| Criminal Minds (season 7) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
The cast of Criminal Minds. From left to right: Thomas Gibson (with beard), AJ Cook, Matthew Gray Gubler, Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster and Shemar Moore. Not shown: Kirsten Vangsness |
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| Country of origin | United States | ||
| Broadcast | |||
| Original channel | CBS | ||
| Original run | September 21, 2011 – present | ||
| Season chronology | |||
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| List of Criminal Minds episodes | |||
The seventh season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS in the United States on September 21, 2011.[1]
Contents |
| Character | Portrayed by | Main cast | Recurring cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Rossi | Joe Mantegna | entire season | N/A |
| Emily Prentiss | Paget Brewster | entire season | N/A |
| Derek Morgan | Shemar Moore | entire season | N/A |
| Dr. Spencer Reid | Matthew Gray Gubler | entire season | N/A |
| Jennifer "JJ" Jareau | A. J. Cook | entire season | N/A |
| Penelope Garcia | Kirsten Vangsness | entire season | N/A |
| Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner | Thomas Gibson | entire season | N/A |
| Erin Strauss | Jayne Atkinson | N/A | 2 episodes |
| William LaMontagne, Jr | Josh Stewart | N/A | 1 episode (to date) |
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 139 | 1 | "It Takes a Village" | Glenn Kershaw | Erica Messer | September 21, 2011 | 14.14[2] |
|
The BAU team is at crossroads when they are questioned by a Senate Committee for their retaliatory actions to get revenge on Doyle with help from a familiar face, JJ, who returns. They find out that Morgan has been tracking Doyle since the day Prentiss died and that Doyle's son is in danger. The race against time to find Doyle before someone else does tests the team and the trust between them as it is shaken by a familiar face who is going to assist the team in this case. Recurring characters: Jayne Atkinson as Erin Strauss. |
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| 140 | 2 | "Proof" | Karen Gaviola | Janine Sherman Barrois | September 28, 2011 | 12.58[3] |
| The BAU team searches rural Oklahoma when women are being found murdered after being robbed of one of their five senses. JJ and Prentiss get the cold shoulder from Reid as he deals with their deception about Prentiss' presumed death, while Rossi has a cooking lesson for the team to bring them together. | ||||||
| 141 | 3 | "Dorado Falls" | Felix Alcala | Sharon Lee Watson | October 5, 2011 | 13.43[4] |
| The BAU team investigates a mass murder at an Internet security company in nearby Charlottesville but clues reveal it is not a typical serial killer at work. Meanwhile, Prentiss must complete recertification training under Morgan's watchful eye. | ||||||
| 142 | 4 | "Painless" | Larry Teng | Breen Frazier | October 12, 2011 | 12.87[5] |
| Survivors of a high school massacre in Boise that occurred in October 2001 return to remember the event 10 years later, but the BAU team is called in when a new killer with a similar style targets the survivors. Also, Hotch is worried that his son, Jack, may be a victim of school bullying, while Morgan and Reid exchange pranks. | ||||||
| 143 | 5 | "From Childhood's Hour" | Anna Foerster | Bruce Zimmerman | October 19, 2011 | 13.15[6] |
| The BAU team investigates the abductions of young children with troubled mothers in St. Louis. Rossi reconnects with his first wife, who has shocking news for him. | ||||||
| 144 | 6 | "Epilogue" | Guy Ferland | Rick Dunkle | November 2, 2011 | 12.94[7] |
| The BAU search California's Angeles National Forest after a number of bodies mysteriously turn up in the mountain lakes there. Meanwhile, Rossi struggles with an agonizing decision regarding his ex-wife. | ||||||
| 145 | 7 | "There's No Place Like Home" | Rob Spera | Virgil Williams | November 9, 2011 | 11.36[8] |
|
When a series of tornadoes hits Kansas, the BAU is called in to investigate bodies of young boys that turn up in the aftermath of the storms. Work pressures cause tension on JJ's home front. Recurring characters: Josh Stewart as William LaMontagne, Jr. |
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| 146 | 8 | "Hope" | Michael Watkins | Kimberly Ann Harrison | November 16, 2011 | 12.72[9] |
| A case turns personal for Garcia when the BAU investigate the disappearance of a woman in her survivors' support group whose daughter went missing seven years earlier. | ||||||
| 147 | 9 | "Self-Fulfilling Prophecy" | Charlie Haid | Erica Messer | December 7, 2011 | 12.41[10] |
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When a small group of military academy youths commit a mass suicide, the BAU team looks into the real reasons behind their actions. Meanwhile, Hotch and Morgan butt heads when a team member could be in jeopardy. Recurring characters: Jayne Atkinson as Erin Strauss. |
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| 148 | 10 | "The Bittersweet Science" | Rob Hardy | Janine Sherman Barrois | December 14, 2011 | 12.88[11] |
| The BAU team investigates a string of brutal bludgeons in Philadelphia and is led to the city's boxing scene in search of the killer. Hotch makes a connection with an attractive runner as they both train for a triathlon. | ||||||
| 149 | 11 | "True Genius"[12] | Glenn Kershaw | Sharon Lee Watson | January 18, 2012 | TBD |
| A series of murders in San Francisco bearing the tell-tale signs of the infamous Zodiac Killer have the BAU wondering if the notorious serial killer has returned. Also, Reid ponders if he should be doing more with his genius abilities. | ||||||
| 150 | 12 | "Unknown Subject"[13] | Michael Lange | Breen Frazier | January 25, 2012 | TBD |
| The BAU team searches for a serial rapist in Houston known as "The Piano Man" who has resurfaced and is assaulting his previous victims. Also, Prentiss tries to come to terms with her trauma from last year and with rejoining the team. | ||||||
| Episode | U.S. ratings | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original airdate | Viewers (millions) |
Rank | ||
| Night | Week | |||
| "It Takes a Village" | September 21, 2011 | 14.14[2] | 2 | 13[2] |
| "Proof" | September 28, 2011 | 12.58[3] | 2 | 13[3] |
| "Dorado Falls" | October 5, 2011 | 13.43[4] | 1 | 9[4] |
| "Painless" | October 12, 2011 | 12.87[5] | 2 | 11[5] |
| "Childhood's Hour" | October 19, 2011 | 13.15[6] | 2 | 11[6] |
| "Epilogue" | November 2, 2011 | 12.94[7] | 2 | 15[7] |
| "There's No Place Like Home" | November 9, 2011 | 11.36[8] | 2 | 17[8] |
| "Hope" | November 16, 2011 | 12.72[9] | 2 | 11[9] |
| "Self-Fulfilling Prophecy" | December 7, 2011 | 12.41[10] | 1 | 12[10] |
| "The Bittersweet Science" | December 14, 2011 | 12.88[11] | 1 | 9[11] |
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