Criminal Minds Season 18 Is Underway (and Features One Hairy Throwback) — See First Photos

Not three weeks after the Season 17 finale dropped on Paramount+, the Criminal Minds cast is already back on-set, filming.

“We’re back, Profilers!” announced the crime drama’s Instagram, which also shared seven BTS photos from Season 18 — including a couple of looks at JJ Jareau’s return to a side part hairstyle, which the well-tressed Special Agent (played by franchise vet A.J. Cook) last rocked as recently as Season 9 (one Twitter follower tells me).

Criminal Minds was renewed for Season 18 back in June, a day ahead of the Evolution-themed revival’s second season premiere. TVLine readers ultimately gave Season 17 an average grade of “B+,” whereas Evolution Round 1 scored just shy of a rare “A+” (and with six times as many votes).

Speaking with TVLine last month, Criminal Minds showrunner Erica Messer said that although the Gold Star storyline wrapped with Season 17’s finale, the BAU’s time with serial killer Elias Voit (played by Zach Gilford) isn’t necessarily over.

“He threw us the curve ball with Gold Star, he wanted us on a new quest. But what did he distract us from? His network,” Messer teased.

Even so, Season 18 will be “a bit more hybrid,” Messer said, mixing serialized elements with Cases of the Week. “[It] will feel a little different, where we’re solving standalone ‘Catch the Bad Guy’ cases,” the EP said.

One thing that doesn’t seem likely to change, though, is the butt-kicking Ls that the BAU has been handed during their Paramount+ existence.

“I know…. They’ve not had a break, they don’t come up for air,” Messer sighed. “It’s different [next] season but it’s still a lot. More things happen to this team, but it’s a different kind of pace, a different exhaustion.”

Messer also shared her thoughts on last season being quite literally dark, as in scenes coming across to some viewers as underlit.

A release date/timetable for Criminal Minds Season 18 has not yet been announced.