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Season Eight is the eighth season of Criminal Minds. It ran from September 26, 2012 to May 22, 2013. It was released on DVD on September 3rd, 2013.

Ratings[]

Season Eight received 12.153 million viewers and a 3.3 score in the A18-49 demo on CBS. The first episode received 11.73 million U.S. viewers, while the last episode drew 11.01 million U.S. views.

Cast[]

Episodes[]

Image Title Airdate Writer Director Season Episode Series Episode
801 THE SILENCER "The Silencer" September 26, 2012 Erica Messer Glenn Kershaw 1 163
When a Texas prison inmate escapes during a transfer, he leaves behind victims with their mouths sewn shut, a signature the BAU remembers as unique to the infamous serial killer "The Silencer". While they investigate who he was and who he has become, the team gets to know their newest member.
802 THE PACT "The Pact" October 10, 2012 Janine Sherman Barrois Karen Gaviola 2 164
When the bodies of two seemingly unrelated victims are found just hours apart in San Diego and Los Angeles respectively, the BAU suspects that not one, but two killers are working together to commit the murders.
803 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS "Through the Looking Glass" October 17, 2012 Sharon Lee Watson Dermott Downs 3 165
When a family in Kansas turns up dead and another goes missing, the BAU searches for a link between the cases in order to find out who is responsible. Meanwhile, Hotch gets surprising news from Beth.
804 GOD COMPLEX "God Complex" October 24, 2012 Breen Frazier Larry Teng 4 166
When a legless corpse is found outside Albuquerque, New Mexico, and an unwilling amputee is later found in a motel, the BAU sets out to profile an amateur surgeon before he can prey on his next victim. Meanwhile, Reid's phone calls to a mystery woman leave the team intrigued.
805 THE GOOD EARTH "The Good Earth" October 31, 2012 Bruce Zimmerman John Terlesky 5 167
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 becomes upset when her son Henry doesn't want to celebrate Halloween this year.
806 THE APPRENTICESHIP "The Apprenticeship" November 7, 2012 Virgil Williams Rob Bailey 6 168
The BAU searches for a killer with escalating confidence when a Miami prostitute is murdered in a manner similar to a series of recent animal killings. Meanwhile, Morgan tries to increase Reid's athletic skills by convincing him to join the bureau softball team.
807 THE FALLEN "The Fallen" November 14, 2012 Rick Dunkle and Danny Ramm Doug Aarniokoski 7 169
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.
808 THE WHEELS ON THE BUS "The Wheels on the Bus" November 21, 2012 Kimberly Ann Harrison Rob Hardy 8 170
The BAU launches a massive search for a missing school bus full of students outside the Washington, D.C. area. As the search continues, they uncover a twisted motive for the mass abduction.
809 MAGNIFICENT LIGHT "Magnificent Light" November 28, 2012 Sharon Lee Watson John Kretchmer 9 171
The BAU links a series of ritualistic murders in Seattle to a popular motivational speaker, but the case takes a puzzling turn when the main suspect disappears. Also, Garcia is puzzled when Morgan declines to attend a dinner honoring an old family friend.
810 THE LESSON "The Lesson" December 5, 2012 Janine Sherman Barrois Matthew Gray Gubler 10 172
The BAU investigates a serial killer who oddly disposes his victims in Arizona. Also, Reid gets anxious when faced with the possibility of meeting his mystery woman.
811 PERENNIALS "Perennials" December 12, 2012 Bruce Zimmerman Michael Lange 11 173
The BAU heads south to investigate a fast-moving killer whose signature matches that of a serial killer from thirty years ago. Also, the team learns that someone is keeping track of their cases and replicating crimes they have solved.
812 ZUGZWANG "Zugzwang" January 16, 2013 Breen Frazier Jesse Warn 12 174
When Reid discovers that his girlfriend has been abducted by her stalker, he and the BAU band together to find and rescue her before it is too late.
