America’s fascination with crime has no end, and I am no exception. Criminal Minds is a much  beloved show that has been on CBS for 15 years, and I have finally gotten on the train, albeit a little late. An intense crime show with realistic plots and lovable characters, It is easy to   see why it’s such a hit. Personally, I’ve hit a new point of binge watching on Netflix. That’s right folks, this show is available on the streaming service. It’s a brilliant show, created by Jeff Davis, and has actors such as Matthew Gray Gubler, Paget Brewster, and Thomas Gibson.

If you’re late to the Criminal Minds train like me, the show is about the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI, who use profiling to catch criminals, such as serial killers. It’s an intense, sophisticated show that illustrates not only the grizzliness of the human mind, but also shows the good people willing to stand up and fight for justice. It’s admirable to see characters that put their life on the line to make sure criminals go behind bars. Characters such as Spencer Reid, the lovable genius who has questionable social skills, or Emily Prentiss, who continues to put all of herself in her cases and proves that she deserves to be there every episode. 

I love how the show experiments with a variety of characters, and how they never glorify the crimes in any way. Even among the dark moments, there is always a spark of light that shows that goodness is real and true in this world, like an episode inspired by the Waco Siege in Texas, showing how a terrible situation can be alleviated by brave individuals. Sometimes it does get slightly repetitive plot wise, but that is expected with a show like this. The characters may come second to the plot as well. 

Overall, this show is a long, twisting road of emotions and learning. Though some characters have changed  over the 15 years, the heart of the show is the same. I highly recommend it to those who want to get invested in a good show, or those who love a good crime drama.