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One of the most highly rated shows in TV history, HBO’s The Wire is hailed to this day by fans across the globe as the most realistic series in terms of criminal investigations. Created by writer David Simon, the series reflects realism through his experience as a former police reporter.

In fact, the show was so grounded and realistic that former US president Barack Obama invited the writer of the show to the White House to interview him on how he created such a piece of art.

All of this boils down to the absurd levels of accuracy the show managed to portray the things that go down during a criminal investigation and the events that surround it.

How The Wire Became a Timeless Work of Art Through Realism

It’s not often that a TV show comes along and just takes over the collective consciousness of the populace.

Streaming platforms keep us hooked with fresh stories and timeless classics, and Paramount+ is no exception. This week, its lineup blends sharp comedies, intense crime dramas, and beloved animated adventures, offering something for everyone. From nostalgic favorites to gripping new releases, these shows have climbed to the top of the viewership charts, reflecting their broad appeal across different tastes.

The list features a mix of long-running hits and a brand-new series that just premiered on July 11, 2025. Whether you’re drawn to dark thrillers, family-friendly laughs, or procedural mysteries, Paramount+ delivers. Below, we break down the ten most-watched shows, starting from the bottom and working up to the number-one pick, with details on what makes each one a must-watch.

10. The King of Queens (1998-2007) Columbia TriStar Television

This sitcom follows Doug Heffernan, a delivery driver, and his quick-witted wife, Carrie, living in Queens, New York. Kevin James and Leah Remini bring...

Criminal Minds Evolution spoilers and updates reveal there are special surprises ahead in in Season Nineteen. For one, there’s a Star Trek veteran who’s been cast for a mystery role!

Jeri Ryan, Star Trek’s Seven Of Nine Is Coming

Best recognized for her role as Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager and Picard, where she received two Saturn Awards in 2001 and 2024, Jeri Ryan is joining with a strong background.

The main cast of the Bau stays the same for Season 19. Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, and A.J. Cook will all return to their roles, once again delving into the minds of America’s most sinister criminals.

Zach Gilford is also back as Elias Voit. This is the terrifying killer who transformed from the main villain in Season 16 to a morally complex character by Season 18.

Jeri Ryan Is The First New Cast...

Fans of CBS’s police procedural crime drama Criminal Minds had a jolly good ride in the just-ended Season 18, and anticipation is already ramping up ahead of a new season. While fans imagine all the possible directions the plot might take, the show has some new faces lined up for the upcoming season. According to TVLine, the Behavioral Analysis Unit will be bolstered with the addition of Jeri Ryan to the cast for Season 19. Ryan becomes the first official new cast member for a mystery role that showrunners are keeping tightly under wraps.

Best known for her turn as Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager and Picard, for which she won two Saturn Awards in 2001 and 2024, Ryan is coming onboard with a solid resume. The Bau’s core cast remains intact for Season 19. Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, and A.J. Cook will all reprise their roles,...

It looks like a famous Star Trek alum is about to beam on board a popular crime drama in a mystery role!

Star Trek actors have often done well avoiding being typecast outside of the franchise. William Shatner struggled for years to escape the shadow of Kirk but succeeded with T.J. Hooker and Boston Legal. Other actors have done well with non-Trek roles, and while still connected to the franchise, stand on their own.

One of the best examples is Jeri Ryan. Before Star Trek: Voyager, her biggest role was on the short-lived NBC sci-fi drama Dark Skies. It was her turn as Seven of Nine that boosted Ryan to fame, and her portrayal of the former Borg made her an instant sci-fi fan favorite.

Since Voyager ended, Ryan has stayed busy on TV. She’s had roles on Boston Public, Shark, Body of Proof, Leverage, and Bosch, along with numerous guest star roles.

Criminal Minds: Evolutionshowrunner and executive producer Erica Messer confirms that a TV legend has joined season 4. In the finale of Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, the Bau seemingly bids farewell to Zach Gilford's Elias Voit and looks ahead to what's next. For arguably the first time in the Paramount+ revival's history, there isn't a massive cliffhanger to address.

The path for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 4 may be a little clearer now, as Messer confirms to TVLinethat veteran actress Jeri Ryan has joined the show. Although exact details about who Ryan will be playing are not known, Messer talks in the quote below about how Ryan's iconic Star Trek connects her to the Paramount+ crime drama:

“Jeri had worked with the director of the premiere, Doug Aarniokoski, for years on Star Trek, so they’ve known one another. ... But yeah, Jeri is amazing.”

What This Means For Criminal Minds: Evolution...

