The real reason Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was canceled

It can be hard to pinpoint exactly why some shows are successes and some fail, but in the case of Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, the reviews it received point to some very obvious clues. While the original Criminal Minds was never exactly a critical darling, the response to its spin-off was particularly dismissive.

In a scathing review for A.V. Club, veteran TV critic Noel Murray called the plot of the pilot episode “stupid and exploitative,” and the criminal profile — which is theoretically the reason to tune into the show — “maybe the dopiest psychological profile of any serial killer in the history of TV procedurals.” He also bemoaned the inclusion of actors like Whitaker and Garofalo in parts that didn’t live up to their talent, calling the show as a whole “generic crap.” Ouch.

In a review written after the entire season had aired, Jim Garner at TV Fanatic called attention to one of the spin-offs biggest failures: its inability to establish memorable characters. He pointed out that the show was extremely slow to give its cast the kind of emotionally grounding backstory that successful procedurals are known for, which likely left viewers feeling like the show as a whole was disposable. He pointed to the inclusion of the character of Penelope from Criminal Minds as a regular cast member on the spin-off as a prime example of how the show failed to give viewers unique characters to become attached to.

While reviews certainly don’t always dictate ratings, the issues highlighted by critics of Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior pointed to a show that wasn’t able to give viewers a good reason to keep tuning in.

Written by: Looper