The events in the “Criminal Minds” season 14 opener set the tone for the rest of the remaining episodes. Showrunner Erica Messer hinted that all the characters will be facing their own sort of challenge this season while also looking back to some important events in their past.
Shortly before the premiere of “Criminal Minds” season 14, Messer told TV Guide that she sees the current installment as a “season of reflection.” One of the obvious reasons is the fact that season 14 began with the franchise’s 300th episode. But it also transcends to what's coming next for the major characters. While they have been on the small screen for 300 episodes now, the show will attempt to portray that these characters still have much room for development.
Fans who watched the “Criminal Minds” season 14 premiere might have noticed that the 300th episode incorporated reminiscing an important case. And it helped them to eventually save Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) from becoming the murderous cult’s human sacrifice.
"The family, that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quote wish to." -Dodie Smith #CriminalMinds pic.twitter.com/tiDyc8yBs4
— Criminal Minds (@CrimMinds_CBS) October 4, 2018
FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) needed to trace back their steps in “Criminal Minds” season 14 premiere, specifically when they worked on the case of Benjamin Cyrus (Luke Perry) in season 4. Remembering key facts from the case enabled them to locate where the sacrifice ritual — aka the murder of Reid — is exactly happening in the state of Kentucky.
Messer explained that this kind of “looking back” to previous cases and events will happen for the rest of “Criminal Minds” season 14. This will not only aid in solving cases. Messer revealed that this will also pave the way for the characters' development.
“All the characters are definitely going to have episodes this year where they're challenged in a way, either at home or at work … At the end of the season we can probably look back and say it was a character study of our team,” the showrunner added about “Criminal Minds” season 14.
In another interview, with CBS Local, Messer confirmed that each episode until the eighth or ninth of “Criminal Minds” season 14 will focus on a certain character’s reflection. The showrunner explained that these will not only cover the lives of the characters as FBI agents but will also show what their struggles are outside of work.
“Criminal Minds” season 14 premiered this week. New episodes will be available every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.