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 10 aired on July 10, 2025, on Paramount+, but unfortunately, the anticipated explosive finale generated mixed feelings about the endings to the Voit, Serial Killer Network, and Disciple cases. While some enjoyed the Bau's takedown, others found it underwhelming and disappointing. If that didn't frustrate fans enough, Erica Messer confirmed another season-long unsub is in store for season 4.

Although I enjoyed the finale and seeing Voit flip the script, I can't ignore that it felt a little underwhelming than expected. After spending so much time focused on Voit, his story ended bleakly and predictably. The Bau deserves to be free of Voit, but in a twist of fate, they feel sorry for him in the end. Although I wished for this outcome for Voit, it still lacked the shock value that leads me to think Voit will end up killing someone else due to his wavering thoughts between good and evil.

After playing the role of Matt Simmons, former Criminal Minds star Daniel Henney had since become one of the stars of Amazon's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. With The Wheel of Time now declared to be canceled at Prime Video, fans may be speculating that Henney will return in the upcoming fourth season of Criminal Minds: Evolution. However, fans should not get excited, as the idea of that happening has been shut down.

Series showrunner Erica Messer commented to TVLine on the possibility of Henney returning as Simmons in Season 4 of Criminal Minds: Evolution, which serves as the 19th season overall for Criminal Minds. While the actor might have a more open schedule, the problem is that the season has already been mapped out. The door has seemingly been left open for a possible return beyond the new season, but Messer emphasized that it's just not going to be...

Criminal Minds: Evolution is heading into its 19th season. When the drama returned on Paramount+, it did so with a majority of the cast that had been with the show when Criminal Minds ended its 15-season run on CBS in 2020: Joe Mantegna as David Rossi, Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss, A.J. Cook as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis, and Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez. Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid) and Daniel Henney (Matt Simmons) didn’t return, with scheduling making it impossible for guest spots — until Season 18. Gubler returned in the third episode of the season, for the funeral of JJ’s husband Will (Josh Stewart). “We were so lucky to get him, that the stars aligned for him to be there and for such an important episode and such an emotional time. And I feel like that’s...

This post contains spoilers from Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 10.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 9 was a rollercoaster of emotions as Nurse John fooled Dr. Ochoa and the Bau when he joined Voit’s two-week nurse rotation. On duty, he’s spying on Voit for the network, and off the clock, he’s tying up loose ends to run the Bau ragged. Meanwhile, Voit pisses everyone off trying to be the good guy using unhealthy habits. Then, he’s abducted after trying to keep him and Dr. Ochoa concealed from the hospital bloodbath.

Adam Rodriguez (Luke) and Aisha Tyler’s (Tara) collective warning about season 3’s finale being “explosive” had me nervous. They lead me to theorize if Dr. Ochoa was The Disciple or Tessa, while also wondering if Voit would turn evil. One of those predictions was extremely wrong, while others were correct. Episode 10 was packed with powerful and heartfelt scenes,...

Spoiler Alert! This story contains details from the season finale of Criminal Minds: Evolution.

Paramount+ just dropped the final episode of the 18th season, which saw the return of serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford), a fan favorite who’s become more complicated than ever. And it looks like we haven’t seen the last of this bad boy just yet.

Here, showrunner Erica Messer addresses the big changes we saw in Voit this season, along with how she and the writers came up with The Disciple, and what to expect from Season 19, which was ordered in March. Criminal Minds stars Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, and Rj Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster.

Deadline We’ve seen Voit go through such a transformation; he was very steadfast in his commitment to being good, even in the face of The Disciple. But there were moments, like when...

Criminal Mindskeeps sliding further down the streaming charts following its latest season. Despite the show's popularity, its ratings are slipping.

Per FlixPatrol, Criminal Minds has suffered a serious slump over the past few days. The series' average rating, which previously stood at a solid 5, has taken a consistent slide down the charts, currently sitting at an average of 6.6, which looks to be creeping ever closer to 7.

Criminal Minds: Evolutionbegan with the sixteenth season of Criminal Minds. Following a two-year hiatus, the series returned with a brand-new title and a whole new set of horrifying stories to explore. The series brings back original Criminal Minds stars Joe Mantegna, A. J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster in their iconic roles as the members of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, all while paving the way for new stars such as Aimee Garcia to make their own Criminal Minds debut.

This post contains spoilers from Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 9.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 8 was emotional, twisty, and impactful as I watched Tara fight for her life. Some fans may think the Bau made no progress, but the episode showed how far someone would go to hurt the Bau. This caused the team to leave no stone unturned as they uncovered more about Voit and Uncle Cyrus’ past and their connections to the present danger.

