Started prep this week on my fourth and final time directing Criminal Minds. In fact, I’m getting a chance to direct the penultimate episode EVER, which is surreal. The show was renewed for a 15th and final season, which will either air in the fall or early next year.
Fifteen years is a long time for anything, let alone a television show.
Right now I’m not quite halfway through prep, but it’s really started to hit home for a lot of people on the crew that after fourteen years (!) the show if finally ending.
Can’t reveal anything else, but hopefully I’ll share details. Only once before have I directed a show knowing it was nearing the end, and that was Scandal in 2017-18.
Criminal Minds, however, produced three times as many episodes and spawned two spin offs, enduring seismic cast changes and production staff upheavals. I’m just happy I got to tag along at the end here.
Will write more about the experience in future.
Sharat Raju 