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« Law & Order: Criminal Intent
May 14, 2007: Endgame
Wow. Hands down, this was the best episode of the season, and it certainly ranks among the top Criminal Intent outings to date. The craftsmanship was just far more superior to what most crime dramas offer today — particularly in the way Killer Scheider’s death-row countdown dovetailed with the deathwatch over Goren’s cancer-stricken mother.
I loved the whole format of this episode, the way we worked backwards to slowly unearth decades of brutal crimes and long-buried bodies. And it was made all the more disturbing by Roy Scheider’s chilling portrayal of a serial killer delighting in his murderous reminiscences, lovingly flipping through his scrapbooks of victims like they were cherished family albums.
Like Goren, I knew it was all leading somewhere (thanks in part to those overly revealing previews last week), but I never would have guessed the trail was leading back to his own mother — and the possibility that the detective’s father was that very same killer, a man known to Goren’s deadbeat brother as “Uncle Mark.” So it was cathartic to see the rage and frustration building in Goren throughout this season finally explode as he leapt at Scheider and nearly strangled him to death (with no intervention from those stoic guards).
Though we’ll get to see Eames again next week, we’ll leave Goren a broken man, and even if D’Onofrio does return next year, I suspect we’ll see a different Robert Goren. That final shot, with the detective sitting alone in a darkened hospital room was just so heartbreaking and so completely bleak, it was the perfect coda — and possibly, farewell.
NBC should have taken a good, hard look at this episode before shuffling CI off to cable: A series capable of this kind of work deserves better.
Next week:: It’s season finale time for our beloved Criminal Intent, and the last first-run NBC episode for the foreseeable future. Though I would have preferred to see this incredible Goren/Eames episode close the season out, next week looks to be an action-packed finish light years beyond the recent Logan/Wheeler outings. I’ll take it.
Watch online:: Can’t wait for next week’s season finale? For more than 100 clips of Law & Order: Criminal Intent episodes, visit TV Guide’s new Online Video Guide.
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May 14, 2007 11:31 PM
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This was an amazing episode! You're right, this should have been the season finale. D'Onofrio should be nominated for an Emmy. The Logan/Wheeler episodes just don't hold a candle to the Goren/Eames episode. NBC will be sorry they let this go to cable when their fall schedule of remakes and ripoffs bombs.
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May 15, 2007 12:48 AM
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My first thought was also - WOW. I don't recall even seeing such a powerful LOCI episode. Vincent D'Onofrio, who I usually believe overacts, really was completely believable in his emotional responses. Roy Scheider was really creepy. But the surprise reveal toward the end was a great twist and probably one of the best in LOCI history.
Great job on this one - and it should have been the season finale.
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May 15, 2007 7:12 AM
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An amazing amazing episode... I've just really started watching CI through the USA and Bravo reruns and this episode really sums up Bobby.... It may have been a way to make his character not be there next year unfortunately if the cost savings include not him...
I can't imagine how he feels as a man who has chased down serial killers to possibly be the natural son of a serial killer???
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May 15, 2007 8:09 AM
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According to NBC there will be no cast changes for any of the Law & Order shows so Vincent should be back next year.
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May 15, 2007 8:48 AM
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Really, really awesome episode all around. I can't say I'm too broken up about the show moving to USA. Apparently it does very well there in the ratings (I'm always catching a rerun or two a week there at odd hours) and of course, it will still air on NBC when one or two (or more) of their new shows inevitably tanks next season. I'm just glad it's coming back.
I can't help but wonder if Bobby's mom got to meet Eames. That would have been nice.
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May 15, 2007 11:05 AM
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I'd just like to echo everyone else's sentiments and say that this was a phenomenal episode. This was vintage CI and really brought back my love for this show way back when it started. Goren is such a fascinating character portrayed so amazingly by D'Onofrio. As for next season, if they somehow write Goren out, to me, there goes the show. He has made this show (along with his relationship with Eames) for so long.
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May 15, 2007 3:11 PM
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D'Onofrio deserves an Emmy. This was gripping and enthralling and heart breaking. Rita Moreno was amazing. I hope 'Goren' stays with the show. He IS the show!
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May 15, 2007 3:38 PM
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"but I never would have guessed the trail was leading back to his own mother — and the possibility that the detective’s father was that very same killer"
Then Todd Thatcher, you are one dense dude. It's the oldest plot line in the book. Fans easily guessed the predictable plot line a month before the episode aired.
This is not vintage CI. Vintage CI was never blogged down with mushy crap or revolved around Goren's boo hoo's. Superb acting cannot save an episode with such sub-par writing.
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May 15, 2007 4:03 PM
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Wow is right. I agree this was the best episode of the season. I really liked the way they told the story of Goren discovering his mother's and possibly his own past. It was like peeling back the layers of an onion. I was absolutely glued to my seat and I couldn't move until the final credits rolled.
When it was all over I was emotionally exhausted. Now that is some darn good television. All the actors were excellent especially Vincent D'Onofrio, Rita Moreno and Roy Scheider. I usually wait until the week-end to rewatch the episodes with my husband. But, I'm thinking I'll be watching this one again tonight. Maybe twice.
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May 15, 2007 4:16 PM
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Excellent CI episode. D'Onofrio was at his best and reminded me why CI is my favorite of the L&Os. Even Bogosian was good last night and that is the first time I have ever felt that way about his performance. Roy Schieder was just right as the serial killer, who was not as afraid of death, as he was of having no control over his own fate. He would rather be choked/strangled by Goren than to be put to death by the state. Just as long as he decides how and when he dies was all he cared about.
I liked the way they tied in the brother and mother with what was going on in Goren's profesional life and how it all came together at the end. Poor Goren. As if he didn't have enough issues - now he has to deal with the whole "who's my daddy?" conundrum. I'm glad this show will be coming back on USA (and I hope NBC comes to regret letting it go). I look foward to seeing how all the events in this episode play out nxt year.
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May 15, 2007 4:30 PM
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Amazing job by all involved-
Yes Schneider and Moreno, top pros all around-
And Vincent D'Onofrio always the best there is-
Really should have been the closing episode of the season.
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May 15, 2007 7:15 PM
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I hope you all noticed that they repeated it tonight instead of a new episode. I wonder if they're going to hold the episode scheduled for tonight to next season or run it next week????
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May 16, 2007 1:49 AM
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I didn't stay up to watch this on Monday, knowing it would be on at its regular time Tuesday. That said, WOW. I agree that this is one of the best CI episodes. Ever. Vincent D'Onofrio was great. I have always liked Rita Moreno. Roy Scheider totally creeped me out. Wow. It would have been nice had Eames got to meet Goren's mom (loved the expression on Eames' face when Goren told her that his mom wanted to meet her.) And Goren dealing with his brother's wanting to make sure that "Mom's affairs are in order." Oooh--I wanted to hit Frank. A good solid episode--it should have been the season finale.
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May 16, 2007 8:04 AM
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Fabulous episode! I don't know how Vincent D'Onofrio could've done a better job. Right before he exploded and tried to choke Roy Scheider, his lip (or cheek) started to twitch. I kept thinking "How does he do that?".
I know we haven't seen next week's season finale but NBC made a mistake. This episode should've been the season finale. L&O:CI belongs to Goren and Eames. They should be in the season finale.
Doesn't matter to me that L&O:CI is moving to USA. I'll follow Goren and Eames anywhere.
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May 16, 2007 8:46 AM
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