Criminal Minds (season 1)

Criminal Minds (season 1)
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Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	22
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	September 22, 2005 (2005-09-22) – May 10, 2006 (2006-05-10)

The first season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005 and ended May 10, 2006.

Cast

Main cast

• Mandy Patinkin as Jason Gideon
• Thomas Gibson as Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner
• Lola Glaudini as Elle Greenaway
• Shemar Moore as Derek Morgan
• Matthew Gray Gubler as Dr. Spencer Reid
• A. J. Cook as Jennifer "JJ" Jareau

Recurring cast

• Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia
• Meredith Monroe as Haley Hotchner

Guest stars

Lukas Haas guest starred in the first two episodes of the season as The Footpath Killer, whose real identity is never revealed.

In the pilot episode, "Extreme Aggressor," Andrew Jackson guest starred as the series first UnSub, Timothy Vogel, aka "The Seattle Strangler." Chelah Horsdal played his victim, Heather Woodland. In the episode "Won't Get Fooled Again," Tim Kelleher guest starred as Adrian Bale, a serial bomber responsible for the deaths of six FBI Agents. In the episode "Plain Sight," Kirk B. R. Woller guest starred as serial rapist and murderer Franklin Graney, aka "The Tommy Killer," and Sunkrish Bala made a small appearance as Jordan.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation star Elisabeth Harnois guest starred in a dual role as Patricia and Cheryl Davenport, respectively, in the episode "Broken Mirror".

In the episode "Broken Mirror," Matt Letscher guest starred as Vincent Shyer, an erotomaniacal stalker who abducts one of the twin daughters of Executive Assistant District Attorney Evan Davenport, played by Robin Thomas. In the episode "L.D.S.K.", Marcus Giamatti guest starred as Barry Landman, a narcissistic trauma surgeon suspected of committing several shootings. Paula Newsome plays Detective Shea Calvin, who leads the investigation of the shootings. In the episode "The Fox," Neal Jones guest starred as one of the series' most notorious criminals, Karl Arnold, aka "The Fox," a serial killer who murders entire families. Tony Todd guest starred as Eric Miller, a man who was wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his family.

Timothy Omundson guest starred in the episode "L.D.S.K." as Phillip Dowd, a narcissistic sniper suffering from Hero syndrome.

In the episode "Natural Born Killer," Patrick Kilpatrick guest starred as Vincent Perotta, a professional hitman who abducts FBI Agent Josh Cramer of the Organized Crime Unit. Francesco Quinn guest starred as Michael Russo, a mob boss who hires Perotta to abduct Cramer. In the episode "Derailed," Chris Bauer guest starred as Dr. Theodore Bryar, a paranoid schizophrenic who held several passengers hostage, including Elle Greenaway, on a train. Jeff Kober guest starred as Bryar's imaginary friend, Leo, and M. C. Gainey guest starred as Detective Frank Moretti, who leads the investigation of the hostage situation. In the episode "The Popular Kids," Will Rothhaar guest starred as Cory Bridges, a cult killer who murdered two high school students.

Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul guest starred in the episode "The Popular Kids" as Mike Zizzo, a cult leader who founded a satanic cult called "Lords of Destruction".

In the episode "Blood Hungry," Kris Lemche guest starred as cannibalistic spree killer, Eddie Mays, and Lindsay Crouse played his mother, Mary. In the episode "What Fresh Hell?," Ned Vaughn guest starred as Donald Curtis, a pedophile who abducts an eleven-year-old girl named Belinda Copeland. In the episode "Poison," Nick Jameson guest starred as Edward Hill, a serial killer who murders people with poisonous drugs. In the episode "Riding the Lightning," Jeanetta Arnette guest starred as Sarah Jean Mason, an inmate on death row who is determined to make sure her son never finds out the truth of his parentage. Michael Massee guest starred as Jacob Dawes, a serial killer who murdered several teenage girls.

Amber Heard guest starred in the episode "Somebody's Watching" as Lila Archer, a famous actress who develops a crush on Spencer Reid.

In the episode "Unfinished Business," Aaron Lustig guest starred as Walter Kern, aka "The Keystone Killer," and Geoff Pierson guest starred as Max Ryan, a retired FBI Agent who is determined to find the killer. In the episode "The Tribe," Chad Allen guest starred as Jackson Cally, a cult leader who tortures and murders college students. Skyler Shaye guest starred as his accomplice, Ingird Griesen. In the episode "A Real Rain," Ethan Phillips guest starred as schizophrenic vigilante killer Marvin Doyle. David Aaron Baker played Will Sykes, an attempted copycat of Doyle who wanted to be famous, and Tonya Pinkins played Detective Nora Bennett, who leads the investigation of the killings.

