8.0/10331 votes#1 - Playing Dead
Season 8 Episode 1 - Aired 4/19/2009
Goren and Eames investigate a case involving a councilman's step-daughter and her boyfriend being shot. The pair of drug-addicted kids were caught up in blackmail schemes which had targeted the politically powerful family of the woman.
Director: Michael Smith
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf
- 7.5/10325 votes
#2 - Rock Star
Season 8 Episode 2 - Aired 4/26/2009
Det. Zach Nichols' first case involves the murder of an artist, but it's unclear whether the neighborhood he lived in was a factor in his death, or something more personal.
Director: Bill D'Elia
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf
- 8.2/10346 votes
#3 - Identity Crisis
Season 8 Episode 3 - Aired 5/3/2009
A man's murder puts Goren and Eames on the trail of an upper echelon businessman whose secrets have taken over his life and put him on the run.
Director: Michael Smith
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf
- 7.8/10288 votes
#4 - In Treatment
Season 8 Episode 4 - Aired 5/10/2009
News of a company's falling stock that plunged more over a fraud investigation may have led to the murder of one of its executives.
Director: Jean de Segonzac
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf
- 7.7/10280 votes
#5 - Faithfully
Season 8 Episode 5 - Aired 5/17/2009
After a doctor is murdered in his home while his wife lies bound and helpless upstairs in their bedroom, it is revealed that the couple's reverend may know more about the crime than he is telling the detectives.
Director: Jean de Segonzac
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf
- 7.5/10259 votes
#6 - Astoria Helen
Season 8 Episode 6 - Aired 5/31/2009
Nicholas and Wheeler investigate when the partner of a con man who used his charm to scheme a lonely single mother, is found dead.
Director: Norberto Barba
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf
- 8.0/10343 votes
#7 - Folie a Deux
Season 8 Episode 7 - Aired 6/7/2009
Goren and Eames search for a young boy who vanished during a robbery at a hotel.
Director: David Manson
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf
- 7.3/10164 votes
#8 - The Glory That Was...
Season 8 Episode 8 - Aired 6/14/2009
A former Olympian now working in the Belgian consulate is killed. Her death is soon linked to an aspiring Olympian, a blackmail DVD, and the owner of a private security firm. "The Glory That Was..." is an eighth season episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent the 163rd episode overall. This episode marks the half-point of the season. This episode was originally set to air after "Faithfully" which was set to be the season premiere episode.
Director: Norberto Barba
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf, Robert Nathan
- 8.0/10364 votes
#9 - Family Values
Season 8 Episode 9 - Aired 6/21/2009
When a flyer from a local Catholic high school drama show connects three murders, Goren and Eames must understand the psychology of a religious fanatic before he claims another victim.
Director: Jean de Segonzac
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf, Walon Green
- 7.5/10297 votes
#10 - Salome In Manhattan
Season 8 Episode 10 - Aired 6/28/2009
A celebrity chef’s star is on the rise as he plans the opening of a trendy restaurant with powerful partners. Yet his world is upended when his tabloid-friendly, gorgeous girlfriend and business partner is killed under mysterious circumstances. Detectives Nichols and Wheeler enter the seductive world of power and privilege and discover desperation and murder.
Director: Steve Shill
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf, Andrew Lipsitz
- 8.0/10318 votes
#11 - Lady's Man
Season 8 Episode 11 - Aired 6/28/2009
Goren and Eames investigate the killing of a man who became famous for dodging a murder conviction because of a mishandled trial. The man spun his notoriety into a TV show but turned up dead on his birthday.
Director: Ken Girotti
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf
- 7.4/10250 votes
#12 - Passion
Season 8 Episode 12 - Aired 7/12/2009
Egocentric poet Jacob Garrety would do anything to keep his poetry journal, The Village Quarterly, afloat. When foundation president Don McCallum shows up and announces he is cutting funding to the journal, Jacob appeals to assistant and lover Lauren to use her sexuality to change Don’s mind. Though reluctant, she agrees. While Jacob enjoys the advances of arts patron Sandra Dunbar at a poetry reading, Lauren carries out Jacob’s wish, and winds up dead on the street. Detectives Nichols and Wheeler discover the deadly passion that exists behind the arts.
Director: N/A
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf
- 7.4/10280 votes
#13 - All In
Season 8 Episode 13 - Aired 7/19/2009
When poker genius Josh Snow loses $80,000 in a card game, backer and bookie Lou Cardinale forces him into collections to work off the losses. Lou gives him a .38 and a box of blanks to extract gambling debts, and sends along his mistress, Angela, to keep an eye on the money. Detectives Goren and Eames enter an elaborate game where they must join in the play, or be played.
Director: David Manson
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf, Walon Green
- 8.5/10315 votes
#14 - Major Case
Season 8 Episode 14 - Aired 7/26/2009
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
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf, Andrew Lipsitz
- 7.6/10268 votes
#15 - Alpha Dog
Season 8 Episode 15 - Aired 8/2/2009
A popular male model spends the night with a mysterious woman and after a night of love and drugs, is found dead. Goren and Eames uncover the sexual paranoia behind the murder.
Director: Norberto Barba
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf, Walon Green
- 8.2/10325 votes
#16 - Revolution
Season 8 Episode 16 - Aired 8/9/2009
A heist goes tragically wrong when a revolutionary makes plans on kidnapping a powerful bank executive, and winds up dead. During Nichols and Eames probe of the murder, they must also prevent a terrorist campaign.
Director: John David Coles
Writer: René Balcer, Dick Wolf, Michael S. Chernuchin
The Best Episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8
Every episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8!
The third installment of the “Law & Order” franchise takes viewers deep into the minds of its criminals while following the intense psychological approaches the...
Genre:Drama
Season 8 Ratings Summary
"Playing Dead" is the best rated episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" season 8. It scored 8/10 based on 331 votes. Directed by Michael Smith and written by René Balcer, Dick Wolf, it aired on 4/19/2009. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Rock Star".