Season Nine is the ninth season of Criminal Minds. It ran from September 25, 2013 to May 14, 2014. It was released on DVD on August 26th, 2014.
Ratings[]
Season Nine received 12.665 million viewers and a 3.8 score in the A18-49 demo on CBS. The first episode received 11.27 million U.S. viewers, while the last episode drew 12.03 million U.S. views.
Cast.[]
- Joe Mantegna - David Rossi
- Thomas Gibson - Aaron Hotchner
- Shemar Moore - Derek Morgan
- Jeanne Tripplehorn - Doctor Alex Blake
- Matthew Gray Gubler - Doctor Spencer Reid
- A.J. Cook - Jennifer Jareau
- Kirsten Vangsness - Penelope Garcia
Episodes[]
| Image | Title | Airdate | Writer | Director | Season Episode | Series Episode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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"The Inspiration" | September 25, 2013 | Janine Sherman Barrois | Glenn Kershaw | 1 | 187 | |
| The BAU travels to Arizona to help search for an increasingly devolving killer, while the team speculates that Hotch is in the running to be the new BAU Section Chief following the death of Erin Strauss. | |||||||
 |
"The Inspired" | October 2, 2013 | Breen Frazier | Larry Teng | 2 | 188 | |
| As the BAU zeroes in on the suspect of the ritualistic killings they have been investigating in Arizona, a bizarre connection within his family could lead them to finally capture him. | |||||||
 |
"Final Shot" | October 9, 2013 | Sharon Lee Watson | Bethany Rooney | 3 | 189 | |
| When several people at a plaza in Dallas are killed by a sniper, the BAU investigates whether the upcoming fiftieth anniversary of the Kennedy assassination is a motivating factor or if there is something else driving the killer. | |||||||
 |
"To Bear Witness" | October 16, 2013 | Erica Messer | Rob Bailey | 4 | 190 | |
| The BAU meets their new section chief, Mateo Cruz, who, unbeknownst to them, shares a long work history with JJ. Cruz joins the team as they comb the streets of Baltimore for an abductor who leaves victims unable to communicate. | |||||||
 |
"Route 66" | October 23, 2013 | Virgil Williams | Doug Aarniokoski | 5 | 191 | |
| As Hotch fights for his life due to complications from his stabbing at the hands of George Foyet, a.k.a. "The Reaper," he begins experiencing visions of his late wife, Haley, and his nemesis, Foyet. Meanwhile, the BAU searches for a missing teenager and investigate her estranged father as a suspect in her disappearance. | |||||||
 |
"In The Blood" | October 30, 2013 | Bruce Zimmerman | Michael Lange | 6 | 192 | |
| When the BAU investigates victims of possible ritualistic murders in Utah, clues lead them to believe that they are looking for a serial killer who holds a deep fascination of the Salem witch trials. Also, Garcia prepares for a "Day of the Dead" celebration over at her apartment. | |||||||
 |
"Gatekeeper" | November 6, 2013 | Rick Dunkle | Matthew Gray Gubler | 7 | 193 | |
| After a series of victims are found strangled to death in Boston, the BAU looks for a serial killer who likes to keep mementos of the victims, and the team wonders if a common link to the casualties could lead them to the culprit. Meanwhile, the BAU rallies around Rossi when his favorite bar is on the verge of closing. | |||||||
 |
"The Return" | November 13, 2013 | Kimberly Ann Harrison | John Terlesky | 8 | 194 | |
| When teenagers who were reported missing are now suspected of a series of random, violent terrorist attacks in Chicago, the BAU investigates their whereabouts to find a motive for the crimes. Also, Morgan has conflicting feelings when his girlfriend takes her job at a hospital as seriously as he takes his. | |||||||
 |
"Strange Fruit" | November 20, 2013 | Janine Sherman Barrois | Constantine Makris | 9 | 195 | |
| When skeletons are found in the backyard of a Virginia home, the BAU centers its investigation on the family living there, unearthing family secrets rooted in the past racial divisions in the South. | |||||||
 |
"The Caller" | November 27, 2013 | Sharon Lee Watson | Rob Bailey | 10 | 196 | |
| When a young boy goes missing from his home in St. Louis, the BAU re-investigates a similar cold case in order to search for the boy and his abductor. | |||||||
 |
"Bully" | December 11, 2013 | Virgil Williams | Glenn Kershaw | 11 | 197 | |
| When the BAU is called to Kansas City to investigate a series of extremely violent murders, a tense reunion ensues between Blake and her father, a retired police captain, and her brother, a detective, with whom she must work with in order to solve the crimes. | |||||||
 |
"The Black Queen" | January 15, 2014 | Breen Frazier | Tawnia McKiernan | 12 | 198 | |
| When the BAU goes to San Jose to investigate the innocence of a man sentenced to death, Garcia delves into her hacker past and reconnects with her old flame to help the team with the case. | |||||||
 |
"The Road Home" | January 22, 2014 | Bruce Zimmerman | Joe Mantegna | 13 | 199 | |
| While the BAU looks for a vigilante spree killer on the loose in Cleveland, Rossi is concerned when his former Marine sergeant goes missing and heads to Los Angeles to find him. Also, the secret JJ has been keeping from the team may be catching up with her. | |||||||
 |
"200" | February 5, 2014 | Rick Dunkle | Larry Teng | 14 | 200 | |
| When JJ is abducted, the BAU delves into her time at the U.S. State Department to find clues to her disappearance and uncover a secret mission that now puts her life in danger. To help with their search for JJ, the team calls upon Prentiss to help in the crisis. | |||||||
 |
