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The Worst Episodes of Criminal Minds

Every episode of Criminal Minds ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Criminal Minds!

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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 most experienced agent is David Rossi, a founding member of

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Criminal Minds Season 12 Episode 12 - A Good Husband
    5.8/10(9 votes)

    #1 - A Good Husband

    S12:E12

    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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  2. Criminal Minds Season 18 Episode 8 - Tara
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Tara

    S18:E8

    When the team works to hunt down the person who shot Tara, they discover "The Disciple" deliberately had them chasing their tails. While undergoing critical surgery, Tara gets to the root of her relationship issues.

    Director:Sharat Raju
    Writer:Chikodili Agwuna

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  3. Criminal Minds Season 15 Episode 8 - Family Tree
    6.1/10(8 votes)

    #3 - Family Tree

    S15:E8

    Prentiss and J.J. are faced with important decisions to make about their futures as the BAU travels to Beaumont, Texas to investigate a series of murdered businessmen.

    Director:Alec Smight
    Writer:Bruce Zimmerman

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  4. Criminal Minds Season 15 Episode 7 - Rusty
    6.2/10(8 votes)

    #4 - Rusty

    S15:E7

    When the BAU team travels to Denver to investigate several murders, Prentiss is forced to evaluate her relationship with Special Agent Andrew Mendoza.

    Director:Rachel Feldman
    Writers:Erik Stiller, Erica Meredith

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  5. Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 6 - Luke
    6.5/10(8 votes)

    #5 - Luke

    S14:E6

    The BAU heads to Bethesda, Md., to investigate four murders in the span of three days along the eastern seaboard. The crimes become personal for Alvez, when the team discovers there are ties to his time spent five years ago working alongside the DEA and the Mexican police force in pursuit of the most notorious hitman in Mexico. Alvez and his girlfriend decide to move in together.

    Director:Joe Mantegna
    Writer:Erik Stiller

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  6. Criminal Minds Season 9 Episode 15 - Mr. & Mrs. Anderson
    6.8/10(13 votes)

    #6 - Mr. & Mrs. Anderson

    S9:E15

    The BAU travels to Pittsburgh on the hunt for a pair of suspects that appear to be working together as a team; Garcia and Morgan reveal their Valentine's Day plans for their respective significant others to each other.

    Director:Félix Alcalá
    Writer:Kimberly A. Harrison

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  7. Criminal Minds Season 12 Episode 5 - The Anti-Terrorism Squad
    6.8/10(10 votes)

    #7 - The Anti-Terrorism Squad

    S12:E5

    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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  8. Criminal Minds Season 2 Episode 9 - The Last Word
    6.9/10(20 votes)

    #8 - The Last Word

    S2:E9

    The daughter of high-powered diplomats, Special Agent Emily Prentiss joins the team, and she must convince Gideon and Hotchner she deserves the job based on merit and not on her family connections. The BAU is then called to St. Louis to investigate two serial killers who appear to be competing with each other. By setting a trap based on one killer's profile, the team creates a media event by which to capture the second killer.

    Director:Gloria Muzio
    Writers:Debra J. Fisher, Erica Messer

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  9. Criminal Minds Season 7 Episode 16 - A Family Affair
    6.9/10(17 votes)

    #9 - A Family Affair

    S7:E16

    When the BAU travels to Atlanta to investigate the murders of women, the clues lead them to look for an unsub who is not working alone.

    Director:Rob Spera
    Writer:Kimberly A. Harrison

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  10. Criminal Minds Season 8 Episode 13 - Magnum Opus
    6.9/10(14 votes)

    #10 - Magnum Opus

    S8:E13

    While Reid copes with a loss in his personal life, the rest of the BAU travels to San Francisco to investigate victims discovered in the Mission District.

    Director:Glenn Kershaw
    Writer:Jason Bernero

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  11. Criminal Minds Season 8 Episode 15 - Broken
    6.9/10(14 votes)

    #11 - Broken

    S8:E15

    The BAU heads to Austin to investigate victims found there with their watches set inaccurately, a clue which may connect the crimes. Meanwhile, the UnSub stalking the BAU inches closer in his pursuit of the team.

    Director:Larry Teng
    Writer:Rick Dunkle

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  12. Criminal Minds Season 10 Episode 17 - Breath Play
    6.9/10(16 votes)

    #12 - Breath Play

    S10:E17

    The BAU is called to Wisconsin in search of a serial killer, and the team looks for a connection among the victims for clues to the UnSub. Also, Kate has trouble dealing with her niece, Meg, when she begins acting out.

    Director:Hanelle M. Culpepper
    Writer:Erik Stiller

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  13. Criminal Minds Season 11 Episode 2 - The Witness
    6.9/10(13 votes)

    #13 - The Witness

    S11:E2

    When a Los Angeles bus is attacked with sarin gas, the BAU must act quickly to find the suspect before a larger-scale incident occurs.

