Rank 4: Season 3

Season 3 from 2007 to 2008 is the shortest of the seasons until Season 14 in 2018 with only
20 episodes. It is the last season with Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin), who appears in only two episodes here. From episode 6, David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) takes over his role as an older mentor figure for the younger agents. On average, the season has 7.87 stars. The best episode is the 9th with 8.7 stars.
Rank 3: Season 16
The first podium place is taken by Season 16 – the first of Criminal Minds: Evolution. Part of the familiar cast is still on board, including David Rossi, JJ, Garcia, and Emily Prentiss. They are joined by Dr. Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler) and Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez). The season has a total of only 10 episodes, like Season 15 in 9th place. Additionally, it is the first one produced for Paramount+. Overall, this season received a rating of 7.93 from viewers on IMDB, with the best episode scoring 8.3 stars.