Have always absolutely loved the character of Robert Goren, to me he makes 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' and is the heart and soul of it. Likewise with his chemistry with Eames. Season 8 was no exception to this and they gel a good deal better than the Nichols and Wheeler partnership that alternated with them this season. Their episodes tended also to be better, being more interesting plots-wise and some of the character psychology intrigued as well.
"Playing Dead" is a very promising and solid start to Season 8. Although it is not one of the best 'Criminal Intent' episodes by any stretch and Goren has been written better elsewhere, as far as Season 8 goes it's one of its better outings. Actually did not find the story as predictable as others did elsewhere, though there are elements that are quite familiar, loved the character writing for the supporting characters and the character interaction. A lot is great here.
It didn't seem though realistic that Goren was written in a way that was like the writers had forgotten that the Season 7 finale "Frame" and Seasons 6 and 7 existed. The angst and the tortured mind are gone and didn't really buy that Goren seemed to have gotten over such trauma this quickly, he went on a "to hell and back" psychological journey in the previous two seasons which seemed ignored here.
The story was a little slow and routine to begin with.
On the other hand, once more is revealed and things become more eventful things get a lot more interesting. The case on the whole was clever and suitably complicated, with the two major twists actually to me being a shock and not easy to get the head round. As said, the supporting characters are very well written here. The councilman and his mother are truly reprehensible characters, calling their relationship twisted is the understatement of the decade (prefer to call borderline depraved), and it was hard to not feel for the step-daughter who goes through a lot.
While Goren was written better in other episodes development-wise, he fascinates in his crime solving and how he puts things together. Eames is typically wry and they shine as usual in their chemistry together, just love how they play off yet also support each other. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe can't be faulted, and there are great performances from Scott Cohen, Alexandra Neil and particularly Kathy Baker. The interrogation scene is not one of my favourites from 'Criminal Intent' but it's intriguing and tense, Goren's look as he "finds the raw nerve". His small scene with the girl is touching and the closest the episode gets to acknowledging about the difficulties of Goren's personal life. It also shows how beautifully D'Onofrio works with young actors.
Expectedly, "Playing Dead" is well made, intimately photographed and slick with no signs of under-budget or anything. The music didn't sound melodramatic or too constant and the direction is accomodating while still having pulse.
In summary, very promising. 8/10.
"Playing Dead" is a very promising and solid start to Season 8. Although it is not one of the best 'Criminal Intent' episodes by any stretch and Goren has been written better elsewhere, as far as Season 8 goes it's one of its better outings. Actually did not find the story as predictable as others did elsewhere, though there are elements that are quite familiar, loved the character writing for the supporting characters and the character interaction. A lot is great here.
It didn't seem though realistic that Goren was written in a way that was like the writers had forgotten that the Season 7 finale "Frame" and Seasons 6 and 7 existed. The angst and the tortured mind are gone and didn't really buy that Goren seemed to have gotten over such trauma this quickly, he went on a "to hell and back" psychological journey in the previous two seasons which seemed ignored here.
The story was a little slow and routine to begin with.
On the other hand, once more is revealed and things become more eventful things get a lot more interesting. The case on the whole was clever and suitably complicated, with the two major twists actually to me being a shock and not easy to get the head round. As said, the supporting characters are very well written here. The councilman and his mother are truly reprehensible characters, calling their relationship twisted is the understatement of the decade (prefer to call borderline depraved), and it was hard to not feel for the step-daughter who goes through a lot.
While Goren was written better in other episodes development-wise, he fascinates in his crime solving and how he puts things together. Eames is typically wry and they shine as usual in their chemistry together, just love how they play off yet also support each other. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe can't be faulted, and there are great performances from Scott Cohen, Alexandra Neil and particularly Kathy Baker. The interrogation scene is not one of my favourites from 'Criminal Intent' but it's intriguing and tense, Goren's look as he "finds the raw nerve". His small scene with the girl is touching and the closest the episode gets to acknowledging about the difficulties of Goren's personal life. It also shows how beautifully D'Onofrio works with young actors.
Expectedly, "Playing Dead" is well made, intimately photographed and slick with no signs of under-budget or anything. The music didn't sound melodramatic or too constant and the direction is accomodating while still having pulse.
In summary, very promising. 8/10.