Finally, Criminal Minds Season 18 is here.
The BAU (FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit) is still outwitting all kinds of serial killers.
Elias' story is far from over. The criminal network he built hasn't gone silent just because he's in prison. Deranged killers keep popping up, wreaking havoc across the country.
In the second episode, a twisted killer specifically hunts women who are estranged from their families, locking them in cages and taming them like pets to become his playthings.
Most terrifyingly, the killer uses deep fakes (AI face-swapping technology). After the victims go missing, they still "appear active" on social media—no one knows they've been suffering in a dark basement for days.
And it's all because of Elias' criminal network.
At the end of Season 17, Elias orchestrated an attack on himself, suffering a brain injury that left him comatose for months.
When he woke up, he had amnesia. His injured anterior insular cortex suddenly became hyperactive, and this once marblehearted psychopath unexpectedly developed empathy.
Even more bizarrely, Elias believes Rossi is his father.
On one side, Elias' followers—a group of serial killers—are murdering indiscriminately; on the other, there's amnesiac Elias, who holds the keys to the criminal network.
To completely dismantle Elias' network, the BAU has to find ways to help him regain his memories.
Rossi even grudgingly plays the role of Elias' father.
At first, only his good memories return. But as more dark memories resurface, Elias—now with normal empathy—can't bear the fact that he's a psychopath.
As the plot unfolds, this season of Criminal Minds gradually moves away from its former anthology format. Instead, it focuses on the dark valleys of human nature behind crimes, delving into the depths of the human heart and humanity.
Elias is a highly intelligent antisocial personality. During the pandemic, he groomed a group of followers—all antisocial serial killers.
Before his brain injury, Elias took immense pleasure in killing and torturing others, relishing every moment.
But after the injury, he gained empathy. The more he once enjoyed killing, the more pain he feels now.
This is the season's biggest highlight: how the empathetic Elias battles the deranged, death-addicted version of himself.
He was born with evil genes, adopted and abused by his equally evil uncle, who turned him into a serial killer.
His followers want to awaken the evil within him, but he saved Dr. Ochoa and dismantled the criminal network he built.
Dr. Ochoa and JJ believe in his change—but will he truly transform completely?
No one has the answer.
The emotional arcs and psychological growth of the BAU members have also become key highlights.
In Season 16, William nearly developed leukemia, but it turned out to be a false alarm.
This season, William dies suddenly from an aneurysm, with no last words or goodbye, leaving JJ to raise their two underage sons alone.
From Season 1 in 2005 to Season 18 in 2025, BAU members have endured the deaths of teammates, loved ones, or family more than once: Hotch's wife was killed, Gideon was murdered, Stephen died, Reid was injected with drugs and framed for prison, and Garcia, JJ, Emily, Morgan, and Elle have all been on the brink of death.
Those past sorrows were glossed over quickly, but this time, William's death is vividly portrayed in the third episode—depicting how his wife, children, and mother cope with loss, making this death feel particularly tragic.
I prefer this way of storytelling. A series of misfortunes and mounting pressures don't break JJ; she finds a way to survive against the odds.
It's also because of William's death that Reid makes an appearance at the funeral.
Even just this one appearance is enough.
Tara is also shot. Near-death makes her realize what truly matters in life. After being discharged, the first thing she does is propose to Rebecca in front of the entire BAU—her chosen family. The once commitment-phobic her finally finds the courage to make a promise.
I love how JJ and Tara's inner stories are told here—this kind of narrative resonates emotionally with the audience.