User reviews

I really have to say I actually miss Criminal Minds more than I thought I would. I watched all 15 seasons and even watch the reruns when they're on. I'm glad that they're bringing it back to Paramount Plus later this year. It's a show that is a little darker than your average crime show on network tv. It follows the B. A. U. (Behavioral Analyst Unit) as they hunt the country's most dangerous serial killers and rapists by anticipating where and what they'll do next. Any show that lasts 15 seasons has to be pretty good. If you love crime shows and don't mind a darker and gruesome tone then give this show a try.

This is one of my favorite shows, EXCEPT that nearly every scene is filmed so darkly it's almost impossible to watch anymore. I was watching season 17 episodes 4 and 5 this afternoon. The scene in the jail, the scenes in the BAU offices, are all extremely dark. Here they are in the BAU office but there are no overhead lights on. Penelope is working at her computer in a dark room. It's gotten to where it's just ridiculous how dark all the scenes are. Nobody works in any kind of business where everything is constantly unlit. I understand if you're outside at night it's dark out, but not in an office building. Buildings have lights turn them on and film things so that we can actually see who the damn people are. If the cost to turn lights on is so prohibitive then maybe you shouldn't be making this show.

Criminal Minds is about an elite squad of FBI profilers that investigate the country's most twisted cases and killers. They try to analyze how to get a step ahead of these killers to catch them before they kill more. This series was so good that it went 15 seasons. After only a short time after they ended the show they brought it back on Paramount Plus because so many people missed it. They're now on Season 17 and these last two seasons on Paramount Plus haven't missed a beat. They're actually allowed to get away with more because they don't have to worry about network tv restrictions such as language or being too violent. The characters are all very well written and developed throughout the show. The writers have also done a good job at keeping the show fresh and that's not an easy job after 17 seasons. It's already been renewed for Season 18 and I'll be there as long as they keep it going.

Truly a great series worthy of praise. Many may say that this is a 'rip-off' of CSI but I've watched CSI and it caught me on for a bit, but after a while it just seemed to closed. Where CSI guides you through the story and gives a picture perfect ending and how you're supposed to perceive it, Criminal Minds lets you explore and judge for yourself. It doesn't preach too much and the stories are engaging and suspenseful! Excellent writing and great performances from the stars. It may begin cliché, but if you stay long enough it is a rewarding and entertaining view, and I don't feel it's going to let down any time soon. Give it a chance, or just watch episode 7 'The Fox'. It shows the best writing and acting in the show so far, in my opinion. Diving into minds of lunatics and psychopaths has never been more entertaining! Fantastic!

(2 episodes in) This review is subject to change over the course of this season. As someone who just couldn't finish those final seasons of criminal minds since the quality took a bit of a downturn, trust me when I say this has been as good as the trailer hyped it up to be. Will it be anything special? That remains to be seen, but so far there is a solid foundation and it's a breath of fresh air for the BAU.

Something about this just seems fresh. The more realistic tone, the lighting, and the ACTING is great as always. This has a lot of promise, really hope it sticks the landing.

Solid 8 for now.

This is such a good show.

It really gets into the psychology of the criminals and the good guys are real and flawed and believable. Yes is does have some moments that are not that great but overall it is so good. Parts are quite disturbing. It's not the occasional gore that is disturbing. It's the fact that humans can occasionally be like this. If you've watched Mindhunters you'll understand, and like this. There are individual stories, and some sort arcs that last for many episodes, and some story arcs that span many series. So I'd recommend you watch it from the start. And ignore the fact that tech etc has changed today from series 1. Like NCIS, you get into the stories.

The characters have changed over time - from the BAU. But Rossi is back! And so is Garcia. These are characters that have been with us for a long time. And once you watch it you'll be happy like me that the BAU jet is back!

C'mon Season 17. Sooooo glad it's still going on. Can't wait to start watching it......TODAY!!

Criminal Minds evolution has evolved into a dirtier, grittier, creepier thriller. If you have not Watched this how in awhile you should get back to it.

The First season follows a Myriad of murders that all seem connected but all have different killers. The action is fast paced as the BAU rushes to find who is behind the killings all the while trying to deal with bureaucratic red tape.

