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The Best Episodes of Criminal Minds Season 12

Every episode of Criminal Minds Season 12 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Criminal Minds Season 12!

An elite team of FBI profilers analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again. The Behavioral Analysis Unit's...
Genres:CrimeDramaMystery
Networks:CBSParamount+

Season 12 Ratings Summary

"The Crimson King" is the best rated episode of "Criminal Minds" season 12. It scored 7.4/10 based on 2067 votes. Directed by Glenn Kershaw and written by Breen Frazier, it aired on 9/28/2016. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Sick Day".

  • The Crimson King
    7.4/102,067 votes

    #1 - The Crimson King

    Season 12 Episode 1 - Aired 9/28/2016

    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

  • Sick Day
    7.5/102,308 votes

    #2 - Sick Day

    Season 12 Episode 2 - Aired 10/5/2016

    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

  • Taboo
    7.2/102,138 votes

    #3 - Taboo

    Season 12 Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/2016

    The BAU welcomes back Emily Prentiss as they are called upon to investigate the disappearance of three women

    Director: Alec Smight

    Writer: Karen Maser

  • Keeper
    7.1/101,786 votes

    #4 - Keeper

    Season 12 Episode 4 - Aired 10/26/2016

    The BAU team searches for a serial killer along the Appalachian Trail in rural Virginia.

    Director: Sharat Raju

    Writer: Bruce Zimmerman

  • The Anti-Terrorism Squad
    7.1/101,697 votes

    #5 - The Anti-Terrorism Squad

    Season 12 Episode 5 - Aired 11/9/2016

    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

  • Elliott's Pond
    7.6/102,244 votes

    #6 - Elliott's Pond

    Season 12 Episode 6 - Aired 11/16/2016

    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

  • Mirror Image
    7.7/102,114 votes

    #7 - Mirror Image

    Season 12 Episode 7 - Aired 11/30/2016

    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

  • Scarecrow
    7.3/101,804 votes

    #8 - Scarecrow

    Season 12 Episode 8 - Aired 12/7/2016

    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

  • Profiling 202
    7.3/101,874 votes

    #9 - Profiling 202

    Season 12 Episode 9 - Aired 1/4/2017

    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

  • Seek and Destroy
    7.1/101,862 votes

    #10 - Seek and Destroy

    Season 12 Episode 10 - Aired 1/11/2017

    BAU team investigates a series of home invasions in upscale neighborhoods in San Diego involving casualties.

    Director: Diana Valentine

    Writer: Erik Stiller

  • Surface Tension
    7.2/102,082 votes

    #11 - Surface Tension

    Season 12 Episode 11 - Aired 2/1/2017

    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

  • A Good Husband
    6.7/102,069 votes

    #12 - A Good Husband

    Season 12 Episode 12 - Aired 2/8/2017

    The BAU team is called in to investigate when male victims are found with no way to identify them.

    Director: Laura Belsey

    Writer: Jeff Davis, Erik Stiller, Jim Clemente

  • Spencer
    7.8/102,202 votes

    #13 - Spencer

    Season 12 Episode 13 - Aired 2/15/2017

    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

    Writer: Erica Messer, Kirsten Vangsness

  • Collision Course
    7.3/101,759 votes

    #14 - Collision Course

    Season 12 Episode 14 - Aired 2/22/2017

    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

  • Alpha Male
    7.3/101,849 votes

    #15 - Alpha Male

    Season 12 Episode 15 - Aired 3/1/2017

    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

  • Assistance Is Futile
    7.2/102,022 votes

    #16 - Assistance Is Futile

    Season 12 Episode 16 - Aired 3/15/2017

    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

  • In the Dark
    7.3/102,014 votes

    #17 - In the Dark

    Season 12 Episode 17 - Aired 3/22/2017

    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

  • Hell's Kitchen
    7.3/102,040 votes

    #18 - Hell's Kitchen

    Season 12 Episode 18 - Aired 3/29/2017

    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

  • True North
    7.2/101,980 votes

    #19 - True North

    Season 12 Episode 19 - Aired 4/5/2017

    Three victims are found tied to stakes in the Arizona desert.

    Director: Joe Mantegna

    Writer: Bruce Zimmerman

  • Unforgettable
    7.5/101,772 votes

    #20 - Unforgettable

    Season 12 Episode 20 - Aired 4/26/2017

    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

  • Green Light
    8.1/101,899 votes

    #21 - Green Light

    Season 12 Episode 21 - Aired 5/3/2017

    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

  • Red Light
    8.4/101,981 votes

    #22 - Red Light

    Season 12 Episode 22 - Aired 5/10/2017

    Derek Morgan brings the BAU a lead in the case against serial killer and escaped convict Mr. Scratch.

    Director: Glenn Kershaw

    Writer: Breen Frazier