Criminal Minds Archives

We're all sitting there on our nice comfy couches, watching our favorite shows when all of a sudden, the plot takes a horrible turn.

Not only does it take the show in a direction we weren't expecting, but it also takes us to a place that really doesn't make a whole lot of sense at all.

Sometimes the plot twist involves something out of character or doesn't fit the show, or sometimes it's just plain dumb.

We're left shaking our heads, and sometimes our remotes, wondering what in the world the writers were thinking, adding this into our beloved shows.

Can the show recover? It depends.

Without further ado, here are the worst plot twists this TV Fanatic staff could think of for 2018.

Did we include the ones you had in mind? Hit the comments and commiserate with us.

1. Rick Survives - The Walking Dead

Despite impossible odds and impeccable timing by a well-placed helicopter and ex-trash lady, Rick Grimes survives an explosion that should've blown him to smithereens. All the hype about the last Rick episode led people to believe he would die, but he didn't. Not that we wanted Rick to die, but his survival was a bit too convenient for The Walking Dead.

2. Amanda's Pregnancy - Law & Order: SVU

Nobody said Amanda Rollins has a good track record with men, but SVU has been hinting on and off about a possible relationship between her and Carissi. When Amanda wound up pregnant for the second time, everyone was thinking it might be his baby. Maybe they'd gotten together without any of us knowing? But, no, some random doctor dude fathered Amanda's baby. What? Even more, she's trying to make a life with this guy. Awful twist.

3. So, Nicky's Alive? - This Is Us

Sure it was shocking, but it's also pretty silly. Are we really supposed to believe no one ever Googled him, especially Kevin before flying to Vietnam? No one ever went to DC and looked for his name on the memorial? Highly unlikely. Jack and Randall even took a trip there to visit Howard. It's just hard to believe.

4. Riggs Replaced - Lethal Weapon

We all know about the controversy with Clayne Crawford on Lethal Weapon, but killing Riggs off and pairing Murtaugh up with a guy we don't even get a proper into to, felt like whiplash. No fanfare, no easing into it, just shove-'em-in-your-face, here's your new guy; he can tell jokes, so he's #relatable. Love him. We didn't even get to grieve, and it changed the trajectory of the entire plot current of the show forever.

5. Ash Tyler is Voq - Star Trek: Discovery

In the STUPIDEST sleeper agent plot twist, human-looking Lt. Tyler turns out to be a physically modified, mentally reprogrammed, Klingon spy. Somehow, Star Fleet cleared him for active duty despite his MONTHS as a prisoner of war and somehow missed that he'd had half his Klingon organs removed, his skeleton completely reshaped, and, oh yeah, that the remaining organs WERE. STILL. KLINGON. Also, the interwebz predicted this plot twist MONTHS in advance of the reveal, and it was only surprising because no one in their right mind would give it any credence.

6. Teddy's Bombshell - Grey's Anatomy

It would've been fine if Owen and Teddy stayed together this time. They could've lived happily ever after for all we care, but to have Teddy carrying his baby when he's finally happy with his little make-shift family was horrible. Owen's never been lucky in the love department, and his and Teddy's one weekend ending in a pregnancy JUST to complicate things was a plot twist we didn't need.

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The good news was that Matthew Gray Gubler returned from whatever personal project on which he was working.

That meant that Reid was back from his teaching sabbatical to help out on Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 11.

What does this mean in real terms? Well, Reid being there makes any episode better.

A Chilling Abduction - Tall - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 11

Why? I'd have to say believability. When Reid proclaims something, it just feels right. He's the master of minutia.

It also comes down to a viewer's comfort zone. I'm more likely to accept a conclusion from Reid, Rossi, JJ, and Prentiss because, well, they've put in the time. They're the veteran profilers.

Lewis, Alvez, and Simmons seem perfectly capable, but we haven't been getting to know them for a decade. To me, Lewis feels like a professor, with Alvez and Simmons seeming more like cops. And likely they'll never get the chance to reach veteran-profiler status.

It is no one's fault. Change is bound to happen on any long-running series.

Everyone has their favorite Law & Order lineup (any unit with Jerry Orbach) or CSI team (it was on borrowed time after William Peterson left). And not all shows can transition as seamlessly as M*A*S*H (kids, ask your parents).

Reid provides that wunderkind feel, offering a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of exposure therapy or exclaiming "Addresses" after looking at a table covered with numbers. That never gets old.

Welcome Return - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 11

Unlike some, I won't just turn off an episode because Matthew is off doing some indy art film which he finds more creatively satisfying. The rest of the cast deserves better than that.

Anyway, let's hope Reid is sticking around for the handful of episodes remaining this season. Criminal Minds needs that extra 20 percent or so of enjoyment that he provides on each episode in which he appears.

Frankly, I can't blame Gubler for stepping out for about a third of the season. How many times can one get psyched for yet another unsub taking vengeance on the people that he perceived as wronging him?

I mean, CSI died because viewers got tired of watching close-ups of hair and fiber. Follow the evidence. Got it.

Yes, Dustin didn't get the help he needed from his doctor and his parents. And things went downhill from there because people don't have any choice in the direction that their lives take.

Does that give him the right to kill not just the doctor and his parents, but the doctor's wife and a couple of strangers in the wrong place at the wrong time? No, not really.

Bad Place to Stay - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 11

So, for a change, bucking the pattern of this season, it was difficult to feel sorry for the unsub.