    Director:John Terlesky
    Writer:Sharon Lee Watson

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  14. Criminal Minds Season 3 Episode 17 - In Heat
    7.0/10(18 votes)

    #14 - In Heat

    S3:E17

    The BAU is called to Miami to investigate a serial killer who appears to have a conflicted sexual identity.

    Director:John Gallagher
    Writer:Andi Bushell

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  15. Criminal Minds Season 6 Episode 7 - Middle Man
    7.0/10(17 votes)

    #15 - Middle Man

    S6:E7

    The BAU must catch a group of serial killers that is killing exotic dancers and leaving their bodies in the cornfields of Indiana.

    Director:Rob Spera
    Writer:Rick Dunkle

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  16. Criminal Minds Season 7 Episode 13 - Snake Eyes
    7.0/10(15 votes)

    #16 - Snake Eyes

    S7:E13

    The BAU tries their luck in Atlantic City when the team is called in to investigate a series of ritualistic casino-related murders. Also, after a spat with her boyfriend, Kevin, Garcia thinks she and Morgan may have gotten a little too friendly with each other.

    Director:Douglas Aarniokoski
    Writer:Bruce Zimmerman

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  17. Criminal Minds Season 10 Episode 20 - A Place at the Table
    7.0/10(14 votes)

    #17 - A Place at the Table

    S10:E20

    When a Maryland family is found murdered at their dining room table, the team tracks down other family members and friends to uncover secrets that may have led to it. Also, Hotch must try to make peace with his father-in-law, Roy, after discovering he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

    Director:Laura Belsey
    Writer:Bruce Zimmerman

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  18. Criminal Minds Season 10 Episode 22 - Protection
    7.0/10(14 votes)

    #18 - Protection

    S10:E22

    When shooting victims are found in the Los Angeles area with possible links to criminal activity, the BAU searches for a vigilante UnSub.

    Director:Tawnia McKiernan
    Writer:Virgil Williams

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  19. Criminal Minds Season 11 Episode 3 - 'Til Death Do Us Part
    7.0/10(12 votes)

    #19 - 'Til Death Do Us Part

    S11:E3

    When brides-to-be in Savannah are killed on the eve of their nuptials, the BAU suspects a jilted UnSub is at work.

    Director:Joe Mantegna
    Writer:Karen Maser

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  20. Criminal Minds Season 17 Episode 8 - North Star
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #20 - North Star

    S17:E8

    The BAU tries to get ahead of Jade and Damien who are on a killing spree. Rossi must confront an old flame to unpack the secrets behind the Gold Star program. Tyler and Rebecca attempt to gain leverage over Elias Voit's lawyer.

    Director:Zach Gilford
    Writers:Christopher Barbour, Charles Dewey

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  21. Criminal Minds Season 18 Episode 3 - Time to Say Goodbye
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Time to Say Goodbye

    S18:E3

    Rossi and Lewis enlist the help of Ramona, Voit's sole survivor, to help unlock Voit's memory. JJ and the team say goodbye to Will.

    Director:Joe Mantegna
    Writer:Erica Messer

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  22. Criminal Minds Season 18 Episode 4 - I'm Fine, It's Fine. Everything Is Fine
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - I'm Fine, It's Fine. Everything Is Fine

    S18:E4

    While the team works an organ harvesting case, Voit's recovery process leads him to suspect he is more likely a prisoner than victim. JJ finds a cryptic video posted to the BAU-Gate website of a masked UnSub that could be connected to Voit's network.

    Director:Anthony Vietro
    Writer:Jayne A. Archer

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  23. Criminal Minds Season 18 Episode 5 - The Brutal Man
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - The Brutal Man

    S18:E5

    JJ works with Dr. Ochoa to help Voit process the truth about his violent past, and tells him that one of his followers has a message from a mysterious unsub who appears to be organizing the remaining members of Voit's serial killer network.

    Director:Nelson McCormick
    Writer:Sullivan Fitzgerald

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  24. Criminal Minds Season 18 Episode 6 - Hell Is Empty…
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - Hell Is Empty…

    S18:E6

    The team investigates a network killer who buries his victims alive, and Tara confronts Rebecca's ex who has recently re-entered her life. Ronald Graber delivers a message from his Disciple to Voit.

    Director:Jackeline Tejada
    Writer:Charles Dewey

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  25. Criminal Minds Season 18 Episode 7 - …All the Devils are Here
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - …All the Devils are Here

    S18:E7

    Network UnSubs torture and kill hostages as Voit works with the BAU to stop them. Rebecca's ex, Evan Delray, is appointed Voit's new liaison.

    Director:A.J. Cook
    Writer:Carlton Gillespie

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Worst Episodes Summary

"A Good Husband" is the worst rated episode of "Criminal Minds". It scored 5.8/10 based on 9 votes. Directed by Laura Belsey and written by Jeff Davis, Erik Stiller, Jim Clemente, it aired on 2/8/2017. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Tara".