‘Criminal Minds’ Season 15: Major Characters Should Still Be Breathing When It Ends

For long-time fans waiting for “Criminal Minds” Season 15, it’s understandable to have mixed feelings about the upcoming season. Surely, there’s that feeling of anticipation on what the hit police procedural series could bring, but this time, it’s mixed with a tinge of sadness knowing that it’s going to be the last season for the long-running series.

But it’s not just fans who are finding it hard to let go of a good show who have been with them for a decade and a half. Even the show’s cast can’t help but be emotional as well.

Actor Joe Mantegna posted an emotional farewell to the show and its cast and crew, which felt like home for him for 12 years. Filming for “Criminal Minds” Season 15 is still underway, but Mantegna’s parts were already done.

“Yes, I will miss playing David Rossi, and I’ll miss the wonderful writing that brought him to life, but mostly I will miss seeing my fellow cast mates and our fantastic crew every day,” Joe’s message reads. “It may seem like a cliché to say we’re like family, but it’s so true.”

The team has done a good job of keeping things under wraps, and not much is known about the show’s final season. What’s certain, however, is that it’s going to be a lot shorter with only 10 episodes.

Despite this shortened season, “Criminal Minds” Season 15 will offer top-notch thrills and action, thanks to a brand-new super villain. The team “will be up against another formidable villain and will be concluding the 10 episodes with a showdown with that person,” revealed Amy Reisenbach, CBS’ EVP, Current Programs.

Some spoilers about the series say that a villain from the show’s previous seasons might be making a comeback. “We have one in the works right now who’s a very memorable villain, but I don’t want to say too much if it doesn’t work out with casting,” executive producer/showrunner Erica Messer teased.

There is good news waiting for fans who fear what might happen to their beloved characters next season. Unlike some shows, “Criminal Minds” has no plans in killing off major characters.

There might be injuries, but Messer assured that everyone who matters should still be breathing at the end. “These people are family and friends to us at this point,” Messer said. “I know it’s a drama, but I’m less likely to injure or write someone off in a way that says they’re not breathing anymore. I know a lot of shows, when they find out it’s going to be over, then characters are killed off or something like that. That’s not my instinct, mainly because I’ve been here for so long with all of these voices, I just don’t want that to be how it ends for them. So the jet won’t crash, I can tell you that.”