1."Compulsion." | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Arts Entertainment

10 'Criminal Minds' Episodes That Will Make You Tense AF

Not for the faint of heart #FYI.

311
10 'Criminal Minds' Episodes That Will Make You Tense AF

Throughout its 13 seasons, "Criminal Minds" has had some incredibly tense episodes that haunted us for years to come. Here are just a few of them.

1."Compulsion."

While only the second episode of the show ever, it set the tone for the rest of the series (almost) more than the first episode did. It established the idea of the compulsion to kill, a theme that will follow the show and other killers. The clip above is only one of many tense moments in the show.

2. "It Takes a Village."

Taking place after the season six finale, the BAU team stands trial for their actions in the capture and release of Ian Doyle. Each team member takes the stand and offers their respective perspective of the events. Of all of them, Reid was the most affected by those events and the "death" of another team member. This tense moment is one of the most memorable moments of the entire show, which is how it earns its spot on this list.

3. "Our Darkest Hour," and "The Longest Night."

A two-parter. But these episodes are best viewed in quick succession with each other, instead of waiting like I was forced to when the episodes aired. Tim Curry appears as a horrifyingly creepy serial killer, who kills mothers and makes their children watch. The end of the episode "Our Darkest Hour" leaves Morgan tied up on the floor next to a dead body, while the killer gets away. ouch.

4. "Riding the Lightning." 

While investigating a serial killer couple, Gideon becomes convinced that the woman going to die for her husband's crime is innocent. This is one of the first episodes of the show that ends on a somber note, letting the true killer get away with it.

5. "Masterpiece." 

In a bizarre and terrifying subversion of Jason Alexander's usual roles, this episode features Jason Alexander as a serial killer who approaches Reid and Rossi after a lecture and challenges them to solve the murder's he's committed. Perhaps one of the eeriest episode of "Criminal Minds" to ever grace our homes.

6. "Derailed."

Elle is aboard a train when a mentally ill man begins to devolve and the situation escalates. This suspenseful episode takes place primarily in one place, the train, or directly outside of it, as the team becomes more and more in danger.

7. "No Way Out I-III."

The first recurring serial killer the team faced. Frank had three episodes dedicated to him and he tested the team in ways they have never been tested in, and probably never will be again. It revealed the darkness inside each team member and what really made them tick. It also featured one of the most shocking conclusions, a true case of a killer getting away with his crimes.

8. "Bloodlines."

This episode was criticized and rightfully so, for a racist portrayal of Romani culture. To not include it, would be ignoring yet another wonderfully suspenseful episode with a twist ending not often seen on tv. This episode, like many others on this list, stuck with me for years to come and it was a truly horrifying ending.

9. "The Fisher King I-II."

The team does their best to take a break and then immediately encounters their first season finale killer. With Elle in his clutches and Reid trying to deal with his personal issues, this episode is traumatic in violence and in the psychological.

10. "Uncanny Valley." 

A serial killer is creating dolls out of real-life women. Reid shows one of his brief moments of calculated anger when he comes face to face with who he believes is responsible for the crimes. The crimes are horrifying, and coupled with the fact that we watch one of the diabetic victims struggle to survive, along with a snappy Reid? It makes for great TV.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl with santa hat
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

'Tis the season to be jolly folks, and if you're anything like me, then at the stroke of midnight on Halloween your home went from wicked to winter

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

10539
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons Why Sisters Are The Best

Who could be a better friend than your own sister?

6320
sisters
Taylor Hooper

I can barely remember back when I was the only child. Most would say it’s because it is extremely difficult to remember things as a toddler but I would say it's because I was bored until my sister came along. My mother always says how important the "sister bond" is and with every year that passes I realize how right she is. Instead of writing a novel about all of the wonderful things there are about having a sister I decided to list a few of them instead.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Adult

You're gonna make it after all.

6505
how to adult
Twitter

It is the time of our lives that we are beginning to enter the adult world and most of us, if not all of us, have no idea what we are doing. It's like starting a video game, but skipping the tutorial. We're all just running around aimlessly hoping we accidentally do something right that moves us along the right path. Now that graduation has just happened, or is right around the corner for some of us, it's time to start thinking about how we are going to take care of ourselves once we are on our own.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

7 Signs You're A Starbucks Addict

I'll be the first one to admit I'm addicted to Starbucks.

4118
drinking coffee
Tumblr

If you’re anything like me, you love a good cup of coffee. My coffee always comes from Starbucks; I refuse to drink it from anywhere else. Over the years, it’s become one of my biggest addictions. So, if you are aware that you’re a Starbucks addict as well, or maybe you need to check to see if you’re an addict, here are seven ways to tell.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments