Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds is an American television series that first aired on CBS on September 22, 2005. The series depicts the work of the FBI in the area of operational case analysis by the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) from Quantico. The investigations focus on profiling and victimology. With a few exceptions, the episodes are self-contained. Criminal Minds is therefore a so-called procedural drama.

In 2016, Shemar Moore announced his exit as Derek Morgan, initially leaving Thomas Gibson as Aaron Hotchner, Matthew Gray Gubler as Dr. Spencer Reid, A. J. Cook as Jennifer Jareau, and Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia as the remaining members of the original cast. Gibson, however, was forced to leave the series due to an on-set incident at the beginning of the twelfth season.

In January 2019, the series was renewed for a final 15th season, to be produced directly following the 14th season and then airing in the 2019/2020 TV season. The ten episodes of the final season aired in January and February 2020 in the United States, bringing the series to a total of 324 episodes. A year after the 15th season aired, a 16th season of 10 episodes was ordered by Paramount+ in February 2021.

Episode Structure

The episodes usually begin in a US city where a person is murdered. Often the perpetrator is already visible, at least it is shown how the murder happened. Then follows a scene change to the headquarters in Quantico, or to a scene from the life of the investigators, which opens a subplot, which is usually concluded in the course of the episode. After a brief introduction to the case and initial guesses, the team gets ready to jet off. Then the credits roll and the first quote from a famous person is delivered.

On the plane, it's all about coming up with initial theories, while technical analyst Garcia provides information on the victims. Team leader Prentiss (formerly: Hotch) then usually splits the team into groups of two. One goes to the local police station, while the other visits the crime scene, or forensics. At the station, relatives of the victims are often interviewed. As soon as another victim turns up, it becomes clear that the offender has either changed his modus operandi or that a clear pattern is emerging. The team then presents the profile to the office in order to narrow down the perpetrator. Often, with Garcia's help, the person they are looking for can then be located. She also provides additional information from newspaper articles and the like to explain the perpetrator's motives or what triggered the murders.

The team uses different methods depending on the situation to force the perp to give up, who is usually about to kill another person. Most often he gives up or is shot, because he chooses a suicide by cop hand. Then the case is solved, only in rare cases the perpetrator cannot be caught. At the end, the subplot is often ended and the episode ends with the recitation of the second quote (see: Special Features). It is rare to deviate from this pattern. Sometimes the form of the cliffhanger is chosen to end an episode.

Cast and dubbing

The German language dubbing of the series takes place at EuroSync GmbH in Berlin. Dagmar Preuß wrote the dialogue books for the first two seasons. Her successors were Peter Krone (seasons 3 to 9) and Paul Kaiser (from season 10). Preuß also directs the dialogue with Elke Weidemann.

Roll	Actors	Starring (episode)	Supporting (episode)	Voice actor
Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid	Matthew Gray Gubler	1.01–15.10		Nicola Devico Mamone
Supervisory special agent aaron "hotch" hotchner	Thomas Gibson	1.01–12.02		Thomas Nero Wolff (Seasons 1-6)Frank Röth (Seasons 7-12)
Supervisory Special Agent Derek Morgan	Shemar Moore	1.01–11.18	12.22, 13.05	Michael Deffert
Supervisory Special Agent Jason Gideon	Mandy Patinkin	1.01–3.02		Erich Räuker
Supervisory Special Agent Elle Greenaway	Lola Glaudini	1.01–2.06		Sabine Arnhold
Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau...	A. J. Cook	1.02–6.027 .01–15.10	6.18, 6.24	Tanja Geke
Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia	Kirsten Vangsness	2.01–15.10	1.01–1.22	Almut Zydra
Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss	Paget Brewster	2.09–6. 187.01–7. 2412.03–15.10	9.14, 11.19	Ulrike Stürzbecher
Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi	Joe Mantegna	3.06–15.10		Jan Spitzer
Special Agent Ashley Seaver	Rachel Nichols	6.15–6.24	6.10–6.12	Debora Weigert
Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Alex Blake, née Miller.	Jeanne Tripplehorn	8.01–9.24		Anke Reitzenstein
Supervisory Special Agent Kate Callahan	Jennifer Love Hewitt	10.01–10.23		Melanie Hinze
Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Tara Lewis	Aisha Tyler	12.01–15.10	11.01–11.22	Arianne Borbach
Supervisory Special Agent Luke Alvez	Adam Rodriguez	12.01–15.10		Florian Halm
Supervisory Special Agent Stephen Walker	Damon Gupton	12.08–12.22		Matthias Klages
Supervisory Special Agent Matthew "Matt" Simmons...	Daniel Henney	13.01–15.10	10.19, 12.13	Florian Hoffmann
Haley Hotchner, née Brooks.	Meredith Monroe		1.01–3.05, 5.01, 5.09–5.10, 9.05	Schaukje Könning
Dr. Diana Reid	Jane Lynch		1.22–2.01, 2.15, 4.06–4.07, 12.11, 12.20, 12.22, 15.02, 15.10	Marina Krogull (until season 12) Heike Schroetter (season 15)
Detective William "Will" LaMontagne, Jr.	Josh Stewart		2.18–5.10, 7.07–9.14, 11.22–15.10	Sven Hasper
Section Chief Erin Strauss	Jayne Atkinson		2.23–3.06, 5.05–8.24, 9.14, 15.10	Barbara Schnitzler
Jack Hotchner	Cade Owens		3.02–11.22	Julian Kohler
Technical Analyst Kevin Lynch	Nicholas Brendon		3.09–10.02	Stefan Krause
Supervisory Special Agent Jordan Todd	Meta Golding		4.05–4.13	Claudia Urbschat-Mingues
Beth Clemmons	Bellamy Young		7.10–8.23	Giuliana Jakobeit
Dr. Savannah Morgan, née Hayes...	Rochelle Aytes		9.08–11.18	Antje von der Ahe
Section Chief Mateo "Matt" Cruz	Esai Morales		9.04–10.19	Marcus Off
Joy Rossi, Former Struthers	Amber Stevens West		10.09–11.07, 14.15	Julia Meynen
Kristy Simmons	Kelly Frye		13.03–15.10	Heike Beeck
Krystall Richards	Gail O'Grady		13.18–15.10	Karin Greger

