Criminal Minds season 9

Criminal Minds was officially renewed for a ninth season on May 9, 2013^[1] and premiered on CBS and CTV, on September 25, 2013.^[2] The season consists of 24 episodes with the 200th episode being episode 14 of the season, and the finale on 14 May. This new season is said to reveal more on the past of Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau. "We're going to use the serendipitous gift of Season 6 to explain with flashbacks what happened when she was working for the Pentagon and why she came back as a much tougher character. I've never had a chance to flex my acting muscles like this on the show!" said A. J. Cook.^[3] The season also featured the return of Paget Brewster and Jayne Atkinson for the 200th episode, which aired on February 5, 2014.^[4] On May 14, 2014, it was revealed at the end of the season finale that Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) would be leaving the show.

Criminal Minds
Season 9
Season 9 U.S. DVD cover
Starring	Joe Mantegna Shemar Moore Matthew Gray Gubler A. J. Cook Kirsten Vangsness Jeanne Tripplehorn Thomas Gibson
No. of episodes	24
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	September 25, 2013 (2013-09-25) – May 14, 2014 (2014-05-14)
Season chronology
List of episodes

Cast

Main

• Joe Mantegna as Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi (BAU Senior Agent)
• Shemar Moore as Supervisory Special Agent Derek Morgan (BAU Agent)
• Matthew Gray Gubler as Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid (BAU Agent)
• A. J. Cook as Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (BAU Agent)
• Kirsten Vangsness as Special Agent Penelope Garcia (BAU Technical Analyst & Co-Communications Liaison)
• Jeanne Tripplehorn as Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Alex Blake (BAU Agent)
• Thomas Gibson as Supervisory Special Agent Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner (BAU Unit Chief & Co-Communications Liaison)

Special guest star

• Paget Brewster as Agent Emily Prentiss (Chief of Interpol-London Office)

Recurring

• Esai Morales as Supervisory Special Agent Mateo "Matt" Cruz (BAU Section Chief)
• Rochelle Aytes as Savannah Hayes
• Cade Owens as Jack Hotchner
• Mekhai Andersen as Henry LaMontagne
• Nicholas Brendon as Kevin Lynch
• Meredith Monroe as Haley Hotchner
• Josh Stewart as William "Will" LaMontagne Jr.

Guest

• Jayne Atkinson as Erin Strauss
• C. Thomas Howell as George Foyet / The Reaper
• Eva LaRue as Tanya Mays

