Top 7 Mind-Bending Criminal Minds Cliffhangers You Won’t Forget

Criminal Minds” is a show that never runs out of unexpected turns. The 2005 series focuses on an elite FBI team, the Behavioral Analysis Unit, who are experts in profiling. They specialize in tracking down America’s most dangerous serial killers and other offenders using psychological analysis. Given the nature of their subjects, episodes of “Criminal Minds” often include many surprising plot twists.

A common way that plots are kept exciting on Criminal Minds is by using suspenseful cliffhangers at the end of episodes. These unexpected turns usually happen when the case is nearing its resolution or has been wrapped up, and they completely change what viewers thought they knew about the case, enriching the overall storyline of the episode.

In “Into The Woods,” the Behavioral Analysis Unit encounters an unprecedented predicament. A ruthless serial killer with a disturbing preference for pedophilia is exploiting the extensive Appalachian Trail as his stalking ground, kidnapping and murdering children. The BAU urgently races against time to locate this elusive monster before he carries out his gruesome deeds on his latest victims, a brother-sister duo.

Season6
Episode9
IMDb Rating7.7/10

Although the team successfully discovers the true identity of the elusive UNSUB, they have yet to apprehend him. With assistance from the female survivor, they were able to rescue her brother alive. The series finale depicts the murderer returning to the Appalachian Trail in search of additional victims. Given that Criminal Minds: Evolution is still on the air and has recently been renewed, it’s plausible that this long-standing UNSUB from the original Criminal Minds series could resurface once more.

1. Option: “Lauren” is a key character, serving as the climax for an engaging Season 6 plotline. In Season 6, SSA Emily Prentiss faced off against a menacing figure from her history – the notorious global criminal Ian Doyle. As the story unfolded, Prentiss worked in tandem with Interpol to apprehend him, but he had managed to break out of prison more recently. The climactic showdown between them is imminent in this particular episode.

2. Option: “Lauren” plays a pivotal role in the gripping Season 6 narrative. Throughout Season 6, SSA Emily Prentiss encountered a formidable adversary from her past – the ruthless Ian Doyle, a globally recognized criminal. In this season, she collaborated with Interpol to bring him to justice, only for him to elude capture by escaping prison. The tension between them culminates in this episode as they face each other off.

3. Option: “Lauren” is a central figure in the thrilling Season 6 narrative arc. In Season 6, SSA Emily Prentiss grappled with a formidable foe from her background – the cunning international gangster Ian Doyle. With Interpol by her side, she sought to apprehend him, but he had just escaped from prison. The episode sees their long-awaited confrontation finally taking place.

4. Option: “Lauren” is a significant character in the captivating Season 6 plotline. Throughout Season 6, SSA Emily Prentiss crossed paths with a dangerous individual from her history – the notorious Ian Doyle, an international criminal. Working alongside Interpol, she aimed to bring him to justice; however, he had recently broken out of prison. The episode brings their much-anticipated showdown to life.

5. Option: “Lauren” is a crucial character in the riveting Season 6 storyline. During Season 6, SSA Emily Prentiss encountered a formidable adversary from her past – the dangerous Ian Doyle, a globally known criminal. With Interpol as an ally, she sought to arrest him, but he had just escaped custody. The episode marks their long-awaited clash.

Season6
Episode18
IMDb Rating8.7/10

In a fierce battle, Doyle viciously attacks and wounds Prentiss, abandoning her for death. SSA Derek Morgan rescues her, ensuring her survival until an ambulance arrives. However, when the team reaches the hospital, they learn that she passed away before reaching the operating room. The BAU team mourns deeply and gives Prentiss a state funeral. Yet, in the final scene, we see Agent JJ giving a package to someone who resembles Emily Prentiss, hinting at her potential survival. This theory is confirmed in the Season 7 opener titled “It Takes a Village.

Allies Such As These…” finds the BAU tackling an intricate series of gruesome and disordered murders, leaving local authorities baffled. The extreme violence at each crime scene and the employment of various weapons suggest a collaborative effort among killers. Yet, as the BAU team delves deeper into the investigation, they uncover that a lone killer is orchestrating the crimes, experiencing delusions of having partners in his violent acts.

Season6
Episode19
IMDb Rating7.5/10

In the movie “With Friends Like These…”, the main character, Ben Foster, portrayed by Ben Foster himself, is a young man grappling with schizophrenia. His hallucinations, rather than peaceful visions, urge him to commit murder as a means to alleviate his insomnia. It’s important to note that these hallucinations are not just figments of his imagination; they represent three individuals he unintentionally killed as a child when he set fire to a church where he had undergone an exorcism.

Following Foster’s imprisonment, doubts emerge regarding the origins of his hallucinations. His mother reveals that he had always perceived invisible beings, which is why she sought an exorcism for him. This revelation suggests that the source of Foster’s hallucinations might not be what the Behavioral Analysis Unit initially suspected; there may be a different, possibly demonic, explanation.

In “The Pact”, two formidable female criminals join forces in California following a tragic series of events. The bond between them is forged by a shared desire for retribution, stemming from the murders of loved ones. Ellen’s toddler nephew was fatally struck by a drunk driver, while her sister took her own life as a result of the grief. Darlene’s daughter was cruelly taken and her body was never recovered. To make matters worse, their killers received lenient sentences that failed to deliver justice. These women seek to right these wrongs, but they are now being pursued by the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU).

Season8
Episode2
IMDb Rating7.4/10

In a surprising twist, after fulfilling their mission as vigilantes, Darlene Beckett and Ellen Russell decide to leave the country, heading towards Mexico. SSA David Rossi manages to apprehend Ellen Russell along with Mexican law enforcement officials. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Darlene Beckett slips away from capture as she boards a bus parked beside the police car where Ellen was detained. In a poignant farewell scene, the two women exchange a bittersweet goodbye, with Ellen expressing relief that her companion is escaping undetected by the authorities.

As a dedicated Criminal Minds fanatic, I recall “The Fox” episode as one of the earliest instalments where the show creators cleverly incorporated a post-case cliffhanger – a technique that would become a staple in the series. In this gripping tale, the Behavioral Analysis Unit is summoned to probe into the chilling murders of two families, orchestrated to appear as murder-suicides. As we delve deeper into the case, it becomes evident that the perpetrator could be one of the most intelligent UNSUBs our team has ever encountered.

Season1
Episode7
IMDb Rating7.9/10

In my line of work with the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), I stumbled upon a link between two families that set us on a course to intercept him before he could strike again. We managed to save his upcoming victims and apprehend him. SSA Jason Gideon cleverly coaxed a confession out of him, wrapping up the case. As the episode reached its climax, SSA Aaron Hotchner delved into Arnold’s office and unearthed a concealed compartment filled with his gruesome keepsakes – trophies from his victims, including multiple male wedding rings. In total, eight rings were discovered, hinting at more victims than we initially realized, leaving us with a chilling reminder of the horror that had taken place.

Delving into ‘Out of the Light,’ I found myself immersed in a chilling episode that even surpassed the ominous tone typical of ‘Criminal Minds.’ The town of Lake Worth is gripped by fear as an elusive, ruthless serial predator continues his heinous acts, leaving one of his victims clinging to life before succumbing to her injuries. Desperate for any clue, the authorities are left with a grim piece of information: the perpetrator still holds onto the victim’s best friend. Suspicion immediately falls upon Marcus Talbot, a local art teacher and photographer with a questionable past involving young women.

Season6
Episode22
IMDb Rating7.4/10

Initially, Marcus Talbot appears to fit the profile of the criminal they’re pursuing, but it’s later revealed that he’s being framed for the murders. The team manages to apprehend the true culprit and save his victim. However, in a surprising twist at the end of the episode, Talbot is seen in his darkroom developing photos taken by the killer of his captive victim. This closing scene suggests that Talbot may have been collaborating with the killer and has eluded capture from the BAU.

Unsettling Discoveries”

The law enforcement team is summoned to examine a case involving multiple missing females. Following a mudslide, three of the four missing women’s bodies were dislodged, revealing a chilling truth – they had been embalmed while still alive and further violated postmortem. This gruesome revelation confirms to the BAU that they are dealing with a deeply disturbed individual on the run. However, the situation becomes even more intricate when Brooke Lombardi, the mother of the last missing victim, hires a self-proclaimed psychic in hopes of locating her daughter. Special Agent David Rossi, skeptical due to past negative encounters with psychic investigators, expresses his reservations about this man’s abilities.

Season4
Episode14
IMDb Rating7.4/10

Though the clues provided by the psychic initially appear off target, it turns out that her prediction about Brooke’s location holds an unexpected truth. The psychic informs the investigators that Brooke is close to a rocky coastline, yet they find her in an abandoned building that is far from any shore. However, what leaves Hotch and Rossi astonished is the discovery of a mural representing the psychic’s vision directly opposite the building where they locate both Brooke and the UNSUB.

The BAU team travels to Oregon from elsewhere due to an offender, who is unlike any they’ve encountered before. This criminal uses his vehicle as a deadly weapon, running over his victims in a gruesome manner. The BAU faces a significant hurdle with this offender, so they delve into understanding the psychological aspects of his actions.

Season4
Episode23
IMDb Rating7.3/10

In this new scenario, the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) successfully determines that Ian Coakley, who became paralyzed in a hit-and-run car collision that took his wife’s life, is the killer. However, his memory only allows him to remember the color and type of the vehicle involved: a red coupé. The BAU hypothesizes that he might be focusing on victims with similar cars, as they could have possibly been involved in the accident. But an unexpected turn arises when the team is about to apprehend Coakley. It turns out that on the fateful night of the crash, he was driving his wife’s red coupé itself. This revelation significantly alters the course of the investigation, as it is now apparent that Coakley was responsible for the accident and unwittingly killed his spouse.

In the show “Target Rich,” we follow the BAU team as they investigate a tip from Joy, Rossi’s journalist daughter, about a string of missing women on college campuses. However, this episode takes an unexpected turn with a separate storyline. The premiere episode of season 11, titled “The Job,” introduces a narrative that carries across several episodes, focusing on a network of assassins operating in the Dark Web.

Season11
Episode7
IMDb Rating7.5/10

In a prison conversation with imprisoned assassin Giuseppe Montolo, Special Agent Derek Morgan discovered that their adversary was going after someone called “The Dirty Dozen.” Initially believing it to be a list of targets, the team later found out that it actually represented twelve interconnected networks of computers, or botnets. By the end of “Target Rich,” a frightened Penelope Garcia confided in Morgan that “The Dirty Dozen” were the 12 botnets she had utilized while hacking the hitmen. This revelation made Garcia the actual target of this network, and she was certain they were aware of her identity and planning to take action against her.

In this episode, the unsub employs a chilling strategy of tormenting his victims after they fall asleep. This particular serial killer targets motorists, deliberately causing sleep deprivation as a means of torture. His objective is to locate the individual who kidnapped his daughter, and he’s prepared to take lethal action to find him and rescue his little girl.

Season11
Episode8
IMDb Rating6.7/10

In the television series “Awake,” it’s uncovered that the serial killer, William Taylor, is experiencing the same sleeplessness he forces on his victims due to the tragic discovery of his daughter’s body. This lack of sleep has led the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) team to suspect that the Man With The Skull Tattoo, whom Taylor thinks took his daughter, might be a figment of his exhausted mind. However, the chilling finale shows us that this man is indeed real and can be seen preparing to kidnap another child in the episode’s closing scenes.

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2025-05-15 00:39