They get points for the creative use of the doorbell camera in the opening scene. It's good to see those cameras are useful for something more than thwarting porch pirates like providing one bizarre clue for law enforcement and a WTF moment for the homeowners.

I could understand why it took the BAU a while to get a handle on this unsub. There was no rhyme nor reason to his choice of victims, with a beloved local pediatrician and his wife and a running couple from out of town. His methodology made little sense either.

Related: CBS Cheat Sheet

But good old investigative techniques paid off. What caused the unsub to go to the rental home? The woman caring for the home proved to be the key witness who pointed the team to the unsub by dredging up a painful memory from the past.

It's nice to have a case every so often that Garcia doesn't solve with a Google search at the 45-minute mark.

Seeking Unsub - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 11

It was good to see that Alvez and Garcia were on good terms again, now that she didn't have to share her office with him anymore now that Prentiss does not ground him.

Was Alvez really so dense that he didn't get the concept of "Happy wife, happy life"? It seemed so.

The "It's a Wonderful Life" references at the end were enjoyable if a little late. But, since the housewarming party was entirely Lisa's idea, why not reschedule if she got called into work? One simple text chain would take care of that.

After seeing the horrors they experience on a daily basis, is it any wonder the BAU members are frequently drinking at episode's end?

View Slideshow: 12 of the Worst Plot Twists of 2018

To catch up before the shortened season wraps, watch Criminal Minds online.

Were you glad to see Reid back? What was Alvez thinking? Did you have any sympathy for the unsub?

Comment below on our first episode of 2019. Happy New Year!!

Was an abduction linked to a heinous double murder?

On Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 11, the BAU went to Portland, Oregon to investigate the abduction when there was evidence to suggest it was linked to the murder.

Watch Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 11 Online

While investigating, it emerged that someone close to the case was hiding some information that could save a life.

Meanwhile, Prentiss had to confront her issues about putting herself out there again.

Use the video above to watch Criminal Minds online right here via TV Fanatic.

View Slideshow: 12 of the Worst Plot Twists of 2018

Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

Nasty rumors have dangerous consequences.

Cruel gossip resulted in a town under siege on Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 12.

This episode was especially apt in an era when few people think twice about passing along often fact-free stories as gospel on social media. It's the old party line multiplied exponentially.

Children Disappear - Tall - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 12

In the end, it came down to a simple concept by the unsub: "You took my child, now I'm taking yours."

Unfortunately, this rationalization wasn't just something in Wayne Hollis's head. It was far too real.

It was also another example of why people shouldn't underestimate the damage that unleashed cyber-skills can cause.

That's why it took someone at Garcia's level to determine how those children were getting turned into zombies. I'd heard of subliminal images, but I didn't know the same effect could get accomplished with audio techniques.

It's always nice to have a literary touch on TV with the episode title referencing the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who also beckoned away children, in his case with the intent of having them drown themselves.

Until Garia's discovery, it had just seemed like an inexplicable form of mind control that was causing the kids to walk out of their homes and into the unsub's van.

What's Underneath - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 12

Obviously, the signals that Hollis used to control the children were short term, as the kids appeared to be themselves after Hollis imprisoned them in a locked container. But by then, there was little they could do to help themselves.

The way they were struggling, I question if the BAU ever would have pieced together Hollis' scheme if he hadn't been forced to improvise.

Since the mayor's son had his cellphone taken away, Hollis had to boldly go to the mayor's house to abduct the boy. It was gruesome how the mayor's wife kept on making dinner even after Hollis bashed in her skull.

To confront the last parent by whom he felt he had been wronged, he went to the park, a very public place. With the BAU in town, that was his one step too many, and he took his own life at the end of his revenge mission.

That part of Hollis' plan didn't ring true to me. Maybe he thought that the BAU wouldn't figure out the children's hiding spot to save them, but that rescue came together very rapidly once they assessed the trace on his body. That was good forensics in a small town.

Seeking Solutions - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 12

It was another unsub who had first gotten victimized so that it wasn't possible to fully condemn his actions. These type of cases aren't as satisfying or as clean as those with a perpetrator with a loose screw.

JJ wasn't participating much in the case as she was getting in touch with her past, surprisingly.

A case took JJ back to her home of East Allegheny, Pa., for the first time in 20 years on Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 5. Going back allowed JJ to make some peace with her past, including her older sister's death, but she had no desire to linger.

Now her mother Sandy, who JJ left behind as soon as possible when she fled to start a new life, wants to make up for lost time. While JJ and her father both escaped that troublesome past, Sandy was still stuck in the old hometown.

Awkward Reunion - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 12

So Sandy made up an excuse to visit JJ during some repairs to Sandy's home, while Will and their boys left town to avoid the family drama. Sandy wants to reconnect with her only living daughter, while JJ was content to have left it all behind.

I'm sure Sandy would have liked to have seen her grandsons too, but she got what she got.

As was evident in the earlier episode that Sandy had failed to comfort young JJ while mourning Ros, which led to JJ having to grow faster than would have been necessary under normal circumstances.

Their history made for an awkward visit, especially after Sandy wanted to go to BAU headquarters, which is not exactly a popular stop on tours of Washington. At least both women fessed up to their past shortcomings to make a fresh, if tentative, start.

It was an effective way to grow JJ's backstory without building an entire episode around one character.

View Slideshow: 21 TV Characters Who Could Use A Therapist

To follow JJ's story, watch Criminal Minds online.

