Beyond Criminal Minds season 13, what’s the series’ lifespan?

Criminal Minds season 13 is coming to CBS this fall; beyond that, what’s the lifespan of the show? In this edition of our ongoing CarterMatt TV Lifespans series, one of our goals is to try and figure that out.

If there is one thing that we do know about this show entering this upcoming season, it’s that this is a critical time for the series. We’ve lost Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore the past two seasons, gained Adam Rodriguez, promoted Aisha Tyler, re-gained Paget Brewster, and gained and lost Damon Gupton. The show’s now brought over Daniel Henney from Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, and it will be moving to a new timeslot at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time. Needless to say – there have been a serious amount of changes!

Will it be able to handle the move? There are several different factors that could play a part in that.

1. The performance of SEAL Team – Lead-ins are incredibly important, even in 2017 when there are so many other ways to watch TV. If that show doesn’t pan out and Criminal Minds has to be a little bit more of a self-starter, then it could have some trouble.

2. The cast chemistry – Will this be the year when everyone starts to gel? The biggest thing the writers really need now is a full year to write everyone something that they haven’t had in a long time. (Remember, there was a good bit of cast turnover even before the past couple of years — see the Jennifer Love Hewitt era.) With consistency could come familiarity, and this show needs to become that TV Comfort Food for viewers once again where week in and week out they are going to see a familiar family and great stories.

3. Ratings – Of course, this is a given. In the 18-49 demographic, season 13 of Criminal Minds was the lowest-rated one for the show yet. Season 12 averaged a 1.4 rating, which is down over 20% from the season before that. Yet, here’s the interesting twist about this: If the show retains 85% or higher, it’s a great hit for CBS in the new timeslot and one of their better-rated shows there in years. Many of the people who were going to leave the show over it losing Gibson or Moore are already gone, and maybe it adds some Henney fans thanks to him coming over. Averaging a 1.2-1.3 for the season isn’t all that hard to fathom even if it’s not coming on after Survivor anymore.

Should season 13 be the final season?

It doesn’t feel like it. Despite lower ratings this is still one of CBS’ most-successful crime shows, and the franchise has such enormous value all over the world. (Sure, CBS also doesn’t own the show in its entirety, but there’s still money to be made there.) We do think there are a couple more years of Criminal Minds at most still to go; if the show ever does end, it would benefit the network greatly to announce the end in advance and give it more of a proper send-off. The fans have supported it for such a long time, and it only makes sense for them to get a farewell that makes sense.

Do you think that Criminal Minds season 13 will be anywhere near the last season of the show? Be sure to share below!

Meanwhile, head over to the link here in the event you do want to get some further information now when it comes to the show! (Photo: CBS.)