Criminal Minds spanned 15 years and 15 seasons, and there's a new revival season in the works on Paramount +. While there was a revolving door of supporting cast and characters, the core members of the Behavioural Analysis Unit (the BAU) remained mostly the same throughout the 15 years.
Every character went through ups and downs, and nothing shows this more than the first and last line from each of them. Sometimes as a viewer it's hard to recognize how much progress a character has made until revisiting their first appearance and compare it to their last one.
Jason Gideon
First: Anyone recognize these faces?
Last: I guess I'm just looking for it again, for the belief I had back in college, the belief I had when I first met Sarah, and it all seemed so right, the belief in happy endings.
Gideon is one of those rare characters in Criminal Minds that made a lasting impression despite only being on the show for a few seasons. He's seen teaching a class on serial killers at Quantico, specifically explaining what an UnSub, or Unknown Subject is.
Gideon's character arc is painful. Viewers watch in agony as he struggles with the emotions and ethics of the job and the horrors they witness. His final scene is bittersweet; his departure from the show leaves an emptiness that seems to last right up until the final episode.
Aaron Hotchner
First: Let's call him Sergio
Last: It's not a request.
Hotch's first introduction is a testament to who he is. Viewers see him in his family house, with his wife, trying to come up with baby names for their newborn son. There's humor to this interaction, but mostly it shows Hotch as the family figurehead and leader, the role he often takes throughout the duration of the show.
His departure from the show is sudden and shocking, although his last line is an unintended perfect summary of his character. He's blunt and brutal, but it comes from a place of love and protection, as most of his actions do.
Derek Morgan
First: 1940s, he put bombs in train stations and movie theatres.
Last: You're welcome.
Derek Morgan is introduced in possibly the most Derek Morgan way. He's seen at a table of women, playing a drinking game based on guessing serial killers' motives and methods of execution. There's charisma and class to his character, straight away.
As the seasons develop, so does Derek. His friendship with Garcia is one of the most endearing parts of the show. Viewers see his character go through unimaginable pain and loss and reckoning. Although he officially leaves the show in season 11 to focus on his family, he comes back specifically to help Garcia in season 12, in a beautifully bittersweet moment.
Jennifer "JJ" Jareau
First: Good. Because these go to you.
Last: And here I thought I was out of tears.
Jennifer, or "JJ" to her friends, starts off as the unit liaison for the BAU. She climbs her way up the ranks from unit liaison to profiler and key member of the group. In her first scene, she impresses the team with her knowledge of each member and their esteemed career.
By the last scene, viewers have watched JJ become a mother, a wife, and an integral part of the BAU. Her emotions have often allowed her to empathize with victims in a way like no other agent.
Emily Prentiss
First: Hi, Agent Hotchner?
Last: This will be her maiden voyage.
Emily is a later addition to the team, but she's an invaluable one. She's introduced in Season Two as a new team member after Elle Greenaway resigns from the FBI. In her first scene with Hotch, the two discuss her highly decorate FBI career to date, setting her character up for great things.
In almost perfect serendipity, by the end of the show, Emily is BAU Unit Chief, taking over from Hotch. Her character climbs the ranks of the FBI, much to the suffering of her personal life as viewers find out. The show leaves her leading the BAU with a new jet, and a new team flying into the unknown.
David Rossi
First: Go on, boy!
Last: I love the smell of a new jet in the morning.
Senior Agent David Rossi is introduced shortly after the departure of Jason Gideon. It takes fans a while to warm up to Rossi, who initially seems cold and distant from the rest of the team, but that doesn't last for too long.
Eventually, it becomes apparent that he cares for the team deeply, despite his reservations. He tirelessly supports the BAU Unit Chiefs, from Hotch to Emily, and finally gets the happy ending that viewers were hoping he'd get.
Luke Alvez
First: I'm from the Bronx, lady.
Last: Moving out of here like the Colts did Baltimore?
Luke Alvez had big shoes to fill, coming in as a replacement for Derek Morgan after his departure. His first scene sees him undercover as a fugitive agent, capturing convicts on the run. Much of Luke's character is based on his time in the Army and in the Fugitive Task Force.
While he served as a replacement for Derek, Luke carves out his own path as a unique character. He's definitely the muscle for the team, but he's also so much more than that. Viewers watch him struggle with his own ghosts from his past and his desperately lacking love life, this being a recurring theme towards the end. It's only appropriate that his last line is questioning Garcia's sudden moving out of the BAU after asking her out on a date the night before, something that fans have been begging for since his first interaction with Penelope.
Matt Simmons
First: Three families, three countries, in three years.
Last: We got a new one?
Matt is introduced as a member of the International Response Team in season ten. Initially, he's a main character on the short-lived spin-off Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. However, fans were distraught at the idea of not seeing his character again, so he was reintroduced in season thirteen as a series regular on Criminal Minds.
A family man through and through, Matt is often seen juggling family life and the intense pressures of the job. He's stoic and one of the pillars that keep the team together.
Tara Lewis
First: Absolutely.
Last: So, you expecting the Queen?
As one of the late starters, Dr. Tara Lewis has some catching up to do. She's first introduced as an interviewee for an open position on the team, and similar to Emily's introduction, Hotch is impressed by her career so far.
Tara isn't a regular team member per see; she's in and out of the show for a few seasons until becoming a regular in season twelve. Her impressive knowledge of psychology and carefully planned sarcasm help to form a close bond with the team and make for some memorable moments.
Spencer Reid
First: They're calling him the Seattle Strangler.
Last: I'm gonna name her Mildred.
Similar to Gideon, viewers first meet Spencer Reid at Quantico. He's introduced as the shy, soft-spoken, young genius of the team. Despite his knowledge and intellect, it's clear that Spencer struggles to fit in with the larger dynamic of the team.
However, this changes dramatically as the show progress. Spencer quickly became a fan favorite, and his character arc reflects this. He's one of only two characters who were in the first and last episodes of the show. His last line is simple and perfectly encapsulates the eccentric nature of his character.
Penelope Garcia
First: You've reached Penelope Garcia and the FBI's Office of Supreme Genius.
Last: I know that there's not 8 of us anymore, but...
Almost instantly, Garcia was beloved by viewers. Along with Spencer, she's the only character to appear in the very first and last episode of the show. Her first line is a perfect example of her character: smart, sassy, and full of life.
This doesn't change throughout the many years she's on the show. Despite a troubled past and difficult upbringing, her spunk and positive attitude are key parts of the team dynamic. Her last line is perfect, a reflection of how the team has grown and changed and shifted through the season.