The Best Episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.0/10(356 votes)

   #1 - Playing Dead

   S8:E14/19/2009

   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

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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   Director:Michael Smith

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer
2. 

   7.4/10(356 votes)

   #2 - Rock Star

   S8:E24/26/2009

   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

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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   Director:Bill D'Elia

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer
3. 

   8.2/10(373 votes)

   #3 - Identity Crisis

   S8:E35/3/2009

   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

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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   Director:Michael Smith

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer
4. 

   7.8/10(314 votes)

   #4 - In Treatment

   S8:E45/10/2009

   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

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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   Director:Jean de Segonzac

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer
5. 

   7.7/10(305 votes)

   #5 - Faithfully

   S8:E55/17/2009

   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

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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   Director:Jean de Segonzac

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer
6. 

   7.5/10(281 votes)

   #6 - Astoria Helen

   S8:E65/31/2009

   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

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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   Director:Norberto Barba

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer
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The 20 BEST Episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent
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7. 

   8.0/10(369 votes)

   #7 - Folie a Deux

   S8:E76/7/2009

   Goren and Eames search for a young boy who vanished during a robbery at a hotel.

   Director:David Manson

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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   Director:David Manson

   Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer
8. 

   7.3/10(173 votes)

   #8 - The Glory That Was...

   S8:E86/14/2009

   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.

   Director:Norberto Barba

   Writers:Robert Nathan, Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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   Director:Norberto Barba

   Writers:Robert Nathan, Dick Wolf, René Balcer
9. 

   8.0/10(393 votes)

   #9 - Family Values

   S8:E96/21/2009

   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

   Writers:Walon Green, Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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   Director:Jean de Segonzac

   Writers:Walon Green, Dick Wolf, René Balcer
10. 

    7.4/10(318 votes)

    #10 - Salome In Manhattan

    S8:E106/28/2009

    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

    Writers:Andrew Lipsitz, Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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    Director:Steve Shill

    Writers:Andrew Lipsitz, Dick Wolf, René Balcer
11. 

    8.0/10(349 votes)

    #11 - Lady's Man

    S8:E116/28/2009

    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

    Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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    Director:Ken Girotti

    Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer
12. 

    7.4/10(274 votes)

    #12 - Passion

    S8:E127/12/2009

    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:Unknown

    Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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    Director:Unknown

    Writers:Dick Wolf, René Balcer
13. 

    7.3/10(305 votes)

    #13 - All In

    S8:E137/19/2009

    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

    Writers:Walon Green, Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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    Director:David Manson

    Writers:Walon Green, Dick Wolf, René Balcer
14. 

    8.4/10(342 votes)

    #14 - Major Case

    S8:E147/26/2009

    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

    Writers:Andrew Lipsitz, Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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    Director:Christopher Zalla

    Writers:Andrew Lipsitz, Dick Wolf, René Balcer
15. 

    7.5/10(293 votes)

    #15 - Alpha Dog

    S8:E158/2/2009

    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

    Writers:Walon Green, Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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    Director:Norberto Barba

    Writers:Walon Green, Dick Wolf, René Balcer
16. 

    8.2/10(348 votes)

    #16 - Revolution

    S8:E168/9/2009

    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

    Writers:Michael S. Chernuchin, Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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    Director:John David Coles

    Writers:Michael S. Chernuchin, Dick Wolf, René Balcer