Personnel decisions

Lola Glaudini

At the beginning of the second season, Lola Glaudini left the series. In a statement, it was said that Glaudini was not comfortable with the Los Angeles location and would be moving back to the East Coast of the US for personal reasons.

Mandy Patinkin

Shortly before filming began on the third season, Mandy Patinkin unexpectedly left the series in 2007. Five years later, he commented as follows: "The biggest public mistake I ever made was taking (the job of) 'Criminal Minds' in the first place. I thought it was going to be something different. I never thought they would kill and rape all these women every day, every night, every week, year after year. It did my soul and my personality no good." Continuing, he said that he did not condemn the taste of the viewers but was concerned about the effect as all over the world the show was being used as a bedtime story.

A. J. Cook

At the beginning of the sixth season, A. J. Cook's contract was not renewed due to cost-cutting measures by the network CBS, as a leading actress was to leave. However, after a multitude of fan protests, CBS presented Cook with a contract again for the seventh season, which she signed. She has since rejoined the series' regular cast.

Paget Brewster

Along with Cook's contract cancellation, it was announced that Paget Brewster would also not be seen in all episodes of season six. Through negotiations, she was able to join a pilot episode of the network NBC. However, since the pilot did not go to series, CBS was able to bring Brewster back to the series because of a contract clause, so she was once again a full-fledged member of the main cast in the seventh season. However, in February 2012, she let it be known that "After six wonderful years as Emily Prentiss", she had decided to "seek a new challenge". She also wanted to take time off to work on other projects during filming, but the network and production studio would not allow it. After her exit, she made two more guest appearances on the series. At the beginning of the twelfth season, she was initially only supposed to return to the series for a longer story arc. However, as a result of Thomas Gibson's departure, Brewster was reinstated to the regular main cast.

Rachel Nichols

Rachel Nichols had joined the series as a replacement for Cook and Brewster during the sixth season. After the end of that season, her role was written out of the series. She did not learn this personally, but via a public service announcement from the network.

Jeanne Tripplehorn

Jeanne Tripplehorn joined the series as Paget Brewster's replacement in season eight. With the ninth season finale, she left the series without prior notice, as she did not renew her contract. She and producer Erica Messer had previously agreed to end her storyline. However, Tripplehorn was positive about her role, saying that the role came at just the right time for her, as she had wanted to embody a slightly "darker" role.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer Love Hewitt joined the series as Tripplehorn's replacement. The actress became pregnant during the filming of the tenth season, which was also transferred to her role. The actress left the series on her own accord because she "want[ed] to give her second baby the same attention as her first, and that means taking time off and being a full-time mom." However, a return to the series would be open to her at any time.

Shemar Moore

Towards the end of the eleventh season, Shemar Moore surprisingly expressed his wish to leave the series, as he wanted to devote more time to his private life and new projects. The desire of the actor was transferred to his role, just as with Hewitt.

Adam Rodriguez

Adam Rodriguez, of CSI: Miami fame, has been signed on to replace the departed Shemar Moore.

Thomas Gibson

In August 2016, Thomas Gibson was summarily fired after allegedly kicking Virgil Williams, one of the show's co-executive producers, in an altercation.

Damon Gupton

In June 2017, it was announced that Damon Gupton would not be returning for the upcoming 13th season.

Daniel Henney

In June 2017, it was announced that Daniel Henney from Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders would join the regular cast of Criminal Minds in his role as Special Agent Matt Simmons starting in season 13 after its cancellation.