Criminal Minds season 15

Last updated

Contents

Criminal Minds
Season 15
Criminal Minds - Season 15.jpeg
Promotional Poster
Starring
No. of episodes10
Release
Original network CBS
Original releaseJanuary 8 (2020-01-08) –
February 19, 2020 (2020-02-19)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 14
Next →
Season 16
List of episodes

The fifteenth season of Criminal Minds was ordered on January 10, 2019, with an order of 10 episodes. [1] The season premiered on January 8, 2020, and concluded on February 19, 2020.

It was the final season to air on CBS, and was intended to be the final season overall. Two years later, Criminal Minds would be return for a sixteenth season in 2022 on Paramount+.

Cast

The entire main cast from the previous season returned.

Main

Guest

Recurring

Production

Development

Criminal Minds was renewed for a fifteenth and final season with an episode order of 10 episodes on January 10, 2019. [1] It was revealed that the final season had been held for mid-season and would premiere on January 8, 2020, in its original time slot with a two-hour season premiere and the season would wrap up with a two-hour series finale. [2] [3]

Production on the final season began in the spring of 2019 as Erica Messer, the showrunner, wanted production on season fourteen and fifteen to be continuous with no break in between. [4]

On April 26, 2019, it was revealed that Kirsten Vangsness and showrunner Erica Messer would be co-writing the series finale, with long-time director and executive producer, Glenn Kershaw directing. This was the fifth episode they co-wrote together. It was also revealed that the episode would be titled "And in the End". [5] The title comes from The Beatles song "The End" ("And in the end… the love you take is equal to the love you make…"). Messer and Vangsness chose that as the title because "those were the final lyrics ever recorded by the Beatles, a group the characters always loved." [6]

Former showrunner, Edward Allen Bernero, directed the fourth episode of the season "Saturday". [7]

Casting

Jane Lynch returned in Season 15 as Diana Reid. Jane Lynch at the 2016 Willfilm Awards.jpg
Jane Lynch returned in Season 15 as Diana Reid.

On February 4, 2019, it was announced that Jane Lynch would reprise her role as Diana Reid, the mother of Spencer Reid. [8] Later that month, it was announced that Rachael Leigh Cook had been cast in a recurring role as Max, who is a love interest for Reid. Max is described as "a quirky, kind-hearted, candid woman who strikes up an unusual relationship" with Reid. [9]

Aubrey Plaza reprises her role as Cat Adams in the sixth episode "Date Night". [10]

It was revealed that Jayne Atkinson, C. Thomas Howell and Beth Riesgraf would reprise their roles as Erin Strauss, George Foyet and Maeve Donovan in the series finale. Ben Savage would also reprise his role as young Jason Gideon. [11]

Thomas Gibson, who played Aaron Hotchner, would not be returning for the final season. [12]

Messer revealed that Shemar Moore, who played Derek Morgan, would also not be returning for the final season. [6]

