Despite being a procedural tv show and focusing on the new case every episode, Criminal Minds still managed to introduce some bigger storylines, which, in turn, made their lead characters shine and stand out.
However, while Criminal Minds is full of unique and dynamic characters, some fans will agree that a number of characters were seen to stand out a lot more in each season. Whether this was because the viewers got to see their personality more, their backstories, or because the writers explored some other inner struggle, there was always one person who made each season memorable.
Season 1: Jason Gideon
Before exiting the show due to its violent nature, Mandy Patinkin was a great part of the show and fans loved the character of Gideon at the beginning.
Learning about him and how he created the BAU was interesting and he was sorely missed after, especially by Spencer who viewed Gideon as a father figure.
Season 2: Spencer Reid
Going through a traumatic event seems almost a rite of passage for Criminal Minds characters, but Reid’s abduction was arguably one of the most interesting storylines in the early show and (just one of the times he nearly died on Criminal Minds).
His struggle with addiction was quite a memorable storyline for fans since they often saw trauma storylines usually get swept away with little to no consequences. Watching his struggle was hard but important.
Season 3: Penelope Garcia
Similar to Reid, Garcia was shot in one of the scariest episodes of Criminal Minds, going through a severe trauma that left her and her coworkers reeling.
But the shooting itself wasn’t the only worst thing, it was the attack on Garcia’s self-confidence that was more heartbreaking to watch, as she stressed about trusting someone and believing he was into her.
Season 4: Emily Prentiss
Season 4 was the first one that focused more on Emily, who already became a fan-favorite character. Earlier in the show, she’s was involved in one of the more deep and serious storylines, which involved her and Reid going undercover in a cult and taking a severe beating to save Reid’s life (something which affected the Bureau greatly).
Later in the season, the viewers also show her struggling after another case reveals one of the victims is her childhood friend. Since the fans didn’t know much about Emily, it was quite interesting to see how the writers decided to develop her character and show how much she had become a valued member of the team.
Season 5: Aaron Hotchner
Season 5 was among the hardest to watch because the fans could tell how the cat-and-mouse game between Hotch and the Reaper (who was arguably the most memorable Criminal Minds unsub), would end.
The heartbreaking final episode of the season was the culmination of all the episodes, and it resulted in Hotch losing his wife to a serial killer. The guilt he had to deal with for not being fast enough to save her became secondary because he was left with the task of raising their son and struggled with juggling his home and work life.
Season 6: Emily Prentiss
Emily certainly had the main storyline of season 6, revolving around her past identity of Lauren Reynolds and her connection to Ian Doyle (one of the show’s main serial killers). Her actions from the past end up haunting her for most of the season, and the shocking plot ends with Emily dying (or so everyone thought).
It was definitely a storyline that shone more light on who Emily was as a person and what made her into who she was. It was both interesting and heartbreaking to watch.
Season 7: Jennifer Jareau
This season started by highlighting the broken trust between JJ and Spencer, since he was deeply hurt and angry that she lied to him about Emily being alive.
But one of the highlights JJ had in this season was in episodes “Hit” and “Run,” where following a series of unfortunate events, her partner Will is taken hostage, and JJ is forced to defend her son in a fight with one of the unsubs. By the end of the episode, Will gets saved and they get married in a heartwarming scene including most of the BAU favorites.
Season 8: Spencer Reid
Season 8 introduced a girlfriend for Reid for the first time. Despite her limited screentime, Maeve is seemingly someone who truly understands and appreciates him and it made fans happy for Spencer.
That was of course until she got murdered by her stalker and Reid was left reeling from the traumatic events. It was heavily implied that he never truly recovered, as he is seen conversing with Maeve years after her death in season 15.
Season 9: Jennifer Jareau
This season delved more into the time JJ spent working for the Pentagon. Her life seems to be in peril because of it, and she is kidnapped by a former colleague who wants to obtain security codes for an operation she was a part of (although Hotch and Prentiss arrive just in time to save her life).
Later, fans learn more about the nature of her work for the State Department and see the writers explore her personal life more after they discovered she, sadly, had a miscarriage when she was caught in an explosion. While this arc is heartbreaking and difficult to watch, many critics praised Cook for delivering an amazing performance, with the next season exploring her grief and the aftermath of the tragedy in more depth.
Season 10: Kate Callahan
Despite Kate just joining the team, the writers did a good job developing her character in the first season as they got to know her backstory and see what she was like in the field.
Although Love Hewitt and the writers received some praise for how they portrayed Kate’s grief (after the loss of her sister) and how she was struggling to raise her niece, it was her overall season arc that grabbed the viewers’ attention the most (as it warned fans about the dangers that lurk online).
Season 11: Derek Morgan
When Shemar Moore decided to leave the show after 11 seasons, the writers decided they wanted to honor his character with an exit that was worthy of his character development.
In an arc that takes Derek through processing his past trauma all the way to deciding that he wants to focus on his family, it’s a lovely tribute and a way for fans to get some closure. Of course, the show was never the same after losing Derek, but the fans loved knowing he was happy and living his life.
Season 12: Spencer Reid
This was a hard season to watch. After being drugged and set up with a murder, Reid ends up in jail, with the team struggling to prove his innocence.
As Reid fears for his life in prison, he also realizes there is more going on when he recognizes the new nurse hired by his mother. It leads to the team realizing that Reid has been set up by Cat Adams. Luckily, Reid is cleared of all charges, and Cat arrested, but watching him struggle with life in prison and having to cross some lines was devastating for fans.
Season 13: Penelope Garcia
This was a season that focused on Penelope, who deals with resurfacing trauma over being shot in early seasons. She is later shown struggling when her brother asks her to testify against the drunk driver that killed their parents when he’s up for parole. She gives a speech that allows the driver to get parole which puts a heavy strain on her relationship with her brother.
As if that weren’t enough, she is held at gunpoint and kidnapped by the members of The Believers cult. The storyline continues into the first episode of season 14, where Penelope manages to escape and get help, still traumatizing her in the process.
Season 14: David Rossi
Every member of the team has had a case that got too personal, and Lynch was that case for Rossi. He is later almost killed by Lynch and spends most of the season trying to catch him and recover from his near-death experience. This storyline also continues in season 15.
On a more positive note, he’s shown rekindling his relationship with his ex-wife Krystall and even getting engaged, later marrying her as he is reminded life is too short.
Season 15: Spencer Reid
As Reid finally gets closure from JJ, and even finds a girl he really likes, it turns out Cat Adams wasn’t done with Reid yet and makes a final attempt to ruin his life.
Following that, a brain injury he gets from an explosion causes him to faint and have seizures, hallucinating several people from his past. However, he makes a full recovery and his storyline is wrapped up on a positive note.