by Aimee Lewis

Criminal Minds is a widely popular show about five FBI profilers. Set in Quantico, Virginia, the show is created by Jeff Davis. Unlike many other crime procedural shows, Criminal Minds focuses on the behavior of a serial killer, rather than the evidence. By merely looking at a crime scene, they are able to tell what kind of person the murderer is, whether or not he or she actually wanted to commit murder, or if they regret it but feel like they have to. The profilers are also able to determine a range of age that they believe the killer to be. Sometimes profilers are even able get down to very small details, as shown in one episode, where they are able to tell that the murderer would have a small pocket book in the right pocket of his shirt.

Also unlike many other crime shows, Criminal Minds doesn’t just revolve around the profilers’ jobs and how they are going to solve their newest crime. It also revolves around the characters, and how much having a job like this affects them.

In my opinion, Criminal Minds is one of the best shows on television because, not only does it have some of the best actors, actresses and writing, but because it shows how something that is not well-known and very underestimated works, and how affected men and women are by a job in the FBI, or law enforcement in general. It shows just how much strength one has to have to be able to do a job like this.

Criminal Minds stars Thomas Gibson (Aaron “Hotch” Hotchner 2005-Present), Shemar Moore (Derek Morgan, 2005-Present), Matthew Gray Gubler (Spencer Reid, 2005-Present), Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss, 2006-Present), Joe Mantegna (David Rossi, 2007-Present), and Kirstin Vangsness (Penelope Garcia, 2005-Present). Past cast includes- A.J. Cook (Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, 2005-2010), Mandy Patinkin (Jason Gideon, 2005-2007), and Lola Glaudini (Elle Greenaway, 2005-2006).

I highly recommend this show to anyone who likes crime shows with great depth into the characters, and over-all good writing. I do not recommend this show for children because its content can be very mature, considering the topic.

Tune in to watch Criminal Minds during its 6th season on CBS at 8PM on Wednesdays.

Aimee Lewis is 17 years old and an ongoing contributor to our Teen Talk section; her interests are acting and reading, and she hopes to become a Criminologist and work in Law Enforcement.