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
3151"Under the Skin" Nelson McCormick Christopher BarbourJanuary 8, 2020 (2020-01-08)14164.82 [13]
When mutilated bodies appear in the Washington metropolitan area, Rossi becomes convinced they are the work of Everett Lynch (Michael Mosley), otherwise known as "The Chameleon", the serial killer who nearly killed him and then disappeared. Meanwhile, Reid and JJ struggle in dealing with an awkward situation.
3162"Awakenings" Alec Smight Stephanie Sengupta January 8, 2020 (2020-01-08)14174.49 [13]
With a member of the BAU in the hospital following a confrontation with Everett Lynch, the team continues their manhunt for him and his daughter Grace (Alex Jennings). Meanwhile, Reid, still struggling with recent events, visits his mother Diana (Jane Lynch) as she experiences a moment of lucidity.
3173"Spectator Slowing"Kevin Berlandi Bruce Zimmerman January 15, 2020 (2020-01-15)14184.58 [14]
When a mother and daughter are hospitalized from a mail bombing in Tennessee, the BAU searches for a serial bomber who appears to be selecting his victims based on a personal grudge.
3184"Saturday" Edward Allen Bernero Stephanie Birkitt & Breen Frazier January 22, 2020 (2020-01-22)14194.49 [15]
As the team enjoys a Saturday off, Garcia becomes personally involved after a participant in her hacking competition confesses she has a stalker, while Reid meets a woman named Maxine (Rachael Leigh Cook).
3195"Ghost"Diana ValentineBobby Chacon & Jim Clemente January 29, 2020 (2020-01-29)14215.88 [16]
When several people are shot in a rash of shootings in Des Plaines, Illinois, the BAU realizes the crimes match those of a sniper they hunted down fifteen years ago, but their assessment of the killings changes drastically when two of their own are kidnapped.
3206"Date Night" Marcus Stokes Breen FrazierFebruary 5, 2020 (2020-02-05)14204.35 [17]
When a father and daughter are kidnapped in Washington, D.C., Reid is forced into another confrontation with hitwoman Cat Adams (Aubrey Plaza), which threatens his date plans with Maxine.
3217"Rusty" Rachel Feldman Erica Meredith & Erik StillerFebruary 5, 2020 (2020-02-05)14223.74 [17]
When three men are brutally killed in Denver, the BAU links the crimes to a psychotic delusion involving false memories and the Schrödinger equation. Meanwhile, Prentiss is forced to evaluate her future with Special Agent Andrew Mendoza (Stephen Bishop), who she is in a long-distance relationship with.
3228"Family Tree"Alec SmightBruce ZimmermanFebruary 12, 2020 (2020-02-12)14233.94 [18]
When the bodies of businessmen and prostitutes turn up in Beaumont, Texas, the BAU finds themselves facing a killer with conflicting realities. Meanwhile, Prentiss and J.J. both grapple with decisions they must make on unexpected job offers.
3239"Face Off" Sharat Raju Christopher BarbourFebruary 19, 2020 (2020-02-19)14245.46 [19]
With one year passing since Rossi's near-death experience, the BAU travels to Reno, Nevada, to follow a lead on Everett Lynch, "The Chameleon", and figure out his new motivations. However, they are forced to contend with Lynch's mother (Sharon Lawrence), who has an agenda of her own that leads to a shocking outcome.
32410"And in the End..." Glenn Kershaw Erica Messer & Kirsten Vangsness February 19, 2020 (2020-02-19)14255.36 [19]
With Reid in the hospital from a brain injury caused by the BAU's standoff with Lynch, the rest of the team continues their hunt for Lynch, which leads to a violent and climactic final confrontation. Meanwhile, Rossi contemplates retirement, while Garcia makes a life-changing decision that will alter the course of the BAU's future forever.

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of Criminal Minds season 15
No.TitleAir date Rating/share
(18–49)		Viewers
(millions)		DVR
(18–49)		DVR viewers
(millions)		Total
(18–49)		Total viewers
(millions)
1"Under the Skin"January 8, 20200.7/44.83 [13] 0.73.401.48.23 [20]
2"Awakenings"January 8, 20200.7/44.49 [13] 0.73.381.47.87 [20]
3"Spectator Slowing"January 15, 20200.7/44.59 [14] 0.73.241.47.83 [21]
4"Saturday"January 22, 20200.7/34.49 [15] 0.73.321.47.82 [22]
5"Ghost"January 29, 20200.9/55.88 [16] 0.72.921.68.80 [23]
6"Date Night"February 5, 20200.6/34.35 [17] 0.73.061.37.41
7"Rusty"February 5, 20200.5/33.74 [17] 0.83.571.37.31
8"Family Tree"February 12, 20200.6/33.94 [18] 0.83.401.47.34
9"Face Off"February 19, 20200.8/45.46 [19] 0.72.901.48.36
10"And in the End..."February 19, 20200.8/45.36 [19] 0.73.201.58.56

Related Research Articles

<i>Criminal Minds</i> 2005 American police procedural drama television series

Criminal Minds is an American police procedural crime drama television series created and produced by Jeff Davis and Erica Messer that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005. It follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), using behavioral analysis and profiling to investigate crimes and find the unsub, the team's term for perpetrators. The show tells the story of the team as they work various cases and tackle their personal struggles.

<i>Criminal Minds</i> season 5 Season of television series Criminal Minds

The fifth season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS on September 23, 2009 and ended May 26, 2010. Episode 18 was a pilot episode for the spin-off series Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.

<i>Criminal Minds</i> season 6 Season of television series Criminal Minds

The sixth season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS on September 22, 2010 and ended May 18, 2011.

<i>Criminal Minds</i> season 9 Season of television series Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds was officially renewed for a ninth season on May 9, 2013 and premiered on CBS and CTV, on September 25, 2013. The season consists of 24 episodes with the 200th episode being episode 14 of the season, and the finale on 14 May. This new season is said to reveal more on the past of Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau. "We're going to use the serendipitous gift of Season 6 to explain with flashbacks what happened when she was working for the Pentagon and why she came back as a much tougher character. I've never had a chance to flex my acting muscles like this on the show!" said A. J. Cook. The season also featured the return of Paget Brewster and Jayne Atkinson for the 200th episode, which aired on February 5, 2014. On May 14, 2014, it was revealed at the end of the season finale that Alex Blake would be leaving the show.

