Many viewers were saddened with Thomas Gibson's departure from "Criminal Minds." The actor's exit from the CBS show have led avid fans to boycott the series while TV ratings continued its downward trend.
"Criminal Minds" Season 12 debuted with low TV ratings as compared to the CBS show's previous season. With a 1.8 demo rating among viewers aged 18 to 49, it marked an almost 10 percent dip versus its Season 5 premiere. Aired in late September, Season 6 episode 1 drew in 8.9 million viewers which is nearly 12 percent lower than the previous season.
TV ratings continued to dip with episode 4 posting a 1.56 demo rating and a viewer count of 7.6 million, according to TV Series Finale. The said ratings and demographics are lower if compared against the previous season's episode 4 by 10 percent and 9 percent, respectively.
With the rating's downward trend, several reports have speculated that CBS executives may decide against renewing "Criminal Minds" for another season. Some fans have also conveyed their disappointment with Gibson's removal, who was fired from the series after an altercation with a producer writer.
Some viewers also took to social media to convince other fans to boycott "Criminal Minds" Season 12. The hashtag "#NoHotchNoWatch," along with other supportive Gibson messages, were posted on Twitter and other social media platforms.
Meanwhile, the upcoming episode 5 will feature the first episode where Gibson's character Agent Hotchner officially started his special assignment outside of the BAU. Titled the "Anti-Terrorism Squad," the said episode will tackle bullying in school and a gruesome murder, according to episode spoilers posted on Spoilers Guide.
The episode will also feature a cute moment between Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) and Alvez (Adam Rodriguez). After discovering that Alvez's Roxy is a dog and not a woman, Garcia will present the new member of the BAU with several doggie treats and a pink sweater.
"Criminal Minds" Season 12 airs every Wednesday on CBS. Watch the preview for episode 5 below:
