"Criminal Minds" returns for its 11th season this end of September, and according to a report from TVLine, the premiere episode will kick off with a "twisted" and "bizarre" case that has Hotch (Thomas Gibson) and the rest of the BAU pursuing a killer who disfigures his victims by painting their faces.
According to showrunner Erica Messer, the reason why the unknown subject (UnSub) does this to their victims is they may have a disfigured face that even they find repulsive to look at. As this pertains to the behavior of a murderous psychopath, it will draw in the newest addition to the show's cast.
While A.J. Cook's character will be absent from the first few episodes, the series will be introducing newcomer Aisha Tyler as the new forensic psychologist who has a desire to study criminal psychopaths up close and personal. This episode will make her dreams come true as she now has to help the BAU understand the UnSub in order to catch them.
Catching this one criminal won't be the end of the story, however. According to a separate report, season 11 will introduce a network of hit men known as the show's "Dirty Dozen," with the premiere episode just bringing this group under the BAU's attention.
The report also states that the story behind the Dirty Dozen won't be solved in just one episode but will be a long story arc that will be resolved by the end of the season.
Cook won't be gone for too long, however, as she is scheduled to return. The actress filed for maternity leave but will only be absent for the first few episodes. Jennifer Love Hewitt, on the other hand, officially left the show — also due to pregnancy — and her character handed in her resignation in the season 10 finale to put in some closure to her story.
"Criminal Minds" season 11 premieres this Sept. 30.
