The BEST episodes of Instinct (2018)

Every episode of Instinct (2018) ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Instinct (2018)!

Dr. Dylan Reinhart, a gifted author, university professor and former CIA operative, is lured back to his old life by NYPD Detective Lizzie Needham to help her stop a serial killer who is using Dylan’s first book as a tutorial.

Last Updated: 2/11/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Grey Matter
star
7.64
285 votes

#1 - Grey Matter

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/25/2019

A gruesome discovery in a city pond leads Dylan and Lizzie to investigate a young man's murder, while Andy rescues one of Dylan's students from a legal bind.

Directors: Michael Rauch
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Go Figure
star
7.57
214 votes

#2 - Go Figure

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/11/2019

Dylan and Lizzie work to uncover why an Olympic-hopeful figure skater is killed while on the ice. Also, Ryan’s case heats up and lands him and Dylan in unusual circumstances and Julian comes to understand why an old acquaintance has returned to New York.

Directors: Cherie Nowlan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Manhunt
star
7.56
238 votes

#3 - Manhunt

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/18/2019

It’s all hands on deck to track down the Sleeping Beauty Killer when Ryan and Dylan’s biggest lead in the case takes them to a faceoff aboard a ship. Also, Dylan receives troubling news from his father.

Directors: Gus Makris
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bye Bye Birdie
star
7.55
381 votes

#4 - Bye Bye Birdie

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/3/2018

When Celia Baxter, a successful author, is almost killed in her home, Dylan and Lizzie's suspect list includes several people who may have held a grudge as she rose in stature in the publishing world. Also, Lizzie gets closer to learning the truth about the death of her fiancé, who was killed while undercover.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Tribal
star
7.53
369 votes

#5 - Tribal

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/1/2018

Dylan and Lizzie investigate the murder of Joan’s protégé, Kristy, uncovering long-buried secrets worth killing over. Also, Dylan and Andy apply to adopt a child, and Lizzie’s reliance on Julian’s illicitly obtained information puts a promotion in jeopardy.

Directors: Michael Rauch
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Heartless
star
7.52
376 votes

#6 - Heartless

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/22/2018

Dylan and Lizzie investigate the murder of a Jane Doe, but when they realize that the victim was killed by mistake, they must identify the killer’s motive and intended target before she suffers the same fate.

Directors: Don Scardino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Trust Issues
star
7.52
244 votes

#7 - Trust Issues

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/18/2019

Dylan and Lizzie investigate deaths of three family members who were also business partners in a craft brewery. Also, Andy’s legal expertise is needed when he and Dylan confront an issue in their adoption process, and Lizzie learns some hard truths about Julian’s past.

Directors: Lee Rose
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Finders Keepers
star
7.45
219 votes

#8 - Finders Keepers

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/14/2019

Lizzie and Dylan work a case that provokes deep emotions for them when a 9-year-old boy goes missing on the eve of a judge’s decision in a bitter custody battle. With Dylan’s help, Lizzie confronts some of her past childhood demons. A major advancement presents itself in Dylan and Andy’s adoption search.

Directors: Lee Rose
Writer: Carol Flint
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Owned
star
7.43
343 votes

#9 - Owned

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/6/2018

Dylan and Lizzie are under pressure to deliver results when they investigate the death of Jasmine’s friend, the owner of a professional basketball team who died when her car went off a bridge

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Stay Gold
star
7.42
227 votes

#10 - Stay Gold

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/30/2019

Dylan and Lizzie investigate the murder of a successful businesswoman who attempted to prolong the lifespan of humans. Also, Dylan and Andy look to continue their adoption search, and Detective Ryan Stock from Nebraska arrives to hunt for a potential serial killer.

Directors: Stephen Surjik
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Broken Record
star
7.41
201 votes

#11 - Broken Record

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/7/2019

Dylan and Lizzie investigate the murder of an aspiring musician who was gunned down on a roller coaster at an amusement park. Also, Lizzie exhausts herself trying to keep up with a newly single friend, and Andy and Dylan look to broaden their options for adoption.

Directors: Alex Pillai
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
One-of-a-Kind
star
7.41
223 votes

#12 - One-of-a-Kind

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/4/2019

Dylan and Lizzie investigate when a street artist’s work is found with a victim’s body in the middle of it. Also, Ryan catches a suspect in the Sleeping Beauty Killer investigation and Dylan’s new book editor, Harry Kassabian, pays him a visit.

Directors: Janice Cooke
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ancient History
star
7.40
216 votes

#13 - Ancient History

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/28/2019

Dylan and Lizzie investigate the case of a prominent divorce lawyer who is found murdered in a bizarre ritual. Dylan and Andy hit a bump in their adoption process. Lizzie and Julian reach a tough point in their relationship. Ryan’s serial killer case escalates.

Directors: Randy Zisk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Big Splash
star
7.39
210 votes

#14 - Big Splash

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/21/2019

A Sweet 16 celebration turns into a crime scene when the birthday girl’s stepmother falls to her death and the guests and staff are put under a microscope by the NYPD. Ryan finds a new lead in his investigation. Lizzie receives some positive news at the precinct.

Directors: John Behring
Writer: Marc Dube
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bad Actors
star
7.39
362 votes

#15 - Bad Actors

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/27/2018

Dylan and Lizzie work to uncover who would want to murder an acting troupe of costumed characters when two members are killed using highly sophisticated poisons. Also, Andy encourages Dylan to accept an invitation to a BBQ being thrown by Det. Fucci when he becomes concerned that Dylan isn’t fitting in with his new colleagues

Directors: Jim McKay
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
I Heart New York
star
7.39
365 votes

#16 - I Heart New York

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/8/2018

Dr. Dylan Reinhart and Det. Lizzie Needham are reassigned to a murder case in Central Park when their investigation into a chemical attack on the subway is taken over by an FBI team led by Dylan’s estranged father, Roger. However, Dylan can’t shake the feeling that the cases are related.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Live
star
7.38
390 votes

#17 - Live

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/24/2018

Dylan and Lizzie investigate the murder of a film student whose death was broadcast for the world to see. Also, Andy and Dylan realize that parenting is tougher than they thought when they agree to look after Madison, a friend’s 12-year-old daughter.

Directors: Edward Ornelas
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Blast from the Past
star
7.38
351 votes

#18 - Blast from the Past

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/17/2018

Dylan and Lizzie are unable to identify a motive or connection when several average people blow themselves up using suicide bombs. Julian, concerned that Dylan could be exposing himself to past enemies, enlists Lizzie to talk him out of hiring a publicist.

Directors: Cherie Nowlan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Long Shot
star
7.37
366 votes

#19 - Long Shot

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/27/2018

When a woman is shot outside a community center, Dylan and Lizzie are challenged by the mayor to solve the case in less than 24 hours to quell pressure from the media and special interest groups.

Writer: Carl Flint
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
After Hours
star
7.34
229 votes

#20 - After Hours

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/11/2019

Dylan and Lizzie go undercover in New York’s erotic underworld when they investigate the murder of a high-powered public relations rep. Also, a glamorous love from Julian’s past comes back into his life with a proposal he can’t resist.

Directors: Joe Collins
Writer: Erica Saleh
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Wild Game
star
7.27
443 votes

#21 - Wild Game

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/25/2018

Although Dylan has returned to teaching, Lizzie calls upon his expertise with profiling sociopaths to assist with a bizarre case in which a venture capitalist was murdered and his body ritualistically displayed.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Secrets and Lies
star
7.27
405 votes

#22 - Secrets and Lies

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/1/2018

The murder of a young man who recently left his family’s religious community leads Dylan and Lizzie to a series of possible suspects, including a short-tempered photographer and a mysterious girl with amnesia. Also, Lizzie’s younger sister, Katie, unexpectedly drops by for a visit.

Directors: Peter Werner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
7.22
534 votes

#23 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/18/2018

Former CIA operative Dr. Dylan Reinhart is lured back to his old life when NYPD Detective Lizzie Needham needs his help to stop a serial killer.

Directors: Marc Webb
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Flat Line
star
7.22
398 votes

#24 - Flat Line

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/29/2018

Dylan and Julian go undercover in a hospital when they suspect an “angel of death” is killing people with non-life-threatening ailments. Also, Lizzie asks Andy for his legal expertise when a personal trainer sues her for accidentally injuring him.

Directors: Laura Belsey
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV