“Criminal Minds” is a CBS powerhouse show that has captivated me through each and every storyline. These episodes never fail to take viewers through an emotional rollercoaster. The actors have a special way of conveying these cases, some including their own characters, that it makes it feel so real. These are the top ten times the actors blew me away with their performances.
1. Season 2, Episode 12 “Profiler Profiled” – Shemar Moore
“Profiler Profiled” follows the BAU team as they dive into SSP Derek Morgan’s past to prove his innocence as he was arrested for the murders of young boys in his Chicago hometown. The common denominator between Morgan and these boys is that they all attended the same youth center run by Carl Buford. Spoiler alert: Carl Buford not only framed Morgan because he had the money to protect himself, but also molested Morgan and the young boys before he murdered them. In this scene, Shemar Moore delivers a powerful performance as Morgan confronts Buford about his past right before he gets arrested.
2. Season 5, Episode 9 “100” – Thomas Gibson
“100” is a heart-wrenching episode for unit chief Aaron Hotchner as The Reaper, serial killer and FBI enemy, also known as George Foyet, puts him through hell by killing his wife, Haley while on the phone together. Foyet has targeted Hotch and the BAU for years. In this scene, Thomas Gibson creates extreme intensity from the moment he pulls up to the house they are in up until Morgan pulls him off the ground after brutally beating Foyet to death out of revenge and finally putting this torment to an end.
3. Season 5, Episode 9 “100” – Meredith Monroe
Circling back to the intense episode “100”, before the takedown occurs, we get to witness the fear and tears leading up to Haley’s unfortunate off-screen death. This scene pulls at the heartstrings especially when their son asks if Foyet is a bad guy and he understands to go hide in a safe space after he tells his mom he has to “work the case” with his dad. In this scene, Meredith Monroe delivers a powerful goodbye between Haley, her husband Hotch, and their son Jack.
4. Season 3, Episode 8 “Lucky” – Michael Beach & Jamie Kennedy
If there is one episode that should win an award for a jaw-dropping one-liner, it should be “Lucky.” This episode is stomach-turning as it follows a cannibalistic serial killer who abducts women and forces them to eat fingers before killing them. First off, disgusting. But the episode’s thrill factor takes a turn when SSP Morgan and Father Marks are questioning the unsub when he deviously admits to feeding search party members the remains of the latest victim that went missing in three words.
5. Season 7, Episode 24 “Run” – A.J. Cook
Fight scenes are always a fan favorite to watch, especially when it is a strong female main character. This episode escalates when the unsubs who are two robbers, take SSP Jennifer Jareau’s husband and son as hostage. If anyone has watched this series, they would know that when it comes to cases with children, more importantly, her own children, JJ does not mess around. In this scene, we see JJ go head to head with the unsub and gets her family back.
6. Season 11, Episode 18 “A Beautiful Disaster” – Matthew Gray Gubler & Shemar Moore
Goodbyes are quite possibly the worst part of any show someone watches. When it came time for the Shemar Moore to leave the show, that meant breaking up an iconic due in the show. The world was not ready to say goodbye to Derek Morgan and his friendship with Spencer Reid. In this scene, Gubler and Moore, show just how hard goodbyes can be.
7. Season 11, Episode 11 “Entropy” – Matthew Gray Gubler & Aubrey Plaza
Personally, Cat Adams played by Aubrey Plaza is one of the best unsubs the show has had. Cat was able to go head to head with him in a way no other unsub was able to. Their back and forth cat and mouse conversations always have an edge to them. In this scene, Gubler and Plaza show how easy it is to get under someone’s skin. Hint hint, who framed Reid to get him incarcerated?
8. Season 2, Episode 21″Open Season” – A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster, & Kirsten Vangsness
Criminal Mind’s isn’t always so dark. We have moments where the characters can be seen having a good time, and even taking their skills as BAU workers to their advantage. Word of advice, lying to impress a woman never works. In this scene, Cook, Brewster, and Vangsness prove this exact point in the episode “Open Season” opener.
9. Season 3, Episode 19 “Tabula Rasa” – Thomas Gibson
One thing everyone loves is when an egotistical character gets humbled. Luckily, this show gives us plenty of scenes like this to enjoy. Who better than to accomplish this than non other Aaron Hotchner. In this scene, Hotch is testifying against a murderer who wakes up from a coma with zero recollection of his past and he goes word for word with his lawyer.
10. Season 11, Episode 18 “A Beautiful Disaster” – Kirsten Vangsness & Shemar Moore
For the last and final scene, we circle back to season eleven when we say goodbye to Derek Morgan. No relationship on any show can compare to the friendship between Garcia and Morgan. They took care of each other more than anyone else, but also had hilarious banter back and forth that made a sexual harassment meeting get called. In this scene, Vangsness and Moore give a beautiful goodbye to a fan favorite duo.