Episode 9 left me yelling at my TV as the "to be continued" flashed across the screen. The events had one thing in common: Viewers were unknowingly following new hire, nurse John, through the events of the past eight days. With heavy suspicion, I said, “Nurse John is a part of this.” As the crime scene hit Penelope’s servers, the Bau figured out the network was tying up loose ends.

L-r: Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez,...

Criminal Minds isn’t a stranger to creating explosive endings that leave fans wanting more. Not only is the Bau hunting one unsub a week, but they’re also tackling a whole network of unsubs who teach each other to kill more effectively. For weeks, the episodes have left fans wondering if the Bau will take down the network, if Voit is still a bad guy, and how the team will emerge on the other side.

Criminal Minds stars tease season 3’s explosive ending

When Adam Rodrigez (Luke) told US Weekly that season 3 would be a wild ride, noting that fans will be distraught by the end until season 4 premieres, ahead of season 3’s premiere, we knew this season would destroy us. From Will’s sudden death to Tara’s shooting, fans have been distraught since episode 2, and according to Rodrigez, the finale packs a punch.

Season 3 has been setting...

This post contains spoilers from Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 8.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 7 wreaked havoc from all angles. The Uncle Cyrus deepfake failed to turn Voit evil, but succeeded in breaking Penelope’s spirit when a keystroke results in a victim’s death. If Sicarius Spiders didn’t scare us enough, Tara lying unconscious with bullet wounds gutted fans. I’m still in shambles as the pain continues in episode 8 with Tara fighting for her life.

Episode 8 dove headfirst into Tara’s grief and discovered she had closed herself off from love and commitment after losing her mom to cancer. Fans learned more about Tara than ever before while sobbing over her impending battle. Meanwhile, the Bau was pulling an all-nighter to uncover answers on Tara’s shooting by the disciple known as Mr. Lonely Heart (who ironically was kicked off the network while Voit was running it). With each new clue,...

Criminal Minds: Evolutionstar confirms the return of the series' biggest villain in the next season.

Speaking to TV Line, Aimee Garcia, who made her Criminal Minds: Evolution debut in the series' currently ongoing eighteenth season, discussed the return of Zach Gilford's Elias Voit in Season 19, despite the actor not being included in the latter season's cast photo. "Let's just say that Voit is a beloved character in the same way that Tony Soprano and Dexter," Garcia stated. "[Tony Soprano and Dexter] were antiheroes that we loved. Voit went from an antihero that we love to a possible key to helping dissuade other antiheroes, so he may be hard to get rid of."

A continuation of Criminal Minds, the series was rebranded as Criminal Minds: Evolution for its sixteenth season in 2022. The series follows returning stars Joe Mantegna, A. J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster in their roles as...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 Episode 7 “…All the Devils Are Here.”] “I told Tyler this job is about loss, but we have been losing ever since Voit woke up,” Prentiss (Paget Brewster) tells Rossi (Joe Mantegna) in the Thursday, June 19, episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution, and she’s not wrong. It does feel like the Bau has been losing a lot this season. First, there are the UnSubs of Voit’s (Zach Gilford) network and the cases. The first two die (by suicide), the third passes along an eerie message, the fourth taunts the Bau by positing more than one will be activated with him captured, and now, in Episode 7, yes, the team captures two of the followers, but it feels like a small win in comparison. After all, they kill Voit’s former lawyer, Orlov (Brian White), too, after they’ve gotten everything they ...

This post contains spoilers from Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 7.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 6 gave us answers only to leave us in the dark again. Rebecca’s ex, Evan, returns, sending Tara into a jealous tizzy. A woman is buried alive, and a package locks down the FBI building. From one extreme to the next, Criminal Minds fans can’t rest when all the devils are roaming the world.

Episode 7 left me in shambles. The new network unleashes Sicarius Spiders into the mouths of their male victims, who are then placed inside balloons set to explode in their stomachs. I’m with Penelope on this one as she tries to stop the invisible spiders from crawling all over her. That’s not even the worst part of this week’s evidence: Voit agrees to help the Bau and comes face-to-face with his past, while Tara’s fate hangs in the balance.

Criminal Minds is thriving. The long-running crime procedural is still flexing its staying power, racking up over 1,000 consecutive days in the Nielsen streaming charts. And where is it dominating? None other than the Taylor Sheridan-powered home of gritty dramas: Paramount+.

While Sheridan’s universe brings the chaos of cowboys, outlaws, and oil tycoons, Criminal Minds holds it down with good old-fashioned profiling and suspense. Nearly three years of nonstop bingeing prove one thing – the Bau is as addictive as ever.