Episodes

See also: List of Criminal Minds episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	Prod. code	U.S. viewers (millions)
187	1	"The Inspiration"	Glenn Kershaw	Janine Sherman Barrois	September 25, 2013 (2013-09-25)	901	11.27[5]
When two Glendale, Arizona women are sexually assaulted and found dead from a single gunshot to the heart, the BAU sets out to apprehend a devolving serial killer (Frederick Koehler) who forces his victims to eat human flesh. Meanwhile, Hotch contemplates filling the Section Chief position and an unexpected twist promises to change the course of the investigation.
188	2	"The Inspired"	Larry Teng	Breen Frazier	October 2, 2013 (2013-10-02)	902	11.12[6]
After a routine fingerprint comparison reveals the man considered the prime suspect in the Glendale, Arizona murders is Wallace Hines' identical twin brother, the BAU juggles delving into the siblings' respective pasts, convincing their narcissistic biological mother (Camryn Manheim) to cooperate in the investigation, and tracking down Hines before he strikes again.
189	3	"Final Shot"	Bethany Rooney	Sharon Lee Watson	October 9, 2013 (2013-10-09)	904	10.98[7]
When six seemingly unrelated civilians are gunned down in a Dallas, Texas plaza, the BAU attempts to determine if the crime was an isolated incident, a homegrown terrorist attack inspired by the impending anniversary of the Kennedy assassination, or a targeted attack that was aimed at tracking down and killing a particular individual.
190	4	"To Bear Witness"	Rob Bailey	Erica Messer	October 16, 2013 (2013-10-16)	903	11.06[8]
When a Baltimore, Maryland John Doe is subjected to lobotomy and found with a microscopic camera embedded in his eye, the BAU works with new Section Chief Mateo Cruz (Esai Morales) to profile an abductor with ties to an international cold case. Meanwhile, JJ and Cruz attempt to keep their past relationship secret from the team.
191	5	"Route 66"	Doug Aarniokoski	Virgil Williams	October 23, 2013 (2013-10-23)	905	11.55[9]
With Hotch hospitalized due to complications resulting from the stab wounds received during his near-fatal encounter with George Foyet and Rossi staying behind to obtain word on his prognosis, the remaining members of the BAU set out to track down a Wichita, Kansas teenager believed to have been abducted by her estranged father.
192	6	"In the Blood"	Michael Lange	Bruce Zimmerman	October 30, 2013 (2013-10-30)	906	10.64[10]
When a Provo, Utah Jane Doe is found buried in a tomb of rocks and a second Jane Doe is found in the same vicinity, the BAU sets out to track down a ritualistic killer obsessed with the Salem Witch Trials. Meanwhile, Garcia prepares to host a Day of the Dead celebration at her apartment and Hotch returns from his leave of absence.
193	7	"Gatekeeper"	Matthew Gray Gubler	Rick Dunkle	November 6, 2013 (2013-11-06)	907	9.70[11]
When three Boston, Massachusetts men are blitz-attacked and strangled to death, the BAU sets out to profile a voyeur who stalks his victims and kills anyone he perceives as a bad influence. Meanwhile, the team rallies behind Rossi after learning his favorite bar is set to be closed due to low business.
194	8	"The Return"	John Terlesky	Kimberly Ann Harrison	November 13, 2013 (2013-11-13)	908	11.63[12]
When a Chicago, Illinois teenage runaway dies after gunning down three civilians at a diner, the BAU determines the shooter was manipulated into carrying out the attack and is a member of a homegrown terrorist group. Meanwhile, Morgan discovers his latest romantic interest, Savannah (Rochelle Aytes), takes her job just as seriously as he does.
195	9	"Strange Fruit"	Constantine Makris	Janine Sherman Barrois	November 20, 2013 (2013-11-20)	909	12.40[13]
When two sets of female skeletal remains are excavated from the backyard of a Virginia house following a drainage pipe explosion, the BAU juggles identifying the victims and delving into the residents' past. Meanwhile JJ tries to convince Cruz to tell the rest of the team about their past relationship.
196	10	"The Caller"	Rob Bailey	Sharon Lee Watson	November 27, 2013 (2013-11-27)	910	11.10[14]
When a St. Louis, Missouri couple receives a cryptic telephone call after finding their ten-year-old son missing and the front door of their house covered in blood, the BAU suspects the disappearance is linked to a fifteen-year-old cold case and attempts to establish a connection between both crimes.
197	11	"Bully"	Glenn Kershaw	Virgil Williams	December 11, 2013 (2013-12-11)	911	11.19[15]
The BAU returns to Missouri after Blake receives a phone call from her father asking the team to help track down the person responsible for a series of killings connected to an unsolved double homicide. Meanwhile, Blake juggles profiling the killer and working with her estranged brother.
198	12	"The Black Queen"	Tawnia McKiernan	Breen Frazier	January 15, 2014 (2014-01-15)	912	10.35[16]
When an online collective hacks the Justice Department and the San Jose Police Department and claims a death-row inmate previously convicted of strangling eight prostitutes is innocent, Garcia attempts to assist the BAU by delving into her past.
