Criminal Minds poster
8.6/10 (4641 votes)
#1

Riding the Lightning

S1:E14

After interviewing a couple on death row for serial murders, Gideon suspects that the woman is actually innocent. But since she's set to be executed in two days, it's a race against time to prove it.

kingbesideyou Jul 8, 2016

"What we do for ourselves dies with us, what we do for others and the world remains and is immortal....

8.5/10 (3439 votes)
#2

The Fisher King (1)

S1:E22

While on their vacations, each of the team receives a clue from a psychopathic killer challenging them to save his next victim.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 22, 2024

"Pretty boy" damn right, Derek. It was a fantastic season finale. It had everything: action, tens...

8.3/10 (3438 votes)
#3

L.D.S.K.

S1:E6

The BAU is asked to identify a killer who is shooting at victims in broad daylight, and the team works with local law enforcement officers to recreate one of the shootings.

thingsarebetter May 21, 2020

Excellent job Reid! Badass 💯

8.2/10 (3678 votes)
#4

Somebody's Watching

S1:E18

Reid finds himself in danger when he falls for a starlet whose stalker has turned into a killer.

danielletmurray Oct 24, 2019

Forever one of my favourite episodes. Ugh, I always wanted Reid and Lila to run into each other agai...

7.9/10 (2802 votes)
#5

The Fox

S1:E7

The BAU profiles a serial killer who takes families hostage and lives with them as a father figure during what is supposed to be their family vacations.

ljanew Jan 7, 2021

This episode was super creepy

7.8/10 (3689 votes)
#6

Extreme Aggressor

S1:E1

After a fourth woman goes missing in as many months, the team is brought in to track down the guy before he kidnaps again. Hotch is asked to secretly evaluate Gideon to see if he is ready to work full time again.

laura_x Sep 8, 2023

Emotional support rewatch was very much needed, so here we are. Funny how a show about criminal prof...

7.8/10 (2891 votes)
#7

Broken Mirror

S1:E5

The BAU investigates the kidnapping of a U.S. District Attorney's daughter and determines the kidnapper isn't seeking money -- he's after her twin sister.

ljeeta Jul 18, 2022

Ughhh this one was a good. The family annoyed me though like you ask for help let them help you. Gid...

7.8/10 (3470 votes)
#8

Derailed

S1:E9

Elle, along with many others, is held hostage on a train in Texas by a paranoid schizophrenic who is convinced that the U.S. government is monitoring him. Hotchner and Gideon are forced to play into the man's fantasy to save the people he has taken hostage.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

This is one of my favorite episodes from the first seasons of Criminal Minds. Everything is stellar,...

7.7/10 (2780 votes)
#9

Plain Sight

S1:E4

The BAU team travels to San Diego to stop a rapist and murderer who commits his crimes in the middle of the day.

Andaniella Jan 25, 2021

Reid is one of the things I live for. Just unbelievably adorable.

7.7/10 (2481 votes)
#10

Unfinished Business

S1:E15

A serial killer reappears after 20 years of silence and contacts the BAU with the promise he will kill another victim in the next five days.

ljeeta Aug 2, 2022

This was so good I was literally on the edge of my seat. Waiting for them to figure it out. Can’t li...

7.6/10 (3107 votes)
#11

Compulsion

S1:E2

The team of investigators tries to capture a serial arsonist who has been terrorizing a college campus.

ljeeta Jul 18, 2022

This unsub was such a wierdo like in the nices way possible. Like how are you burning people cause y...

7.6/10 (3019 votes)
#12

Won't Get Fooled Again

S1:E3

Gideon and his team track down a copycat bomber terrorizing a quiet community.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 3, 2024

I admit, I did *not* remember how much the first episode of Criminal Minds focused on Gideon and his...

7.6/10 (2697 votes)
#13

The Tribe

S1:E16

The BAU team believes a dangerous cult may be responsible for the mass murders of five college students in an empty house.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 16, 2024

"Just so you know, you sound like a fortune cookie." God I love sassy Hotch.

7.6/10 (2467 votes)
#14

A Real Rain

S1:E17

The BAU unit travels to NYC to investigate a series of murders that appears to have been committed by a vigilante conducting revenge on former criminals who have been released by the justice system.

aomsv2 Jul 16, 2021

Elle said in the restaurant "The jury thy said that she was asking for it." TV series released 15 ...