All of the returning cast are dealing with their personal issues as they race the clock to find who is behind the killing and how the conspiracy is tied to the government.

This show is better than ever. The second season is off to a great start. I encourage everyone to give it another chance.

First of all, at first I thought it was going to be a "Next Generation" kind of season. Then I thought it was going to be like how it was with each episode being a separate case.. but it was so much more than that!! I really love how they switched things up and gave the BAU a case to really sit and dwell on for a whole season. What makes it even better was that although they were focused on one suspect there were still many cases being solved in between adding variety and multiple focuses. I didn't give it 10 stars only because I was hoping and wishing they would have been able to get back a little bit more of the original BAU heavy hitters like Reid.

Criminal Minds started out really well. A little bit of psychological and sociological background being introduced to the general public to get a grasp on criminal profiling. The episodes were entertaining, the characters relatable yet realistically flawed. However from season 6 on, this series just spiraled downward. The cases lost the grip they had had on the audience, became dull and left you cold. In an attempt to make up for unimaginative cases and the routine that had set it when watching the team profile, gore and violence was increased and to even it out cheesy background plots for the characters were added. Sometimes it's just better to quit while you're ahead.

So I've been watching this show ever since it's beginnings and all I can say is that I'm sick of it... 5 seasons would have been enough. But since I have a mild OCD that urges me to see things to an end, I can't stop watching.

Joke aside... this has become a painful to watch show. It has nothing interesting anymore, it just repeats the same formula over and over for the sake of ratings and/or money. Next to no story whatsoever, just episodes almost without any connection. Just pick an episode and watch, you're not missing anything. Writers out of ideas? Or perhaps due to lack of ideas, they're trying to turn some watchers into sources of inspiration?

But I digress...

The thing I find annoying is that although it has an interesting intrigue (actually 2 now) it isn't properly followed through, leaving the viewer wanting more, but all he/she gets is yet another stupid episode on a random subject.

I'm going to leave out all the abundant plot holes and bloopers because hey, it's a movie, it's fiction, it's not supposed to be perfect but what they're doing with the "story" is just ridiculous.

I really hope this show ends soon.

This used to be great series. These days, terribly boring. Poor script, over acting. The new characters are boring. I don't even remember their names. Penelope Garcia has been made an annoying freak. Why are you trying to remake the chemistry of Derek Morgan/Penelope Garcia to Garcia and this CSI geek? The new "beyond borders" agent talks only about his children. Why did this series have to be ruined? The last 5 seasons have been so forced. Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore were too big losses for the series. Good thing this ended, though 5 seasons too late. And in the end all the agents are smart like Reed. JJ is even a sharpshooter (she was an FBI liaison)

I loved this series.

But, it started a nosedive crash into boredom and sloppiness with the introduction of new actors in place of Thomas Gibson and Matthew Gray Gubler.

The new characters are dull, drab, hamming their roles and do not fit with the group nicely.

The run-time of the episodes also dropped and they wander off into the personal lives of the characters.

Is it just me who feeling the show is going downhill or other fans too?

I hope they will come back to bring the show to its former status.

I was a hardcore fan for 11 seasons. I've seen every episode, but this last season is absolutely the s'worst. I don't know if they got new writers, or the writers are just totally out of touch with the fanbase, but it has become ridiculous and soap-like. The Reid-line has taken forever, and it's really painful to watch. I think, I'll drop the show, and maybe pick it up again later, when they maybe get it back to it's former standards. But I fear, that this is it for Criminal Minds. With the downfall, I'm not sure it will survive for a 13th season.

The first 15 seasons were my dessert, although I saw the series after it appeared and the 16th season I can say that they did well to bring it back.

Only that now in the 16th season everything is changed, filming, frames, music, dialogue, everything seems to make me vomit, I know maybe it is to dramatic to say this but it seems that they tried to make a movie, not a series as it was, I'm super disappointed with them, please bring screenwriters, directors and what else is needed to make the series back to the way it was.

For the 15 seasons, I just want to say that I thank you and appreciate what you have done.