Criminal Minds is in Paramount+’s Top 10 longer than any Taylor Sheridan show A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster in a still from Criminal Minds | Credits: CBS

Criminal Minds is outlasting even Taylor Sheridan’s power plays. As of June 18, 2025, the iconic procedural drama has spent 1,033 consecutive days in Paramount+’s Top 10, longer than Yellowstone, Tulsa King, Special Ops: Lioness, or any other Sheridan creation, per sources.

The CBS-born hit,...

This post contains spoilers from Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 6.

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 5 helped me see crime scenes through the lens of grief. JJ has dealt with grief since childhood, but it hardly affected her work until now. Having her retell the case to Dr. Ochoa and Voit not only helped Voit communicate with the Brutal Man, but it also uncovered information about the new serial killer network.

Two killers sit across from each other, as Voit taps into his evil side to make the unsub believe he’s his leader. Voit remembers more than the Bau knew about, but is later fact-checked by Penelope. The Brutal Man met Voit when he was a kid. Did this memory break Voit’s brain while almost having the unsub try to commit suicide in front of him? It’s a high possibility, which is jaw-dropping.

L-r: Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia...

Criminal Minds: Evolution newcomer Aimee Garcia spoke about whether she will return for Season 4 and also warned viewers of more deaths this season.

Garcia, known for her role as Dr. Julia Ochoa, will be returning for Season 4 of Criminal Minds: Evolution. In an interview with ScreenRant, Garcia expressed an interest in returning to the show, provided her character survives.

Garcia stated in the interview, "I would like nothing more than to come back as long as they will have me, as very few characters are safe on the show. So I go through the script very quickly to see if we've seen the last of [her]. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but if I were to stay alive this season, and that's a big 'if' – it is Criminal Minds – I would love for her just to be another asset to the team in whatever capacity. So from your lips to bosses' ears!

Criminal Minds: Evolutionactor Aimee Garcia is warning fans to "trust no one" in Season 3. That includes her own character, Dr. Julia Ochoa, a recent addition to the Paramount+ show.

Speaking to TV Insider, Garcia was asked why newcomer Julia should be trusted not just by the characters at the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, but by viewers at home. "Criminal Minds does a great job of subverting expectations and putting everything upside down," she replied. "The characters you like, you end up hating, the characters you hate, you ended up loving."

"I cannot confirm nor deny anything, but I say trust no one," Garcia continued ominously. "Is she the good doctor? Does she have an ulterior motive? Does she have a superior interest [in Lucas] Voit besides 'do no harm' and to keep him healthy? I don’t know. But I would say with a show like Criminal Minds, everything is on the table.

Life can change in a flash, something actor Tray Chaney, best known for his role as Poot on HBO’s The Wire, learned in the most devastating way possible. On May 29, a violent tornado tore through Henry County, Georgia, ripping apart Chaney’s home and leaving his 19-year-old son, Malachi, clinging to life.

While Chaney was knocked unconscious during the chaos, the true heartache began when he discovered his son had been hurled hundreds of feet into the nearby woods. Now, as the family begins a slow and painful recovery, the actor is speaking out about the harrowing experience and the long road ahead for his son.

Who is Malachi Chaney, and what happened to him?

Malachi Chaney might not be famous like his dad, The Wire actor Tray Chaney, but his story is turning heads as it is a miraculous tale of survival. When a powerful tornado tore through their Georgia home,...

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Filming Begins—Full Cast Details Inside (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Season after season, some shows continue to deliver absolute thrill and entertainment to the fans. Criminal Minds is one such series. The crime drama has been a fan favorite for eighteen long seasons. As expected, the viewers get emotionally attached to the cast and the characters with time.

This is why each season, they want to know if any of the characters are exiting or if a cast member has been replaced. With season 19 officially filming now, here’s which cast members have been confirmed to return for the next edition while which might not be back for the upcoming edition.

Criminal Minds Season 19: Which Cast Members Are Returning For Next Edition?

The official Instagram account of the hit police procedural drama posted a photo to confirm that production on season 19 has begun. Per the caption,...

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 4's filming is officially underway, with many of the original cast members returning. Renewed ahead of season 3's premiere, the series continues to follow the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit as they combine methods of profiling to identify and catch serial killers. Premiered on Paramount+ on May 8, season 3 consists of 10 episodes, with one new episode dropping every Thursday through July 10.

Announced through a joint Instagram post shared by Criminal Minds and Paramount+ official accounts, the core cast is back on set for season 4. Joe Mantegna (David Rossi), Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss), Aj Cook (JJ Jareau), Adam Rodriguez (Luke Alvez), Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia), Aisha Tyler (Dr. Tara Lewis), and Rj Hatanaka (Tyler Green) can be seen in the photo. Check out the post below:

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Criminal Minds: Evolution (@criminalminds) What This Means For Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4 Criminal Minds: Evolution...

Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 3 had me gripping my husband’s hand and fighting tears. Will’s funeral hurt everyone, with the grief extending through the screen to the Criminal Minds fans. Anyone who has experienced losing a loved one knows the deep sorrow that follows us around afterwards. The episode truly showed the realistic side of grief, down to Will’s phone still receiving phone calls.

Two weeks later, the Bau uncovers a case about how far a father goes to save his daughter. JJ was on leave, but returns with more pain when she reveals BAUGate uploaded a new video. My heart aches for her, as she deserves some peace, but sadly, JJ’s spiral is just beginning. Spoilers Below.

L-r: Zach Gilford as Elias Voit, Joe Mantegna as David Rossi, Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis, and Aimee Garcia as Dr. Julia Ochoa in Criminal Minds: Evolution,...

Criminal Minds: Evolution is finding its footing again after a huge shift in the show. Last week's episode saw the funeral of William Lamontagne Jr. (Josh Stewart). Now, Collider is unveiling an exclusive clip for tonight's episode of "I'm Fine, It's Fine. Everything Is Fine" where the team has to resume their everyday. In the clip, FBI Section Chief Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) is examining a body at a crime scene. She observes that this is now the third body, killed in the same way, organs harvested. The M.O. raises alarm bells, and she appears to be the first one to put the pattern together. Eventually, the team notices some differences as well, and those differences may lead them to their next break in the case.

Will's Death Will Have Lasting Ramifications for the Bau in 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'

The death of Will, will, of course, have...

Warning: the following contains spoilers for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episodes 1-3.Aj Cook, who plays Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, talks about how Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) will be her character's rock in the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3. "Time to Say Goodbye" takes place right after episode 2's explosive ending, where JJ lost her husband, Will Lamontagne (Josh Stewart), suddenly, after having been together for 18 years. Cook has played JJ since season 1 of the original Criminal Minds. After her initial departure in season 6, the actor returned in season 7 and has been with the series ever since, including the revival season.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Cook explains how JJ and Prentiss' relationship will evolve throughout season 3. When asked whether JJ will take the first step toward healing, the actor teased "quite a few beautiful scenes" between JJ and Prentiss, who acts as a "great sounding board" as her character goes through different stages of grief.

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 1-3.

Aj Cook reveals how the Bau (Behavioral Analysis Unit) team will handle her character JJ's grief in Criminal Minds: Evolution. Following her husband Will Lamontagne's (Josh Stewart) sudden death in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3, episode 2, the third episode of the new season explores the immediate aftermath and sees JJ barely hold everything together while trying to come to terms with her own grief, planning a funeral, and being there for her two children and Will's mother.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Alisha Grauso, Cook teases what season 3 has in store for JJ, who has traditionally been the glue of those around her. The actor shares that JJ will "maybe be unhinged a few times" and "maybe not make some great decisions," but at the same time, she's around a team of profilers, who "know where you are...

Right now on Criminal Minds: Evolution, we could use something a bit more light-hearted … like, say, sisterly drama? After all, the Paramount+ drama introduced the existence of a sister for Prentiss (Paget Brewster) at the end of last season — shocking even Brewster herself, as she told us — and we have yet to hear about her again, three episodes into the current one. When we brought that up with Brewster at the beginning of this season, she shared her hopes that we do see that character in the future. Brewster was the one to suggest the spin on it that suggested “she has a problem with her sister because conflict is story,” she explained to TV Insider. “Because I want someone to play my sister so that we can get some family involved and have it be a contentious relationship. Now, who is the sister? Where is she? I don’t know.

ReturningCriminal Mindsstar Matthew Gray Gubler opens up about his recent cameo appearance in the follow-up series.

Per TV Insider, Gubler released a statement regarding his return to the role of Spencer Reid in the latest episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution. "It’s a joy to get to tell stories with people you love," Gubler wrote. "So I will always cherish any moment, big or small, that I get to hug my Criminal Minds family or slip back into my dear friend Spencer’s oversized wingtips."

Gubler portrayed Doctor Spencer Reid on Criminal Mindsthroughout the entirety of the original series' whopping 15-season run. The genius supervisory special agent became a fast fan-favorite, as well as the focal point of numerous key storylines. When Criminal Minds was brought back in 2022 as Criminal Minds: Evolution, Gubler was not counted among the series' returning cast members, which came as a surprise to longtime followers of the series.