7.6/10 (2396 votes)
#15

Charm and Harm

S1:E20

The BAU works to capture a serial killer who has evaded capture by altering his appearance.

7.6/10 (3075 votes)
#16

Secrets and Lies

S1:E21

The BAU works with the CIA to identify a mole within that organization, whose leaks are putting operatives at risk.

Kaitlynrm04 Jun 6, 2024

I loved this episode solely because it was kinda like a murder mystery type style

7.5/10 (2665 votes)
#17

Natural Born Killer

S1:E8

When an undercover cop in Baltimore involved in a mob investigation goes missing, the BAU believes a serial killer rather than organized crime has something to do with his disappearance. The probe leads to several unsolved missing persons cases.

ljeeta Jul 22, 2022

It was okay but not really interesting. Like I thought it was the head guy at the start but then I d...

7.5/10 (3110 votes)
#18

The Popular Kids

S1:E10

The team investigates the death of one teen, and the disappearance of another , which may be linked to a satanic ritual.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

Honestly, this is one of those cases where the unsub was pretty obvious from the beginning.

7.4/10 (2405 votes)
#19

What Fresh Hell?

S1:E12

When a young girl is abducted in broad daylight from a playground in a seemingly safe neighborhood, the BAU team initially believes her father is responsible. When he is able to provide an alibi, the team is forced to look for clues where the girl lives to determine who is really responsible.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

This episode is interesting for multiple reasons. First, we see a less professional and more impulsi...

7.3/10 (2475 votes)
#20

Poison

S1:E13

The team travels to New Jersey where several people have been poisoned, one of them fatally with LSD, ten times more potent than the street version.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 15, 2024

This is one of those cases I could not watch the opening a second time.

7.2/10 (2605 votes)
#21

Machismo

S1:E19

The BAU team travels to Mexico to aid in the capture of a serial killer who is targeting elderly women.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 16, 2024

This episode is sad because it shows that Hotch doesn't actually know how to balance work and home l...

7.1/10 (3205 votes)
#22

Blood Hungry

S1:E11

While Gideon is stuck at the office on crutches, the rest of the team travels to Tennessee to track down a killer who disembowels his victims and supposedly eats their organs.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

You expect me to believe until this point Gideon didn't know Penelope's name?...

7.1/10 (3205 votes)
#1

Blood Hungry

S1:E11

While Gideon is stuck at the office on crutches, the rest of the team travels to Tennessee to track down a killer who disembowels his victims and supposedly eats their organs.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

You expect me to believe until this point Gideon didn't know Penelope's name?...

7.2/10 (2605 votes)
#2

Machismo

S1:E19

The BAU team travels to Mexico to aid in the capture of a serial killer who is targeting elderly women.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 16, 2024

This episode is sad because it shows that Hotch doesn't actually know how to balance work and home l...

7.3/10 (2475 votes)
#3

Poison

S1:E13

The team travels to New Jersey where several people have been poisoned, one of them fatally with LSD, ten times more potent than the street version.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 15, 2024

This is one of those cases I could not watch the opening a second time.

7.4/10 (2405 votes)
#4

What Fresh Hell?

S1:E12

When a young girl is abducted in broad daylight from a playground in a seemingly safe neighborhood, the BAU team initially believes her father is responsible. When he is able to provide an alibi, the team is forced to look for clues where the girl lives to determine who is really responsible.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

This episode is interesting for multiple reasons. First, we see a less professional and more impulsi...

7.5/10 (2665 votes)
#5

Natural Born Killer

S1:E8

When an undercover cop in Baltimore involved in a mob investigation goes missing, the BAU believes a serial killer rather than organized crime has something to do with his disappearance. The probe leads to several unsolved missing persons cases.

ljeeta Jul 22, 2022

It was okay but not really interesting. Like I thought it was the head guy at the start but then I d...

7.5/10 (3110 votes)
#6

The Popular Kids

S1:E10

The team investigates the death of one teen, and the disappearance of another , which may be linked to a satanic ritual.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

Honestly, this is one of those cases where the unsub was pretty obvious from the beginning.

