The Inspiration

"The Inspiration" is the first episode of Season Nine of Criminal Minds, and the first of the two-part season premiere.

Summary
The BAU travels to Arizona to search for an increasingly devolving unsub, while the team speculates that Hotch is in the running to be the new BAU Section Chief following the death of Erin Strauss.

Guest Cast

 * Ian Bamberg - Waiter
 * J. Omar Castro - Cop
 * Lauren Lee Denham - Corin Todd
 * Katherine Everett - Emma Coleman
 * Leah Garland - Dr. Pat Lewis
 * Brianne Howey - Heather Clarke
 * JoNell Kennedy - Sgt. Lynne Johnson
 * Fred Koehler - Wallace Hines and Jesse Gentry
 * Carrie Lazar - Patron
 * Bianca Malinowski - Mia Rivera
 * Camryn Manheim - Carla Hines
 * D.T. Matias - Mini-Mark Clerk
 * Vince Melocchi - Erik Cole
 * Diane Mizota - Reporter
 * Gene Rathswohl - Officer Bachner
 * Rob Silverman - Mike Hardy
 * Brice Williams - Ben Coleman

Music

 * "As Long As I Can Say" (RBN Edition) by Daas Bosh

Referenced Criminals

 * Richard Farley
 * Edward Allaway

Bookend Quotes

 * David Rossi: "Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from the flukes of the universe, the kindness of the muses." Amy Tan
 * Aaron Hotchner: Josh Billings once said, "There are two things for which we are never really prepared for: twins."