Criminal Minds is an American police procedural crime drama television series created and produced by Jeff Davis. It premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005 and concluded on February 19, 2020 after 15 seasons and 324 episodes.
The show follows the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) who use investigative and behavioral profiling techniques to analyze the country’s most dangerous serial killers and criminals and anticipate their next moves before they strike again.
The BAU team is led by Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner and consists of seasoned profilers like David Rossi, Derek Morgan, Spencer Reid, Jennifer Jareau, Penelope Garcia, Emily Prentiss and others. Each member brings their own area of expertise to help solve the crimes.
The show was a ratings success, averaging 15 million viewers per episode in its first six seasons. Criminal Minds developed a loyal fan following over its 15 year run. However, many fans were disappointed that the last season was abruptly cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why was Season 15 shortened?
Criminal Minds was renewed for a 15th and final season of 10 episodes, bringing the total count to 324 episodes. Fans were expecting a full 22-24 episode order to give a proper conclusion to the long running show.
However, production on Season 15 was halted in mid-March 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Only 8 out of the planned 10 episodes were completed before the shutdown. This meant the last season was abruptly cut short, with no proper series finale.
COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lockdowns, social distancing protocols, travel restrictions and health advisories. This made it impossible for cast and crew to safely continue production on the final episodes of Criminal Minds.
The pandemic hit right before episodic television could wrap up their current seasons. Criminal Minds was one of many shows deeply impacted, unable to complete their intended season orders.
No Proper Closure
Fans expecting a memorable send-off for the beloved characters were hugely disappointed. The makeshift finale episode “And in the End” aired on February 19, 2020 and did not deliver the closure viewers hoped for after 15 years.
Many story arcs were left unfinished and there were no nostalgic montages, behind the scenes footage or returning characters that usually accompany a series finale. While showrunner Erica Messer said this episode could serve as a finale, fans felt robbed of a proper goodbye.
Will the Remaining Episodes be Completed?
There has been much speculation among fans if CBS will film the remaining 2 episodes from Season 15’s intended 10 episode order.
Unfortunately, the chances seem very slim due to a number of reasons:
Pandemic Uncertainty
COVID-19 continues to be an issue going into 2022 with new variants, spikes in cases, vaccine mandates and lockdown risks. This makes planning to resume production very difficult. Any filming would likely be delayed again which makes it untenable.
Scheduling Challenges
The cast and crew have moved on to other projects and commitments. Actor Daniel Henney has relocated to another country. It will be very difficult to coordinate their schedules again for filming.
No Network Interest
CBS has not shown interest in reviving Criminal Minds or finishing the last 2 episodes. The network has likely reallocated the budget to new shows. At this point, there is no incentive for CBS to invest further in a concluded series.
| Actor | Current Known Commitments |
|---|---|
| Joe Mantegna | Working on another TV series |
| AJ Cook | Spending time with family |
| Daniel Henney | Moved to the Philippines indefinitely |
What were the Remaining Episodes About?
Showrunner Erica Messer did reveal some tidbits about what the final 2 episodes of Season 15 would have covered:
Episode 9
This episode would have focused on Aisha Tyler’s character Dr. Tara Lewis and her backstory. Dr. Lewis joined the BAU in Season 11 and fans were eager to learn more about her past.
Series Finale Episode 10
Messer said this finale would have included returns and reappearances of many characters that were part of the BAU family over 15 seasons.
Fans speculate Jason Gideon, Elle Greenaway, Ashley Seaver and other former agents would have made cameos to tie up loose ends.
There would have been nods to the pilot episode, bringing everything full circle for long term fans. More personal moments between the team members were also planned.
How Did Fans React?
The abrupt ending left many Criminal Minds fans feeling disappointed and upset. Some of the reactions included:
Anger
Many ranted on social media about the lack of closure after dedicating 15 years to the show. Fans felt cheated out of a proper goodbye and vented their frustration.
Petitions
Diehard fans started online petitions demanding a movie or mini episodes to finish the storylines properly. One Change.org petition has over 67,000 signatures but hasn’t sparked any official response.
Nostalgia
On a more positive note, the early finale made many fans nostalgic. They reminisced fondly about all the memorable unsubs, quotes and moments from the show’s impressive run.
| Character | # of Episodes |
|---|---|
| Dr. Spencer Reid | 324 |
| Penelope Garcia | 257 |
| David Rossi | 246 |
Top 5 Episodes
Here are 5 of the most memorable Criminal Minds episodes as voted on by fans:
1. “The Fisher King Parts 1 and 2” (Season 1)
The first epic finale that kicked off an obsessed serial killer’s sinister game with the BAU team. It had personal consequences for several agents.
2. “100” (Season 5)
The milestone 100th episode that brought back the deadly Reaper in a tense plot with life or death stakes.
3. “Lauren” (Season 6)
The emotional episode where Emily Prentiss is seemingly killed off, leading to a devastating arc for the team.
4. “Zugzwang” (Season 8)
The intense kidnapping of Reid’s love interest Maeve at the hands of her stalker led to heartbreak for fans.
5. “Route 66” (Season 11)
Rossi goes on a road trip with his old friend played by Danny Glover, revisiting emotional memories.
Conclusion
The early ending of Criminal Minds in its 15th season left many fans disappointed at not getting a proper closure for a show they greatly enjoyed over the years.
While hopes for a finale movie or episodes still linger among diehard fans, the chances seem very unlikely due to COVID-19 uncertainties and cast scheduling challenges.
Nonetheless, Criminal Minds had an impressive 15 year run with many memorable episodes, characters and stories. It will be thought of fondly by its dedicated fanbase and viewers that watched the BAU team take down hundreds of unsubs over the years.