‘Criminal Minds’ Season 12 Spoilers: When Will The CBS Show Return? Rossi Gets A Blast From The Past In Episode 9 ‘Profiling 202’

CBS series “Criminal Minds” won’t be back before 2017, but the synopsis of the upcoming episode has been released online. Season 12, episode 9, titled “Profiling 202,” will focus on profiler David Rossi (Joe Mantegna).

According to the synopsis (via SpoilerTV), Rossi will conduct a profiling course – profiling 202 – on his birthday. However, while conducting the class, he receives a shocking phone call from his serial killer nemesis, Tommy Yates (Adam Nelson). He informs the profiler the location of his latest victim.

This isn’t the first time the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) has been involved in a cat-and-mouse chase with a serial killer, even one that a profiler knows well. However, such episodes usually have a clock ticking over them – the BAU races to save the victims of these killers who love to tease and target certain members of their team. But the cat-and-mouse chase usually adds a layer of suspense and intrigue to the case.

The Season 12 fall finale of “Criminal Minds” introduced the replacement of Thomas Gibson, who used to play Hotch. Stephen Walker (Damon Gupton), an experienced profiler that both Rossi and Prentiss (Paget Brewster) know well, was introduced in the final moments of the episode. Episode 9 will see Walker working his first case with the team. It remains to be seen what skills he will bring to the table.

Unfortunately, “Criminal Minds” doesn’t return for a few weeks. Season 12, episode 9 is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 at 9 p.m. EST on CBS.

Kirsten Vangsness, who plays tech genius Penelope Garcia, shared a photo of her and co-star Adam Rodriguez driving to a crime scene on her Instagram account while filming a “Criminal Minds” episode. She also shared a photo of her having dinner with co-star Aisha Tyler and watching her former co-star Shemar Moore’s new movie “The Bounce Back” with him.