<i>NCIS: New Orleans</i> 2014 American military drama/police procedural television series

NCIS: New Orleans is an American action crime drama and police procedural television series that premiered on CBS on September 23, 2014, following the twelfth season of NCIS. The pilot was written by Gary Glasberg. Produced by CBS Studios, Wings Productions and, for the first four seasons, When Pigs Fly Incorporated, the series stars Scott Bakula and CCH Pounder. The series, set and filmed in New Orleans, is the third series of the NCIS franchise. In May 2020, the show was renewed for the seventh season, which premiered on November 8, 2020. In February 2021, CBS announced that the seventh season would be the series' final one. The series concluded on May 23, 2021, making it the first show in the NCIS franchise to end.

<i>Criminal Minds</i> season 10 Season of television series Criminal Minds

The tenth season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS on October 1, 2014. The series was officially renewed for a tenth season on March 13, 2014. It consists of 23 episodes. This season features Jennifer Love Hewitt playing an undercover agent who joins the BAU. Episode 19 was a pilot episode for the spin-off series Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.

<i>Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders</i> American police procedural television series

Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders is an American police procedural television series created by Erica Messer that aired on CBS from March 16, 2016, to May 17, 2017. The show is produced by The Mark Gordon Company in association with CBS Television Studios and ABC Studios. The production is a spin-off from original series, Criminal Minds, airing on the same network, and is the third series in the Criminal Minds franchise. Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders follows an elite team of FBI agents of the fictional International Response Team (IRT) tasked with solving cases that involve American citizens on international soil.

<i>Criminal Minds</i> season 11 Season of television series Criminal Minds

The eleventh season of Criminal Minds was ordered on May 11, 2015 by CBS. It premiered on September 30, 2015 on CBS and ended on May 4, 2016. The season consisted of 22 episodes.

<i>Criminal Minds</i> (franchise) American media franchise

Criminal Minds is a media franchise of American television programs created by Jeff Davis. The police procedural thriller series follow the work of the members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) of the FBI.

<i>Criminal Minds</i> season 12 Season of television series Criminal Minds

The twelfth season of Criminal Minds was ordered on May 6, 2016, by CBS with an order of 22 episodes. The season premiered on September 28, 2016, and ended on May 10, 2017.

<i>Criminal Minds</i> season 13 Season of television series Criminal Minds

The thirteenth season of Criminal Minds was ordered on April 7, 2017, by CBS with an order of 22 episodes. The season premiered on September 27, 2017 in a new time slot at 10:00PM on Wednesday when it had previously been at 9:00PM on Wednesday since its inception. The season concluded on April 18, 2018.

<i>FBI</i> (TV series) 2018 American crime drama television series

FBI is an American police procedural television series created by Dick Wolf and Craig Turk that premiered on CBS on September 25, 2018. The series is produced by Wolf Entertainment, CBS Studios, and Universal Television, with Dick Wolf, Arthur W. Forney, Peter Jankowski, and Turk serving as executive producers.

<i>The Gifted</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second and final season of the American television series The Gifted is based on Marvel Comics' X-Men properties, and follows ordinary parents who take their family on the run after they discover their children's mutant abilities. The season is connected to the X-Men film series, set in an alternate timeline where the X-Men have disappeared. It was produced by 20th Century Fox Television in association with Marvel Television, with Matt Nix serving as showrunner.

<i>Criminal Minds</i> season 14 Season of television series Criminal Minds

The fourteenth season of Criminal Minds was ordered on May 12, 2018, by CBS with an order of 15 episodes. The season premiered on October 3, 2018, and concluded on February 6, 2019. The season also featured the milestone 300th episode, which served as the season premiere. This is the first season since season 11 not to feature Shemar Moore as Derek Morgan, who was now busy starring in S.W.A.T..

<i>Arrow</i> season 8 Season of television series

The eighth and final season of the American television series Arrow premiered on The CW on October 15, 2019, and concluded on January 28, 2020, with a total of ten episodes. The series is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, a costumed vigilante created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, and is set in the Arrowverse, sharing continuity with other Arrowverse television series and associated media. Executive producers Marc Guggenheim and Beth Schwartz returned as co-showrunners for this season.

<i>NCIS: New Orleans</i> season 6 Season of television series

The sixth season of NCIS: New Orleans an American police procedural drama television series, originally aired on CBS from September 24, 2019 through April 19, 2020. The season was produced by CBS Television Studios, with Christopher Silber and Jan Nash as showrunner and executive producer.

<i>Law & Order: Special Victims Unit</i> season 21 Season of television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The twenty-first season of the American crime-drama television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered on Thursday September 26, 2019 on NBC and concluded on April 23, 2020. This made the series the longest-running U.S. prime-time drama in history. The season is produced by Wolf Films and Universal Television; the showrunner being Warren Leight.

