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« Law & Order: Criminal Intent
October 10, 2006: Maltese Cross
Having missed the second episode of this season – which apparently introduced new detective Wheeler (Julianne Nicholson) and Law & Order vet as her partner, Logan – last night was time for me to play a little catch up.
My first impressions of the new team? Big success. Though Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio) was usually the most interesting part of CI, after a couple seasons of his nervous ticks and crime-solving-through-encyclopedia-memorization technique, I was ready for a little break from all those idiosyncrasies.
And, from what I saw last night, Logan and Wheeler are the perfect Yin to the old pair’s Yang. You see, Logan is what they apparently call “old school” on the mean streets of NYC. So whereas Goren indulged his predilection (some might say fetish) for playing twisted mind games with suspects and perps, Logan doesn’t hesitate to hammer out a back-alley deal or just take a couple swings.
And he took a bunch of them last night. My jaw was on the floor throughout that opening brawl that pitted him against a whole squad of beefy firefighters. I couldn’t believe how it just kept escalating and getting more brutal until they broke out that fancy new dissolve (nice) and cut to the credits.
Then, I loved the way they mixed up the formula and, instead of following the case straight through, jumped back a few days to show us how things got to this (boiling) point. Sometimes that approach can get a little boring if you see every twist and turn coming a mile away, but I’ll admit I didn’t predict any of these.
A married firefighter who valiantly rescues a drag queen from a brutal beating? Nope, wouldn’t have guessed it. Said firefighter having an affair with a 9/11 Forgotten Heroes group member, who stabs his ex-boyfriend to death when jilted? As the tagline at the end of the episode made clear, you can make this stuff up, and probably have to.
And while all of this zaniness was going down, I sensed some good chemistry between Logan and Wheeler – probably better than the sometimes-awkward Goren and Eames (Kathryn Erbe). New captain Ross (Eric Bogosian) also provided a nice spark. When he told Logan to go “old school” and Wheeler to “play young” when interviewing a former detective, I knew there was a new sheriff in town, who’s not as by-the-book as the relatively cuddly former captain, Deakins (Jamey Sheridan).
The only disappointment for me was that they resorted back to the old manipulate-him-until-he-screams-his-confession technique on Mr. Jealous. That was kind of a crutch for CI in the past, and hopefully the new team won’t always lean on it.
Still, this episode reminded me why I love all things L&O and despise all things CSI. It was topical without being sensationalistic, emotional (Mrs. Murdered Fireman was a real heartbreaker) without being exploitative, and violent without being gory. Yeah, I think this is gonna be a great season.
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Oct 13, 2006 11:20 AM
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TODD, I SO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID - I TOO LOVE ALL THINGS L&O & DESPISE ALL THINGS CSI (I JUST DON'T GET THE APPEAL). I HAVE NEVER LIKED JULIANNE NICHOLSON IN THE PAST, BUT SHE SEEMS A GOOD MATCH FOR CHRIS NOTH. I STILL LOVE ME SOME D'ONOFRIO & ERBE THOUGH! THE ALTERNATING EPISODES SEEM TO BE WORKING WELL...
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Oct 13, 2006 3:37 PM
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I think some of the changes they've made to the "feel" of the show have really made a difference. It has a crisper, cleaner look to it. I like the chemistry between Logan and Wheeler. They play off each other very well.
I think the show has greatly improved even in the manner that they tell the story and the stories themselves. I am actually now looking forward to new episodes, and I don't fall asleep during them!
The only nitpick I have right now is with the new captain, played by Eric Bogosian (I like to call him Elliot Gould 2.0 because he just reminds me of him). Bogosian seems a little stiff, sometimes he seems like he's just reading lines. Overall I think he is a good fit for the show and I think eventually maybe I will just get used to him.
I have to admit that I didn't think showing two of the L&O franchise shows back to back, but it really seems to work and I think the time slot is actually much better for LOCI.
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Oct 13, 2006 4:56 PM
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I have to agree with you - - This is shaping up to be a great season. I think my favorite season of L&O:CI ever. And in my Top 5 of ANY L&O series season. (What can I say, I'm an addict and watch all 3 
I didn't think I'd like hte new Captain, but like you, I do like him. I liked Deaken's, but Ross is an interesting change. I love Goren and Eames, but Logan and Wheeler are great as well.
Jenn
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Oct 13, 2006 6:41 PM
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I love all the L&O shows, but I have to say CI has been the best of them this season. Last night episodes was great and although I figured out early on who the killer was, I enjoyed how they manipulated a confession out of him using his own insecurities against him. Also liked how they started the show in the middle and showed the beginning in flashbacks. That technique doesn't always work but was used very effectively here. And last of all, I want to say how much I enjoy Chris Noth being back on L&O. I was really sorry to see him written out of the original L&O and his character is a perfect fit as a contrast to D'onofrio's Goren.
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Oct 13, 2006 6:46 PM
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I like the new captain. He seems more authoritative than Deakins. And Noth is awesome as always.
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Oct 14, 2006 1:26 AM
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Nice to finally see a commentary blog for L&O Criminal Intent I'm a Huge Chris Noth fan and actually didn't watch CI until Noth joined the cast. I think Julianne Nicholson makes a better partner than Annabella Sciorra(not sure on the spelling)I like the new captain Ok I've only watched the two Noth eppys so...time will tell.
The beatdown scenes were a bit shocking seeing a the fire depatment gang up on Logan! the gay married firefighter was an interesting twist.
P.S. who can I talk to about getting a Without A trace commentary blog?
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Oct 16, 2006 12:24 PM
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I love the taking turns,I've always been A Chris Noth fan,I was not A big fan of CI until he came on it.I have A hard time believeing on man can know as much as Goren,This season has been great!Very emoitional episodes.I think Logans partner seems A little young,but she's ok.
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Oct 17, 2006 7:49 AM
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I love all L&O's.. The only time I can watch C.I. is when chris Noth is in it.. That Vince guy??? I guess it's the writters.. He is a specialist in everything...It drives me crazy..!!!The new girl with Noth is good I saw her on Conviction...The other one now on reg.L&O..YUCK!!!!and on fridays Yuck again
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Oct 27, 2006 10:40 PM
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I love all L&O's.. The only time I can watch C.I. is when chris Noth is in it.. That Vince guy??? I guess it's the writters.. He is a specialist in everything...It drives me crazy..!!!The new girl with Noth is good I saw her on Conviction...The other one now on reg.L&O..YUCK!!!!and on fridays Yuck again
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Oct 27, 2006 10:41 PM
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This is nto about thsi specifice episode but a comment on the overall scheduling of episodes by NBC. It was my understanding Goren and Logan would alternate weeks each detective doing half of the show each season. but so far in the fall season Logan has gotten two episodes while I believe Goren will be on his 4th plus last week's repeat was a Goren eppy. I much prefer Chris Noth's Logan to Donofrio's Goren. I was expecting this week to be a Logan episode but not back to Goren Again! I am not happy!
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Oct 31, 2006 5:12 PM
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