The Best Episodes of Criminal Minds Season 8

When a Texas prisoner escapes during a transfer, he leaves behind victims with his unique trademark, sewing their mouths shut, a signature the BAU remembers as unique to the UnSub "The Silencer." While they investigate who he was and who he's become, the BAU also gets to know the newest member of the team.

Director: Glenn Kershaw

Writer: Erica Messer

When the bodies of two seemingly unrelated victims are found just hours apart in San Diego and Los Angeles respectively, the BAU suspects that that not one, but two killers are working together to commit these murders.

Director: Karen Gaviola

Writer: Janine Sherman Barrois

An UNSUB who kidnaps families with the intention of making them admit to and pay for their indiscretions.

Director: Dermott Downs

Writer: Sharon Lee Watson

When a legless body is found in the New Mexico desert and a second unwilling amputee shows up at the hospital, the BAU team searches for this amateur surgeon before he preys upon his next reluctant victim. Also, Reid's phone calls to a mystery woman have the team intrigued.

Director: Larry Teng

Writer: Breen Frazier

The team heads to Oregon as four men have gone missing.

Director: John Terlesky

Writer: Bruce Zimmerman

When prostitutes in Miami are discovered murdered in a similar style to local animals found dead there, the BAU must work fast to find an unsub whose confidence is quickly escalating. Also, Morgan tries to increase Reid's athletic skills by convincing him to join the bureau's softball team.

Director: Rob Bailey

Writer: Virgil Williams

The BAU travels to Santa Monica when burned bodies of homeless people begin showing up by the famous pier. Also, Rossi reconnects with his former Marine sergeant from Vietnam.

Director: Douglas Aarniokoski

Writer: Rick Dunkle

The BAU team goes in pursuit of a missing school bus full of children outside the Washington, D.C. area, and it becomes a race against time for them to bring them home safely.

Director: Rob Hardy

Writer: Kimberly A. Harrison

An attendee at a popular motivational-speaker's conference in Seattle is murdered and the speaker himself disappears soon afterward. Meanwhile, Garcia is puzzled when Morgan refuses to attend a dinner honoring an old family friend.

Director: John T. Kretchmer

Writer: Sharon Lee Watson

A ritualistic killer is hunted after male bodies are found that have been physically altered. Meanwhile, Reid gets anxious at the prospect of meeting his mystery woman.

Director: Matthew Gray Gubler

Writer: Janine Sherman Barrois

The BAU heads south to investigate a fast-moving UnSub whose signature matches that of a serial killer from 30 years ago. Also, the team learns that someone is tracking their cases and replicating crimes the BAU is solving.

Director: Michael Lange

Writer: Bruce Zimmerman

When Reid discovers that his girlfriend has been kidnapped by her stalker, he and the BAU team band together to find her before it's too late.

Director: Jesse Warn

Writer: Breen Frazier

While Reid copes with a loss in his personal life, the rest of the BAU travels to San Francisco to investigate victims discovered in the Mission District.

Director: Glenn Kershaw

Writer: Jason Bernero

A writer's daughters vanish on the anniversary of their mother's disappearance, which leads the BAU to investigate the man as a possible suspect.

Director: Thomas Gibson

Writer: Erica Messer

The BAU heads to Austin to investigate victims found there with their watches set inaccurately, a clue which may connect the crimes. Meanwhile, the UnSub stalking the BAU inches closer in his pursuit of the team.

Director: Larry Teng

Writer: Rick Dunkle

When victims are found in Philadelphia in a similar style to victims of The Replicator, the stalker who has been tracking the BAU's every move, the team thinks this could be the break they need to try and apprehend him.

Director: Rob Hardy

Writer: Virgil Williams

The BAU investigates victims who were documenting their personal lives and inner desires on blog posts and social media. Also, Kevin gets jealous when he learns Garcia may have a new love interest.

Director: Michael Lange

Writer: Kimberly A. Harrison

The BAU goes to Morgan's old neighborhood in urban Chicago in search of an unsub targeting middle-aged men, and a clue leads Morgan to believe that they are after someone connected to the man who molested him as a child.

Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá

Writer: Janine Sherman Barrois, Jim Clemente

When a time capsule in a small Colorado town is opened twenty-five years later and contains a gruesome discovery, the BAU investigates the crime and find a possible link to the death of a local police officer.

Director: John Terlesky

Writer: Bruce Zimmerman

The BAU travel to Rapid City after two male victims are discovered murdered in a ritualistic manner. Also, Reid continues to grieve over Maeve’s death.

Director: Matthew Gray Gubler

Writer: Sharon Lee Watson

The BAU travels to Los Angeles looking for an UnSub who is kidnapping nannies and the children they care for on the same day each year.

Director: Douglas Aarniokoski

Writer: Virgil Williams

The BAU goes to Detroit to track an UnSub with a rapidly changing MO. Also, Blake's husband returns from overseas with a life-changing career proposition for her.

Director: Karen Gaviola

Writer: Breen Frazier

The Replicator zeroes in on the BAU when the killer targets one of the team as the next victim. Also, the BAU is called in to investigate a string of deaths in Manhattan tied to apparent ecstasy overdoses, and Hotch discovers that his estranged brother, Sean, is caught in the middle.

Director: Rob Bailey

Writer: Rick Dunkle

The Replicator zeroes in on the BAU when the killer targets one of the team as the next victim. Also, the BAU is called in to investigate a string of deaths in Manhattan tied to apparent ecstasy overdoses, and Hotch discovers that his estranged brother, Sean, is caught in the middle.

Director: Glenn Kershaw

Writer: Erica Messer