Between Voit’s amnesia, the Zookeeper, and Will’s death, Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 2 kept pain at the center. I was pissed Voit woke up but to worry about his amnesia in the same episode that JJ loses her husband was awful. Losing a parent hurts more than anything, so this plot hit close to home for me.

As I watched season 3 episode 3, "Time to Say Goodbye," I felt all Henry and Michael's emotions: lost, confused, and wondering how life can change so fast. The storyline shed light on grief within a family: Will’s spouse (JJ), his sons (Henry and Michael), his mother (Connie), his mother-in-law (Sandy), and his friends (law enforcement). Each person’s reaction broke my heart as I analyzed this week’s evidence in our recap and review. Spoilers Below.

L-r: Joe Mantegna as David Rossi, Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss, Rj Hatanaka as Tyler Green,...

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The prodigal son finally returns in Season 18 of the beloved police procedural crime thriller drama series, Criminal Minds. Yes, you heard it right, Matthew Gray Gubler is all set to finally reprise his fan favourite role of Dr. Spencer Reid in the upcoming season of the now Paramount+ series after more than five years. Created by Jeff Davis, Season 18 of Criminal Minds is set six months after the prison attack on the notorious Sicarius Killer, Elias Voit, and it will see the Bau members joining forces with the extremely unpredictable Elias to catch another dangerous killer.

Criminal Minds Season 18 – Episode Guide (When Will the New Episodes Come Out?) Credit – Paramount+

Criminal Minds Season 18 consists of ten episodes in total. Season 18 of the police procedural crime thriller drama series premieres on Paramount+, with its first episode on May 8, 2025, with...

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Criminal Minds is a police procedural mystery crime thriller drama series created by Jeff Davis. The CBS and later on Paramount+ series follow the members of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit as they work together to create profiles for dangerous killers, so that they can catch them. Criminal Minds stars Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Paget Brewster, Joe Mantegna, and Rachel Nichols. So, if you loved the thrilling mystery, intense crime drama, and compelling characters in Criminal Minds, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Lie to Me (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Fox

Lie to Me is a police procedural crime drama series created by Samuel Baum. The Fox series follows Dr. Cal Lightman, an expert in the science of body language,...

Criminal Minds Evolution spoilers and updates reveal fans are eager for Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) to come back, but not under the sad conditions presented by the show. Although Reid remains part of the Bau, he hasn’t appeared with the cast since the first two seasons.

JJ’s Husband Will Died Suddenly At The End Of The Most Recent Episode

The show hinted that Reid is on a break for a special task and can come back whenever he wants. Matthew Gray Gubler will be back for season 3, but his role might be shorter than fans expect—possibly just one episode, and maybe not even the whole episode.

After thinking about why Reid might return to the Bau, the shocking ending with JJ Lamontagne’s (Aj Cook) husband Will Lamontagne (Josh Stewart) dying means Reid will return for Will’s funeral.

Will died suddenly from an aneurysm...

Criminal Minds: Evolutionkills off a fan-favorite character, and cast members are already reacting to the loss.

Speaking to The Independent, longtime Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster, who portrays Bau Chief Emily Prentiss, opened up about her reaction to the shocking death of Josh Stewart's Detective Will Lamontagne in the series' latest episode. Brewster stated that the "shock of Will's death was so profoundly sad" before recalling that the episode was "a really difficult episode to shoot" in general.

"We were saying goodbye to Will, and we were saying goodbye to Josh Stewart, who's played Will for what, maybe 17 years?" Brewster added. "It's always shocking, but it's always exciting too, even if it's bad news. We know, as actors, that we and our crew and our writers can come together and make it happen, even if it's difficult. So we're just very lucky that our writers are working so hard.

We knew this season would crush us, make us angry, and leave us wanting more. Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 episode 1 dived deep to catch viewers up on the last six months without slowing down. The final seconds of the premiere propel us into the season with more questions than answers. Voit is still torturing the team, couples are tested, Tyler is a trainee, and the serial killer network investigation remains open. This season will push the Bau team to their limits like never before. Spoilers ahead.

L-r: Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez, Joe Mantegna as David Rossi, and A.J. Cook as Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau in Criminal Minds: Evolution, episode 2, season 18 streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish/Paramount+ What happened in Criminal Minds season 3 episode 2

An unfortunate text interrupts Tara and Rebecca’s heartfelt morning. The vibe switches from analyzing their rekindled flame to unhappy news. This mysterious text travels...

Season 18 of “Criminal Minds: Evolution” premieres on Thursday, May 8 on Paramount+, with the team investigating four drowning murders in the premiere episode.

