Criminal Minds': Disappointed by final season, fans say the show should end with 'dignity'
After a run for more than a decade, CBS crime drama 'Criminal Minds' is coming to an end. And it's letting fans down. While there have been many plotlines that have evolved beautifully, fans have been left unsatisfied by the season so far.
Calling this season "a shit show", fans think that the show has tried too hard to keep things afresh, resulting in unrecognizable characters. To give you some context, this is a show that was a hit right off the bat and some care should have been taken to evolve and establish the members of the BAU as we know them today. However, as is with most procedurals, it appears to have lost its spark, say fans.
"The characters aren't even acting like themselves anymore, the episodes can't keep me watching until the end. This is such a disappointment. It used to be a great show, it's unrecognizable now," said a fan from the show's Reddit.
Another said agreeing, "At some point after season 12 it seemed like they all just gave up. Even some of the actors looked like they were just going through the motions."
Fans have felt that the show was stretched on for too long and it had too many new writers on board who did not know the characters that they're writing for well enough. They believe that the show deserved to end with "dignity."
As the seasons progressed, the original cast went through some major changes and has continued to do so throughout the series. With fans being invested in characters that left, like Derek Morgan or Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner. Although Thomas Gibson's exit, the actor who played Hotch was justified, fans still felt the glaring hole where he used to be. "I honestly don’t have the same interest as when I first began the show. Tbh with all the new cast and weird acting, I just rewatch older episodes," said another fan.
The show has had more than 300 episodes so far, it is only a matter of time before the fuel runs out. With the cast leaving without proper closure, the storylines that were rooted in them also remain untied. "There have been tons of Unsubs that got away and were never heard from again. Shane Wyland, the woodsman, and the Romani family being the 3 most jarring examples. All 3 were very dangerous, and just kind of.... dropped at the end of their episodes," said another fan.
With three more episodes to go before they shut shop for good, it remains to be seen what 'Criminal Minds' has up their sleeves to give their long time, loyal fans the ending they deserve.
Catch 'Criminal Minds' every Wednesday at 9-10 pm ET/PT on CBS.