Did you feel bad at all for the unsub? How did you like JJ's reunion with Sandy? What would you like to see covered during the rest of this short season?

Comment below.

Why does the whole team always find themselves in the deadliest of scenarios?

On Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 12, Prentiss and the team made their way to Iowa to investigate the disappearance of three 10-year-old children.

Watch Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 12 Online

After learning they were seemingly abducted from their homes in the middle of the night, it was down to the team to locate them.

However, the only lead they had was a neighborhood park's surveillance camera.

Use the video above to watch Criminal Minds online right here via TV Fanatic.

View Slideshow: 12 of the Worst Plot Twists of 2018

Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

This is the news everyone has been debating, expecting, and dreading over the past few seasons.

It's good news and bad news for fans of the Behavioral Analysis Unit.

Criminal Minds Season 15 has been announced, and with the renewal came the news that the 10-episode season to air during the 2019-20 broadcast season will be its last.

Careful Inspection - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 3

It's been a long and exciting ride since Criminal Minds first aired on CBS in 2005.

In 14 seasons the show has focused not only on the often gruesome cases and deranged unsubs the team hunts but on the team itself.

It's the team the viewers will miss the most.

It's the changes on the team that put the show on the bubble for a good portion of the last few seasons, but it's also the amazing members of the BAU and the actors that currently fulfill the roles who have made the show a fan-favorite again.

Missing Agent - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 6

“It is the quintessential CBS hit. We are so proud to have aired it,” said Amy Reisenbach, CBS’ EVP current programs.

“It speaks to everything we do best, which is air quality television. It’s been successful not only on air but online, in syndication, internationally for ABC (Studios).”

By the time Criminal Minds goes off the air, it will have amassed 325 episodes, putting it in the top 20 shows of all time alongside shows like ER and CSI.

Only juggernauts like Gunsmoke, Grey's Anatomy, and Law & Order: SVU top it.

Putting Together the Pieces - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 9

“We wanted to make sure Erica had the time and ability to write a season (14) finale that honors the characters and the fans,” said Reisenbach.

“We discussed wanting to keep the show in continuous production, so 10 felt like the right number for us to roll straight into and give Erica enough episodes to end the series the way she wanted to.”

What more could fans want than to know they can continue watching before a new season arrives and that they're heading toward a logical conclusion?

Well, according to Deadline, there is more in store, and it seems like something everyone will love.

“I am very hopeful that we can honor all of those characters who have been beloved and with this team, with the audience for years, but I don’t know what that’s going to look like; I don’t know the logistics of anything or the story," said Erika Messer, executive producer/showrunner.

"That won’t be shooting until the spring, so I have some time to think about it, but the hope is to be able to honor all of that history, all of those heroes who have come and gone.”

Messer also said that over the years, the idea of the ending of the show has changed, but not to expect something horrific like the BAU plane to take off and crash. She does, though, expect it to be a tearjerker.

We love ritualistic murders, serial killings, campus shenanigans, or desert disasters as much as the next guy, but Criminal Minds Season 15 is expected to be more serialized than the previous 14 before it.

With a less procedural nature, and a two-part opener after the Criminal Minds Season 14 finale (being shot now) that will feature a personal event in the life of someone from the BAU, as well as the required team member in jeopardy, maybe we'll finish off the beloved series knowing the characters better than ever.

What do you think, Criminal Minds Fanatics? Does that sound like something you'll tune in to see?

Don't forget you can always watch Criminal Minds online for years worth of entertainment featuring long-gone characters or to catch up on recent episodes.

View Slideshow: 19 Surprising TV Actors Who Also Direct

With the 2018-19 TV season well underway, it's time to take a look at how the new and returning series are performing and their odds at being renewed for the 2019-20 season.

Most shows on CBS are on the downside year-to-year, and that could give some of the more marginal shows a fighting chance at garnering a reprieve.

Criminal Minds which was expected to conclude with a truncated secured an early renewal for another season.

Have a look at how the CBS shows stack up and hit the comments with your thoughts.

1. The Big Bang Theory - Ending

The Big Bang Theory will wrap up in May 2019 at the close of its twelfth season.

Season to date, it is averaging 12.7 million total viewers and a 2.3 rating in the demo. It's down in the ratings, but could have continued for several more years if the powers that be wanted to keep it around.

It's still a strong performer on the DVR front, with the demo tally swelling by over 70 percent with a week's worth of DVR factored in.

2. Young Sheldon - Certain Renewal

Young Sheldon is down over 20 percent in the demo this season, but 10.9 million viewers and a 1.7 rating is a fantastic result for any show.

With The Big Bang Theory ending, it will likely become the network's highest-rated series. It will be around for a long time.

3. NCIS - Certain Renewal

NCIS is showing stability this season. Currently averaging 12.1 million total viewers and a 1.3 rating, it is right on par with last season's average.

It surges more than 50 percent in the demo with seven days of DVR factored in. Even if some of the cast members want out, CBS will not want to part with the show quite yet.

4. Mom - Certain Renewal

Mom has always been a reliable performer for CBS. With 8 million total viewers and a 1.3 rating in the demo, it's still very safe.

5. The Neighborhood - Certain Renewal

The Neighborhood has been a consistent performer since it debuted earlier this month. Averaging 6.4 million total viewers and a 1.1 rating, CBS has already rewarded it with a full season order.

6. FBI - Likely Renewal

This freshman drama is averaging 9.3 million viewers and a 1.1 rating. The show is adding almost 60 percent to the demo rating within seven days, so that's a major positive. If it can stop the week-to-week bleeding, it should be safe.

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It's good that things don't always get neatly tied up in a bow.

Take, for example, Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 13.

I kept expecting Rossi to pull a solution out of a hat by episode's end. Because that's what happens week after week, season after season, except for the occasional two-parter.

But no. The chameleon unsub got away. That doesn't happen.

Unless the unsub is going to be a continuing presence, and frankly Everett Lynch wasn't intriguing enough to keep him looming for the dozen episodes or so that the venerable Criminal Minds has left.

In an episode that was AJ Cook's directorial debut, having Rossi tell about the case through flashbacks was effective, especially so because Krystall is a civilian.

It's not like JJ talking to ex-cop Will or Prentiss explaining to current FBI agent Mendoza.

View Slideshow: 12 of the Worst Plot Twists of 2018

That didn't mean Krystall was a wide-eyed innocent. She's worked in Las Vegas and has seen some of the dark sides of humanity.

Not BAU dark, mind you, but she was able to ask the right questions during Rossi's tale.

She was the sounding board he needed. Prentiss hit the nail on the head when she said Rossi needed to find the right person to tell why he wasn't fine.

Prentiss was right to send him home. I wondered why Reid was still there second-guessing himself.

Chilling Calling Card - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 13

As a faceless character, Everett was difficult for the BAU to pin down.

He portrayed the person necessary to lure in his various marks, and it was hard to sort fact from fiction as a result.

Why did Everett let so much truth slip out? Was it just because that was an easier story of which to keep track?

Or did he mean to sprinkle clues for those pursuing him?

View Slideshow: 19 Surprising TV Actors Who Also Direct

His methods seemed to be as old as time: A younger woman courting an older woman while robbing her blind.

But it wasn't that simple. Unsubs' motivations rarely are.

Instead, Everett was yet another unsub with mommy issues. Mommy was a con woman and she taught him everything she knew, and he hated her for it.

He also hated her for what happened to his daughter Grace.

Surprise Ending - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 13

His mother Bobby, as played by the ever-engaging Sharon Lawrence, was a piece of work.

Even in a prison jumpsuit, she tried to turn on the sexy for Alvez and Simmons, even though such behavior is what sent her there.

Yet Bobby had a secret -- what had happened to Grace. And, despite all that Everett had done, he was still her son and she got out a warning to him.

And rather than flee after he had tracked down Grace, he decided to take on the BAU, enlisting Grace to his cause.\

View Slideshow: 21 TV Characters Who Could Use A Therapist

Grace was a big piece of the puzzle to not have figured out, and the BAU paid for it. She was a third generation of crazy.

Rossi is usually such a pillar of strength for the team, but it's natural such a near-death experience would lead him to doubt.

I always thought he was the person most capable of walking away, and now that Krystall is back in his life, retiring to become a full-time author has to be enticing to him.

But not yet. Rossi has a new archfoe now in Everett, and he can't tolerate such unfinished business. That's why he ended up talking to Grace at episode's end.

View Slideshow: 17 Times Soap Stars Guest Starred on Primetime Shows

I'm sure the rest of the BAU feels the same. This case can only be seen as a loss, but justice delayed.

There's a killer out there who can change his appearance, his mannerisms, his speech as circumstances demand.

Maybe being such a blank slate Everett's attraction. As Rossi pointed out, he could be right next to you and you'd never know it was him.

Unlike the most flamboyant of the past serial killers, he's not proclaiming his genius to the world.

Into a Trap - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 13

Still, how much could he be used while trying to wrap up everybody's stories during the short, 10-episode Criminal Minds Season 15?

Frankly, I'd rather have the greatest hits than the latest hits when it comes to unsubs, along with bringing back the essential past agents for a final bow, especially Morgan and Hotch at the very least.

I suspect Shemar Moore will be available after SWAT gets canceled.

And I'm sure the powers that be and Thomas Gibson could do bygones for one episode.

View Slideshow: 18 Brilliant (and Scary) Computer Hackers on TV Shows

To catch up as the season finale looms, watch Criminal Minds online.

Does Everett stand up as a continuing Big Bad? Can the BAU shake off this one?

What do you want to see in the final season?

Comment below.

Did Rossi go too far?

That's what he wondered on Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 13 which picked up in the aftermath of a near-death struggle with a serial killer.

Watch Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 13 Online

The serial killer seemingly outsmarted the BAU after evading them, but one last bit of evidence found the team knocking on his door.

However, Rossi was forced to entertain the prospect that he was not as good at his job as he once was.

Use the video above to watch Criminal Minds online right here via TV Fanatic.

View Slideshow: 12 of the Worst Plot Twists of 2018

Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

It's always fun when a familiar face from daytime shows up on your favorite primetime show!

If you're a soap fan, you might not be expecting to see your favorite daytime stars in primetime, but more often than not soap stars land cameo and guest appearances on popular evening shows.

Here are our top 17 times soap stars guest starred on primetime series. Did you recognize them when the shows aired?

Miss any of your favorites? You can watch full TV episodes online here on TV Fanatic to refresh your memory.

1. Vanessa Williams - The Flash

Vanessa Williams is best known to daytime viewers as Valerie Grant on Days of Our Lives, but if you watch The Flash, you may know her better as Francine West, Iris West's estranged mother who struggled to re-establish a relationship with her daughter after two decades.

2. Eric Martsolf - Rizzoli & Isles

Eric Martsolf plays good-hearted Brady Black on Days of Our Lives, but on Rizzoli & Isles Season 5 Episode 5, he got the chance to play a murderer! Martsolf's character killed a terminally ill cancer patient -- and not because of her illness either, but because of a twisted family situation that rivaled any soap storyline.

3. Daniel Cosgrove - Law & Order: SVU

Soap veteran Daniel Cosgrove who most recently Aiden Jennings on Days of Our Lives had the opportunity to play the protective father of a boy whose mother was, among other things, raping his best friend on Law & Order: SVU Season 18 Episode 10. This powerful story also marked the long-running procedural's 400th episode!

4. Mary Beth Evans - Law & Order: SVU

Mary Beth Evans' appearance on Law & Order: SVU Season 10 Episode 1 was no accident. NBC wanted to cross-promote by giving some of its daytime stars cameo roles on primetime dramas. In this case, Evans played a doctor who was overly quick to prescribe ADHD meds, making her the semi-evil twin of her character on DAYS, who is a far more conscientious and ethical doctor.

5. Shawn Christian - The Rookie

Shawn Christian is no stranger to either daytime or primetime, having played significant roles on the defunct As the World Turns and as Dr. Daniel Jonas on Days of Our Lives as well as having played Rachel's gynecologist on a famous episode of Friends. Most recently, Christian was featured on The Rookie Season 1 Episode 6 as a rogue cop who the force had to track down. Interestingly, Christian was not the only soap star featured in this episode, as Aaron D. Spears from Bold & the Beautiful and Days of Our Lives played Mr. Campbell, the father of a victim.

6. Drake Hogestyn - Criminal Minds

Drake Hogestyn, best known as super spy John Black on Days of Our Lives, played a senator on Criminal Minds Season 13 Episode 16. Ironically, his character stood up to an ineffective BAU chief to get the team back together at the same time that his DAYS character failed to stand up to a weak ISA chief who wanted him to poison his best friend.

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Calling all fans of the supernatural!

The case on Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 14 needs your expertise.

Is it witchcraft or demonic possession at foot? It's probably unlikely, but it is "Sick and Evil."

In the exclusive clip below, you'll find out what clues Tara and JJ have rounded up to assist in the BAU profile.

It doesn't take more than the method of killing, some salt tossed around and the mention of burning sage for Prentiss to declare she has the profile by the bag.

If you are a fan of shows like Supernatural, you know a salt circle and burning sage can come in pretty handy.

OK, maybe you have to watch Charmed to get into the sage, but you get the idea.

It is a job for the best, though, when two women are overcome, stabbed 22 times in the gut and then treated to the salt and sage.

Would you guess a haunted house or two might be in the picture, too?

If so, you win even more points for your love of crime dramas and metaphysical mysteries.

The BAU hasn't been 100% effective of late, so will they catch a killer or not?

You'll have to tune in to find out exactly what is ahead on what sounds like a thrilling episode of Criminal Minds Season 14.

But until then, you can watch the exclusive clip below to get a feel for how the team deals with a potential ghostly presence.

Start placing your bets on what characteristics will connect the latest crimes and the unsub!

For more the annals of this crack team, you can watch Criminal Minds online.

Criminal minds sneak peek it sounds kinda supernatural

Spirits exist inside everyone.

"Everyone gets haunted by someone or something" was the not-too-subtle theme of Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 14.

The main person in the BAU who gets haunted is David Rossi. He can't let go of Everett Lynch, the chameleonic con man who got away on Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 13.

Since Rossi is soon to get remarried to the lovely Krystall, he really needs to let this go. Everett is supposed to be lurking in the background for much of next season as well, so a mention or two an episode should be sufficient. Not full-blown brooding.

Happy thoughts, David! Happy thoughts!

I understand that obsession is part of the toolkit of any profiler, who has to be able to get inside the head of the unsub. The key is not to let the unsub get inside of their heads.

That's what seemed to have happened with Rossi. Prentiss bluntly pointed out to him to trust the process. Everett isn't the first unsub to get away, he won't be the last, and most end up captured.

The One That Got Away - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 14

Rossi could follow Reid's lead and find something else to preoccupy him. Like, I don't know, help plan the wedding he initiated. I bet Krystall would appreciate that.

Another option would be to say screw it, marry Krystall, then write a book a year to keep them in the pleasures of life: good food and drink, classic jazz, travel. The opposite of dealing with the dark side of humanity.

And that may ultimately happen, but not until after Criminal Minds Season 15, following Lynch's capture. But Rossi is still likely to be the last person out the door. He was there at the beginning; he'll be there at the end.

So what's an obsessive profiler to do to distract himself? How about traveling to a small Maine mill town to solve some freaky stabbing murders?

Haunting the Internet - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 14

It was another Rossi episode, because, well, Dave's dealing with some shit.

Never mind that anyone could have gotten jumped and overpowered. Granted, it would have been less likely with Alvez or Simmons, but still. Crazy could have won out.

With Rossi about to enter an exciting new phase of his life, he's naturally feeling his mortality. And he's pissed because of the close call. So he's going to analyze the hell out of it.

Anyway, it was an interesting wrinkle to have an unsub trying to cleanse supposedly haunted houses by killing the residents "infecting" them with multiple stab wounds.

Demonic Possession? - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 14

Yeah, that's a clear signal of an off-balance individual. Like, say, someone who had gone off her meds.

