Here's the backstory behind Criminal Minds serial killer Cat Adams, played by Aubrey Plaza. CBS historically has good luck when it comes to producing hit procedurals, from CSI to NCIS and their many, many spinoffs. One of their most popular arrived in 2005 with Criminal Minds, which follows an elite team of FBI profilers who hunt down vicious serial killers (whom they dub Unidentified Suspects, or UnSubs).
Most episodes saw the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) having to deal with a new killer (or killers) with unique motives or methods, including the nightmarish likes of Tim Curry's "Prince of Darkness" or C. Thomas Howell's George Foyet, AKA "The Reaper." However, among all the Criminal Minds guest stars, one of the most well known remains Aubrey Plaza. Plaza's character, Cat Adams, is one of the most popular UnSubs to have appeared on the show - especially since she was the intellectual rival of fan-favorite BAU agent Spencer Reid.
Who Is Aubrey Plaza's Criminal Minds Character?
The History Of Cat Adams Explained
Criminal Minds season 11 episode "Entropy" is one of the show's best-received, which has a lot to do with guest star Aubrey Plaza. First appearing on the show in 2017, Aubrey Plaza plays UnSub Cat Adams on Criminal Minds, a serial killer and hitwoman who is part of a network of assassins the BAU is investigating. "Entropy" revolves around Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) working undercover to try and hire Adams - who quickly turns the tables during their "date" and plans to kill him if he loses her game.
Entropy | Season 11, Episode 11 |
Green Light (Part 1) | Season 12, Episode 21 |
Red Light (Part 2) | Season 12, Episode 22 |
Date Night | Season 15, Episode 6 |
The character returned to Criminal Minds a few times, and was incredibly popular due to Plaza's acting abilities, Cat's Reid-rivaling intellect, and the character's dark backstory. Cat Adams the Criminal Minds UnSub grew up in a violent household, where her father, Daniel, abused her and her mother Laila. Daniel was later sent to prison for the manslaughter of Laila while Cat was sent to a foster home.
After suffering further abuse from her foster father, Cat Adams killed him and later sought out Daniel following his release from prison. Despite searching the world, Cat couldn't find him and instead became part of the hitman network where she often targeted other men. She earned the nickname "Miss .45" and "The Black Widow Killer," and liked to make her kills personal.
Following her capture at the end of "Entropy," Aubrey Plaza's Cat Adams made it her goal to ruin Reid's life, though her plans were foiled every She was eventually executed in the final season of Criminal Minds and is considered one of the show's most chilling UnSubs.
Where Cat Ranks Among Criminal Minds' Most Memorable Killers
Aubrey Plaza Played One Of The Show's Best UnSubs
Aubrey Plaza's Cat Adams is one of the most memorable UnSubs ever to appear on Criminal Minds. There are undoubtedly members of the show's fanbase who consider Adams their favorite. However, there's stiff competition. While Aubrey Plaza's Criminal Minds character is chilling and unforgettable, there are many among the dozens to appear on the show who are just as sinister as Adams. Many are recurring villains just like her, too.
When it comes to recurring Criminal Minds UnSubs who caused havoc for a BAU member like Cat Adams did to Reid, both The Reaper (C. Thomas Howell) and Mr. Scratch (Bodhi Elfman) are arguably more memorable. The Reaper killed the wife of team-leader Hotch, and Mr. Scratch was such a threat that Hotch retired and entered witness protection to keep his son safe. Cat Adams may have presented a real danger to Reid, but he always managed to best her, which wasn't the case for Hotch with either The Reaper or Mr. Scratch.
Her popularity has her at the level when arguing whether she's a more or less memorable character than one of the examples given is purely subjective.
Of course, a key reason Cat Adams is such a memorable Criminal Minds UnSub is the star power of guest cast member Aubrey Plaza. However, Plaza isn't the only A-listers to appear on the long-running procedural, and there are several just as chilling UnSubs played by a known name in a cameo appearance. These include Tim Curry as Billy Flynn, James Van Der Beek as Tobias Hankel, Mark Hamil as John Curtis, and many others. There's even an appearance by Cameron Monaghan of Shameless fame as an incredibly young serial killer named Jeffrey Charles.
However, while each example will have a portion of the fanbase citing them as the most memorable and chilling UnSub on Criminal Minds, there are just as many who feel Aubrey Plaza's Cat Adams should take the title. There's no denying she's one of the most popular serial killers to ever appear on Criminal Minds. Her popularity has her at the level when arguing whether she's a more or less memorable character than one of the examples given is purely subjective.
Criminal Minds centers on cases of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), a group of elite criminal profilers who analyze the country's most notorious criminals as they look to anticipate their next moves before they strike again. Starting in 2005, Criminal Minds ran for 15 seasons before getting a revival show, Criminal Minds: Evolution, in 2022.
Release Date September 22, 2005
Seasons 17
Showrunner Erica Messer
English (US) ·