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« Law & Order: Criminal Intent
January 9, 2007: Privilege
As a criminal procedural, this was a solid (but not outstanding) episode, with all of the standard ingredients for a good potboiler: murder, money, power, sex, drugs and even a little rock and roll. OK, maybe that song that played over the opening yoga sequence wasn’t exactly rock and roll, but it was haunting and pretty in a melancholy sort of way, and I really dug it. Who was that mysterious troubadour?
While the plot felt a little too familiar — as I’ve said before, how many scheming, whiny rich kids bumping each other off for money do we really need to see? — the acting redeemed this episode. The obvious standout was Doris “Marie Barone” Roberts, whom it was weird to see bedridden and nearly mute (especially after watching an Everybody Loves Raymond episode at 8:30 in which she was her usual feisty self). But once they got her on the right meds, she was as spry as ever — though (slightly) more regal and commanding than her sitcom counterpart. Also solid was Richard “Mad About You” Kind, playing a dance instructor and “patron of the arts” who was not an effeminate cliché, but a sad, sympathetic character (who just happened to be a double murderer).
So that’s good. Now for the bad: As a character drama, this ep was a big letdown. I can’t believe it’s been nearly two months since Goren stormed out of the police station, yelling to Captain Danny, “Go ahead and fire me if you want.” That’s a long time to wait for a fourth-episode cliff-hanger. And what did we get as the payoff? This passing nod:
Captain Danny: “Nice to have you back on the job.”
Goren: “Thanks.”
Captain Danny: “Everything uh...?
Goren: “Everything’s good.”
That’s it!? After Goren’s meltdown, all the payoff we get is: “Nice to have you back on the job”? All we can deduce from that is that Goren was off for a little while. Well, so was D’Onof and pretty much the whole rest of the L&O crew. I mean, it was the holidays, and this is the entertainment industry — of course they were off for a month!
Listen, I know some of you might be saying, “Criminal Intent isn’t that kind of show. It’s not really about the characters, it’s about the cases.” And I would agree with that to a point. I’ve seen so-called “cop shows” get too bogged down in personal lives and lose sight of what attracted viewers in the first place (Without a Trace, anyone?). Even perennial favorite SVU sometimes walks right up to that fine line.
And while I don’t want this show going that route, it’s because we so seldom see what’s going on with Goren and Eames outside of the station that “The War at Home” was such a powerful, emotional episode. But to barely acknowledge that in what is, for these detectives, the next new episode, is a disservice to both the characters and the fans, who deserved to see the consequences of Goren’s actions played out.
For now, I’ll give the show-runners the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe they’ll be returning to that story line, but didn’t want to go overboard with the character stuff and turn casual viewers off. I just hope I don’t have to wait another 60 days to find out.
Next Week: Back to repeats after just two new episodes? And one from just three months back? Wow, that’s great, because it’s been so long, I almost don’t remember every single thing that happened.
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Jan 9, 2007 10:57 PM
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The song that played at the start of the ep is 'Pride' by a group called Syntax. It played in an ep of one of the CSI's a couple years ago and is also on the Nip/Tuck soundtrack. It's a great song. I was excited to hear it get more exposure.
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Jan 9, 2007 11:43 PM
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hey i left a post and can't find it
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Jan 10, 2007 6:52 AM
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Who else loved Goren and Eames on the playground pretending to have a kid? I nearly died laughing when they went off to question the guy and asked those two women to watch their son for them!
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Jan 10, 2007 8:47 AM
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There was one subtle reference to Goren's ongoing Mommy issues. It was when Goren and Eames first discovered the nearly comatose Lady Hamilton. Goren became visibly upset as he tenderly held her hand and screamed "Is this how you take care of your mother!" I wouldn't be surprised if we find out later that his mother died while he was on his leave.
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Jan 10, 2007 9:43 AM
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Exactly!!! So my question is: why weren't Grant and his wife also arrested for elder abuse, fraud, forgery, and embezzlement?!?
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Jan 10, 2007 10:18 AM
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I'm sorry but I would take Logan any day over Goren!
How about a poll from everyone else?
Logan?
or
Goren?
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Jan 10, 2007 11:11 AM
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My vote would be for Goren. Logan can get a little annoying with his attutude. I've also been a D'Onofrio fan since "Adventures In Babysitting" (as the car mechanic)!
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Jan 10, 2007 11:54 AM
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As for the Goren vs Logan poll, they are two completely different characters and actors so I really don't know how to choose. For the subtle "I could go crazy any minute" episodes, it is Goren. Vincent plays this role perfectly. I, too, would like to know what happened with him when he was on leave. For the not-so-subtle "I'll do the job any way I damn well please" episodes it is Logan. I love them both (the characters and the actors) and love having a variety. Sucks that we are already having reruns!!
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Edited by donfay43 at {1}
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Jan 10, 2007 12:20 PM
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I was surprised that it hasn't been mentioned that the "pulled from the headlines" story was almost dead on to the actual story that occured not too long ago, in New York, I believe. I don't think there was any murder involved, but the society mother being kept drugged and isolated really happened.
As for the poll, I'm with donfay43. No comparison. Vincent is a wonderful wonderful actor...I'll NEVER forget him from a Homicide (I think it was that show!) and being the man pinned by the subway train. That was the best! But Chris Noth rings my chimes!!! So I can't vote for either...or I vote for both.
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Jan 10, 2007 1:03 PM
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My vote would definitley be for Goren. While Noth is a good actor, D'Onofrio is a great actor. Beats him hands down!!!!!
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Jan 10, 2007 2:18 PM
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I thought this was a good episode although I have to agree "the rich kids fighting over the trust fund" has been done to death. Still an enjoyable episode and I really was surprised the the brother was the killer just because he didn't seem to have that sort of rage in him. Doris Roberts was great, especially in that last scene. I was disappointed they didn't show the brother and his wife also being arrested for all they did to the mother. Forget that they stole from her, they were trying to kill her!
As for the poll - well I have loved Logan since the original L&O and I also enjoy Goren because he just isn't like any other detective on TV. So I enjoy both of them and the different styles they bring to L&O.
Pinkie - Yes, that was D'Onfrio on Homicide. I remember that episode as well. Very intense knowing the guy would die as soon they got him free of the train. (I miss Homicide.)
A repeat again next week! Oh well.
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Jan 10, 2007 4:23 PM
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Love Goran! He brings so much to this show, and for me, Goran and Eams are the show.
Also, loved Vincent as Edgar in Men in Black. He was so great!
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Jan 10, 2007 4:36 PM
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I think I liked this epi with G&E better than most because Goren seemed to be walking on eggshells a bit since he slunk back to work; sometimes his intensity is a bit much for my taste, so I liked his low-key performance on this one.
Funniest line was when they barged into the mother's bedroom and Goren assessed her medical condition and the son said "So now your a doctor?" I've been thinking the same thing for years: doctor, lawyer, forensic pathologist, chemist, florist, artist...........
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Jan 10, 2007 5:07 PM
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This version of Law & Order was created with D'Onorfrio to play a Sherlock Holmes type of detective. The show doesn't hand the case over to the "Order" team, thus Gorne and Emes have more screen time and a bigger work load, that's why Vincent was exhausted and Mike Logan brought onboard to lighten the load. But now the original concept of the show doesn't work when Logan's episodes run. I can deal with and like these episodes but Bobby and Alex ARE the show, hands down.
By the way, WGN TV in Chicago is running the Homicide Life of the Street episode with Vincent D'Onofrio on Jan 12th at 10 am CST. Check your local listings. We get WGN on our cable system here in the South.
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Jan 10, 2007 6:01 PM
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