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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!

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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
    Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 1 - Playing Dead
    4.8/10(4 votes)

    #1 - Playing Dead

    S8:E1

    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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  2. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 2 - Rock Star
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #2 - Rock Star

    S8:E2

    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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  3. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 3 - Identity Crisis
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #3 - Identity Crisis

    S8:E3

    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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  4. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 4 - In Treatment
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #4 - In Treatment

    S8:E4

    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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  5. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 5 - Faithfully
    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #5 - Faithfully

    S8:E5

    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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  6. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 6 - Astoria Helen
    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #6 - Astoria Helen

    S8:E6

    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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  7. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 7 - Folie a Deux
    3.8/10(4 votes)

    #7 - Folie a Deux

    S8:E7

    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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  8. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 8 - The Glory That Was...
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - The Glory That Was...

    S8:E8

    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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  9. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 9 - Family Values
    7.0/10(3 votes)

    #9 - Family Values

    S8:E9

    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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  10. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 10 - Salome In Manhattan
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #10 - Salome In Manhattan

    S8:E10

    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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  11. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 11 - Lady's Man
    4.8/10(4 votes)

    #11 - Lady's Man

    S8:E11

    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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  12. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 12 - Passion
    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #12 - Passion

    S8:E12

    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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  13. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 13 - All In
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #13 - All In

    S8:E13

    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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  14. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 14 - Major Case
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #14 - 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:Andrew Lipsitz, Dick Wolf, René Balcer

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  15. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 15 - Alpha Dog
    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #15 - Alpha Dog

    S8:E15

    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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  16. Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 8 Episode 16 - Revolution
    6.0/10(2 votes)

    #16 - Revolution

    S8:E16

    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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Season 8 Ratings Summary

"Playing Dead" is the best rated episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" season 8. It scored 4.8/10 based on 4 votes. Directed by Michael Smith and written by Dick Wolf, René Balcer, it aired on 4/19/2009. This episode is rated 2.7 points higher than the second-best, "Rock Star".