizzly plot keeps audiences on their toes, it’s the characters that many watchers connect with. From the perky Penelope Garcia, portrayed by Kirsten Vangness, to the bold Derek Morgan, portrayed by Shemar Moore, fans have watched the characters grow and develop as a team. One fan favorite includes Dr. Spencer Reid, played by Matthew Grey Gubler. As one of the few cast members who stayed on for all 15 years, fans have really connected with this quirky and brainy agent for the entirety of the show’s running. 

With 15 seasons of brutal crime scenes and troubled characters, Criminal Minds has definitely made a name for itself in the crime drama genre. It has certainly become my favorite since I started watching. 

Audiences can find the first 12 seasons on Netflix and seasons 13 through 15 on Hulu so even though the series has ended the BAU team lives on, always reminding us to lock our doors and never walk alone at night.