813 MAGNUM OPUS "Magnum Opus" January 23, 2013 Jason Bernero Glenn Kershaw 13 175
While Reid copes with a loss in his personal life, the rest of the BAU travels to San Francisco to investigate a serial killer active in the Mission District.
814 ALL THAT REMAINS "All That Remains" February 6, 2013 Erica Messer Thomas Gibson 14 176
When two sisters are reported missing on the anniversary of their mother's disappearance, the BAU is tasked with profiling their father, well-known writer Bruce Morrison, as a possible suspect.
815 BROKEN "Broken" February 20, 2013 Rick Dunkle Larry Teng 15 177
The BAU heads to Austin to investigate victims found there with their watches set inaccurately, a clue which may help them find the killer. Meanwhile, the unsub stalking the BAU inches closer in his pursuit of the team.
816 CARBON COPY "Carbon Copy" February 27, 2013 Virgil Williams Rob Hardy 16 178
When victims are found dead 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.
817 THE GATHERING "The Gathering" March 20, 2013 Kimberly Ann Harrison Michael Lange 17 179
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.
818 RESTORATION "Restoration" April 3, 2013 Jim Clemente and Janine Sherman Barrois Félix Enríquez Alcalá 18 180
The BAU goes to Morgan's old neighborhood in urban Chicago in search of a spree killer 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.
819 PAY IT FORWARD "Pay It Forward" April 10, 2013 Bruce Zimmerman John Terlesky 19 181
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.
820 ALCHEMY "Alchemy" May 1, 2013 Sharon Lee Watson Matthew Gray Gubler 20 182
The BAU travel to Rapid City after two male victims are found murdered in a ritualistic manner. Also, Reid continues to grieve over Maeve's death.
821 NANNY DEAREST "Nanny Dearest" May 8, 2013 Virgil Williams Doug Aarniokoski 21 183
The BAU travels to Los Angeles looking for a serial killer who is abducting nannies and the children they care for on the same day each year.
822 -6 "#6" May 15, 2013 Breen Frazier Karen Gaviola 22 184
The BAU goes to Detroit to track down an escalating killer with a rapidly changing M.O. Also, Blake's husband returns from overseas with a surprising, life-changing career proposition for her.
823 BROTHERS HOTCHNER "Brothers Hotchner" May 22, 2013 Rick Dunkle Rob Bailey 23 185
The BAU is called in to investigate a string of deaths in Manhattan tied to apparent ecstasy overdoses, and Hotch discovers that his estranged brother Sean is caught in the middle. Meanwhile, the Replicator begins to zero in on the BAU.
824 THE REPLICATOR "The Replicator" May 22, 2013 Erica Messer Glenn Kershaw 24 186
The Replicator zeroes in on the BAU when the killer targets one of the team as the next victim. The team must now struggle against his endgame as the stakes grow higher.

Highlights[]

Jeanne Tripplehorn joined the series as a regular, portraying Alex Blake, filling Prentiss' spot in the team.

In the fourth episode, Reid got a girlfriend named Maeve Donovan. Unfortunately, she was killed by her stalker in the early half of the season, and the later half was spent with Reid recovering from those traumatic events.

Thomas Gibson and A.J. Cook hinted that "a strange criminal" would be stalking the BAU throughout the entire season. Later on, Erica Messer confirmed that fact, explaining that for the first time, they will be able to feature a season-long unsub, something producers have wanted to do for a while but had never gotten approval on until now. She has also added that "...this guy is replicating crimes we've solved. [...] We'll probably see him five or six times [throughout the season]." The stalker first appeared in the end of "The Silencer" and was prominent for a total of eight episodes.

The airdate of the episode "Brothers Hotchner" was changed, and it aired just before the season finale as a two-hour episode, just like last season's "Hit" and "Run". In the episode, the stalker's identity was revealed, and they lost one of their own.

DVD Special Features[]

  • Beautiful Minds
  • Gag Reel
  • Deleted Scenes
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