Why I’m Still Thinking About Criminal Minds

New Video out now!

When I was 15 or so, I became completely obsessed with joining law enforcement. It wasn’t an obsession that lasted very long, but at the time, I felt like becoming a cop or detective or whatever would make me feel clever.

I loved mystery stories. Characters who would follow evidence wherever it led– who could determine the most unlikely circumstances from seemingly scant data.

And so, Criminal Minds attracting my undivided attention. The show follows the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI, as they fly across the country advising local police departments on cases, most often serial murders. The twist is that the agents of the BAU don’t determine suspects just by studying how a crime happened, but also by looking at how the nature of the crime informs the psychological profile of the unidentified suspect.

For example, while Sherlock Holmes can determine the height of a murderer by studying how they might write a on a wall, the BAU considers why they felt the need to leave a note at the crime scene. By doing this, they are able to predict what kind of life the person leads, right down to previous criminal behavior, traumatic incidents, or even what their next move will…