Peter Jacobson guest starred in the episode "Somebody's Watching" as Michael Ryer, Lila Archer's manager who is murdered by Maggie Lowe.

In the episode "Somebody's Watching," Katheryn Winnick guest starred as Maggie Lowe, a serial killer and stalker who obsesses over actress Lila Archer. Ian Anthony Dale guest starred as Detective Owen Kim, who leads the investigation of the murders. In the episode "Charm and Harm," Andy Comeau guest starred as Mark Gregory, a serial killer and abductor who murders his victims by drowning them. In the episode, "Secrets and Lies," Ray Baker guest starred as rogue CIA Agent Bruno Hawks. In the season finale "The Fisher King (Part I)," Charles Haid guest starred as one of the series most notorious criminals, Randall Garner, aka "The Fisher King," a serial killer and abductor responsible for the attempted murder of Elle Greenaway. The incident proved so traumatizing, she resigned from the BAU the following season.

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	1	"Extreme Aggressor"	Richard Shepard	Jeff Davis	September 22, 2005 (2005-09-22)	101	19.57
When a fifth woman goes missing in Seattle in a period of four months, the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is brought in to track down the serial killer. They arrest a suspect, but after seeing that the profile doesn't match, they quickly realize that he has a partner whom they must locate before he kills again. Meanwhile, Elle Greenaway, an agent working in Seattle, helps the team in hopes of getting the new position in the BAU.
2	2	"Compulsion"	Charles Haid	Jeff Davis	September 28, 2005 (2005-09-28)	102	10.57
The team of investigators try to capture a serial arsonist who has been terrorizing a college campus in Tempe, Arizona. Most of the evidence from the fires had been burned beyond recognition, so Gideon and the BAU must rely on psychological analysis to identify the firestarter.
3	3	"Won't Get Fooled Again"	Kevin Bray	Aaron Zelman	October 5, 2005 (2005-10-05)	103	11.98
Gideon and the BAU track down a copycat bomber who has been terrorizing Palm Beach, Florida. They determine the bomber is mimicking Gideon's nemesis, Adrian Bale (Tim Kelleher), the man responsible for murdering Gideon's team in Boston several months earlier. When a hostage appears with a bomb around his neck, Gideon must swallow his pride and ask Bale for help in disarming the bomb after the copycat bomber blows himself up when Hotch and Elle attempt to arrest him.
4	4	"Plain Sight"	Matt Earl Beesley	Edward Allen Bernero	October 12, 2005 (2005-10-12)	104	13.76
The BAU travels to San Diego to help stop a serial rapist and murderer called the "Tommy Killer" by the local media because he glues his victim's eyes wide open after raping and murdering them. The suspect appears to have blended into the neighborhood so well that the local authorities have been unable to capture him so far. Meanwhile, Reid celebrates his birthday.
5	5	"Broken Mirror"	Guy Norman Bee	Judith McCreary	October 19, 2005 (2005-10-19)	105	12.79
The BAU investigates the kidnapping of a U.S. District Attorney's daughter from New Haven, Connecticut and determines the kidnapper isn't seeking money - he's after her twin sister as well. The case becomes complicated because the kidnapper is always one step ahead of them and may actually be infiltrated into the investigation. Absent: A. J. Cook as Jennifer Jareau and Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia
6	6	"L.D.S.K."	Ernest Dickerson	Andrew Wilder	November 2, 2005 (2005-11-02)	106	16.22
The BAU is asked to identify a long distance serial killer, or a sniper, who is shooting at victims in broad daylight in Des Plaines, Illinois, and the team works with local law enforcement officers to recreate one of the shootings. Meanwhile Reid fails his gun qualification and is forced to work without a gun which becomes a problem when he and Hotch are taken hostage by the UnSub.
7	7	"The Fox"	Guy Norman Bee	Simon Mirren	November 9, 2005 (2005-11-09)	107	15.09
The BAU profiles a serial killer in Alexandria, Virginia who takes families hostage and spends time with them acting as a father figure during what is supposed to be their family vacations.
8	8	"Natural Born Killer"	Peter Ellis	Erica Messer & Debra J. Fisher	November 16, 2005 (2005-11-16)	108	14.36
When an undercover cop involved in a mob investigation in Baltimore goes missing, the BAU believes a serial killer rather than the mob has something to do with his disappearance. The probe leads to several unsolved missing persons cases.
9	9	"Derailed"	Félix Alcalá	Jeff Davis	November 23, 2005 (2005-11-23)	109	12.83
Elle, along with four civilians, is held hostage on a train in Lubbock, Texas by a paranoid schizophrenic who is convinced that the U.S. government is monitoring him through a microchip in his arm. Reid and Gideon are forced to play into the man's fantasy to save the people he has taken hostage.
