Season Six is the sixth season of Criminal Minds. It ran from September 22, 2010 to May 18, 2011. It was released on DVD on September 6, 2011.
Ratings[]
Season Six received 14.111 million viewers and a 3.8 score in the A18-49 demo on CBS. The first episode received 14.13 million U.S. viewers, while the last episode drew 12.84 million U.S. views.
Cast[]
- Joe Mantegna - David Rossi
- Thomas Gibson - Aaron Hotchner (except for episode 11)
- Paget Brewster - Emily Prentiss (until episode 18)
- Shemar Moore - Derek Morgan
- Matthew Gray Gubler - Doctor Spencer Reid
- A.J. Cook - Jennifer Jareau (episodes 1-2; guest star episodes 18 and 24)
- Kirsten Vangsness - Penelope Garcia
- Rachel Nichols - Ashley Seaver (guest star episodes 10-12; main character episode 15 onward)
Episodes[]
| Image | Title | Airdate | Writer | Director | Season Episode | Series Episode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
"The Longest Night" | September 22, 2010 | Edward Allen Bernero | Edward Allen Bernero | 1 | 115 | |
| The BAU continues to pursue the Prince of Darkness, who has abducted Matt Spicer's daughter and attempts to use her in his murder spree throughout Los Angeles. | |||||||
 |
"J.J." | September 29, 2010 | Erica Messer | Charles S. Carroll | 2 | 116 | |
| JJ attempts to reunite a family in Atlantic Beach, Maryland, whose daughter has disappeared mysteriously as she contemplates a job offer she cannot ignore. | |||||||
 |
"Remembrance of Things Past" | October 6, 2010 | Janine Sherman Barrois | Glenn Kershaw | 3 | 117 | |
| When several women in Virginia are found murdered in a similar manner, Rossi reopens an unsolved cold case in Bristol that has haunted him for a quarter of a century because he believes the original killer might have returned. | |||||||
 |
"Compromising Positions" | October 13, 2010 | Breen Frazier | Guy Norman Bee | 4 | 118 | |
| The BAU is called to Ohio to help identify a serial killer who is murdering married couples in Akron. Meanwhile, Hotch looks within the team to fill a recent vacancy. | |||||||
 |
"Safe Haven" | October 20, 2010 | Alicia Kirk | Andy Wolk | 5 | 119 | |
| The BAU travels to the Midwest to track down a spree killer who is targeting families in Nebraska and Iowa. Meanwhile, a troubled Ellie Spicer runs away from her foster family to visit Morgan in Quantico. | |||||||
 |
"Devil's Night" | October 27, 2010 | Randy Huggins | Charles Haid | 6 | 120 | |
| The BAU is called to apprehend a killer who has struck Detroit for the past three years during Devil's Night, the notorious pre-Halloween celebration. | |||||||
 |
"Middle Man" | November 3, 2010 | Rick Dunkle | Rob Spera | 7 | 121 | |
| The BAU is called to Indiana to help catch a serial killer who is targeting exotic dancers and leaving their bodies in cornfields. The case takes an interesting turn when the team finds that they may be looking for a killing pack. | |||||||
 |
"Reflection of Desire" | November 10, 2010 | Simon Mirren | Anna Foerster | 8 | 122 | |
| The BAU becomes involved in the search for an abducted woman in the nation's capital after a woman dressed like a 1950s starlet is found murdered in a Georgetown alley. | |||||||
 |
"Into the Woods" | November 17, 2010 | Kimberly Ann Harrison | Glenn Kershaw | 9 | 123 | |
| The BAU is called to search for a man who is targeting children when the remains of an eight-year-old boy are found on the Appalachian Trail. | |||||||
 |
"What Happens at Home" | December 8, 2010 | Edward Allen Bernero | Jan Eliasberg | 10 | 124 | |
| The BAU travels to New Mexico to assist local authorities in Las Cruces in apprehending a serial killer who is garroting women in a gated community. Agent Ashley Seaver, an FBI cadet with a troubled past, is asked to assist with the case. | |||||||
 |
"25 to Life" | December 15, 2010 | Erica Messer | Charles S. Carroll | 11 | 125 | |
| Morgan believes a convicted murderer has been rehabilitated and aids in his parole, but subsequently regrets his decision when the man commits murder after being released from prison. | |||||||
 |
"Corazón" | January 19, 2011 | Katarina Wittich | John Gallagher | 12 | 126 | |
| When the BAU travels to Miami to investigate a serial killer who is committing ritualistic murders, Reid experiences hallucinations and blinding headaches that cause him to worry about his health. | |||||||
 |
"The Thirteenth Step" | January 26, 2011 | Janine Sherman Barrois | Doug Aarniokoski | 13 | 127 | |
| As the BAU goes to Montana to track down two young lovers who have embarked on an interstate killing spree, Prentiss receives alarming news from an old friend. | |||||||
 |
"Sense Memory" | February 9, 2011 | Randy Huggins | Rob Spera | 14 | 128 | |
| When a serial killer murders women with an unusual M.O. in Los Angeles, the BAU travels there to investigate. Meanwhile, more of Prentiss's mysterious past is revealed. | |||||||
 |
"Today I Do" | February 16, 2011 | Alicia Kirk | Ali Selim | 15 | 129 | |
| The BAU is called to upstate New York to investigate mysterious disappearances. Meanwhile, Prentiss receives some disturbing news about one of her former colleagues at Interpol. | |||||||
 |
"Coda" | February 23, 2011 | Rick Dunkle | Rob Hardy | 16 | 130 | |
| As Prentiss enlists two former friends from Interpol to track down an old enemy, the BAU is called to Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, to help locate the missing parents of an autistic boy. | |||||||
 |
"Valhalla" | March 2, 2011 | Simon Mirren and Erica Messer | Charles S. Carroll | 17 | 131 | |
| After a series of suspicious murders in Washington, D.C., Prentiss suspects her old Interpol archenemy may be involved in the crimes, which makes her fear for the team's safety as he closes in on her. | |||||||
 |
"Lauren" | March 16, 2011 | Breen Frazier | Matthew Gray Gubler | 18 | 132 | |
| When Prentiss confronts her nemesis, Ian Doyle, and goes missing, Jennifer "JJ" Jareau is asked by the BAU to help find her and capture Doyle before it is too late. | |||||||
 |
"With Friends Like These..." | March 30, 2011 | Janine Sherman Barrois | Anna Foerster | 19 | 133 | |
| Still reeling from Prentiss's "death", the BAU is called to Oregon to investigate murders committed by a suspected gang active in Portland, which is targeting a new victim every night. | |||||||
 |
"Hanley Waters" | April 6, 2011 | Alicia Kirk and Randy Huggins | Jesse Warn | 20 | 134 | |
| The BAU is called in to Tampa to investigate spree killings that appear to be warm-ups for a bigger event. Meanwhile, each member is dealing with their feelings over the loss of Prentiss. | |||||||
 |
"The Stranger" | April 13, 2011 | Rick Dunkle and Kimberly Ann Harrison | Nelson McCormick | 21 | 135 | |
| The BAU hunts a serial killer in San Diego who is stalking and murdering college students. Meanwhile, the team comes under the scrutiny of Strauss in the wake of losing Prentiss. | |||||||
 |
"Out of the Light" | May 4, 2011 | Roger Hedden | Doug Aarniokoski | 22 | 136 | |
| The BAU is called to a North Carolina resort town after a woman is found badly injured and another woman is missing. On arrival, the team discovers these two women are not the abductor's only victims. Meanwhile, Hotch is asked to coach Jack's pee-wee soccer team. | |||||||
 |
"Big Sea" | May 11, 2011 | Jim Clemente and Breen Frazier | Glenn Kershaw | 23 | 137 | |
| The BAU is Florida-bound to investigate bodies discovered buried in the ocean floor off Jacksonville, but the case rattles Morgan when his aunt suspects that her missing daughter is one of the victims. | |||||||
 |
"Supply and Demand" | May 18, 2011 | Erica Messer | Charles S. Carroll | 24 | 138 | |
| The BAU searches for a suspected human trafficking ring when the bodies of two missing persons are found in the trunk of a car, with the investigation being assisted by SSA Andi Swann, the head of the Domestic Trafficking Task Force. Meanwhile, Hotch intimates there could be changes within the team due to budget cuts, and Rossi receives news from an old friend. | |||||||
Highlights[]
The season began with the return of Billy Flynn, a.k.a. "The Prince of Darkness". Early in the season, Jennifer Jareau is forced to take a promotion at the Pentagon causing her to depart the BAU, but by the end of the season finale, she tells Rossi that she is coming back. The BAU is also charged with training new cadet Ashley Seaver, who becomes a temporary member of the team, starting in "What Happens at Home", before her offscreen departure in the season finale. In "The Thirteenth Step", a story arc featuring Emily Prentiss began. She learns from Sean McCallister, a former colleague at Interpol, that Ian Doyle, an international criminal, has escaped and will probably come after her. Prentiss fakes her death and departs from the series after "Lauren", but came back during the next season.
DVD Special Features[]
- Greg St. John's CMS6 Yearbook
Crime Scenes
From Script to Screen: Agent Down
- Family Annihilator
- Enter Valhalla
- Action!
- Two Goodbyes
- Secrets: Making Criminal Minds Season 6
- Letting Go
- Second Time Around
- Fresh Blood
- With A Little Help From My Friends
- One Hundred Steps
- Moving On
- Deleted Scenes
- Gag Reel