Crime has always been fodder for films and subsequently television. Honest, hard working citizens can get a glimpse into the seedy underworld of the professional criminal without leaving the safety of their homes. Usually the TV crime drama has a good guy who fights an unending battle against those who would harm or kill innocent people. In 2005 CBS premiered a new series that would change the way people think about the crime series, ‘Criminal Minds’. While the rest of the television landscape was moving towards the part forensic science plays in modern law enforcement this show would concentrate on the personalities of the criminal. Yes, CBS also lead the way in the forensic wave of shows but they had the wisdom to diversify for their audiences. This series is concerned with a very special part of the FBI, the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) which is based in Quantico, Virginia. In real life this group is part of the elite National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime. Its purpose is to analyze the crime scene and victims of a serious crime and provide a profile of who is responsible. Typically their talents and expertise is focused on the most heinous of all criminals; the serial killer, pedophile and serial rapist. They are called in by local authorities when such a serial criminal is suspected. The BAU looks at the evidence in a different fashion that the forensic specialists. They don’t rely as much on the physical evidence as the do the motivations and victimology of the criminal. While the CSI type shows delve into the science and physical evidence to catch the criminals this unit has to get into the minds of the criminals to narrow down the field of who is responsible for the heinous acts at hand. If you haven’t seen this show yet then what are you waiting for? It is one of the best around with writing, direction and acting that are on cinematic levels of quality. CBS-Paramount has released the third season of the series to DVD and if you are a fan of excellence you need to get a copy.

The series was created by Jeff Davis and this is his first time as such. If this is how this man starts a career we are certainly in for some great things from him. While this series and the forensic oriented shows both are concerned with catching criminals their approach is vastly different. In this series the BAU team has to get into the mind and motivation of the unknown suspects, commonly called the ‘unsub’. Because of this the members of the BAU have to get out of the office and go to the scene looking for any little clue or indication of the type of person who would perpetrate such a heinous crime. They don’t get to collect some blood samples, bits of dust and dirt and go back to the clinical safety of a laboratory; their job is with the victims searching for a psychology profile of the unsub. This means the members of the team have to open themselves up to a world of hurt, pain and suffering. It is only natural that a job like this would take a psychological and emotional toll of the team. Instead of just showing the amazing deductive skills of the BAU members this series displays the often drastic affect the job has on them. It would be unrealistic not to take this approach to the series. The great thing about this show is they never go too deep into the personal problems of the team. They use those difficulties as a running theme that is mentioned and impacts the stories but it never overwhelms the episodes. This keeps the series from degrading into a night time soap opera more concerned with the team than the crime. It is rare for a series to strike such a balance but it is perfect maintained here.

This is the second season in a row that the series underwent a major cast change. Early in the second season Special Agent Elle Greenway (Lola Glaudini) was recovering from near fatal wounds inflicted by an unsub. She never really recovers from the psychological impact and winds up killing a suspect before he can even be arrested. At the end of season two the senior BAU member Supervisory Special Agent Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) is deeply shaken when a serial killer murders a close friend. At the start of season three he takes one last case and comes to the realization that he can no longer effectively profile a suspect. There was another major plot line that carried over to a conclusion this season. Section Chief Erin Strauss (Jayne Atkinson) feels that the team leader, Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) has been neglecting the proper management of the team. One thing that helped in this is the widely known but never proven murder of a suspect by Greenway. Strauss tries to get the newest member of the team, Special Agent Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) to uncover evidence on Hotchner. This places Prentiss in an uncomfortable position and she resigns. She is able to use her connections to obtain a placement in the Diplomatic Service. Strauss forces Hotchner to request a transfer out of the BAU to a white collar task force. This is great news for his wife Holly (Meredith Monroe) since it would mean no sudden road trips and they can work on their troubled marriage. With Gideon gone Hotchner is talked into taking on more case before the paperwork goes through. He convinces Prentiss to come along and they both wind up staying with the team although it is made clear that there is no chance of advancement in the FBI.

Replacing Gideon is Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi (Joe Mantegna). He was one of the earliest profiles in the precursor to the BAU and was on early retirement writing books on the crimes and touring the lecture circuit. He is haunted by the ones that got away and is initially standoffish to his teammates. Also on the team are a few other members. Special Agent Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) is the field leader in most cases. He is very versed in martial arts and the go to guy for any dangerous situation. Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) was a child prodigy with an eidetic memory and an IQ of 187. He looks more like a lanky college student that a member of an elite FBI team. He is quite and adsorbs every detail he is exposed to. Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (A.J. Cook) is the official liaison for the team. She interfaces with the local authorities and the press but has been known too go into the field usually with Prentiss. The last member of the team is rarely seen with them. Audio/Visual Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) is a genius when it comes to computers. She can extract any information possible frequently giving the team the vital information need to catch the suspect. She has a special friendship with Morgan and two often openly flirt with each other.

This is just one of the most interesting and compelling series on television today. If you haven’t gotten into it already you have been missing out. Now is your chance to have this third season ready whenever you get tired of reality and game shows. CBS-Paramount has the greatest collection of television DVD box sets around so there is a good chance you have several on your shelves already. Add this one to that collection and enjoy.