After a very variable Season 9, where there was a lot of change that never fully settled, only about four great episodes and two show low points, it was absolutely great to see Goren and Eames again. By far the best 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' partnership, that was interesting from the very start and had some very well done developments overtime, and it was needed perhaps. Good thing too, as it did contribute heavily towards Season 10 being the best and most consistent season of the show since Season 4.
"Rispetto" is a near return to form for 'Criminal Intent'. Not one of the very best episodes of the whole of 'Criminal Intent', but still absolutely great on its own terms and a lot better and truer to the spirit of the early seasons than most of Seasons 5-9. It may not have the most innovative of cases, with it being real life influenced with echoes of Charlie Sheen, but to see an episode that could easily pass for an early seasons episode and to see Goren and Eames on classic form was more than enough to make "Rispetto" a great episode.
Sure, as said other episodes have more originality in their cases, with it starting off slightly on the ordinary side, and have more of the extra something.
However, so much is truly excellent about "Rispetto". The production values are suitably slick and gritty, with photography that is reliant on close ups that have an intimacy without being too claustrophobic. The music is didn't come over as too melodramatic or like it was emphasising the emotion too much. The direction is sympathetic while still giving momentum.
The writing is intelligent and although, like the show in general, there is a lot of talk (as always for the 'Law and Order' franchise) it doesn't feel like there is too much or too loose. The story is always compelling that gets quite intricate in the second half, and doesn't go cheap or exploitative which can be easy to do with a story with shades of a real life case/story. It has some nice early seasons Goren quirkiness and some good tension later on, especially in the climax.
A climax that is classic Goren, one of the best of 'Criminal Intent' in a while and could easily pass for a climax from an episode from Seasons 1-4. Still love Goren and Eames' chemistry, which is still fresh and it was like they had never left, how they play off each other and work together fascinates and is closer to the earlier seasons than when their character developments and approaches to cases darkened. It definitely felt like the writers had remembered what made them, their chemistry and the show so great and while one does see some development to Goren throughout Season 10 with the therapy it is not too heavily emphasised and moves him forward.
Goren as always is a fascinating larger than life character that doesn't dominate too much. The captain already shows signs of being the best captain since Deakins (was mixed on Ross and Callas did little for me, though it is a shame that this one had so few episodes to shine). Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe don't disappoint and Jay Mohr does a great job as the Charlie Sheen-like nutjob.
Overall, great. 9/10.
"Rispetto" is a near return to form for 'Criminal Intent'. Not one of the very best episodes of the whole of 'Criminal Intent', but still absolutely great on its own terms and a lot better and truer to the spirit of the early seasons than most of Seasons 5-9. It may not have the most innovative of cases, with it being real life influenced with echoes of Charlie Sheen, but to see an episode that could easily pass for an early seasons episode and to see Goren and Eames on classic form was more than enough to make "Rispetto" a great episode.
Sure, as said other episodes have more originality in their cases, with it starting off slightly on the ordinary side, and have more of the extra something.
However, so much is truly excellent about "Rispetto". The production values are suitably slick and gritty, with photography that is reliant on close ups that have an intimacy without being too claustrophobic. The music is didn't come over as too melodramatic or like it was emphasising the emotion too much. The direction is sympathetic while still giving momentum.
The writing is intelligent and although, like the show in general, there is a lot of talk (as always for the 'Law and Order' franchise) it doesn't feel like there is too much or too loose. The story is always compelling that gets quite intricate in the second half, and doesn't go cheap or exploitative which can be easy to do with a story with shades of a real life case/story. It has some nice early seasons Goren quirkiness and some good tension later on, especially in the climax.
A climax that is classic Goren, one of the best of 'Criminal Intent' in a while and could easily pass for a climax from an episode from Seasons 1-4. Still love Goren and Eames' chemistry, which is still fresh and it was like they had never left, how they play off each other and work together fascinates and is closer to the earlier seasons than when their character developments and approaches to cases darkened. It definitely felt like the writers had remembered what made them, their chemistry and the show so great and while one does see some development to Goren throughout Season 10 with the therapy it is not too heavily emphasised and moves him forward.
Goren as always is a fascinating larger than life character that doesn't dominate too much. The captain already shows signs of being the best captain since Deakins (was mixed on Ross and Callas did little for me, though it is a shame that this one had so few episodes to shine). Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe don't disappoint and Jay Mohr does a great job as the Charlie Sheen-like nutjob.
Overall, great. 9/10.