This is a fantastic series, if you have a strong stomach for the crazy killers they have to hunt down! Just love it, totally addicted. Mandy is phenomenal.

I am so grateful for this series. The serious approach to serial killers is something that no other show is doing right now. They may deal with them occasionally but not every single episode. The characters are all intelligent, likeable and memorable and the method of profiling never ceases to amaze me. Mandy Pitinkin's fatherly manner and quiet, unrushed voice has a silent authority that far surpasses the hyper theatrical antics of most authority figures in police procedural. The family man/cold profiler Hotch is a major break from his role as Greg of ABC's Dharma and Greg. He is almost unrecognizable. Derek Morgan develops an interesting big brother like relationship with Dr. Spencer Reid and Elle Greenaway that is wonderful to watch. The dynamics between everyone is great to watch. The absence of unneeded family/personal drama from everyone is quite refreshing. The focus of each episode is soley aimed at collecting clues, profiling the suspect and finding him. While this may sound formulaic, there are even variations in each episode to keep it all interesting. The only exception is, sadly the season finale, the Fisher King (and its continuation at the beginning of the Second Season). The whole deal with an Unsub that knows everything about everyone, moves with ease and without detection despite being horribly burned and being slowed down by it, the whole lame Quest deal with blood written on the wall and clues given to each member of the team was very poorly done. And these fiercely intelligent characters are dumbed down to making obvious errors that even we non-profilers could have picked up. They tried to make up for it by having a main character gunned down but it didn't change the hideous way those two episodes clashed with the rest of the soundly done season. I hope that the rest of Season Two doesn't continue in that way. Aside from the Season Finale (which at least, to its credit, sheds a lot of light on each character in their private lives in the first 15 minutes)
is quite a relief from shows that inject needless personal drama to cover up already flaccid plots.

A friend recommended this series. We were hooked. Excellent actors. Likeable characters. We ordered seasons 2 and 3, and will be looking forward to series 4. Certainly would recommend this crime drama.