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The Best Episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Every episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent!

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The third installment of the “Law & Order” franchise takes viewers deep into the minds of its criminals while following the intense psychological approaches the Major Case Squad uses to solve its crimes.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 6 Episode 21 - Endgame
    9.1/10(636 votes)

    #1 - Endgame

    S6:E21

    Goren and Eames find a scrapbook belonging to a serial killer on death row. It suggests that he may have had more victims than previously known.

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 7 Episode 22 - Frame
    8.9/10(544 votes)

    #2 - Frame

    S7:E22

    Bobby is visited by the past when he finds a picture at his mother's grave indicating an old nemesis has returned, and the case only gets more complex when his brother and a mentor reappear.

    Director:Norberto Barba
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 2 Episode 3 - Anti-Thesis
    8.7/10(623 votes)

    #3 - Anti-Thesis

    S2:E3

    As Goren and Eames sift through the likely suspects in the murder of a university president and his assistant, they discover that the culprit is a wily adversary who has more than these crimes to hide.

    Director:Adam Bernstein
    Writer:Stephanie Sengupta

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  4. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 5 Episode 7 - In the Wee Small Hours (2)
    8.7/10(459 votes)

    #4 - In the Wee Small Hours (2)

    S5:E7

    The squad continues the investigation into the murder of a teenage girl visiting from Iowa. The detectives uncover the sordid family life of a local judge whose son is linked to the Iowa teenager and another victim. Goren and Logan discover that the judge is a formidable foe as they come under scrutiny.

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 1 Episode 20 - Badge
    8.6/10(550 votes)

    #5 - Badge

    S1:E20

    When the murder of a city auditor and his family seems too perfect, Goren and Eames turn their attention towards law enforcement personnel after learning that the auditor was investigating a number of former cops upon suspicion of double-dipping.

    Director:Constantine Makris
    Writer:Dick Wolf

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  6. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 2 Episode 14 - Probability
    8.6/10(521 votes)

    #6 - Probability

    S2:E14

    While probing the seemingly random murders of several homeless men, Goren and Eames uncover a scam involving a crooked insurance agent. However, an unsual twist leads the detectives to an unlikely suspect.

    Director:Frank Prinzi
    Writer:Dick Wolf

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent

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  7. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 2 Episode 23 - A Person of Interest
    8.6/10(444 votes)

    #7 - A Person of Interest

    S2:E23

    Goren and Eames investigate the murder of a former nurse and discover a possible anthrax terrorist plot. The case takes a turn for the worse when Goren is blamed for driving a suspect to commit suicide. Now disgraced, Goren learns that a cunning adversary from his past may be involved.

    Director:Frank Prinzi
    Writers:Dick Wolf, Stephanie Sengupta

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  8. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 5 Episode 6 - In the Wee Small Hours (1)
    8.6/10(505 votes)

    #8 - In the Wee Small Hours (1)

    S5:E6

    Detectives Eames, Goren, Barek, and Logan must solve a case that involves a teenage girl missing in New York City. While Barek and Logan search around for another missing girl, Eames and Goren work to uncover a mystery with a judge and his son.

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writer:Dick Wolf

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  9. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 6 Episode 1 - Blind Spot
    8.6/10(555 votes)

    #9 - Blind Spot

    S6:E1

    Captain Danny Ross closely oversees Goren and Eames as they hunt for a possible serial killer. This difficult and harrowing case brings Goren back in touch with his old mentor, a profiler, and his mentor's daughter.

    Director:Norberto Barba
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 7 Episode 1 - Amends
    8.6/10(443 votes)

    #10 - Amends

    S7:E1

    Eames re-opens the case into her husband's murder.

    Director:Jesús Salvador Treviño
    Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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  11. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 7 Episode 21 - Last Rites
    8.6/10(380 votes)

    #11 - Last Rites

    S7:E21

    Logan jeopardizes his and Wheeler's careers when a priest convinces him to re-open a murder case that's over a decade old which involves a politically-aspiring ADA who will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

    Director:Tom DiCillo
    Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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  12. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 9 Episode 1 - Loyalty (1)
    8.6/10(408 votes)

    #12 - Loyalty (1)

    S9:E1

    Captain Ross finds himself at the tragic center of an overseas conflict, galvanizing the assistance of Major Case detectives Goren, Eames and Nichols.

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writer:Walon Green

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  13. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 9 Episode 2 - Loyalty (2)
    8.6/10(385 votes)

    #13 - Loyalty (2)

    S9:E2

    With an illegal arms deal and a hunt for Somali terrorists hanging in the balance, Detectives Goren, Eames, Nichols and newcomer Stevens combine resources in an attempt to bring justice.

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writer:Barbara Hall

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  14. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 2 Episode 1 - Dead
    8.5/10(511 votes)

    #14 - Dead

    S2:E1

    The murder of a mortician and the discovery of corpses at a crematorium lead the detectives to a family man claiming to have a consulting business but suspected of being a contract killer with a penchant for perfection. Goren attempts to prove this by setting up a scheme that puts his "fear of making a mistake" in jeopardy.

