Criminal Minds: Season 12

2016 · 22 episodes · ★ 7.8

What Season 12 of Criminal Minds

The season opens with the arrival of Luke Alvarez, a new agent who helps the team track down a killer who escaped from prison along with twelve other convicts. Aaron Hotchner continues to lead the Behavioral Analysis Unit, and Emily Prentiss returns to the team after her absence. The profilers face a wide range of cases, including the disappearance of three women, the murder of entire families, and human remains found in a Washington creek. The most personal conflict involves Reid, who must adjust to life behind bars while the team tries to protect him. Morgan, Rossi, JJ, and Tara Lewis round out the cast, working to anticipate each subject's behavior before they strike again.

22episodes

Sep 28, 2016premiered

May 10, 2017latest episode

15.4 hrtotal runtime

Season 12 Episodes

12x01 The Crimson King
Sep 28, 2016 · 42 min · ★ 7.0
Agent Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez) joins the BAU team, which is tasked with capturing a killer who escaped prison with 13 other convicts at the end of last season.
Directing: Glenn Kershaw · Writing: Breen Frazier · Starring: Thomas Gibson, Bodhi Elfman, Sarah Buehler
12x02 Sick Day
Oct 5, 2016 · 42 min · ★ 8.0
When JJ arrives home shaken after a rough case, she breaks down and tells her husband about the abduction of two children.
Directing: Larry Teng · Writing: Virgil Williams · Starring: Thomas Gibson, Dionne Gipson, Mekhai Andersen, Phoenix Andersen
12x03 Taboo
Oct 12, 2016 · 42 min · ★ 7.9
The BAU welcomes back Emily Prentiss as they are called upon to investigate the disappearance of three women
Directing: Alec Smight · Writing: Karen Maser · Starring: Lachlan Buchanan
12x04 Keeper
Oct 26, 2016 · 42 min · ★ 7.8
The BAU team searches for a serial killer along the Appalachian Trail in rural Virginia.
Directing: Sharat Raju · Writing: Bruce Zimmerman · Starring: Courtney Gains
12x05 The Anti-Terrorism Squad
Nov 9, 2016 · 42 min · ★ 6.8
The BAU investigates if bullying may be the link between two high school students who are the sole survivors after both of their families are killed.
Directing: Tawnia McKiernan · Writing: Stephanie Sengupta · Starring: Heather Hopkins, Devan Leos, Hunter Payton, Joey Bragg
12x06 Elliott's Pond
Nov 16, 2016 · 42 min · ★ 8.2
When three children disappear while riding their bikes on the same path as a similar unsolved disappearance 30 years ago, the BAU team comes in to investigate.
Directing: Matthew Gray Gubler · Writing: Erica Messer · Starring: Jim Turner, Brett Rickaby, Van Crosby, Nick Gore
12x07 Mirror Image
Nov 30, 2016 · 42 min · ★ 7.8
The BAU team opens an investigation when a man who fully believes he’s Dr. Tara Lewis’ brother arrives in town, knowing everything about her and her family, and she is unable to make contact with her real sibling.
Directing: Joe Mantegna · Writing: Breen Frazier · Starring: Bodhi Elfman, Stan Shaw, Alimi Ballard, Terrence Terrell
12x08 Scarecrow Mid-Season Finale
Dec 7, 2016 · 42 min · ★ 8.4
The team heads to Yakima, Washington when the remains of a dozen people are found along a creek bed.
Directing: Christoph Schrewe · Writing: Karen Maser · Starring: Courtney Halverson, Chris Owen, Saige Donaldson, Spencer Ward
12x09 Profiling 202
Jan 4, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 7.6
While Rossi conducts a profiling course on his birthday, he receives a call from his nemesis Tommy Yates, who discloses the location of his latest victim.
Directing: Rob Bailey · Writing: Virgil Williams · Starring: Ashwin Gore, Adam Nelson
12x10 Seek and Destroy
Jan 11, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 8.3
BAU team investigates a series of home invasions in upscale neighborhoods in San Diego involving casualties.
Directing: Diana Valentine · Writing: Erik Stiller · Starring: Charlotte Bjornbak, Tricia Cruz, Jon-Michael Ecker
12x11 Surface Tension
Feb 1, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 7.4
