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« Law & Order: Criminal Intent
November 14, 2006: The War at Home
Best Criminal Intent so far this season, hands down. After a couple of sensational episodes dealing with murdered beauty pageant contestants and murderous country singers, we finally got one with some real feeling. And a Thanksgiving episode, no less, from a franchise not exactly known for spreading around the holiday cheer.
For me, the crime was really secondary this time out, so we’ll get to that a little later. The heart of this episode was clearly Goren’s relationship with his cancer-stricken(?) mother, whom I don’t believe we’d met before, but immediately explained a whole lot about what makes the beyond-quirky detective tick.
Seeing Goren in plainclothes throughout the episode was strange enough, but watching him be openly emotional, even vulnerable, was something else altogether. However, while at first it was touching to see Goren’s concern for his hospitalized mother — including bailing on an in-progress search to rush back to her bedside — it soon became disturbingly clear that the detective’s feelings were starting to override the control he normally grips so tightly.
Taking the DA to task for the poor parenting skills he displayed with his dead daughter, then snapping at a clearly concerned Eames who was pleading “Don’t throw it all away, Bobby” — for Robert Goren, that’s about as out-of-control as it gets. As my ever-so-observant wife pointed out, even the lighting in this episode felt more naturalistic, making Goren look less like a brilliant modern-day Sherlock Holmes and more like a regular guy just trying to do the best he can.
As an added bonus, we got some backstory on Eames from a conversation with Captain Danny, wherein she confided that she was married to a fellow police officer named Joe who died eight years ago — we can only assume — on the job. While this brief exchange didn’t offer nearly the depth provided by the Goren material, with the generally all-business Law & Order, you take what you can get.
Oh yeah, and there was also that little matter of a case to solve — one that ended up being quite powerful and timely. While the circumstances of the Army Adulteress’ murder at first looked like a typical deadly love-triangle situation, I was pleasantly surprised to see it develop into an Iraq War military cover-up. Throw into that mix the issues of sex on the front lines, the bonds of brother- and sister-hood between soldiers and the difficulties of reintegrating into civilian life after emerging from “the fog of war,” and you've got some heavy TV indeed.
As a matter of fact, this episode had so much going on, I hardly had time to take notes on The Nanny’s dramatic turn as the Army Adulteress’ grief-stricken mother. So here’s the quick rundown: lots of crying, understated attire, distinct lack of nasalness in voice. Well played, Fran Drescher.
After that case was all wrapped up and the appropriate ex-soldier/lover/EMT arrested, I assumed the Goren-Eames situation would also be polished off. I was wrong. All we got was Goren storming out of the station, calling back to Captain Danny, “Go ahead and fire me if you want,” then — fade to black. So now we’ve gotta wait at least 14 days to see how this all shakes out. Starting to regret my support of the biweekly detective swap now.
Next Week: Coked-up child stars, gun-toting mafioso and The Noth — at least this one should provide plenty of entertainment to tide us over until Goren’s return.
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Nov 14, 2006 11:04 PM
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I have watched CI since the beginning and always loved the show, but I must say that this was one of the best epidodes ever. As viewers we have never seen Goran's mother ( i don't think that she has cancer, but I can't remember why she is the the hosital. I believe that it is for a mental disease) or known any of the personal background of Eames. I wonder if that was her kid (but given to her sister?) who was playing with her at the beginning? Those were big CI steps!! I too loved the swapping with Chris Noth, but now I can't wait to see what evolves with Goran and his comments at the end of the episode.
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Nov 15, 2006 10:24 AM
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This show has become my favorite of the Law and Order franchise. The friendship between Goren and Eames is evident, but never shoved down our throats. It was comforting to see that, for once, Goren wasn't in control. When he snapped at Eames...phew..I had to rewind that and watch it again. It was pretty powerful.
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Nov 15, 2006 10:26 AM
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Also loved this ep.
Fran was not what I'd expected, and I was impressed. As you said "understated". Also like Michael Biehn as the father.
My favorite line: This is your best guy?
We're so used to everyone in the Squad knowing he's good and not questioning his ability. . . It was nice to see an outsiders POV. And yeah, at that moment it was a fair question. Then of course Bobby comes back and gets the confession despite the drama/heartbreak with his mother - -proving that, yes, he is the best.