The action picks up picks up six months after prisoners attack the Sicarius Killer, Elias Voit (Zach Gilford), prompting his followers to wreak havoc all over the country. To prevent more killings, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (Bau) is forced to work with the unpredictable Voit.

Here’s what you need to know about this season and when new episodes premiere:

When does “Criminal Minds: Evolution” Season 18 premiere?

Season 2 premieres on Paramount+ on Thursday, May 8.

How can I watch “Criminal Minds: Evolution” Season 18?

“Criminal Minds: Evolution” Season 18 is available to stream only on Paramount+.

When are new “Criminal Minds: Evolution” Season 18 episodes released?

The first episode premieres on Paramount+ on May 8. Subsequent episodes will be released on a weekly basis every Thursday through July 10. Here is the...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for the Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 premiere “Swimmer’s Calculus.”] Oh, Elias Voit (Zach Gilford). The serial killer known as Sicarius remains at the center of so many of the questions of Criminal Minds: Evolution, which premiered its 18th season on Thursday, May 8, on Paramount+. Now, there’s the matter of who attacked him in prison — Internal Affairs is questioning David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) — as well as what that ending means going forward. When the drama picks up, it’s been six months and Voit is in a coma after being stabbed multiple times. The good news? Rossi’s no longer hallucinating him, and he doesn’t want to risk that starting again. But he and Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) still dig into what happened the day of his attack and realize the spilled bleach on the floor was from him reaching for something he hid: his own ...

In about forty-eight hours, Criminal Minds will make a thrilling comeback with its eighteenth season, also serving as the third chapter of the Evolution revival. The season debuts with the "Swimmer's Calculus" episode, written by Breen Frazier and directed by Bethany Rooney, with every main character from Season 17 set to return, including the psychotic villain Elias Voit (Zach Gilford). A few hints have come up regarding what’s ahead for some of these characters; one from Paget Brewster (who portrays the Bau chief Emily Prentiss) and most recently from Aisha Tyler, whose character Tara Lewis is about to have one hell of a season.

Speaking with TVLine about the new installment of Criminal Minds, Tyler teased a “deeply personal” journey for her character, involving her history, saying:

“This season is going to be deeply personal for Tara. We get to dive into my backstory, which has been really beautiful.”

The...

As Criminal Minds: Evolution returns for Season 3 later in the week on May 8, the Bau continues to deal with some of the most depraved offenders ever known to man. Most of the team members have witnessed a lot of unsubs, but Tyler Green (Rj Hatanaka) is relatively new, and he's learning as he goes. "People think this job is about staring down evil, but it’s not. . . . . It's about loss," Prentiss (Paget Brewster) tells Tyler in the season's trailer. Brewster said this line "is some of the best dialogue I’ve ever had the honor of saying onscreen. It is so well written," when previewing the season to TV Insider, and how Tyler settles in with the team. "I never remember lines [after filming]," she said, but the scene, written by Jayne Archer, stuck out because it sums up what the Bau does in a really complex manner. She explained:

"The speech...

“People think this job is about staring down evil, but it’s not,” Prentiss (Paget Brewster) tells Tyler (Rj Hatanaka) in the Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 trailer. “It’s about loss.” That, written by Jayne Archer, “is some of the best dialogue I’ve ever had the honor of saying onscreen. It is so well written,” Paget Brewster raves to TV Insider ahead of the suspense drama’s return for its third season on Paramount+ on Thursday, May 8. “I never remember lines. The speech is about you’re now a member of this team and you beat out a lot of hotshots for it because their mistake is thinking that this job is about staring down evil, but it’s not. It’s about loss,” explains Brewster. “And Tyler’s character has suffered the loss of his sister, and that’s how he became involved in the case. He was...

It's officially the first full week of May, and from here on out, there's nothing but huge new release shows coming to Netflix and the other major streaming services. The summer streaming rush begins in May this year, and our watch lists will be packed. This week, there's a smaller selection of new shows to check out, and that's exactly how you'll want it once May really kicks off.

Before getting into all of the new shows you have to put on your radar, this week also continues to bring new episodes of the latest hit streaming shows, like Your Friends and Neighbors, MobLand, Hacks, and The Handmaid's Tale. There's also new episodes of The Last of Us as well as the penultimate batch of Andor. It's also a great time to check out The Four Seasons on Netflix.

Admittedly, there's a lot to juggle if you're a fan of...

"Community" was always a great show, but the moment it elevated to god-tier status was when it introduced the concept of a Paintball Episode (an idea that, sadly, the "Community" movie will not revisit when/if it comes to pass). That's when an otherwise-normal sitcom suddenly has its characters start shooting at each other with paintball guns, complete with genuinely impressive action cinematography. Why doesn't every sitcom do stuff like this? Because they lack the audacity.