Reid has returned from Houston, where he was visiting his mother who is in a new facility on an experimental drug program. He is called back home from the office while the rest of the team heads off on their next case. It isn't until the team is in the air that they learn that Diana is no longer in the Houston facility, but that she is now living with Reid, as the trial drug was not having the intended effect.
Directing: Oz Scott · Writing: Bruce Zimmerman · Starring: Andy Cohen, Jane Lynch, Dia Frampton
12x12 A Good Husband
Feb 8, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 5.9
The BAU team is called in to investigate when male victims are found with no way to identify them.
Directing: Laura Belsey · Writing: Jeff Davis, Jim Clemente, Erik Stiller · Starring: David Otunga, Ivan Hernandez, Zachary Abel, Carlos Arellano
12x13 Spencer
Feb 15, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 7.9
When a BAU member gets in trouble in Mexico, the team enlists the services of the International Response Team for their help.
Directing: Glenn Kershaw · Writing: Erica Messer, Kirsten Vangsness · Starring: Daniel Henney, Alana de la Garza, Harold Perrineau
12x14 Collision Course
Feb 22, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 7.4
The BAU investigates the cause of several fatal car crashes involving drivers and pedestrians. Also, Reid gets bad news.
Directing: Alec Smight · Writing: Stephanie Sengupta · Starring: Joey Jennings, Jeananne Goossen, Harold Perrineau
12x15 Alpha Male
Mar 1, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 8.5
The BAU investigates when several young men and women are victims of disfiguring acid attacks. Also, Dr. Reid begins to settle into his new surroundings.
Directing: Rob Bailey · Writing: Karen Maser · Starring: David Futernick, Richard T. Jones, Phillip Garcia, Mo Anouti
12x16 Assistance Is Futile
Mar 15, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 7.8
When three women in New York City are found dead with several bones broken, the BAU works with a single mother (Tatum O'Neal) who believes that her son is behind the heinous crimes. Meanwhile, Reid faces a difficult decision after a fellow inmate is threatened.
Directing: Leon Ichaso · Writing: Virgil Williams · Starring: Harold Perrineau
12x17 In the Dark
Mar 22, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 8.0
When two drastically different murder sprees are committed in Burlington, Vermont, the BAU concludes that a serial killer suffering from sleepwalking is responsible for both crimes. Meanwhile, Alvez presents Shaw with a shocking ultimatum after Reid is assaulted in prison.
Directing: Diana Valentine · Writing: Dania Bennett · Starring: Jeananne Goossen, Harold Perrineau
12x18 Hell's Kitchen
Mar 29, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 8.0
The BAU investigates an urban vampire who kidnaps his victims at night and holds them underground in the sewer system; Reid makes a difficult decision in prison.
Directing: Simon Mirren · Writing: Erica Messer · Starring: Page Leong, Harold Perrineau
12x19 True North
Apr 5, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 7.8
Three victims are found tied to stakes in the Arizona desert.
Directing: Joe Mantegna · Writing: Bruce Zimmerman
12x20 Unforgettable
Apr 26, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 7.8
The BAU investigates when several federal government employees, including a close friend of Walker's, succumb to symptoms of a heart attack; Reid anxiously awaits his trial date.
Directing: Carlos Bernard · Writing: Stephanie Sengupta · Starring: Jeananne Goossen, Jane Lynch, Darren Barnet
12x21 Green Light
May 3, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 8.0
When Reid fears his mother has been abducted, he asks the BAU to investigate while he's stuck in prison.
Directing: Alec Smight · Writing: Erik Stiller · Starring: Jeananne Goossen, Antonio Leon, Chase Kim, Fredric Lehne
12x22 Red Light Season Finale
May 10, 2017 · 42 min · ★ 8.5
Derek Morgan brings the BAU a lead in the case against serial killer and escaped convict Mr. Scratch.
Directing: Glenn Kershaw · Writing: Breen Frazier · Starring: Shemar Moore, Kevin Will, Ellington Ratliff, Aubrey Plaza