    Director:Darnell Martin
    Writer:Dick Wolf

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  15. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 5 Episode 1 - Grow
    8.5/10(471 votes)

    #15 - Grow

    S5:E1

    When city health inspector Larry Chapel is found dead in an elevator, a quick look into Chapel's home life introduces them to Chapel's recently widowed brother, Evan, and little girl Gwen. Goren isn't very surprised to learn that Nicole Wallace is Evan's fiancée and the future mother to his little girl, but Major Case soon realizes they're off the mark in who they believe the suspect is, and Goren's only hope is to get Nicole to help him trap the killer. Logan joins the Major Case squad, but isn't pleased with being relegated to the background while the other detectives solve the cases, and Deakins tries to find a partner for him.

    Director:Frank Prinzi
    Writer:Dick Wolf

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  16. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 5 Episode 20 - To the Bone
    8.5/10(439 votes)

    #16 - To the Bone

    S5:E20

    Logan and Barek investigate a series of home invasions that result in grisly murders and their search leads them to local foster mother Chesley Watkins who had a series of young men going in and out of her home throughout the years. One of the young men involved in the home invasions was one of her boys, and while trailing the young man, Logan shoots a suspect who was brandishing a weapon at himself and Barek. When the suspect turns out to be a cop, Logan finds himself in the hot seat, and Barek sticks up for her partner, knowing that the truth is on their side. The investigation leads to Watkins as a suspect, and Logan is forced to deal with memories from his own past as Watkins plays on the weaknesses she sees.

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 7 Episode 9 - Untethered
    8.5/10(464 votes)

    #17 - Untethered

    S7:E9

    Goren investigates when his nephew, a prisoner who's bipolar, claims that inmates are being abused to the point of murder.

    Director:Ken Girotti
    Writers:Dick Wolf, Charlie Rubin, Warren Leight, Diana Son, René Balcer, Stephanie Sengupta

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  18. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 7 Episode 11 - Purgatory
    8.5/10(402 votes)

    #18 - Purgatory

    S7:E11

    Still on leave from the force, approached in a bar after a confrontation, and pondering his future, Goren meets another officer on suspension (Winters) who makes him an interesting job offer. Goren decides to tip the balance in his favor with an undercover operation.

    Directors:Jean de Segonzac, Jesús Salvador Treviño
    Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer, Stephanie Sengupta

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  19. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 1 Episode 14 - Homo Homini Lupis
    8.4/10(491 votes)

    #19 - Homo Homini Lupis

    S1:E14

    When an business executive's wife and two daughters are kidnapped for a loanshark because the loan hasn't been paid off, Goren and Eames are frustrated by the man's lack of cooperation, which stymies them further when the man's released daughter proves to have been sexually assaulted.

    Director:David Platt
    Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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  20. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 4 Episode 3 - Want
    8.4/10(505 votes)

    #20 - Want

    S4:E3

    After he gets into the head of an insane man driven to torture, murder, and cannibalism by overwhelming despair and loneliness, Goren surprises his colleagues with a passionate plea that the man be spared the death penalty, and engineers the confession that will save the man's life through a plea bargain.

    Director:Frank Prinzi
    Writers:Dick Wolf, Stephanie Sengupta

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  21. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 14 - Major Case
    8.4/10(351 votes)

    #21 - Major Case

    S8:E14

    Detective Eames assists with Nichols' case involving the death of an addict who was just days from going straight when Wheeler is otherwise engaged in the labor and delivery of her baby.

    Director:Christopher Zalla
    Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer, Andrew Lipsitz

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  22. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 1 Episode 1 - One
    8.3/10(798 votes)

    #22 - One

    S1:E1

    Goren and Eames are called in when a jewelry heist leaves behind three bodies. After ruling out mafia involvement, they realise that the thefts are directly connected to recent credit card thefts and stolen identities. They're led to an extremely charismatic thief, and their only hope is convincing one of his partners to turn on him.

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 1 Episode 7 - Poison
    8.3/10(533 votes)

    #23 - Poison

    S1:E7

    The detectives investigate a murderer who poisons hospital victims with cyanide. They suspect a nurse whose profile is typical, but when they discover more murders away from the hospital they have to widen their search.

    Director:Gloria Muzio
    Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer, Stephanie Sengupta

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  24. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 1 Episode 16 - Phantom
    8.3/10(541 votes)

    #24 - Phantom

    S1:E16

    The detectives investigate a slain bank robber and check out his sister, who is involved with a bogus United Nations economist. As the detectives close in on the suspect, Goren learns the suspect wants his children's approval and must stop him before any more murders.

    Director:Juan José Campanella
    Writer:Dick Wolf

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  25. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 2 Episode 19 - Cherry Red
    8.3/10(444 votes)

    #25 - Cherry Red

    S2:E19

    The detectives try to figure out a mystery after an old woman dies in a fire. The mystery gets deeper when a young woman who is left some of the old woman estate is killed. The case takes them to a state public administrator who has invented a form of grave-robbing. The detective suspects the administrator has a weakness for valuable cars, but to make his case work, he has to exploit his quarry's personal relationships.

    Director:Frank Prinzi
    Writers:Dick Wolf, Stephanie Sengupta

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Best Episodes Summary

"Endgame" is the best rated episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent". It scored 9.1/10 based on 636 votes. Directed by Jean de Segonzac and written by Unknown, it aired on 5/14/2007. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Frame".