Courtney made a good early sign of being the unsub. After all, she did that reliable unsub trick of inserting herself into the investigation. Also, she was something of an expert about the haunted houses in the area.

Then there was the whole thing with getting caught bloody-handed. Talk about your red herring.

It was a case of being in the wrong person at the wrong time. Rossi interrogated her but recognized another haunted soul. What an example of parallel storytelling.

It didn't hurt that the only witness testified that when the unsub conveniently took off her mask still inside the house, she was a woman but not Courtney. Then Courtney immediately came to Rossi's aid, giving him a list of potential suspects. So she was proven odd but helpful.

They Call it Witchcraft - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 14

And dumb. Let's not forget dumb.

Shortly after being told that those with a high level of interest in the paranormal are suspects, she went on a field trip to an abandoned home with one such investigator.

When the proper course of action was to stay away until the unsub was caught, she acted like a fangirl and went along with Stephanie, like it was a badge of honor.

When do you suppose she thought better of that, when Stephanie's knife flew by her head or when she saw Patrick dead on the ground? Either one should have been a ruh-roh moment.

More Research - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 14

Of course, Rossi arrived just in time to save her naive ass, after Stephanie took her sweet time tying Courtney to the bed rather than just stabbing her where she fell. Oh well, dramatic tension and all that.

It was kind of Rossi to support Courtney in her beliefs afterward, even if he didn't believe in them himself. He knew that was her way of dealing with her own ghost.

It was amusing at the end to listen to the BAU debate the paranormal and what constitutes a monster.

View Slideshow: 17 Times Soap Stars Guest Starred on Primetime Shows

SPOILER ALERT: Thankfully, the wedding between David and Krystall is set for Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 15, the season finale. Let's hope the ceremony doesn't prove to be a cliffhanger. Closure, in this case, is a good thing.

To catch up before the finale, watch Criminal Minds online.

Can Rossi shake Everett's escape? Did it slow him down any? Are you looking forward to the wedding?

Comment below.

Was there something supernatural going on?

Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 14 asked our leading characters just that.

Watch Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 14 Online

The BAU was called in when a string of murders taking place in supposedly haunted houses.

With the media attention, the team had to work fast to secure the crime scenes and find out whether anything supernatural was at play.

Tara and JJ embarked on a deadly mission to one of the scenes.

With evidence seemingly tampered with, they had to stop it from being contaminated more with the aim of catching the serial killer.

While the investigation continued, however, our heroes had to entertain the possibility that another cult could be to blame.

Would the show really go back to the world of cults so soon?

Use the video above to watch Criminal Minds online right here via TV Fanatic.

View Slideshow: 17 Times Soap Stars Guest Starred on Primetime Shows

Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

And now, to push off the happy ending you've been waiting for, we've got a case.

Krystall gave Rossi a break from the wedding preparations to chase a spree killer in Los Angeles on Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 15.

So we all got to wait for 40 minutes for the main event.

Oh well, I suppose this is the season finale for a show called Criminal Minds, so the powers that be kind of had to show a criminal mind, no matter how weak an unsub they pursued.

Yup, a basic revenge killer.

At first, the initial shooter was crashing into cars then shooting their drivers. Not the safest way of completing the task, I'd think.

I thought the shooter was played by actor Jason Ritter (Kevin [Probably] Saves the World), a dark turn for a career-changing role.

Then, when he was gunned down at the 20-minute mark before the BAU could get any useful info out of him, I realized it couldn't be Ritter and checked the credits. The third victim of this unsub was played by Rusty Joiner, an American model/actor.

I was wrong. It happens. I should have realized that this finale would have too big a cast to feature a name guest star.

Los Angeles Detour - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 15

A third dead body allowed the team to make the connection to an old case of a man convicted of killing people while playing Truth or Dare in traffic. However, that worked. I vote for drunk instead.

Maybe it happened the way Casey described, maybe it didn't. Not enough people believed him and away he went.

Somehow he got released early with a humdinger of a revenge plan: having those who he felt wronged him kill off each other as he threatened their loved ones. It didn't really seem to have anything to do with Truth or Dare, at least not until near the end.

That's creative, so maybe he's a criminal mind. But there were a couple holes in his plan. His shooters were properly motivated by fear, but not particularly skilled at the activities required to complete their tasks. Also, GPS seemed to be their undoing.

So, yeah, some people aren't made to be killers, even if they're trying to save those they love. They weren't thinking straight, so that didn't help.

We got thrown a fop in that final hostage scene when JJ agreed to play Casey's game of Truth or Dare since it's tough to talk down a crazy man. Whether her confession of love was the truth or just a timely invention, it gave Reid time to free his hands and grab his ankle piece, putting down the mad dog.

Bye Bye - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 15

Huh. Reid having an ankle piece was a bigger surprise. Thank God Alvez is preaching armaments to the brains in the BAU.

So does JJ love Reid? Definitely, like a brother.

Could they have had something more? Maybe, but that window is far in the past. JJ is with her family now. I think it was like Prentiss had said in her toast. Maybe they could have been a couple in another dimension. At least that's what I took away from it.

Conversation Among Friends - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 15

Of course, interruptions kept them from actually hashing it out at the wedding. Spencer took the high road and basically said, "That's cool." He knows that ship has sailed.

They really need to find him a girlfriend in Criminal Minds Season 15. Maybe he meets someone during one of his multiple hiatuses (hiati?), and they retire together to university positions. That's where he truly belongs.

I suspect that's the way Rossi is headed as well. He'll retire to enjoy his second chance with Krystall. It's hard to do that when you're being called off to Idaho to investigate an unsub with a fondness for collecting eyeballs with a potato peeler.

Wedding Portrait - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 15

The wedding and reception were enjoyable but had too much of a montage-y feel to them. I'd preferred to have shaved another five minutes off the case of the week and used it here instead.

But then I know some viewers feel that anything that veers too far from the gruesome norm is a mistake. Me, I'm fine with the characters' personal lives getting explored.

Of course, Lisa and Mendoza weren't available because, well, it was a big cast, and I don't think producers are sold on those characters yet.

Still, we got some fun tidbits.

Thoughtful Toast - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 15

Johnny Mathis was Rossi's best man, although he looked most of the time like he'd wandered onto a TV set. He's a legend and can get away with that.

Matt and Simmons are expecting Child No. 5 (are they Catholics? Mormons?).

Rossi's daughter Joy made it just in time ... to fade into the background. Of course, Krystall's daughter Portia was underutilized as well.

Chances Are - Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 15

The BAU once again proved they can party. Lord knows they need to let off some steam.

And when we see them again, JJ and Reid will be back to normal.

There was no real cliffhanger this time around. So what's on the checklist for the final season?

Put an end to new Big Bad Everett Lynch; come up with a few new worthwhile villains while dusting off some favorites, bringing back past popular cast members for swan songs, then giving everyone a final landing spot.

That will be crammed 10 episodes.

View Slideshow: 17 Times Soap Stars Guest Starred on Primetime Shows

To rewatch this shortened season, watch Criminal Minds online.

How does JJ feel about Spencer? What was your favorite part of the wedding/reception? What's essential for you next season?

Comment below.

Did Rossi and Krystall manage to tie the knot?

On Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 15, the team was forced to make its way to Los Angeles to investigate a series of fatal shootings.

Watch Criminal Minds Season 14 Episode 15 Online

Once there, it quickly became apparent that someone wanted them there.

They had to look at past cases to find out who it was, but it quickly became apparent that only one member of the team was the target.

Meanwhile, JJ wondered whether it was time for her to leave the team behind, or if she could continue with her current situation.

Also, Reid had an alarming phone call.

Use the video above to watch Criminal Minds online right here via TV Fanatic.

View Slideshow: 17 Times Soap Stars Guest Starred on Primetime Shows

Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

Singles Awareness Day is an interestingly strange holiday to have follow after Valentine's Day. But there is always a way to turn it around, especially when it is about appreciating some of our favorite TV shows in the process.

These are a selection of TV characters that are currently single on our TV screens, all of whom deserve to be celebrated.

23 TV Spouses That Are Actual Goals For Us

In addition to that though, these are characters that should change their relationship status and we would love to help them with that. These are our favorite TV singles who we would like to date, even if we didn't get to ask them to be our Valentines.

Who are some of your favorite TV characters that are single and that you would want to help out with that?

1. Clarke Griffin - The 100

Clarke Griffin has been through a lot in her love life, so wanting to see her happy seems like the most obvious wish. The 100 has really put their female lead through a lot, the least they could do is show that there is time for her to find love. And if the show is taking suggestions then it would have to be between her "platonic" soulmate Bellamy or me.

2. Steve Harrington - Stranger Things

Steve is going to need someone to help him look after all his kids during Stranger Things Season 3, especially when he is at his new job at the mall. But he probably won't have to worry about finding volunteers, in fact, he may have to spend some time just going over all of them.

3. Margo Hanson - The Magicians

It is about time Margo was constantly showered with the love and appreciation that she deserves. She stole all our hearts the second she appeared on The Magicians, so it would only be fair for her to thrive even more with a new addition if she so chooses.

4. Alex Crawford - The Bold Type

The only thing we would like to see more than Alex getting more screentime is Alex getting to date someone. We are all obviously volunteering, but whoever makes him happy is the clear cut winner here.

5. Dina Fox - Superstore

No one really deserves Dina because she is unique and rare and we would all be so lucky. But maybe there is still someone that could catch her eye soon? Garrett is the obvious choice but surprises are fun too.

6. Thomas Magnum - Magnum P.I

It would be impossible not to develop a crush on such a lead, none of us are to blame.

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Whether it's a comedy or drama, without a positive character development TV shows can feel bland and boring. It can take seasons or episodes for a character to develop and mature.

Most often these changes are prompted by love, life-changing events, or even age. These elements are what humanizes characters and make them all the more relatable.

The growth of these characters is pertinent to us feeling more attached and ultimately more invested in the show. Continue on and learn which characters we found contained the strongest developments. Don't forget to comment below any of your thoughts!

1. Eddie Saville - A Million Little Things

A Million Things is only one season in and the characters have already done their fair share of developing! In the beginning, Eddie was stuck in an unhappy marriage and cheating with his best friend's wife. By the end of the season, he's learned that sometimes the best thing to do is walk away. He figures out that communication is key and he understands the mistakes he made and the sacrifices Katherine gave for their family.

2. Axl Heck - The Middle

Originally Axl is portrayed as a lazy, ungrateful son who holds zero potential. His parents are excited if he simply leaves the house dressed properly. After his trip abroad he comes back a changed man who is ready to find his own job and life beyond the comfort of his doting parents.

3. Sutton Brady - The Bold Type

Gone are the days of Sutton's coffee fetching, phone answering, and paperwork filing. After her friends are successfully moving up the career chain, she begins questioning her potential. She finally chases after her dreams in fashion and becomes a force to be reckoned with. She no longer allows herself to be hidden away by her boyfriend and instead fights for the respect she deserves.