199	13	"The Road Home"	Joe Mantegna	Bruce Zimmerman	January 22, 2014 (2014-01-22)	913	10.35[17]
With Rossi searching Los Angeles, California for his former Marine Corps sergeant (Meshach Taylor), the remaining members of the BAU set out to track down a mission-oriented Cleveland, Ohio vigilante. Meanwhile, JJ continues to keep the team from discovering her secret.
200	14	"200"	Larry Teng	Rick Dunkle	February 5, 2014 (2014-02-05)	914	12.92[18]
When JJ and Cruz are reported missing and both disappearances are connected to a clandestine mission from their time at the State Department, the BAU secretly works with former SSA Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) in an attempt to rescue their missing colleagues.
201	15	"Mr. & Mrs. Anderson"	Félix Alcalá	Kimberly Ann Harrison	February 19, 2014 (2014-02-19)	915	10.06[19]
When two Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania women are strangled and subsequently found wrapped in a shower curtain, the BAU attempts to determine whether or not the crimes were committed by a two-person killing team. Meanwhile, Morgan and Garcia make Valentine's Day plans for their significant others and JJ returns from her leave of absence.
202	16	"Gabby"	Thomas Gibson	Jim Clemente & Erica Messer	February 26, 2014 (2014-02-26)	916	9.42[20]
When a four-year-old Hattiesburg, Mississippi girl goes missing while temporarily staying with a relative, the BAU juggles tracking down the missing child, determining whether or not her biological father was involved in the kidnapping, and identifying the owner of a minivan seen near the abduction site at the time of the kidnapping.
203	17	"Persuasion"	Rob Lieberman	Sharon Lee Watson	March 5, 2014 (2014-03-05)	917	11.42[21]
When two Las Vegas, Nevada women are drowned and subsequently found in the desert, the BAU sets out to profile a homeless serial killer who is exacting revenge against members of his own community. Meanwhile, Reid grows increasingly anxious after attempting to contact his mother and learning she went on a trip without telling him.
204	18	"Rabid"	Doug Aarniokoski	Virgil Williams	March 12, 2014 (2014-03-12)	918	10.74[22]
When three sets of human remains are excavated from a shallow grave outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the BAU attempts to track down a killer who infects his victim with rabies and films them as their symptoms worsen. Meanwhile, Garcia and Reid juggle preparing for an upcoming fitness test and keeping their plan secret from Morgan.
205	19	"The Edge of Winter"	Hanelle Culpepper	Janine Sherman Barrois	March 19, 2014 (2014-03-19)	919	10.14[23]
While helping a traumatized survivor prepare to testify at an upcoming trial, Morgan reflects on the events surrounding their first encounter and the BAU's attempt to track down a Hamilton, New York serial killer who uses his crimes to know about the abuse he suffered as a child.
206	20	"Blood Relations"	Matthew Gray Gubler	Breen Frazier	April 2, 2014 (2014-04-02)	920	10.47[24]
When two Wheeling, West Virginia men are found dead, the BAU juggles identifying a vicious killer with a twisted modus operandi, investigating a long-standing feud between two local families, and uncovering a secret one woman is determined to keep hidden.
207	21	"What Happens in Mecklinburg..."	Rob Hardy	Ticona S. Joy	April 9, 2014 (2014-04-09)	921	9.85[25]
When three people are abducted from Memphis, Tennessee parking lots, the BAU connects the kidnappings to a year-old incident and sets out to apprehend a killer bent on revenge. Meanwhile, Morgan becomes conflicted about what to do after Savannah reveals she is unhappy with the amount of traveling his job requires.
208	22	"Fatal"	Larry Teng	Bruce Zimmerman	April 30, 2014 (2014-04-30)	922	10.30[26]
The BAU returns to California to track down a Long Beach serial killer obsessed with Greek mythology after two people receive death threats and are subsequently found dead from arsenic poisoning. Meanwhile, Hotch grows concerned after Jack asks him to participate in his school's upcoming career day.
209	23	"Angels"	Rob Bailey	Rick Dunkle, Breen Frazier & Janine Sherman Barrois	May 7, 2014 (2014-05-07)	923	10.52[27]
When a Briscoe County, Texas prostitute is tortured and shot to death and her murder is connected to a six-month-old cold case with eerily similar circumstances, the BAU attempts to determine whether or not the crimes were motivated by religious ideals. Meanwhile, an unexpected series of events puts two team members' lives in jeopardy.
210	24	"Demons"	Glenn Kershaw	Erica Messer	May 14, 2014 (2014-05-14)	924	12.03[28]
With Reid hospitalized following the shootout with now-deceased suspect Justin Mills (Brett Cullen), the remaining members of the BAU set out to take down a corrupt organization preparing to fulfill a sinister agenda. Meanwhile, Garcia inadvertently puts herself in the line of fire and Blake wrestles with a secret from her past.