10	10	"The Popular Kids"	Andy Wolk	Edward Allen Bernero	November 30, 2005 (2005-11-30)	110	15.56
The BAU travels to the Massanutten Mountain to investigate the murder of two small-town high school students who may have been victims of a Satanic cult killing. Based on the crime scene evidence, the team begins to believe it is possible that someone other than a cult member may be responsible for the killings.
11	11	"Blood Hungry"	Charles Haid	Ed Napier	December 14, 2005 (2005-12-14)	111	15.23
While Gideon is sidelined on crutches in Quantico, Hotchner and the BAU go to Harringtonville, Tennessee in an attempt to get inside the mind of a psychotic killer whose disorganized and erratic fantasies have led him to cannibalism.
12	12	"What Fresh Hell?"	Adam Davidson	Judith McCreary	January 11, 2006 (2006-01-11)	112	15.92
When a young girl is abducted in broad daylight from a playground in a seemingly safe neighborhood in Wilmington, Delaware, the BAU initially believes her father is responsible. When he is able to provide an alibi, the team is forced to look for clues near where the girl lives to determine who is really responsible.
13	13	"Poison"	Thomas J. Wright	Aaron Zelman	January 18, 2006 (2006-01-18)	113	14.65
The team travels to Beachwood, New Jersey where several people have been poisoned, one fatally, with LSD 10-20 times more potent than the street version but they soon suspect that the victims were only a test group and that the UnSub is planning something much bigger.
14	14	"Riding The Lightning"	Chris Long	Simon Mirren	January 25, 2006 (2006-01-25)	114	14.10
After interviewing a married couple sitting on death row for serial murders in Alachua, Florida, including the murder of their son, Gideon suspects the woman is actually innocent and that her son may actually be alive. Since she's set to be executed in two days, it's a race against time to prove it.
15	15	"Unfinished Business"	J. Miller Tobin	Erica Messer & Debra J. Fisher	March 1, 2006 (2006-03-01)	115	11.72
A serial killer in Philadelphia reappears after 18 years of silence and contacts the BAU through Gideon's retired mentor, who had made his life's work tracking the killer, with the promise he will kill another victim in the next five days. Now the BAU must find out who the killer is before the deadline.
16	16	"The Tribe"	Matt Earl Beesley	Andrew Wilder	March 8, 2006 (2006-03-08)	116	15.27
When college students are found in Terra Mesa, New Mexico, tortured and murdered in an unoccupied house, the BAU suspects a group of killers with a knowledge of Native American rituals is responsible. To prove it they get help from a Native American reservation cop.
17	17	"A Real Rain"	Gloria Muzio	Chris Mundy	March 22, 2006 (2006-03-22)	117	13.03
The BAU travels to New York City to investigate a series of murders that appear to have been committed by a vigilante who is exacting revenge on criminals who have been released by the justice system. And the team is not helped by the fact that the local press is praising the UnSub, calling them someone committing "street justice".
18	18	"Somebody's Watching"	Paul Shapiro	Ed Napier	March 29, 2006 (2006-03-29)	118	12.54
While with Gideon to teach a profiling seminar to the local police department in Los Angeles, Spencer finds himself in danger when he falls for a starlet named Lila Archer whose stalker has turned into a killer by shooting all those who they deem to be a threat to Lila.
19	19	"Machismo"	Guy Norman Bee	Aaron Zelman	April 12, 2006 (2006-04-12)	119	11.76
The BAU travels to Allende del Sol, Mexico to aid in the capture of a serial killer who has targeted elderly women. They encounter skepticism from local law enforcement, however, who believe that the American profiling tools cannot account for the machismo of Mexican culture.
20	20	"Charm and Harm"	Félix Alcalá	Erica Messer & Debra J. Fisher	April 19, 2006 (2006-04-19)	120	13.53
The BAU works to capture a serial killer in St. Petersburg, Florida whose identity is known to police, but who has evaded capture by altering his appearance, enabling him to pick up more random victims before torturing and drowning them in the privacy of hotel rooms.
21	21	"Secrets and Lies"	Matt Earl Beesley	Simon Mirren	May 3, 2006 (2006-05-03)	121	12.17
The BAU works with the CIA, in its headquarters in Langley, Virginia, to identify a mole within that organization whose leaks are putting operatives at risk.
22	22	"The Fisher King, Part 1"	Edward Allen Bernero	Edward Allen Bernero	May 10, 2006 (2006-05-10)	122	12.67
While on their separate vacations, each member of the BAU receives a clue from a psychotic killer obsessed with Arthurian legend who challenges them to save his next victim. The episode ends in a cliffhanger where Elle, exhausted from the day's events is confronted in her home and shot by the enraged UnSub because the team broke the one precious rule of the game: no outside help allowed.

External links

• Criminal Minds at IMDb
• Criminal Minds at TV.com