(S06E01) Since I already provided an early look at the season premiere of Criminal Intent I'm not going to do a full blown review. However, I do want to touch on some of the items I left out for the sake of not spoiling it for the rest of you (ain't I so sweet?).
What actually made me think that this season would be a little different from the last five (other than cast changes) was the beginning of the show. As those of you who have watched the show know it usually begins with scenes of all of the potential suspects in the crime that will be investigated, followed by the discovery of the victim. Not this time around, though. Although one potential suspect is shown (the victim's boyfriend) the main focus is on the victim herself being pursued by her murderer, then being attacked. It is actually a bit intense, and quite bloody.
Another reason I sensed a change of tone in the show was the introduction of Eric Bogosian as Captain Danny Ross; the new boss of Detectives Goren and Eames. As I said in my preview, this is not someone who will let Goren go on his merry way in order to nab the right person in the crime. From his first minutes on screen you can tell that he intends to hold a firm leash on this particular detective, even if he has to get his long-time partner to watch over him like a hawk. The dynamics between Goren and Ross (as well as Detective Mike Logan and Ross) will be interesting to see this season.
A third change is the total elimination of the Assistant District Attorney post on the show. With the departure of Courtney D. Vance as ADA Ron Carver it looks like the new ADA, Theresa Randle as Patricia Kent, will only make occasional appearances. This was verified during the title sequence of the broadcast version of CI, which did not appear on my preview DVD. The only stars given credit were Bogosian, Vincent D'Onofrio as Goren and Kathryn Erbe as Eames. This is okay, because I never really felt that the ADA had a big role on this show. Certainly not like they do on the original series and SVU.
What else is going on this episode? Well, we delve a bit further into Detective Goren's past life as we are introduced to his mentor (guest star John Glover) and his daughter. Coincidentally, they return when it seems the two killings Goren and Eames are investigating are linked to a serial killer that eluded his mentor in the past. As you probably expect, the former criminal profiler is the main suspect in the killings, and the kidnapping of Detective Eames. However, as in most Law & Order incarnations, all is not what it seems.
By far, one of the most intense episodes of the series I've seen. Out of the three members of the Law & Order franchise that still remain on the air, Criminal Intent is the most emotional and character driven of them all, courtesy of Detective Goren. Next week I'll have a full review of the sixth season premiere of the other Major Cases detective team, Mike Logan and new partner Megan Wheeler.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-20-2006 @ 9:40AM
Jennifer said...
This episode had a very different feel to me. I have seen every episode of CI and the way it was shot was different. I liked it. I liked the scaled down cast and if it were just Goran and Eames, that would be fine by me. I was glad to see they gave Eames some good material to work with.
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9-20-2006 @ 11:51AM
Chris said...
I still think Kathryn Erbe gets screwed in all of this switching off of detectives.
If Donofrio is exhausted by working a full season, why don't they just pair Erbe up with Chris Noth in the other batch of episodes?
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9-20-2006 @ 1:30PM
MrsEldubya said...
This episode was easy to figure out because we had a star actor in an under utilized role. Maybe Martha Plimpton isn't in as much as she use to be but she's a great actress and I figured she was more important to this episode than what was shown at the beginning. Plus they gave us a big clue when her dad dismissed her right away at the beginning of the episode.
It bugs me when they bring in a pretty well known character actor/actress to play what appears to be a minor role and then they always end up being the killer. Law and Order does it alot now.
This was a great episode even if I did figure it out early on and Vincent D'Onofrio was fantastic in it. I started watching CI late and only because Chris Noth came back. Since then I have gotten to where I like D'Onofrio episodes better.
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9-21-2006 @ 6:52PM
Beth said...
Love the new feel. I hope they keep developing the characters more--love how Erbe got more attention in this episode--hopefully she'll get more exposure, although I really like Goren too. I'm not a Noth fan and only watched one of his episodes last season, but may watch next week just to see what happens with the new partner. The new captain sure is different!
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9-27-2006 @ 2:51PM
Helen Eschenbacher said...
I dislike Bogosion intensely...from this show and past shows. Jamey was great; he understood Goran's attitudes and behaviors, AND therefore his ability to solve psychological crimes. Noth should have stayed as a beat cop in Staten Island. Noth can't hold a candle to Goran's acting ability and intelligence. Goran is simply the brightest detective ever on TV (including Columbo). Noth is a waste and after watching one episode of Noth last season, we only watch it now with Eames and Goran. I miss ADA Carver, but Mr. Vance is as talented as his wife, Angela Basset, and just as underused. He deserves a much bigger acting role. Bogosian and Noth could both be played by much better character actors. People who we could actually care about.
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11-01-2006 @ 5:50PM
William Raih said...
'BLIND SPOT' IS SOME POWERFUL LAW AND ORDER CI EPISODE! NONE MORE POWERFUL THAN THIS!
Eames Walks In Her Home, And Is Knocked Out By Some Maniac Unseen. The Second It Happened, When The Object (Possibly A Candle Stick) Swung To The Side Of Her Cranium And Eames Falling With A Frightened Grunt At The Same Time, It Came At Me Like A Kick In The Gut. I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES!
EAMES WAS IN GREAT GRAVE DANGER!!!!!!
The Commercials Had To Come On, I Just Could Not Take The Anticipation.
I AM SITTING NEAR THE TV SAYING "COME ON COMMERCIALS END!
I WANTED THEM TO END!
I WANTED EAMES TO SURVIVE!
EAMES WAS IN DANGER!
ARE YOU SH.....ING ME!
Eames Gets Tied With Her Hands Feet Above Her Head, Her Legs Barely Touching The Floor, And A Gloved Hand Swipes Off The Tape On Her Mouth, And Then The Hand Comes Again, Placing Some Instrument To Her Cheek. The Cell Phone Rings, Goren Stands In The Elevator Trying To Reach Her, Then He Gets A Text Message From The Sociopath Saying "EAMES AND I ARE HAVING A FUN TIME", Goren Leaps Out Of The Elevator, Makes A Big Turn Around To The Corner In Big Leaps Shouting To The Authorities "HE'S GOT EAMES!". Later, Eames Makes Her Escape, And I Feel Like She Must Hurry Before It's Too Late. She Escapes Alive And Is Taken To The Hospital, And THANK GOODNESS WE FELT SO WORRIED ABOUT HER!
It's A Good Thing Her Life Is Saved!
The Young Woman / Daughter Of Goren's Mentor Talks To Goren Alone, And I Knew She Was Making A "Confession" Saying She Is The "SEBASTIAN" They're Looking For And About Eame's Abduction!
THAT EPISODE IS VERY POWERFUL!
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