It is still a dive until there is spike for the current "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" Season 2 (aka Season 12 if the original "Criminal Minds" be the basis). Showrunners have factored in Thomas Gibson return in the formula to increase the show's viewership ratings. But running doubts persist until the number of viewers of the show gets up, more than its Season 1 premier's viewers of 8.88 million. The Neilson Company recorded 5.35 million for the Season 2 premier last March 8.

The comparative viewership of two premiers of the show - in Season 1 (aka Season 11 in "Criminal Minds" series) and Season 2 (aka Season 12) generates a gap of 3.5 million viewers. The figure is for CBS to make double-time before it can break a tie to the show's medium performance of hitting around 8 million viewers. "Criminal Minds:Beyond Borders" on its first episodes boasted around 13 million viewers per episode but viewership dropped to just 6.7 million after Gibson's exit. And then to the most recent 5.35 million.

TV critic Ric Porter of TV by the Numbers, cited Thursday the statistics of The Neilson Company, citing on the same time of showing that "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" of CBS at 10 p.m. is second by having 5.35 million viewers to Designated Survivor of ABC which has 5.86 million viewers. Chicago PD of NBC came in third with its 3.96 million viewers. The show's latest figure is so low at current trending considering that at the end of its Season 11 it was TV's 17th most popular show among viewers (with 12.31 million) and was CBS's 7th most-watched show.

It is over five months after Gibson was fired from the show after an on-set altercation with one of the show's writers. Words had it that the actor was reprimanded after kicking one of the shows's writers following disagreement over a script. Gibson, playing Agent Aaron Hotchner, was a permanent fixture of the show for 11 years since the launch of "Criminal Minds" that spun off the present "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders".

But showrunners also said there are other factors that could be attributed to the fall of the show's rating such as the loss of Shemar Moore, the age of the show, and also the introduction of new characters. There are just diehard fans of Aaron Hotchner aka Gibson who are clamoring for Gibson's return, citing that the actor is the "charm" for the top ratings of "Criminal Minds:Beyond Borders".

(Mace Parker/YouTube)