« Law & Order: Criminal Intent
December 19, 2006: Wrongful Life
This was an example of what Law & Order as a franchise does best, and what Criminal Intent has done only occasionally so far this season: tackle a serious issue while thoughtfully — but not forcefully — presenting both sides.
There’s nothing worse than feeling like a show’s creators are trying to manipulate your emotions to get your guard down just so they can ram their viewpoint(s) down your throat (Aaron Sorkin , anyone?).
In the case of “Wrongful Life,” there was a compelling story that raised a lot of questions naturally as it progressed. And since this episode didn’t pull any punches, I won’t either: I come down firmly on the pro-life side of the abortion debate. So for me to praise a “Hollywood” take on one aspect of a complex issue means these writers were doing something right, particularly from a story point of view, which should always be the primary concern anyway.
But no matter where you stand, I’m sure pretty much no one watching felt any sympathy for that poor girl’s gold-digging mother. Goren’s disgust with her was plain — as was his compassion for what her daughter Lisa (well-played by Alison Pill) was going through. With a complete lack of patronization, Goren made it clear his sympathy was not so much for her condition (spina bifida), but for her plight as a painfully unloved child.
In fact, I’d put this episode down as one of D’Onofrio ’s finer performances, if only because he eschewed the detective’s more obvious character “traits” — the nervous ticks and know-it-all-isms I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with — in favor of a simple, warm humanity. Now if NBC could only manage to get him in front of the cameras a little more often...
Next Week: So what is the Peacock giving all ye faithful Criminal Intent viewers next week to help alleviate those post-Christmas blues? If you guessed “a new Goren/Eames episode”... well, you’re sadly mistaken. It’s actually another repeat (!) — this one starring The Noth, one-season wonder Annabella Sciorra and showgirl extraordinaire Elizabeth Berkley! Thanks in advance for that lump of coal, network suits — you’re the best.
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Dec 19, 2006 10:39 PM
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I think this was one of the better Law & Order:CI episodes I've seen. Alison Pill was excellent as the girl with Spina Bifida.
I was so disgusted that the Mom was laying on the bed, swigging down a glass of wine, while the brother had to get his sister ready for bed. Too bad the brother didn't get rid of Mom instead of the victim.
That poor girl has to have her Mom take care of her grudgingly, while the brother that truly loves her and has cared for her all along, has to go to jail.
Great recap.
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Dec 20, 2006 1:16 PM
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