4. Eddie Huang - Fresh Off the Boat

Eddie started the show as a little boy, focused only on himself and his cool factor. Years later, a few inches taller, and voice a few octaves lower he's finding his way in the world beyond the label of Asian-American. He begins realizing the impact he could have on his life and those around him, and that his mother's seemingly strict mannerisms are rooted in love.

5. Mark Sloan - Grey's Anatomy

Mark Sloan, a true silver fox, who was once known as the paramour who slept with Derek's wife. By the time of his tragic and sad death on the show, he had gained the respect of the fandom and this turnaround in character made his loss so much harder. I only wish he had realized his love for Lexi much sooner because his love for her made him change for the better.

6. Haley Dunphy - Modern Family

Haley was always the airheaded daughter with zero prospects. She was always seen fighting with her brother and sister, but after 10 seasons she has finally grown into an adult. Although she will always be seen by her parents as their little girl, she will finally be something more than that making them proud as she takes on motherhood.

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If there's anyone who can make an orange jumpsuit look good, it's TV characters.

At some point in a series, the main character does something that lands them behind bars.

Usually, it's split right down the middle with characters who are guilty and characters who have been framed but are, in fact, innocent.

The crimes that land our favorites in jail range from petty crimes to crimes that deserve a harsh punishment like theft, battery or even murder.

Here's a list of TV characters who have served time and look way too good in orange.

It's important to note that not all prisoners wear orange jumpsuits, but those brown jumpsuits don't make as much of a statement.

1. The Ladies of Litchfield - OITNB

The ladies of OITNB made the orange jumpsuit a whole 'lewk' when it debuted in 2013! Piper was thirty and thriving in New York City until her past caught up to her and she was forced to serve 15 months at Litchfield Penitentiary where she was reunited with her ex-girlfriend, Alex.

2. Rose aka Sin Rostro - Jane the Virgin

Rose undoubtedly deserves to be in prison for all the pain she's caused the Villanueva women, Rafael, Michael, and even her ex-lover, Luisa. But being locked up hasn't stopped the mastermind from running her illegal plastic surgery operation to alter criminals' faces.

3. The Liars - Pretty Little Liars

The liars have done their fair share of questionable things, including murder, but it was all at the behest of A. They never deserved to be incarcerated for protecting themselves, but when they were, at least they were all together.

4. Jake and Rosa - Brooklyn 99

Detectives Jake Peralta and Rosa Diaz were wrongly put behind bars for a crime they didn't commit after attempting to infiltrate a dirty squad led by Lt. Melanie Hawkins. As they assimilated to their new normal, their team looked for ways to bust them out.

5. Archie Andrews - Riverdale

Archie has endured a lot of trauma at the hands of Hiram Lodge, but his stint in prison took the biggest toll on him. He was framed for the murder of Cassidy Bullock, marked by the Warden as the Red Palladin, and forced to fight in an underground prison fight club. Thankfully, his friends broke him free just before he broke.

6. Maya Pope - Scandal

At the tender age of 16, Maya began selling government secrets and later, caused her husband to shoot down a plane of over 300 innocent people. It's no surprise she spent most of her life in prison with her own daughter believing she was dead.

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It's time to take a look at which shows from the 2018-19 TV season.

Which shows made the cut for renewals?

We've rounded them all for you below.

This article will be updated as the season winds down with other shows that have been renewed, so bookmark the page.

1. The Blacklist - NBC

Renewed for Season 7!

2. Brooklyn Nine-Nine - NBC

Love is in the air brooklyn nine nine s6e14

Renewed for Season 7!

3. Chicago Fire - NBC

Renewed for Season 8!

4. Chicago Med - NBC

Renewed for Season 5!

5. Chicago P.D. - NBC

Renewed for Season 7!

6. The Good Place - NBC

Eleanor the architect horizontal the good place s3e13

Renewed for Season 4.

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The main character isn't always the best character.

Sometimes the lead or the main cast can't carry their fair share of weight, and the responsibility of keeping the audience entertained falls on one characterer in particular.

We created a slideshow below of 21 characters who carried the show on their backs!

1. Eretria - The Shannara Chronicles

Eretria was always the best part of The Shannara Chronicles. Her growth and her personal arc carried the story and made each episode more interesting than the last.

2. Fonzie - Happy Days

Fonzie may have started off the show as a secondary character, but he moved up in the ranks. In time, he became the lead of the show, and the network even considered renaming Happy Days after him.

3. Ava Jalali - The Perfectionists

The Perfectionists is nowhere near as good as Pretty Little Liars. But the whole spinoff feels worth it just for Ava Jalali. It's all too easy to feel a connection to her character, and her storyline is the most exciting aspect of the show.

4. J.R. Ewing - Dallas

Dallas wasn't originally supposed to focus on J.R. He became such an integral and beloved character that his storyline quickly moved front and center on the show.

5. Blair Waldorf - Gossip Girl

Serena was the "It Girl" on the series, but her best friend Blair was by far the most interesting. Her quirky attitude and her determination to succeed are what made Gossip Girl so successful.

6. Castiel - Supernatural

Castiel AND the Winchesters carry the show on their backs. We would have no show without Sam and Dean. But the show significantly improved when Castiel got introduced, and he has become just as crucial as the Winchesters themselves.

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