7.6/10 (3107 votes)
#7

Compulsion

S1:E2

The team of investigators tries to capture a serial arsonist who has been terrorizing a college campus.

ljeeta Jul 18, 2022

This unsub was such a wierdo like in the nices way possible. Like how are you burning people cause y...

7.6/10 (3019 votes)
#8

Won't Get Fooled Again

S1:E3

Gideon and his team track down a copycat bomber terrorizing a quiet community.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 3, 2024

I admit, I did *not* remember how much the first episode of Criminal Minds focused on Gideon and his...

7.6/10 (2697 votes)
#9

The Tribe

S1:E16

The BAU team believes a dangerous cult may be responsible for the mass murders of five college students in an empty house.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 16, 2024

"Just so you know, you sound like a fortune cookie." God I love sassy Hotch.

7.6/10 (2467 votes)
#10

A Real Rain

S1:E17

The BAU unit travels to NYC to investigate a series of murders that appears to have been committed by a vigilante conducting revenge on former criminals who have been released by the justice system.

aomsv2 Jul 16, 2021

Elle said in the restaurant "The jury thy said that she was asking for it." TV series released 15 ...

7.6/10 (2396 votes)
#11

Charm and Harm

S1:E20

The BAU works to capture a serial killer who has evaded capture by altering his appearance.

7.6/10 (3075 votes)
#12

Secrets and Lies

S1:E21

The BAU works with the CIA to identify a mole within that organization, whose leaks are putting operatives at risk.

Kaitlynrm04 Jun 6, 2024

I loved this episode solely because it was kinda like a murder mystery type style

7.7/10 (2780 votes)
#13

Plain Sight

S1:E4

The BAU team travels to San Diego to stop a rapist and murderer who commits his crimes in the middle of the day.

Andaniella Jan 25, 2021

Reid is one of the things I live for. Just unbelievably adorable.

7.7/10 (2481 votes)
#14

Unfinished Business

S1:E15

A serial killer reappears after 20 years of silence and contacts the BAU with the promise he will kill another victim in the next five days.

ljeeta Aug 2, 2022

This was so good I was literally on the edge of my seat. Waiting for them to figure it out. Can’t li...

7.8/10 (3689 votes)
#15

Extreme Aggressor

S1:E1

After a fourth woman goes missing in as many months, the team is brought in to track down the guy before he kidnaps again. Hotch is asked to secretly evaluate Gideon to see if he is ready to work full time again.

laura_x Sep 8, 2023

Emotional support rewatch was very much needed, so here we are. Funny how a show about criminal prof...

7.8/10 (2891 votes)
#16

Broken Mirror

S1:E5

The BAU investigates the kidnapping of a U.S. District Attorney's daughter and determines the kidnapper isn't seeking money -- he's after her twin sister.

ljeeta Jul 18, 2022

Ughhh this one was a good. The family annoyed me though like you ask for help let them help you. Gid...

7.8/10 (3470 votes)
#17

Derailed

S1:E9

Elle, along with many others, is held hostage on a train in Texas by a paranoid schizophrenic who is convinced that the U.S. government is monitoring him. Hotchner and Gideon are forced to play into the man's fantasy to save the people he has taken hostage.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

This is one of my favorite episodes from the first seasons of Criminal Minds. Everything is stellar,...

7.9/10 (2802 votes)
#18

The Fox

S1:E7

The BAU profiles a serial killer who takes families hostage and lives with them as a father figure during what is supposed to be their family vacations.

ljanew Jan 7, 2021

This episode was super creepy

8.2/10 (3678 votes)
#19

Somebody's Watching

S1:E18

Reid finds himself in danger when he falls for a starlet whose stalker has turned into a killer.

danielletmurray Oct 24, 2019

Forever one of my favourite episodes. Ugh, I always wanted Reid and Lila to run into each other agai...

8.3/10 (3438 votes)
#20

L.D.S.K.

S1:E6

The BAU is asked to identify a killer who is shooting at victims in broad daylight, and the team works with local law enforcement officers to recreate one of the shootings.

thingsarebetter May 21, 2020

Excellent job Reid! Badass 💯

8.5/10 (3439 votes)
#21

The Fisher King (1)

S1:E22

While on their vacations, each of the team receives a clue from a psychopathic killer challenging them to save his next victim.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 22, 2024

"Pretty boy" damn right, Derek. It was a fantastic season finale. It had everything: action, tens...

8.6/10 (4641 votes)
#22

Riding the Lightning

S1:E14

After interviewing a couple on death row for serial murders, Gideon suspects that the woman is actually innocent. But since she's set to be executed in two days, it's a race against time to prove it.

kingbesideyou Jul 8, 2016

"What we do for ourselves dies with us, what we do for others and the world remains and is immortal....

7.8/10 (3689 votes)

Extreme Aggressor

S1:E1

After a fourth woman goes missing in as many months, the team is brought in to track down the guy before he kidnaps again. Hotch is asked to secretly evaluate Gideon to see if he is ready to work full time again.

laura_x Sep 8, 2023

Emotional support rewatch was very much needed, so here we are. Funny how a show about criminal prof...

7.6/10 (3107 votes)

Compulsion

S1:E2

The team of investigators tries to capture a serial arsonist who has been terrorizing a college campus.

ljeeta Jul 18, 2022

This unsub was such a wierdo like in the nices way possible. Like how are you burning people cause y...

7.6/10 (3019 votes)

Won't Get Fooled Again

S1:E3

Gideon and his team track down a copycat bomber terrorizing a quiet community.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 3, 2024

I admit, I did *not* remember how much the first episode of Criminal Minds focused on Gideon and his...

7.7/10 (2780 votes)

Plain Sight

S1:E4

The BAU team travels to San Diego to stop a rapist and murderer who commits his crimes in the middle of the day.

Andaniella Jan 25, 2021

Reid is one of the things I live for. Just unbelievably adorable.

7.8/10 (2891 votes)

Broken Mirror

S1:E5

The BAU investigates the kidnapping of a U.S. District Attorney's daughter and determines the kidnapper isn't seeking money -- he's after her twin sister.

ljeeta Jul 18, 2022

Ughhh this one was a good. The family annoyed me though like you ask for help let them help you. Gid...

8.3/10 (3438 votes)

L.D.S.K.

S1:E6

The BAU is asked to identify a killer who is shooting at victims in broad daylight, and the team works with local law enforcement officers to recreate one of the shootings.

thingsarebetter May 21, 2020

Excellent job Reid! Badass 💯

7.9/10 (2802 votes)

The Fox

S1:E7

The BAU profiles a serial killer who takes families hostage and lives with them as a father figure during what is supposed to be their family vacations.

ljanew Jan 7, 2021

This episode was super creepy

7.5/10 (2665 votes)

Natural Born Killer

S1:E8

When an undercover cop in Baltimore involved in a mob investigation goes missing, the BAU believes a serial killer rather than organized crime has something to do with his disappearance. The probe leads to several unsolved missing persons cases.

ljeeta Jul 22, 2022

It was okay but not really interesting. Like I thought it was the head guy at the start but then I d...

7.8/10 (3470 votes)

Derailed

S1:E9

Elle, along with many others, is held hostage on a train in Texas by a paranoid schizophrenic who is convinced that the U.S. government is monitoring him. Hotchner and Gideon are forced to play into the man's fantasy to save the people he has taken hostage.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

This is one of my favorite episodes from the first seasons of Criminal Minds. Everything is stellar,...

7.5/10 (3110 votes)

The Popular Kids

S1:E10

The team investigates the death of one teen, and the disappearance of another , which may be linked to a satanic ritual.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

Honestly, this is one of those cases where the unsub was pretty obvious from the beginning.

7.1/10 (3205 votes)

Blood Hungry

S1:E11

While Gideon is stuck at the office on crutches, the rest of the team travels to Tennessee to track down a killer who disembowels his victims and supposedly eats their organs.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

You expect me to believe until this point Gideon didn't know Penelope's name?...

7.4/10 (2405 votes)

What Fresh Hell?

S1:E12

When a young girl is abducted in broad daylight from a playground in a seemingly safe neighborhood, the BAU team initially believes her father is responsible. When he is able to provide an alibi, the team is forced to look for clues where the girl lives to determine who is really responsible.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 14, 2024

This episode is interesting for multiple reasons. First, we see a less professional and more impulsi...

7.3/10 (2475 votes)

Poison

S1:E13

The team travels to New Jersey where several people have been poisoned, one of them fatally with LSD, ten times more potent than the street version.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 15, 2024

This is one of those cases I could not watch the opening a second time.

