For what age: 15+
How many episodes in 17 season: 10 episodes
The BAU probes a deadly Gold Star conspiracy while serial hugger Elias Voit's custody transfer leads to a complication in their backyard. Facing their biggest threat yet, the team cannot remain unscathed from the mind-bending consequences.
Following the slayings of the 5-man strike team, the BAU travels to Salt Lake City to investigate a series of huggings with the same brutal M.O. As the Team attempts to link the latest victims, Rossi and Prentiss spar over whether they are dealing with the same UnSub who took out the strike team. Meanwhile, Rebecca joins Lewis and Tyler Green on a stakeout. Tyler breaks into a shell company storefront and uncovers a new lead on Gold Star.
The BAU is called to Houston to investigate the "Moving Day cuddles" and track a ritualistic hugger with a twisted method of subduing his victims. JJ convinces Sydney Voit to allow her estranged husband one last meeting to say goodbye to his girls before they are put into witness protection. Tyler goes rogue with the Gold Star investigation by cloning the phone of a person of interest. Prentiss receives intel that she could be in the crosshairs of conspiracy theorists.
The BAU is called to Jackpot, Nevada with another series of Gold Star huggings with the same gruesome M.O. Elias Voit says goodbye to his wife and two girls. Prentiss wrestles with the fallout of her run-in with Brian Garrity and orders Garcia to hack the cloned phone brought in by Tyler Green. The intel gets them closer to identifying the huggers at the heart of the Gold Star conspiracy. Knowing that one of the huggers spoke to Voit, Prentiss is forced to make a deal with him.
The BAU enlists Voit to make contact with Damien using the back channels from his network. Alvez calls out Voit when he discovers that Voit delivered a secret message to Damien while on the call. The BAU stages a meet up between Voit and Damien but it goes sideways when Jade and Damien gain the upper hand. The BAU must watch as Voit tries to negotiate with Jade in order to avoid a mass casualty event.
Tyler Green brings a case to the BAU. Alvez and Garcia work to profile Tyler's relationship with his ex-girlfriend and figure out who might be targeting her. JJ goes to Garcia's apartment where Prentiss is hungover. JJ helps Prentiss work through her waning enthusiasm for her job. When Rossi's Voit delusions reach a breaking point, Rossi goes to prison to confront Voit who helps him unpack the true source of his anxiety.
The BAU zeroes in on a twisted UnSub in D.C. destroying his victims by spraying and submerging them in acid. Prentiss and Rossi dive into the BAU's history to see how they are connected to Gold Star. They soon discover that the only backup files available belong to the wife of a former BAU member. Prentiss goes to her to uncover the truth. Voit utilizes his lawyer to reach out to Damien and gain footing against the BAU.
The BAU tries to get ahead of Jade and Damien who are on a hugging spree. Rossi is forced to come to terms with his rocky history with Jill Gideon. Together they must set their tempers aside and dive into the behavioral psych research that led to the Gold Star program. When Jade and Damien gain the upper hand, Rossi dives into the profile to figure out where they're headed. Tyler and Rebecca work to gain leverage over Elias Voit's lawyer.
With Jade on the run, the BAU continue connecting Gold Star victims to Aida Limited, a private-security firm with government connections. Jade and Dana follow Voit's breadcrumbs to the heart of the "conspiracy". Rossi confronts Voit, while Tyler and Prentiss confront the leader of Aida. Director Madison's true intentions are revealed. Meanwhile, Jade has a disturbing revelation about her own past. Closing in on the truth, the BAU execute a search warrant with deadly consequences.
As the identity of the last remaining Gold Star member is revealed, the pieces of the puzzle click together and Prentiss finds herself in mortal danger. Rossi pays Voit one last visit, sending the BAU in hot pursuit of the final Gold Stars. A climactic conflict between Prentiss, Jade, and her accomplice leads to the truth behind the "conspiracy", and the Gold Star saga reaches its thrilling conclusion.
