Another season of Criminal Minds: Evolution is here, and it leads to thoughts about when it is best to watch it. You don’t want to scar your children with the topics shown in this series, after all.
Before you go into this series, you likely watched Criminal Minds first. This set up much of the backstory for the characters we see in the revival series, and it also helped to set the tone of the series. Now that the show has moved to a streaming platform, the levels of violence have increased a little.
The series has the BAU dealing with some of the most despicable people in the world. There are some heavy topics of trafficking, assault, murder, and much more, so you’ll want to keep this in mind as we go through the breakdown of the age rating.
Criminal Minds: Evolution age rating: Explaining the TV-MA bump
When Criminal Minds first aired on broadcast TV, it was TV-14. This is a standard age rating for network TV, but there were some gory moments and some dark topics explored. However, since the move to Paramount+, the age rating has bumped up to TV-MA, and there are many reasons for that.
Sex & nudity: While there is no sex shown on screen, there are moments when we know the scenes are leading to this. There is also some nudity, although usually with men and women partially dressed rather than fully undressed.
The series delves into some topics that involve sex and sex crimes. After all, this is a series where the BAU is after some of the worst criminals in the world, and they have some sick minds.
Violence & gore: The original series wasn’t afraid to show dead bodies on the screen. That’s certainly the case with Criminal Minds: Evolution. Penelope Garcia reacts in the way many others would when it comes to seeing these images, showing us how sensitive she is, but also how desensitized the people working in the BAU have become to this sort of violence.
There are also scenes that involve gun shootouts and explosions. Various members of the team have been injured, and we get to see the marks left behind. There are also some violent crimes committed, and the series doesn’t shy away from the realities of that.
Language: While the original series didn’t drop the F-bomb, the revival has. It’s been one of the things about the move to streaming, as the language has turned more in line with what people who see these awful things would likely say and do.
One of the most exciting things for many fans is having JJ swear on screen. It doesn’t happen often, and when it does, it adds a layer of nuance to the scene.
Alcohol & drugs: We do see many of the BAU members drinking after a hard case or when they’re socializing with each other. There is also an episode in Criminal Minds: Evolution when two of the BAU members are high on marijuana, as it turns out that one of them uses edibles as a way to unwind at times.
When it comes to the cases, there are other mentions of drugs and drink. We also see some characters taking drugs, as some of the Unsubs are addicts.
Overall verdict: Who is Criminal Minds: Evolution appropriate for?
If your teens already watch Criminal Minds with you, then they’ll want to watch the continued storyline in Criminal Mind: Evolution. Just keep in mind that the level of violence and swearing have gone up since the move to Paramount+.
This could be a little uncomfortable for some teens, especially those who have a weaker stomach when it comes to gore, such as Garcia. There are also some heavy topics discussed, that are inappropriate for younger children in the context of the show. They are topics you’ll want to have in a more age-appropriate way.
Criminal Minds: Evolution season 3 airs on Thursdays on Paramount+.