I felt like writing this essentially in response to the comment on 'L&O-Special Vctims Unit' being the best L&O 'edition', as posted on 18 November 2004 by "canadianfreak_17" from Guelph, Canada.
I clearly disagree with that: Vincent d'Onofrio (AND of course the brilliant writing behind most of the episodes!) gives the show an unmistakable, unique quality. I think he sometimes overdoes his psychoanalytical, manipulative stunt, creating a caricature of the character he plays so well the rest of the time. Also, his partner Kathryn Erbe as Det. Alexandra Ames is sometimes too much reduced to her supporting act, not being given any opportunity to stand out - even if only once in a while. D'Onofrio truly takes a lot of space, it's "his show", and the writers must have been drawn to give him more and more importance. Speaking of which, I'd really like to see some of the first season, to check if she was more his equal than in the later ones (which I believe I saw); maybe it was that way from the very start on...).
Still, with the excellent other characters outstandingly cast (Jamey Sheridan and Courtney B. Vance), it's a solid and well crafted show. I'm always quite curious about the twist(s) and the way d'Onofrio is going to squeeze the truth out of the perpetrators (more often than not, we have a 'Colombo'-like quality in the show, knowing who's guilty and the story being how the investigation will nail him!)
I clearly disagree with that: Vincent d'Onofrio (AND of course the brilliant writing behind most of the episodes!) gives the show an unmistakable, unique quality. I think he sometimes overdoes his psychoanalytical, manipulative stunt, creating a caricature of the character he plays so well the rest of the time. Also, his partner Kathryn Erbe as Det. Alexandra Ames is sometimes too much reduced to her supporting act, not being given any opportunity to stand out - even if only once in a while. D'Onofrio truly takes a lot of space, it's "his show", and the writers must have been drawn to give him more and more importance. Speaking of which, I'd really like to see some of the first season, to check if she was more his equal than in the later ones (which I believe I saw); maybe it was that way from the very start on...).
Still, with the excellent other characters outstandingly cast (Jamey Sheridan and Courtney B. Vance), it's a solid and well crafted show. I'm always quite curious about the twist(s) and the way d'Onofrio is going to squeeze the truth out of the perpetrators (more often than not, we have a 'Colombo'-like quality in the show, knowing who's guilty and the story being how the investigation will nail him!)