Product Description

CRIMINAL MINDS revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again. Special Agent Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) is the FBI's top behavioral analyst and he joins the Behavioral Analysis Unit lead by Special Agent Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), a family man who is able to gain people's trust and unlock their secrets. Also on the team are Elle Greenaway (Lola Glaudini), an agent with a background in sexual offenses; Special Agent Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore), an expert on obsessional crimes; Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), a classically misunderstood genius whose social IQ is as low as his intellectual IQ is high; and Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, (AJ Cook), a confident young agent who acts as the unit liaison for the team. Each member brings his or her own area of expertise to the table as they pinpoint predators' motivations and identify their emotional triggers in the attempt to stop them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #794 in DVD
• Brand: Paramount
• Released on: 2007-10-02
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 6
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 1007 minutes

Amazon.com
"It's been a hard year for us," Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), leader of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, tells his mentor, profiler extraordinaire Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) in the season finale. No kidding! Just when you think Criminal Minds has shown you the worst that humanity has to offer, the show unleashes an Emmy-worthy episode like "No Way Out," featuring Keith Carradine in a chilling performance as Frank, who just may be the most prolific serial killer in history, and whose capture in a desert diner is only the beginning of a battle of wits between himself and Gideon. From serial killers and a mad bomber to sadistic kidnappers and rapists, these are truly the cases that try men's (and women's) souls. In this second season, the writers have taken great care to flesh out the BAU team. In "The Aftermath," Elle Greenaway (Lola Glaudini), who still has not fully come to grips with being shot, steps over the line in stopping a serial rapist. In "Revelations," we see flashbacks to resident genius Reid's (Matthew Gray Gubler) painful childhood after a religious zealot (a scarily convincing James "Dawson" Van Der Beek), kidnaps, tortures, and drugs him (a later episode deals with Reid's addiction). In "Profiler, Profiled," devastating secrets about Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) are revealed after he is arrested during a visit home on suspicion of being a serial killer.

New to the team this season (following Glaudini's departure from the series) is Paget Brewster (perhaps best known as Chandler's short-lived girlfriend Kathy on Friends) as Emily Prentiss, an ambassador's daughter. "Welcome to our nightmares," she is greeted. Her addition allows viewers to see familiar characters fresh through her eyes. Criminal Minds is potent stuff. "It gets to you," a character states at one point. Which might explain the gag reel clip in which Patinkin playfully breaks character during a scene in a playground by insisting on taking a spin on a merry go round and leaping on a teeter-totter (Patinkin would announce during the summer hiatus that he would not be returning to the show for season 3). Another fun extra, in addition to four illuminating episode commentaries and behind-the-scenes segments, is a profile of Kristen Vangsness, who portrays Criminal Minds' liveliest and most colorful character, "tech kitten" Garcia. Perhaps the only thing a newcomer to the series needs to know is that the term "unsub" means "unknown suspect." Its frequent use in each epsiode has the makings of a drinking game. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews

Another excellent season
This season starts with a bang, following the last season shooting of Agent Elle Greenway, and completes that story arc. The actors are again all in good form and give excellent performances. This is a more cerebral series than most other police/mystery dramas. It centers on the functions of the FBI's Behavorial Analysis Unit (BAU) and its role in solving the most difficult of cases throughout the country. Interesting, believable stories with excellent acting and solid characters make for a very watchable, suspenseful TV show. A very well done drama.

INSIDE THEIR HEADS
This excellent series spends its sophomore season focusing on the minds of the BAU team members as well as the deviant criminals. We learn about Aaron's problems at home; Morgan's childhood trauma; Spencer Reid's terrifying kidnaping and subsequent drug problems; Elle relives the terror of her shooting and seeks vengeance on a rapist; and other subtle intakes on the characters. The regular cast is very good; I will miss Mandy Patinkin, although in some ways his role was minimized this season. Kristen Vangness as Garcia is a good scene stealer. Most of the storylines are very disturbing and thought provoking. All in all, a fine season.

Not your average cop show.
This show has a excellent cast with great writing. It is not your everyday CSI or shield but a look into the mind of the criminal and how the good guys catch them. I really started getting into this show after my favorite show of all time (Dead like me) stopped production and I think between the actors and writing this show has many more years of great stories. CBS really does something different with this show and let me just say I love Garcia!