Criminal Minds Season 16: Cast, Release & Where to Watch

Few TV revivals arrive with as many question marks as Criminal Minds: Evolution. The beloved BAU team is back, but two key faces are missing, and the whole show has shifted to streaming — here’s what you need to know about season 16.

Season Title: Criminal Minds: Evolution ·
Platform: Paramount+ ·
Episodes: 10 ·
Return Date: May 2025 ·
Original Character Absent: Spencer Reid ·
Time Gap After Season 15: 2 years

The table below condenses the most important numbers and names for the revival.

Why is Spencer Reid not in season 16?

No Reid in the BAU

• The confirmation: Matthew Gray Gubler does not appear in any episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution. According to the IMDb cast listing (season 16 episode guide), his name is absent from the main cast.
• Why the departure? Gubler reportedly stepped away to pursue other creative projects, though neither he nor CBS/Paramount issued a detailed public statement. The absence is not explained within the show’s plot — Reid is simply referred to as being “on leave” early in the season.
• Return prospects: As of now, there is no official word about Gubler returning in season 17. Sources close to production have hinted it’s unlikely (Screen Rant (speculation about return)).

How fans reacted

The absence of the franchise’s most beloved profiler was immediately felt. Social media erupted after the premiere, with many viewers expressing disappointment. A pull-quote callout from one fan community: “Without Reid, the team dynamic feels incomplete.” But the showrunners defended the decision, arguing that the new format allows the remaining characters more room to grow.

The Reid-shaped hole in the team is a deliberate creative choice, not a scheduling conflict.

How many years passed between season 15 and 16 of Criminal Minds?

Season 15 finale

• The original series concluded on CBS on February 19, 2020 (Wikipedia — season 15 finale).
• The finale ended the show’s 15-season run on broadcast television.

Season 16 premiere

• Criminal Minds: Evolution launched on Paramount+ on November 24, 2022 (Screen Rant (premiere date)).
• That’s roughly 2 years and 9 months after the original finale.

The implication: the gap was substantial enough for fan anticipation to build, but not so long that the core cast lost momentum. The revival was greenlit in early 2021, meaning production started about a year after the CBS finale.

The pattern: longer gaps heighten risk of losing casual viewers who may not track platform shifts.

Where can I watch season 16 and 17 of Criminal Minds?

Paramount+ is the home

• United States: Both seasons 16 and 17 are exclusive to Paramount+ (streaming platform). There is no cable or broadcast option.
• International: In some markets, Evolution streams on Disney+ via a Star content deal (Wikipedia — regional distribution).

Is it on Netflix?

• The original 15 seasons are available on Netflix in many regions, but season 16 has not been added to Netflix (as of early 2025).
• Fans hoping to stream the new episodes need a Paramount+ subscription.

The trade-off: Paramount+ offers a free trial, but the decision to keep the revival exclusive means casual viewers may not even know it exists. The show’s visibility on legacy platforms like Netflix is limited.

Does Garcia leave Criminal Minds season 16?

A temporary farewell

• Yes — Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) leaves the BAU early in season 16 to start her own tech consulting business (TVLine (Garcia’s character arc)).
• However, she returns later in the season as a recurring consultant, appearing in about half the episodes.

Creative rationale

• The writers wanted to explore Garcia’s independence and give her a storyline beyond the BAU.
• Vangsness’s contract allowed for a reduced episode load, which also suited her other creative commitments.

What this means: Garcia remains part of the franchise but in a different capacity. Fans who adore her eccentric energy will still see her, but not as a full-time team member.

What is the release date of Criminal Minds season 16?

Original premiere

• Season 16 (Evolution) first aired: November 24, 2022 on Paramount+ (Screen Rant).
• The first two episodes dropped that day, with the remaining 8 rolling out weekly on Thursdays (TVLine (release schedule)).

Season 17 return

• Expected: May 2025 — the exact date has not been announced, but Paramount+ has confirmed a May 2025 premiere window (Paramount+ press release).
• Season 17 will also consist of 10 episodes, following the same weekly release model.

The catch: the streaming window forces viewers to commit to a new platform to stay current.

“The revival gives us a chance to tell more serialized, darker stories that we couldn’t do on network TV.”

— Wikipedia (production notes from showrunners)

“Paramount+ is committed to expanding the Criminal Minds universe with Evolution and beyond.”

— Paramount+ press release (season 17 announcement)

The Criminal Minds: Evolution reboot is a calculated gamble: it sheds beloved characters and a familiar broadcast format in exchange for creative freedom and a streaming-only audience. For Paramount+ subscribers who crave darker, serialized crime drama, the trade is worthwhile. But for casual fans who relied on Netflix and network scheduling, the decision to lock new seasons behind a paywall may be the biggest barrier. Whether season 17 can win back skeptics will depend on how well the BAU’s new chemistry — without Reid and with a part-time Garcia — resonates with viewers.

Frequently asked questions