The BEST episodes of Criminal Minds season 8

Every episode of Criminal Minds season 8, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Criminal Minds season 8!

Special Agents Jason Gideon and Aaron Hotchner head up the FBI's most elite profiling team, the Behavioral Analysis Unit, the experts in analyzing criminal psychology. With each mind-blowing case, they put their lives on the line as they travel the country, matching wits with the most ruthless criminals on Earth.

Last Updated: 12/20/2024Network: Paramount+Status: Continuing
The Replicator (2)
star
8.09
670 votes

#1 - The Replicator (2)

Season 8 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/22/2013

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

Directors: Glenn Kershaw
Writer: Erica Messer
Watch Now:Amazon
Carbon Copy
star
7.99
1876 votes

#2 - Carbon Copy

Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/27/2013

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.

Directors: Rob Hardy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Brothers Hotchner (1)
star
7.88
1612 votes

#3 - Brothers Hotchner (1)

Season 8 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/22/2013

When Hotch receives a phone call from his brother Sean while on vacation in New York City and several civilians are found dead from apparent ecstasy overdoses, the BAU attempts to profile a sociopath killer attempting to make a statement. Meanwhile, Hotch struggles to keep himself from becoming emotionally involved in the case.

Directors: Rob Bailey
Writer: Rick Dunkle
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
All That Remains
star
7.81
1910 votes

#4 - All That Remains

Season 8 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/6/2013

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.

Directors: Thomas Gibson
Writer: Erica Messer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Good Earth
star
7.81
1934 votes

#5 - The Good Earth

Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/31/2012

When four men go missing in rural Oregon, the BAU searches for a common link among them in order to track them down. Also, JJ gets upset when her son Henry doesn't want to celebrate Halloween this year.

Directors: John Terlesky
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Zugzwang
star
7.76
2043 votes

#6 - Zugzwang

Season 8 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/16/2013

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.

Directors: Jesse Warn
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
God Complex
star
7.73
1948 votes

#7 - God Complex

Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/24/2012

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.

Directors: Larry Teng
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Number Six
star
7.71
1701 votes

#8 - Number Six

Season 8 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/15/2013

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.

Directors: Karen Gaviola
Watch Now:Apple TV
Nanny Dearest
star
7.70
1774 votes

#9 - Nanny Dearest

Season 8 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/8/2013

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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Alchemy
star
7.65
1801 votes

#10 - Alchemy

Season 8 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/1/2013

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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Gathering
star
7.64
1965 votes

#11 - The Gathering

Season 8 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/20/2013

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.

Directors: Michael Lange
Writer: Kim Harrison
Watch Now:Apple TV
Broken
star
7.64
1741 votes

#12 - Broken

Season 8 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/20/2013

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.

Directors: Larry Teng
Writer: Rick Dunkle
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Pact
star
7.64
2254 votes

#13 - The Pact

Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/10/2012

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.

Directors: Karen Gaviola
Watch Now:Apple TV
Magnum Opus
star
7.64
1984 votes

#14 - Magnum Opus

Season 8 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/23/2013

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.

Directors: Glenn Kershaw
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Lesson
star
7.63
1708 votes

#15 - The Lesson

Season 8 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/5/2012

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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Restoration
star
7.63
1934 votes

#16 - Restoration

Season 8 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/3/2013

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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Perennials
star
7.62
1902 votes

#17 - Perennials

Season 8 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/12/2012

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.

Directors: Michael Lange
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Apprenticeship
star
7.59
2090 votes

#18 - The Apprenticeship

Season 8 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/7/2012

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 softball team.

Directors: Rob Bailey
Watch Now:Apple TV
Through the Looking Glass
star
7.58
2128 votes

#19 - Through the Looking Glass

Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/17/2012

When one Kansas family turns up dead and another goes missing, the BAU looks for a link between the cases to find out who is behind the kidnappings and murders. Meanwhile, Hotch gets surprising news from Beth.

Directors: Dermott Downs
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Silencer
star
7.55
2230 votes

#20 - The Silencer

Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/2012

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.

Directors: Glenn Kershaw
Writer: Erica Messer
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Fallen
star
7.49
1955 votes

#21 - The Fallen

Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/14/2012

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.

Writer: Rick Dunkle
Watch Now:Apple TV
Magnificent Light
star
7.49
1967 votes

#22 - Magnificent Light

Season 8 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/28/2012

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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Pay It Forward
star
7.45
1758 votes

#23 - Pay It Forward

Season 8 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/10/2013

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.

Directors: John Terlesky
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Wheels on the Bus...
star
7.40
1977 votes

#24 - The Wheels on the Bus...

Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/21/2012

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.

Directors: Rob Hardy
Watch Now:Apple TV