The CBS police procedural crime-drama Criminal Minds has had over 330 aired episodes since its premiere in 2005. Created by Jeff Davis, Criminal Minds has enjoyed a growing audience every season. Although the show has had to replace several original cast members, it has stayed true to its premise.
Criminal Minds follows a team of criminal profilers working for the FBI under its Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). They use their expertise in solving crimes for the bureau by finding unknown subjects (unsub) using behavioral analysis and profiling. Besides their professional lives, Criminal Minds also showcases the character’s personal lives and struggles. With the show currently in season 17, these are the 10 best Criminal Minds episodes ranked by IMDb.
10. Riding the Lightning – Season 1, Episode 14
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Chris Long directed the episode, and Simon Mirren wrote its screenplay. “Riding the Lightning” aired originally on January 25, 2006. The BAU team is assigned to interview serial killers, Jacob Dawes (Michael Massee) and his wife, Sarah Jean Mason (Jeannetta Arnette). The couple is on death row for the murders of several blonde Caucasian teenage girls. However, after the interview, Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) believes Dawes’ wife might be innocent.
Sarah Jean Mason was dubbed “The Ice Queen” during the trials because of her apathy. However, Gideon is able to prove she never killed their son, Riley (Ren Casey), as instructed by her husband, Jacob Dawes. Refusing to be exonerated for this and realizing Riley was better off without any knowledge of his parents, she was executed as sentenced.
9. …And Back – Season 4, Episode 26
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Directed by Edward Allen Bernero from a screenplay he wrote, “…And Back” was season 4’s finale. The episode originally aired on May 20, 2009, as the second of the two-part season finale. In the concluding episode, international and prolific serial killer Lucas Turner (Paul Rae) runs to his underground cellar with Kelly Shane (Lily Kershaw), his latest victim, after seeing the BAU team arrive at the house.
Although Kelly initially gets Lucas to trust her, he drags her back into the cellar after he overhears her talking on his cell phone. Despite trying to have him surrender to the team, a confused Lucas is shot and killed after charging at the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) team. Lucas’s brother, Mason Turner (Garret Dillahunt), is also killed by a vengeful William Hightower (Sharif Atkins).
8. Lauren – Season 6, Episode 18
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
“Lauren” originally aired on March 16, 2011, and was directed by Matthew Gray Gubler from a screenplay by Breen Frazier. The episode gave a background story of the relationship between BAU agent Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) and international terrorist and serial killer Ian Doyle (Timothy V. Murphy). In “Lauren,” Doyle catches and stabs Prentiss in the abdomen after they get into a fight. He’s about to kill her when the BAU team and SWAT burst in to save her. Although Jennifer Jareau (A.J. Cook) informs the team she never made it out of the operating room, Prentiss is revealed to be in Paris, hiding from Doyle.
7. Mr. Scratch – Season 10, Episode 21
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
The “Mr. Scratch” episode was written by Breen Frazier and directed by Matthew Gray Gubler. The episode originally aired on April 22, 2015. In the episode, the BAU team is called to investigate three separate murders in which a parent kills their child, claiming they were attacked by a “clawed shadow monster.” After Peter Lewis (Bodhi Elfman) hacks into the witness protection database in Quantico (the BAU headquarters), Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) and the BAU team go after him. Lewis unsuccessfully tries to hypnotize Hotchner into killing Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) and Jennifer Jareau (JJ).
6. The Fisher King: Part 2 – Season 2, Episode 1
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Criminal Minds season 2 began with the second-part episode, “The Fisher King: Part 2.” Its screenplay was also written by Edward Allen Bernero but directed by Gloria Muzio. The episode aired on September 20, 2006. In “The Fisher King: Part 2,” the team is able to get a description of the Fisher King/Randall Garner (Charley Rossman) and his burns from the explosion. Elle Greenaway (Lola Glaudini) is also shown to have survived the gunshot. Randall Garner continues to taunt and send them clues until it leads to his medieval-style mansion, where he blows up himself.
5. Penelope – Season 3, Episode 9
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
The episode aired on November 21, 2007, with Félix Alcalá directing Chris Mundy’s screenplay. In the episode, narcissistic and psychopathic killer cop Jason Clark Battle (Bailey Chase) realizes Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) survived his gunshot. He begins stalking her and tries unsuccessfully to murder her in her home. While trying to delete his files at the BAU headquarters, Battle is cornered and subsequently shot between the eyes by JJ.
4. Mosley Lane – Season 5, Episode 16
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
The “Mosley Lane” episode aired on March 3, 2010, and was directed by Matthew Gray Gubler from a co-written screenplay by Simon Mirren and Erica Messer. The episode featured the killer couple, Anita Roycewood (Beth Grant) and Roger Roycewood (Bud Cort). The Roycewoods have been abducting and killing children for eight years before the BAU team is called in to investigate. Anita is shot by one of the children, Charlie Hillridge (Evan Peters), while taunting him, having prepared the crematorium to burn the surviving children. Her husband, Roger Roycewood, hanged himself in the bathroom.
3. Revelations – Season 2, Episode 15
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
The episode was directed by Guy Norman Bee and written by Chris Mundy. “Revelations” aired originally on February 7, 2007. As a continuation of “The Big Game” episode, the delusional and psychotic serial killer and hacker Tobias Hankel (James Van Der Beek) has successfully kidnapped BAU Special Agent Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler). With multiple personalities, Tobias Hankel taunts Reid into confessing his sins. Forced to choose, on a live feed, which of his BAU team members should be Henkel’s next victim, Reid chose Aaron Hotchner. He also uses the opportunity to drop clues about his whereabouts to his teammates.
2. Entropy – Season 11, Episode 11
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
The “Entropy” episode was directed by Heather Cappiello, and Breen Frazier wrote the screenplay. The episode aired on January 13, 2016, having one of the highest viewership in the United States. Having been introduced in the premiere episode (“The Job”) of season 11, the network of hitmen are still the villains in “Entropy.” After getting information on the whereabouts of the network of hitmen, the team battles to neutralize them all. BAU Special Agent Spencer Reid is used as bait to catch the remaining hitmen, Cat Adams (Aubrey Plaza) and Sharon Mayford (Julia Kuzina).
1. 100 – Season 5, Episode 9
IMDb Rating: 9.2/10
Aaron Hotchner’s past comes knocking when The Reaper/George Foyet (C. Thomas Howell) returns to Washington, D.C. After getting close to catching him, The Reaper fakes being a U.S. Marshal to gain access to Hotchner’s ex-wife and son. As the BAU team races against time to save them, Hotchner comes face-to-face with The Reaper at his former home. Although his son is safe, The Reaper has fatally shot his ex-wife. “100” was written by Bo Crese and directed by Edward Allen Bernero. If you enjoyed reading about these 10 best Criminal Minds episodes according to IMDb, check out the 10 best episodes Of Friends according To IMDb.
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