<i>MacGyver</i> (2016 TV series) season 4 Season of television series

The fourth season of the CBS action-adventure series MacGyver premiered on February 7, 2020, as a mid-season replacement for the 2019–20 television season. CBS renewed the series for a fourth season in May 2019. The season contained thirteen episodes and concluded on May 8, 2020. The series continues to center on the fictional Phoenix Foundation which is a covert organization masquerading as a think tank. It stars Lucas Till, Tristin Mays, Justin Hires, Meredith Eaton, Levy Tran and Henry Ian Cusick.

<i>Magnum P.I.</i> (2018 TV series) season 5 Season of television series

The fifth and final season of the American crime and action drama Magnum P.I. premiered on February 19, 2023 and ended on January 3, 2024, on NBC. It is the only season of the series to air on NBC after it was canceled by CBS following the conclusion of the previous season.

<i>Criminal Minds</i> season 17 Season of television series Criminal Minds

The seventeenth season of the American police procedural crime drama television series, Criminal Minds: Evolution, premiered on June 6, 2024 on Paramount+ in the U.S. and on Disney+ in other regions on June 7, 2024. The season's story arc follows members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they investigate the mystery of "Gold Star", however, they are forced to work with Elias Voit when he "negotiates a deal that transfers him to federal custody, in the BAU's own backyard".

References

  1. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (January 10, 2019). "'Criminal Minds' To End Run With 10-Episode 15th & Final Season On CBS". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  2. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (May 15, 2019). "CBS Fall Schedule: Sheldon Scores Big Perch, Criminal Minds Farewell Run and MacGyver Held for Midseason". TVLine . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. ↑ Iannucci, Rebecca (November 11, 2019). "CBS Midseason Dates: Criminal Minds' Final Season, FBI Spinoff, MacGyver Bumps Magnum, NOLA Moves and More". TVLine . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  4. ↑ Webb Mitovich, Matt (January 10, 2019). "Criminal Minds Renewed for 15th and Final Season: 'It's Bittersweet, But I'm So Grateful,' Says Showrunner". TVLine . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  5. ↑ Webb Mitovich, Matt (April 26, 2019). "Criminal Minds Series Finale Title Revealed by Writer Kirsten Vangsness". TVLine . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Webb Mitovich, Matt (January 7, 2020). "Criminal Minds Boss Previews BAU 'Tension' in Final Season — Plus, the One Return That Won't Happen". TVLine . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  7. ↑ Jordan, Tari (February 21, 2019). "*Exclusive* Ed Bernero Shares His Take on Criminal Minds' Legacy, and Future!". Criminal Minds Fans. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  8. ↑ Webb Mitovich, Matt (February 4, 2019). "Criminal Minds: Jane Lynch Set for 'Beautiful' Final-Season Encore". TVLine . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  9. ↑ Webb Mitovich, Matt (February 20, 2019). "Criminal Minds: Rachael Leigh Cook Cast as [Spoiler]'s Love Interest". TVLine . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  10. ↑ McGarrigle, Dale (February 5, 2020). "Criminal Minds Season 15 Episodes 6 and 7 Review: Double Date". TV Fanatic. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  11. ↑ Webb Mitovich, Matt (February 11, 2020). "Criminal Minds: Who (Besides Gideon) Is Back for the Final Two Episodes?". TVLine . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. ↑ Webb Mitovich, Matt (January 13, 2019). "Burning Criminal Minds Question: Might Hotch Appear in the Final Season?". TVLine . Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Welch, Alex (January 9, 2020). "'Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time' adjusts up: Wednesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  14. 1 2 Welch, Alex (January 16, 2020). "'The Goldbergs,' 'Criminal Minds,' everything else unchanged: Wednesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  15. 1 2 Welch, Alex (January 24, 2020). "'Chicago Med,' 'Criminal Minds,' all others hold: Wednesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  16. 1 2 Welch, Alex (January 30, 2020). "'S.W.A.T.' adjusts down: Wednesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Metcalf, Mitch (February 6, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.5.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  18. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (February 13, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.12.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Metcalf, Mitch (February 21, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.19.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  20. 1 2 Pucci, Douglas (January 22, 2020). "Live+7 Weekly Ratings: 'Chicago PD' Leads in Overall Raw Gains". Programming Insider. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  21. ↑ Pucci, Douglas (January 29, 2020). "Live+7 Weekly Ratings: Sixteen Broadcast Network Dramas Lead in Raw Gains Among Total Viewers, Topped by 'The Good Doctor'". Programming Insider. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  22. ↑ Pucci, Douglas (February 5, 2020). "Live+7 Weekly Ratings: 'A Million Little Things' Winter Premiere Ranks in Top 5 of Adults 18-49 Raw Gainers/". Programming Insider. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  23. ↑ Pucci, Douglas (February 12, 2020). "Live+7 Weekly Ratings: 'The Good Place' Series Finale Ranks Third Among Comedies in Raw Adults 18-49 Gains". Programming Insider. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.