After nearly two decades of following some of television’s most recognizable crime-solving characters, viewers are approaching an emotional goodbye. One of America’s best-known crime dramas is preparing to close an important chapter in 2027, leaving fans with one final season to spend with the team they have followed for years.
The series is Criminal Minds: Evolution, the Paramount+ continuation of the long-running CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. Its upcoming 20th season is expected to be its last, bringing an end to a television franchise that has remained part of the crime drama conversation for two decades.
A Long-Running Crime Drama Is Approaching Its Final Chapter
For viewers, the appeal of Criminal Minds has never been limited to the cases themselves. The series built its identity around the Behavioral Analysis Unit, a team of FBI profilers who investigate disturbing crimes by studying the psychology and behavior of offenders.
Over the years, viewers became familiar with characters such as David Rossi, Jennifer Jareau, Penelope Garcia and Emily Prentiss. Their relationships, personal struggles and changing roles within the team helped give the show an identity beyond its weekly investigations.
That connection is one reason the announcement of the show’s ending feels significant to longtime viewers.
Why Saying Goodbye Won’t Be Easy for Fans
Crime dramas often introduce new characters and cases, but only a few manage to create a team that audiences genuinely feel connected to.
Criminal Minds has had several changes in its cast and format throughout its run. Yet the BAU team has remained at the center of its storytelling. The mix of psychological investigations, complicated personalities and moments of humor gave the franchise a recognizable personality.
The transition from its original broadcast format to Criminal Minds: Evolution also allowed the franchise to explore longer stories and more complex investigations.
For fans who have watched the characters grow over many seasons, the final chapter will be about more than solving another case. It will also be about seeing how their stories come together.
What Can Fans Expect From the Final Season?
The upcoming season gives the writers an opportunity to bring the franchise’s current storylines toward a meaningful conclusion.
Viewers will naturally want answers about the characters’ futures, their relationships and the direction of the BAU after years of difficult investigations. Whether the final episodes offer a definitive ending or leave room for future possibilities remains something fans will have to wait to discover.
There is also the question of how the show will acknowledge its long history. With such an extensive television legacy, many viewers will hope for moments that recognize the characters and stories that made the franchise memorable.
The End of an Era for Crime Drama Fans
Television has seen plenty of crime dramas come and go, but few have maintained such a long-running connection with their audiences.
As Criminal Minds: Evolution moves toward its final season in 2027, longtime viewers have time to revisit their favorite episodes and prepare for the final chapter.
For a franchise built around understanding the minds of criminals, its lasting legacy may ultimately be the team of profilers audiences came to know and care about.
And that is what could make saying goodbye in 2027 especially difficult.