8.6/10 (4641 votes)

Riding the Lightning

S1:E14

After interviewing a couple on death row for serial murders, Gideon suspects that the woman is actually innocent. But since she's set to be executed in two days, it's a race against time to prove it.

kingbesideyou Jul 8, 2016

"What we do for ourselves dies with us, what we do for others and the world remains and is immortal....

7.7/10 (2481 votes)

Unfinished Business

S1:E15

A serial killer reappears after 20 years of silence and contacts the BAU with the promise he will kill another victim in the next five days.

ljeeta Aug 2, 2022

This was so good I was literally on the edge of my seat. Waiting for them to figure it out. Can’t li...

7.6/10 (2697 votes)

The Tribe

S1:E16

The BAU team believes a dangerous cult may be responsible for the mass murders of five college students in an empty house.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 16, 2024

"Just so you know, you sound like a fortune cookie." God I love sassy Hotch.

7.6/10 (2467 votes)

A Real Rain

S1:E17

The BAU unit travels to NYC to investigate a series of murders that appears to have been committed by a vigilante conducting revenge on former criminals who have been released by the justice system.

aomsv2 Jul 16, 2021

Elle said in the restaurant "The jury thy said that she was asking for it." TV series released 15 ...

8.2/10 (3678 votes)

Somebody's Watching

S1:E18

Reid finds himself in danger when he falls for a starlet whose stalker has turned into a killer.

danielletmurray Oct 24, 2019

Forever one of my favourite episodes. Ugh, I always wanted Reid and Lila to run into each other agai...

7.2/10 (2605 votes)

Machismo

S1:E19

The BAU team travels to Mexico to aid in the capture of a serial killer who is targeting elderly women.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 16, 2024

This episode is sad because it shows that Hotch doesn't actually know how to balance work and home l...

7.6/10 (2396 votes)

Charm and Harm

S1:E20

The BAU works to capture a serial killer who has evaded capture by altering his appearance.

7.6/10 (3075 votes)

Secrets and Lies

S1:E21

The BAU works with the CIA to identify a mole within that organization, whose leaks are putting operatives at risk.

Kaitlynrm04 Jun 6, 2024

I loved this episode solely because it was kinda like a murder mystery type style

8.5/10 (3439 votes)

The Fisher King (1)

S1:E22

While on their vacations, each of the team receives a clue from a psychopathic killer challenging them to save his next victim.

NitzanSchwarz Feb 22, 2024

"Pretty boy" damn right, Derek. It was a fantastic season finale. It had everything: action, tens...

Season Average Rating Episodes Best Episode Worst Episode
2 ★ 8.0 23
★ 8.9 Revelations (2)
★ 7.1 Honor Among Thieves
16 ★ 8.0 10
★ 8.3 Oedipus Wrecks
★ 7.7 Pay-Per-View
4 ★ 7.9 25
★ 8.5 Mayhem
★ 7.0 Demonology
3 ★ 7.9 20
★ 8.7 Penelope
★ 7.4 Identity
1 ★ 7.7 22
★ 8.6 Riding the Lightning
★ 7.1 Blood Hungry
5 ★ 7.7 23
★ 9.2 100
★ 7.2 The Eyes Have It
7 ★ 7.7 24
★ 8.5 Run (2)
★ 7.2 There's No Place Like Home
9 ★ 7.7 24
★ 8.6 Demons (2)
★ 7.4 The Inspiration (1)
15 ★ 7.7 10
★ 8.6 Date Night
★ 7.0 Rusty
17 ★ 7.7 10
★ 8.0 Gold Star
★ 7.2 Message in a Bottle
6 ★ 7.6 24
★ 8.7 Lauren
★ 7.2 Devil's Night
8 ★ 7.6 24
★ 8.6 Zugzwang
★ 7.1 Magnificent Light
14 ★ 7.5 15
★ 8.3 300
★ 7.1 Innocence
10 ★ 7.5 23
★ 8.7 Mr. Scratch
★ 7.0 Beyond Borders
11 ★ 7.5 22
★ 9.1 Entropy
★ 6.6 Future Perfect
13 ★ 7.5 22
★ 8.5 Believer
★ 6.9 Submerged
12 ★ 7.4 22
★ 8.4 Red Light
★ 6.7 A Good Husband