Like you I can't wait to see Logan tangle with the Mob next week. Always fun . . . Hope Wheeler knows what she's in for 
Jenn
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Nov 15, 2006 11:42 AM
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I believe Goren's Mother suffers from Schizophrenia. Was very emotional watching him trying to deal with her and watch her try to make him feel inadequate. He's been dealing with her since Season One and now we get to actually see and hear what's he's up against. No matter how much of a genius he is at his job, he has always had the fear of ending up Schizophrentic like him Mom, since the disease can be hereditary.
After resisting for years the need to give viewers a lot of details about the detectives personal lives, now that they are doing this, the rotation of detectives bi-weekly is making the show two different shows and isn't really working.
I'm a fan to the end, though.
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Nov 15, 2006 12:00 PM
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I'm with tnsmoke on this one. It's been mentioned numerous times over the years that his mother's mental disease weighs heavily on his mind and soul.
And man, have I missed Michael Biehn in ANYTHING. The man can act... he NEEDS to be doing it more often
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Nov 15, 2006 12:09 PM
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I thought the mother had alzhemiers. (It was something mental) and someone else played the part when they had his mom on before.
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Nov 15, 2006 12:12 PM
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Goren's mother is schizophrenic and also has cancer. The cancer thing was established a few episodes ago when Bobby used it as a personal anecdote to draw a confession out of a perp. Eames asked if the cancer thing was true; he said it was.
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Nov 15, 2006 1:43 PM
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Excellent episode. Great story, great acting all around. While it was clear that Ross is a nasty boss who has no compassion, I still think that Bogosian is as wooden as a tree in his acting.
I have to admit that I was horribly distracted by D'Onofrio's increasing girth and his difficulty in walking. He is walking like a person whose weight is making body movements cumbersome. I am actually concerned for his health.
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Nov 15, 2006 1:59 PM
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Daesey4, I totally agree with you about Biehn. He has been one of my favorites for many years. Definitely underrated.
For those of you commenting on Vincent's weight, have you thought it may be for a role. He gained something like 50 lbs for his character in Full Metal Jacket.
So far this is my favorite episode this year. I like that we are seeing more of a personal aspect of the characters, I just hope they don't over do it like some shows have.....
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Nov 15, 2006 2:24 PM
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Todd, Michael Biehn's character was Deputy Police Commissioner, not DA.
At first I couldn't place the actress who played Goren's mom, then I saw the credits and wow, never would have guessed that was the always elegant Rita Moreno. Great job in the makeup dept., and her acting too. Same goes for Ms. Drescher.
I know some don't like the 2 team setup, but after a heavy epi with Goren and Eames I look forward to Chris Noth's more, shall we say, sarcastically lighthearted approach to crime solving. I really couldn't endure all 22 shows the first few seasons with SuperSherlock and his sidekick CuteWallpaper for very long. Nice to see they are giving more screen time and dimension to Ms. Erbe's character.
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Nov 15, 2006 11:02 PM
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I don't think Goren's mother has ever appeared before. This is the first time and I have to say that Rita Moreno did a fantastic job. His mother has always been referred to and even in the brilliant 2-hr episode that featured a nasty judge sending a PI to the mental home where his mother resided to rattle him, they never showed his mother.
I thought this was a great episode--interesting to see Goren unraveling yet with his divided attention, he was still able to do what he does best!
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Nov 16, 2006 9:19 AM
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OK, ths is weird, especially after Goren's "go ahead and fire me if you want" departure in the last episode. Not only is "The Noth" next week (11/21), but TV guide has the FOLLOWING week (11/28) listed as a "Noth" episode as well. First off, how dare they make us wait! But more importantly, I sure hope they are not inventing this storyline to phase Goren out completely. You know, Goren loses it, hooks up with Nicole Wallace (remember, she finally did "the right thing" in her last appearance and they DO have chemistry) and then she kills him. OK, so I'm being silly. But the point is, does anyone know how long D'Onofrio is under contract and has anyone heard that he may be leaving? That would surely suck.
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Nov 18, 2006 8:42 PM
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I, too, am concerned that they are writing Detective Goren out of the show. Therefore I looked ahead to Dec. 5, only to find that this particular episode is a RERUN with Chris Noth!!!! Are they indeed getting rid of Detective Goren (the reason that I watch the show!), or are they just keeping us interested for the time being?
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Nov 20, 2006 9:42 PM
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katneedsin wrote: Goren loses it, hooks up with Nicole Wallace (remember, she finally did "the right thing" in her last appearance and they DO have chemistry) and then she kills him.
I keep hoping one of these days they'll run all the Nicole Wallace episodes back-to-back in a marathon on cable. Maybe they have and I missed it.
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Nov 21, 2006 2:42 PM
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