The Best Episodes of Criminal Minds Season 12

#1 Fan Favorite
7.4/10(2178 votes)
#1 - The Crimson King
S12:E19/28/2016
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.
Director:Glenn Kershaw
Writer:Breen Frazier
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Director:Glenn Kershaw
Writer:Breen Frazier
7.5/10(2423 votes)
#2 - Sick Day
S12:E210/5/2016
When JJ arrives home shaken after a rough case, she breaks down and tells her husband about the abduction of two children.
Director:Larry Teng
Writer:Virgil Williams
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Director:Larry Teng
Writer:Virgil Williams
7.2/10(2237 votes)
#3 - Taboo
S12:E310/12/2016
The BAU welcomes back Emily Prentiss as they are called upon to investigate the disappearance of three women
Director:Alec Smight
Writer:Karen Maser
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Director:Alec Smight
Writer:Karen Maser
7.2/10(1881 votes)
#4 - Keeper
S12:E410/26/2016
The BAU team searches for a serial killer along the Appalachian Trail in rural Virginia.
Director:Sharat Raju
Writer:Bruce Zimmerman
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Director:Sharat Raju
Writer:Bruce Zimmerman
7.1/10(1795 votes)
#5 - The Anti-Terrorism Squad
S12:E511/9/2016
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.
Director:Tawnia McKiernan
Writer:Stephanie Sengupta
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Director:Tawnia McKiernan
Writer:Stephanie Sengupta
7.7/10(2369 votes)
#6 - Elliott's Pond
S12:E611/16/2016
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.
Director:Matthew Gray Gubler
Writer:Erica Messer
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Director:Matthew Gray Gubler
Writer:Erica Messer

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7.8/10(2225 votes)
#7 - Mirror Image
S12:E711/30/2016
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.
Director:Joe Mantegna
Writer:Breen Frazier
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Director:Joe Mantegna
Writer:Breen Frazier
7.3/10(1898 votes)
#8 - Scarecrow
S12:E812/7/2016
The team heads to Yakima, Washington when the remains of a dozen people are found along a creek bed.
Director:Christoph Schrewe
Writer:Karen Maser
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Director:Christoph Schrewe
Writer:Karen Maser
7.3/10(1974 votes)
#9 - Profiling 202
S12:E91/4/2017
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.
Director:Rob Bailey
Writer:Virgil Williams
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Director:Rob Bailey
Writer:Virgil Williams
7.2/10(1959 votes)
#10 - Seek and Destroy
S12:E101/11/2017
BAU team investigates a series of home invasions in upscale neighborhoods in San Diego involving casualties.
Director:Diana Valentine
Writer:Erik Stiller
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Director:Diana Valentine
Writer:Erik Stiller
7.2/10(2174 votes)
#11 - Surface Tension
S12:E112/1/2017
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.
Director:Oz Scott
Writer:Bruce Zimmerman
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Director:Oz Scott
Writer:Bruce Zimmerman
6.7/10(2167 votes)
#12 - A Good Husband
S12:E122/8/2017
The BAU team is called in to investigate when male victims are found with no way to identify them.
Director:Laura Belsey
Writers:Jeff Davis, Erik Stiller, Jim Clemente
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Director:Laura Belsey
Writers:Jeff Davis, Erik Stiller, Jim Clemente
7.8/10(2311 votes)
#13 - Spencer
S12:E132/15/2017
When a BAU member gets in trouble in Mexico, the team enlists the services of the International Response Team for their help.
Director:Glenn Kershaw
Writers:Erica Messer, Kirsten Vangsness
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Director:Glenn Kershaw
Writers:Erica Messer, Kirsten Vangsness
7.3/10(1857 votes)
#14 - Collision Course
S12:E142/22/2017
The BAU investigates the cause of several fatal car crashes involving drivers and pedestrians. Also, Reid gets bad news.
Director:Alec Smight
Writer:Stephanie Sengupta
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Director:Alec Smight
Writer:Stephanie Sengupta
7.3/10(1946 votes)
#15 - Alpha Male
S12:E153/1/2017
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.
Director:Rob Bailey
Writer:Karen Maser
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Director:Rob Bailey
Writer:Karen Maser
7.2/10(2116 votes)
#16 - Assistance Is Futile
S12:E163/15/2017
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.
Director:Leon Ichaso
Writer:Virgil Williams
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Director:Leon Ichaso
Writer:Virgil Williams
7.4/10(2108 votes)
#17 - In the Dark
S12:E173/22/2017
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.
Director:Diana Valentine
Writer:Dania Bennett
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Director:Diana Valentine
Writer:Dania Bennett
7.3/10(2139 votes)
#18 - Hell's Kitchen
S12:E183/29/2017
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.
Director:Simon Mirren
Writer:Erica Messer
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Director:Simon Mirren
Writer:Erica Messer
7.2/10(2070 votes)
#19 - True North
S12:E194/5/2017
Three victims are found tied to stakes in the Arizona desert.
Director:Joe Mantegna
Writer:Bruce Zimmerman
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Director:Joe Mantegna
Writer:Bruce Zimmerman
7.5/10(1861 votes)
#20 - Unforgettable
S12:E204/26/2017
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.
Director:Carlos Bernard
Writer:Stephanie Sengupta
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Director:Carlos Bernard
Writer:Stephanie Sengupta
8.2/10(2008 votes)
#21 - Green Light
S12:E215/3/2017
When Reid fears his mother has been abducted, he asks the BAU to investigate while he's stuck in prison.
Director:Alec Smight
Writer:Erik Stiller
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Director:Alec Smight
Writer:Erik Stiller
8.4/10(2107 votes)
#22 - Red Light
S12:E225/10/2017
Derek Morgan brings the BAU a lead in the case against serial killer and escaped convict Mr. Scratch.
Director:Glenn Kershaw
Writer:Breen Frazier
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Director:Glenn Kershaw
Writer:Breen Frazier