"Mr. & Mrs. Anderson" | February 19, 2014 | Kimberly Ann Harrison | Félix Enríquez Alcalá | 15 | 201 | |
| When the BAU investigates several murders in the Pittsburgh area, they suspect a pair of killers are working together as a team. Also, Garcia and Morgan share their Valentine's Day plans for their respective significant others. | |||||||
 |
"Gabby" | February 26, 2014 | Jim Clemente and Erica Messer | Thomas Gibson | 16 | 202 | |
| When a four-year-old girl goes missing while staying with a relative in Mississippi, the BAU uncovers some startling truths as the team races to find the child and bring her to safety. | |||||||
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"Persuasion" | March 5, 2014 | Sharon Lee Watson | Robert Lieberman | 17 | 203 | |
| When two mysteriously drowned female bodies are discovered in the Las Vegas desert, the BAU tries to figure out the true cause and motive for the murders. Meanwhile, Reid tries to contact his mother. | |||||||
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"Rabid" | March 12, 2014 | Virgil Williams | Doug Aarniokoski | 18 | 204 | |
| When three bodies are found with animal and human bite marks in a shallow grave near Milwaukee, the BAU has many puzzling questions to answer. Meanwhile, Reid and Garcia work out for a company fitness test, but try to hide their preparation from Morgan. | |||||||
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"The Edge of Winter" | March 19, 2014 | Janine Sherman Barrois | Hanelle Culpepper | 19 | 205 | |
| As the BAU wraps up an investigation into brutal stabbings in upstate New York, Morgan's visit with a survivor could uncover more questions left for the team to answer. | |||||||
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"Blood Relations" | April 2, 2014 | Breen Frazier | Matthew Gray Gubler | 20 | 206 | |
| When two men are violently murdered in a small backwoods community in West Virginia, the BAU uncovers a long-simmering feud between two families and must investigate which one of them could be responsible for the deaths. | |||||||
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"What Happens in Mecklinburg" | April 9, 2014 | Ticona Joy | Rob Hardy | 21 | 207 | |
| A series of targeted abductions near Memphis have the BAU searching for a commonality between the missing persons and a motive that will lead them to the abductor. Meanwhile, Savannah vents her frustration to Morgan about the amount of traveling he does for his job. | |||||||
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"Fatal" | April 30, 2014 | Bruce Zimmerman | Larry Teng | 22 | 208 | |
| When victims are found dead from arsenic poisoning in Long Beach, California, handwritten death threats and other clues have the BAU looking for a killer who is deeply fascinated with Greek mythology. Meanwhile, Hotch has concerns about participating in Jack's third-grade career day. | |||||||
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"Angels" | May 7, 2014 | Rick Dunkle, Breen Frazier, and Janine Sherman Barrois | Rob Bailey | 23 | 209 | |
| When the BAU is called to Texas to consult on the murders of prostitutes, evidence points to killings with religious overtones. However, as they delve further into the investigation, the team could put their own lives at risk. | |||||||
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"Demons" | May 14, 2014 | Erica Messer | Glenn Kershaw | 24 | 210 | |
| The BAU continues its serial murder investigation in Texas, and clues uncover a deep, dark web of corruption that could be the motive for the killings. Meanwhile, as one team member's life hangs in the balance, another concerned BAU member must face a sad secret from the past, and Garcia is thrust into action to save a colleague. | |||||||
Highlights[]
The series marked its 200th episode this season; in this episode, the period of time in Season Six in which JJ worked at the Pentagon was revealed as she finds herself in a life-threatening situation. Esai Morales appears as new BAU Section Chief Mateo Cruz, who has a previous working relationship with JJ at the Pentagon (which was explained in full detail in the 200th episode), and became a recurring character. Eva LaRue also appeared as Agent Tanya Mays in the season's third episode. Additionally, Camryn Manheim portrayed the protective mother of a psychotic unsub in a two-part season premiere, and Joe Mantegna directed his first episode of the series.
The fifth episode focused on Hotch's emotional state since his ex-wife Haley's death at the hands of the Reaper. An episode focused on Garcia's past as a hacker on the FBI's list as the BAU investigates a case that pits her "against her old hacker world"; this was later further specified as an ex-boyfriend and former mentor of Garcia's named Shane Wyeth. Paget Brewster also returned as Emily Prentiss for the 200th episode, as did Jayne Atkinson as Erin Strauss. Around mid-season, Blake's brother Scott and father Damon were introduced when they assist the BAU in a case in their hometown.
In the season finale, it followed the same route as the season premiere with having a two-part episode finale, in the form of "Angels" (which is the first episode on the show's history to have a total of three writers) and "Demons" (during which one of the members of the team left the show). In these episodes, Brett Cullen and Michael Trucco guest-starred as a faux preacher and a corrupt Sheriff's Deputy, respectively. Also, Jeanne Tripplehorn leaves the show.
DVD Special Features[]
- Eyes Only
- Gag Reel
- Deleted Scenes