I love this show when it first aired and I love it now. I have watched and rewatched a few times. The reboot is great as well, but definitely need to cut back on the needless curse words! It brings nothing to the show. Would love to see Shemar and Matthew come back! I like that we've been able to see the characters and their families grow. The reboot was a different take as they chased this particular unsub for the whole season as opposed to catching a different one each episode. It made it that you couldn't miss an episode. Hey, not complaining about that... 😀 I'm looking forward to the next season and can't wait!

One of the best castings in any series.

Unfortunately the subject matter is... heavy, and reflects on some of the actors (Mandy most notably), as it should, but you'll never see better characters written and acted as Penelope and Derek; the chemistry is beautiful and Garcia is the little light in the darkness who always has problems coping with the violence; as one should.

Only downsides are the "personal" stories of every team member that suddenly involve a serial killer hunting/related/dating etc. One of them.

Writing is great as is the directing (unusual shots depending on the derangement of the killer of the day).

Storytelling and pacing on the episodes is fantastic but repetitive (after 10+ years) If you can handle the, unfortunately realistic, violence this is one of the best shows out there.

Off to a good start, but as I recall the Original started off great and was unlike any show on television at the time. Let's just hope that the writers maintain quality story lines and not too far fetched themes. With so much television on both television networks and streaming platforms it's hard to pick and choose which ones will turn out to be good quality shows and which will be trash and end after just one season. Seasoned shows like the Original Law and Order and CSI Las Vegas are decent but not as good as the Original's. But so far Criminal Minds Evolution seems to be just as good as the Original. Only time will tell.

Either way - watch the whole show. It's still good TV. Seasons 1-7 are incredibly good, with interesting cases and heartfelt character driven episodes. The problem came with actors having contract issues or getting kicked off the show entirely. The writing is still really solid but it gets too messy in the later seasons.

Love the series but this new "Evolution" reboot has already used up way too many inappropriate F-bombs and MFs and Shi& words to the extreme! The writing is great; the cast is great; so whoever decided to put the viewing audience through the constant shock has forgotten "if it's not broke don't fix it" and also has not considered how difficult it can be to watch the new episodes under a new "Advisory Warning"! Thanks for nothing!

If I can give them any advice it would be to cut back in the blatant cuss word dropping and carry on with the successful recipe that has worked and that they've used now for so long!

Watched the show from the second episode of season 1 through the last episode of season 15 and i can tell you that about 60% of the story arks are just redone versions of past seasons. The characters seem to get shot , stabbed , kidnapped or have some other avoidable things happen to them every other season or even a couple of times a season. Then you have the problems with Thomas Gibson , and Shemar Moore leaving the show along with A. J. cook and Paget Brewster leaving the show for a season or two but then coming back meanwhile the cast that is still there is little more than a barely functioning mess (reid specifically both times) and then the character that left has now come back just in time to save the day. Its this same kind of thing pretty much the entirety of the show past season 5 and it just keeps going on and on. Not to mention the problems with new characters not being even remotely good and then being cut out abruptly to save the shows ratings. Eventually the show will get boring enough that not even a new character being introduced or a good character being killed off will make it interesting anymore. Finally after 15 seasons.and 324 episodes they have decided to end the show with a pretty good finale. Overall , i wouldn't recommend watching the show past season 12 (and the first episode of season 13 so you know what happens) as that when the good show really ends and the bad show starts to become more prevalent.

The profilers, out of thin air, magically know the age sex and past of way too many of the people they're chasing. Profiling is one thing but this gets way overboard. And the conclusion always has a hostage with a gun or knife to their neck. Plus how many times do we need to hear someone call out in a dark building "hello is anyone there" or say they're calling the police and turn their back so they can get hit. Instead of good scripts the writers take too many liberties and too often the easy way out.

Hotchner is the legal mind, and the one to keep everything together. The show now suffers without him. "Wheels up in 30," just doesn't sound the same coming from others. Don't get me wrong, I like the other characters, but Hotch was the glue. Egos need to let it go and do what is right not what you can do to throw the playground tantrum to get what you want. No respect for people with money using that as a means of getting their way...childish!!! Hotch started on this show and his character was the most interesting. He needs to be back on the show or I feel the show is going to reach a slow demise.