Law & Order: Criminal Intent (season 9)

A tourist yacht cruising the coast of Somalia opens fire on an unarmed boat, killing a sheikh and his wife. The incident sets in play an international grab for power, an illegal arms deal and a hunt for terrorists. Captain Ross finds himself at the tragic center of the conflict, galvanizing the assistance of Major Case detectives Goren, Eames and Nichols.

• Last appearance of Eric Bogosian as Captain Daniel Ross. 

With an illegal arms deal and a hunt for Somali terrorists hanging in the balance, Detectives Goren, Eames, Nichols, and newcomer Stevens combine resources in an attempt to bring justice.

• First appearance of Saffron Burrows as Detective Serena Stevens.
• Vincent D'Onofrio (Detective Robert Goren) and Kathryn Erbe (Detective Alexandra Eames) left cast for the duration of season 9 after this episode. 

Nichols and Stevens clash with a Queens precinct when one of their detectives is shot and killed in the close-knit Broad Channel community, which is under the influence of Irish crime boss Jackie Dooley (Kevin Conway).

• First appearance of Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Captain Zoe Callas.
• The song played at the beginning and end of the episode is "Middle of Nowhere" written by Mike Post & Alan Doyle, and performed by Alan Doyle. After the original airing subsequent episodes removed the song and replaced it with the show’s regular background music and removed the information from the credits.
• The episode is set to be nominated for an Emmy award.^[14]
• Special guest star: Kevin Conway. 

When a nice girl from the Heartland is found murdered, cleaned, and dressed to look like a prostitute, Nichols and Stevens investigate the staff of a local community hospital where the victim was last seen.

• Guest Star Dash Mihok. 

Four men who have been friends since high school discover they're being blackmailed over the death of another childhood friend. When one of the four turns up dead, it's up to Nichols and Stevens to uncover the truth behind a 22-year-old mystery.

• This episode so far is the lowest in the Nielsen ratings.
• Special guest star William Mapother 

The death of a magazine publisher leads to a wide array of suspects, including his friends, employees, lovers past and present, and possibly the Russian mob. Who would go furthest to keep their secrets hidden?

• Special Guest Star: Tracy Pollan 

A body discovered at a construction site bears all the hallmarks of a serial killer who was executed over six months ago. Detective Stevens is faced with two grim possibilities: either they're dealing with a copycat, or she helped put an innocent man to death.

• Special Guest Appearance by Lorraine Bracco 

A government official blackmails two doctors for overcharging patients before he is killed. The doctors have another secret to protect, however, and worry that someone will find out mobsters financed their practice.

• Guest Stars Vincent Curatola, Peter Appel, Joseph Siravo, Lenny Venito, and Cathy Moriarty. 

Nichols and Stevens must solve an old fashioned murder mystery.

• Guest Star Geraldine Hughes. 

The career of a promising young boxer is derailed when authorities discover he's at the center of a dog fighting ring. Things go from bad to worse when one of his partners turns up dead.

• Partially inspired by the Michael Vick dog fighting incident.
• Guest Star Dan Lauria 

The body of a successful real estate agent is discovered in a basement, bled out. The investigation points toward three different suspects. In order to understand how these three are connected, Nichols is forced to rely on an unlikely resource, his own father.

• Special Guest Star: F. Murray Abraham as Dr. Theodore Nichols
• This season finale episode is the lowest rated episode of all the franchise's season finales.
• Last appearances of Jeff Goldblum as Detective Zack Nichols, Saffron Burrows as Detective Serena Stevens, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Captain Zoe Callas.