Ratings

U.S. ratings

No. in series	No. in season	Episode	Air date	Time slot (EST)	Rating/Share (18–49)	Viewers (m)	18-49 Rank	Viewership rank	Drama rank
187	1	"The Inspiration"	September 25, 2013 (2013-09-25)	Wednesday 9:00 P.M.	2.8/8[5]	11.27[5]	20[29]	19[29]	7[29]
188	2	"The Inspired"	October 2, 2013 (2013-10-02)		2.7/8[6]	11.12[6]	21[30]	17[30]	7[30]
189	3	"Final Shot"	October 9, 2013 (2013-10-09)		2.6/7[7]	10.98[7]	18[31]	12[31]	9[31]
190	4	"To Bear Witness"	October 16, 2013 (2013-10-16)		2.7/7[8]	11.06[8]	16[32]	13[32]	5[32]
191	5	"Route 66"	October 23, 2013 (2013-10-23)		2.7/7[9]	11.55[9]	17[33]	14[33]	5[33]
192	6	"In the Blood"	October 30, 2013 (2013-10-30)		2.4/6[10]	10.64[10]	19[34]	14[34]	6[34]
193	7	"Gatekeeper"	November 6, 2013 (2013-11-06)		2.3/6[11]	9.70[11]	22[35]	19[35]	8[35]
194	8	"The Return"	November 13, 2013 (2013-11-13)		2.7/8[12]	11.63[12]	13[36]	13[36]	5[36]
195	9	"Strange Fruit"	November 20, 2013 (2013-11-20)		2.8/8[13]	12.40[13]	13[37]	19[37]	3[37]
196	10	"The Caller"	November 27, 2013 (2013-11-27)		2.4/7[14]	11.10[14]	16[38]	12[38]	4[38]
197	11	"Bully"	December 11, 2013 (2013-12-11)		2.4/7[15]	11.19[15]	18[39]	8[39]	5[39]
198	12	"The Black Queen"	January 15, 2014 (2014-01-15)		2.4/7[16]	10.35[16]	13[40]	12[40]	5[40]
199	13	"The Road Home"	January 22, 2014 (2014-01-22)		2.2/6[17]	10.35[17]	14[41]	9[41]	3[41]
200	14	"200"	February 5, 2014 (2014-02-05)		2.8/7[18]	12.92[18]	13[42]	10[42]	3[42]
201	15	"Mr. & Mrs. Anderson"	February 19, 2014 (2014-02-19)		2.5/7[19]	10.06[19]	12[43]	10[43]	1[43]
202	16	"Gabby"	February 26, 2014 (2014-02-26)	Wednesday 10:00 P.M.[44]	2.2/6[20]	9.42[20]	24[45]	18[45]	6[45]
203	17	"Persuasion"	March 5, 2014 (2014-03-05)	Wednesday 9:00 P.M.	2.6/7[21]	11.42[21]	11[46]	9[46]	4[46]
204	18	"Rabid"	March 12, 2014 (2014-03-12)		2.3/7[22]	10.74[22]	16[47]	19[47]	5[47]
205	19	"The Edge of Winter"	March 19, 2014 (2014-03-19)		2.2/6[23]	10.14[23]	12[48]	10[48]	7[48]
206	20	"Blood Relations"	April 2, 2014 (2014-04-02)		2.6/7[24]	10.47[24]	11[49]	13[49]	4[49]
207	21	"What Happens In Mecklinburg..."	April 9, 2014 (2014-04-09)		2.3/7[25]	9.85[25]	13[50]	12[50]	5[50]
208	22	"Fatal"	April 30, 2014 (2014-04-30)		2.2/6[26]	10.30[26]	12[51]	12[51]	3[51]
209	23	"Angels"	May 7, 2014 (2014-05-07)		2.3/7[27]	10.52[27]	10[52]	8[52]	5[52]
210	24	"Demons"	May 14, 2014 (2014-05-14)		2.7/8[28]	12.03[28]	5[53]	5[53]	1[53]

Live + 7 Day (DVR) ratings

No. in series	No. in season	Episode	Air date	Time slot (EST)	18–49 rating increase	Viewers (millions) increase	Total 18-49	Total viewers (millions)	Ref
187	1	"The Inspiration"	September 25, 2013 (2013-09-25)	Wednesday 9:00 p.m.	1.3	3.60	4.1	14.87	[54]
188	2	"The Inspired"	October 2, 2013 (2013-10-02)		1.3	3.34	4.0	14.46	[55]
189	3	"Final Shot"	October 9, 2013 (2013-10-09)		1.3	3.31	3.9	14.28	[56]
190	4	"To Bear Witness"	October 16, 2013 (2013-10-16)		1.2	3.06	3.9	14.11	[57]
191	5	"Route 66"	October 23, 2013 (2013-10-23)		1.2	3.13	3.9	14.68	[58]
192	6	"In the Blood"	October 30, 2013 (2013-10-30)		1.3	3.30	3.7	13.94	[59]
193	7	"Gatekeeper"	November 6, 2013 (2013-11-06)		1.4	3.41	3.7	13.11	[60]
194	8	"The Return"	November 13, 2013 (2013-11-13)		1.2	3.25	3.9	14.87	[61]
195	9	"Strange Fruit"	November 20, 2013 (2013-11-20)		1.4	3.58	4.2	15.98	[62]
196	10	"The Caller"	November 27, 2013 (2013-11-27)		—	—	—	—	—
197	11	"Bully"	December 11, 2013 (2013-12-11)		1.4	3.49	3.8	14.69	[63]
198	12	"The Black Queen"	January 15, 2014 (2014-01-15)		1.5	3.82	3.9	14.21	[64]
199	13	"The Road Home"	January 22, 2014 (2014-01-22)		1.6	4.10	3.8	14.45	[65]
200	14	"200"	February 5, 2014 (2014-02-05)		1.2	3.48	4.0	16.39	[66]
201	15	"Mr. & Mrs. Anderson"	February 19, 2014 (2014-02-19)		1.3	3.59	3.8	13.65	[67]
202	16	"Gabby"	February 26, 2014 (2014-02-26)	Wednesday 10:00 p.m.[44]	—	—	—	—	—
203	17	"Persuasion"	March 5, 2014 (2014-03-05)	Wednesday 9:00 p.m.	1.4	3.70	4.0	15.13	[68]
204	18	"Rabid"	March 12, 2014 (2014-03-12)		1.3	3.22	3.6	13.96	[69]
205	19	"The Edge of Winter"	March 19, 2014 (2014-03-19)		1.4	3.66	3.6	13.80	[70]
206	20	"Blood Relations"	April 2, 2014 (2014-04-02)		1.4	3.60	4.0	14.07	[71]
207	21	"What Happens in Mecklinburg..."	April 9, 2014 (2014-04-09)		1.3	3.32	3.6	13.17	[72]
208	22	"Fatal"	April 30, 2014 (2014-04-30)		1.4	3.71	3.6	14.01	[73]
209	23	"Angels"	May 7, 2014 (2014-05-07)		1.3	3.36	3.6	13.89	[74]
210	24	"Demons"	May 14, 2014 (2014-05-14)		1.2	3.39	3.9	15.42	[75]

Home media

The Complete Ninth Season
Set details		Special features
24 episodes 6-disc set (Region 1) 5-disc set (Region 2 & 4) Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Subtitles: English English: Dolby Digital 5.1		Eyes Only Gag Reel Deleted Scenes
DVD release date
Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
August 26, 2014 (2014-08-26)[76]	December 8, 2014 (2014-12-08)[77]	December 3, 2014 (2014-12-03)[78]