"Community" would do three more paintball episodes throughout its run, all of them featuring at least one moment that's so cool it'll make you forgive the show for any of its other faults. Are you mad at how the series dragged out the romance between Jeff (Joel McHale) and Annie (Alison Brie) for six seasons? Well, at least the scene where the Dean (Jim Rash) recreates the "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" elevator fight...

It’s been business as usual for the Behavioral Analysis Unit (Bau) in the six months that have passed when Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 picks up. “The Bau were still running and gunning and getting it done and ‘Wheels up in 20′ and they never stop,” Paget Brewster, who stars as Emily Prentiss, tells TV Insider. Rejoining that mix for an episode this season is Matthew Gray Gubler, reprising his role as Dr. Spencer Reid. “You’ll see Prentiss and Reid pick up where they left off. Reid was a very big part of the team. Unfortunately, he’s not back for good, but he does come back to the team when he is needed, and that, I think, is something that the fans are going to be ...

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Paramount+ is ready with an entertainment-packed May this year. The upcoming month will see the premiere of the much-anticipated new season of Showtime’s The Chi and the return of Paramount+’s Criminal Minds. Just like every month, Paramount+ is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the 7 best movies and TV shows coming to Paramount+ in May 2025.

Titles with an * will only be available with the Paramount+ with Showtime plan.

Just Friends (May 1) Credit – New Line Cinema

Just Friends is a Christmas romantic dark comedy film directed by Roger Kumble from a screenplay by Adam ‘Tex’ Davis. The 2005 film follows Chris Brander, a formerly obese high schooler who goes through a transformation, and when he returns to his hometown, he tries to get back his former best friend and crush,...

Paramount+ has released the official trailer and key art for Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18, which will premiere on Thursday, May 8.

The new season will premiere with one episode, with each episode dropping weekly thereafter through the season finale on July 10. The series was previously renewed for a 19th season.

Season 18 of Criminal Minds: Evolution picks up six months after prisoners attack the notorious Sicarius Killer, Elias Voit, leading his restless followers on the dark web to begin wreaking havoc all over the country.

In order to stop this nefarious group from killing more innocents, the Bau is forced to work alongside an increasingly unpredictable Voit, who has his own agenda.

Criminal Minds: Evolution stars Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Zach Gilford, and Rj Hatanaka, with Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster.

Erica Messer serves as showrunner. The series is executive produced by Erica Messer, Chris Barbour, Glenn Kershaw,...

The first trailer for Paramount+’s Criminal Minds: Evolution season 18 is here, plus new photos!

Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Rj Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster all star in the upcoming episodes.

Keep reading to find out more…

Season 18 picks up six months after prisoners attack the notorious Sicarius Killer, Elias Voit, leading his restless followers on the dark web to begin wreaking havoc all over the country. In order to stop this nefarious group from killing more innocents, the Bau is forced to work alongside an increasingly unpredictable Voit who has his own agenda.

New episodes debut weekly beginning on May 8 with the season finale planned for July 10.

Watch the trailer below and see first look pics in the gallery!

Be sure to also find out what TV show was canceled by Paramount+ this year.

Criminal Minds: Evolution returns for the newest season on May 8 on Paramount+. The premiere of the long-running CBS show will take the squad of the Bau six months after the prison attack on the Sicarius Killer, Elias Voit (Zach Gilford). The crew of the Bau: Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Rj Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez, andPaget Brewster all return. Season 18 will also eventually feature the return of Matthew Gray Gubler's Spencer Reid. The new season will air from May 8 through July 10. A new trailer has been released for upcoming season that takes the tangled dark web of Sicarius Killer's followers a bit too seriously. When the trailer opens, a woman is buried alive and doesn't make it. As the trailer progresses, things begin to get more and more grim with a voice-over from Brewster's Emily Prentiss explaining the real reason they do the job. The trailer is not for the arachnophobic,...

Yes, indeedy: someone is about to be buried alive again in the name of wholesome entertainment.

In the official trailer for the new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution, there’s more talk about serial killers, sadistic psychopaths, and Elias Voit — the notorious Sicarius Killer played by the enthusiastic Zach Gilford.

The 18th season picks up six months after prisoners attack Voit, leading his restless followers on the dark web to begin wreaking havoc all over the country. In order to stop this group from killing more women, er, innocents, the Bau is forced to play a “real life game of Clue” while saying things like “yes indeedy” as they work alongside the increasingly unpredictable Voit (who seems to his own agenda).

Evolution brings back stars Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, and Rj Hatanaka, along with Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster.

The new season premieres with one episode...