As we often see on all the Law & Order shows, the rich are often cast in an unfavorable light. This episode is no different. A businessman, whose health and mental state were on the decline(he had been dealing with paranoia due to the variety of questionable clients he dealt with over the years), dies from asphyxiation when smoke engulfs him from within his "panic room"(a security room which guarded against all types of threats except smoke inhalation)and he can not get out. His male nurse, Zainer(Lothaire Bluteau), wasn't able to get him out and the elevator code had been tampered with. Those who stood to benefit from this old man's death: his much younger wife, Kit(Laila Robins)and homosexual son, Edward(David Aaron Baker). Developments include how Zainer felt scorned because his employer wouldn't recommend his sons for a prestigious school, a clause in the pre-nup which specified that if Kit committed adultery and was caught in the act she would not get the large monetary amount as written in the decedent's will, and Edward's alignment with a skilled arsonist who is later gunned down by police when on the verge of setting a series of buildings on fire. Zainer is the major character of interest for it's possible he was having an affair with both Kit and Edward! And a requirement in Zainer's contract about his employer's personal safety becomes an interesting factor Goren uncovers which could convict him even if he didn't actually commit a crime against him. We see the lengths others will go to get their hands on an inheritance:as I said before, the affluent often do not escape an episode of L&O:CI unscathed.
3 Reviews
Bitter enemies
TheLittleSongbird5 September 2019
All the previous episodes of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' are in my opinion very good to outstanding, such a promising standard for so early on which one doesn't always get with shows but it has certainly not been unheard of. Which range from great from the get go, solid but a little unsettled but gets better and doesn't ever take off. "The Faithful" and "Jones" to me were the standouts as far as the previous episodes go.
"Enemy Within" is one of the weaker episodes of the ten (including this) up to this point of the season, and show, but is still a very good one with a lot of fantastic things. While just missing the extra something of the best episodes, which have more tension, more of the shock factor and are a little more complex in the storytelling. There is not really much inherently wrong with "Enemy Within", other episodes just executed a few of their components better that's all.
It has plenty to keep one going, though despite there being no shortage of suspects there was little doubt in my mind about which side of properly innocent or guilty the prime suspect was, their actions though are questionable and it is not a surprise as to why they're suspected, and guessed the identity of the culprit correctly quite quickly. Though the overall final solution was a little more surprising.
Despite being surprising certainly, a few of the motives of the suspects and how they act are a touch extreme, like for the prime suspect.
There is very little wrong otherwise though. The production values are slick as always and the music (though there is a preference for the other 'Law and Order' themes) isn't overdone in orchestration or how it's used. The writing is never simplistic or convoluted and respects the viewer, and the story has a lot of twists and surprises without feeling too many or muddled.
Vincent D'Onofrio expertly brings out Goren's somewhat eccentric and hard-boiled edge, beautifully matched by a more subtle Kathryn Erbe. Their chemistry carries the episode very well. The investigative elements and methods the detectives use in solving the case are fascinating.
Concluding, very good. 8/10
"Enemy Within" is one of the weaker episodes of the ten (including this) up to this point of the season, and show, but is still a very good one with a lot of fantastic things. While just missing the extra something of the best episodes, which have more tension, more of the shock factor and are a little more complex in the storytelling. There is not really much inherently wrong with "Enemy Within", other episodes just executed a few of their components better that's all.
It has plenty to keep one going, though despite there being no shortage of suspects there was little doubt in my mind about which side of properly innocent or guilty the prime suspect was, their actions though are questionable and it is not a surprise as to why they're suspected, and guessed the identity of the culprit correctly quite quickly. Though the overall final solution was a little more surprising.
Despite being surprising certainly, a few of the motives of the suspects and how they act are a touch extreme, like for the prime suspect.
There is very little wrong otherwise though. The production values are slick as always and the music (though there is a preference for the other 'Law and Order' themes) isn't overdone in orchestration or how it's used. The writing is never simplistic or convoluted and respects the viewer, and the story has a lot of twists and surprises without feeling too many or muddled.
Vincent D'Onofrio expertly brings out Goren's somewhat eccentric and hard-boiled edge, beautifully matched by a more subtle Kathryn Erbe. Their chemistry carries the episode very well. The investigative elements and methods the detectives use in solving the case are fascinating.
Concluding, very good. 8/10
Only Ones L&O Hates More than the Rich are the Poor Folks Around the Rich
kdspringer-7275917 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Another reviewer notes how very often the rich are cast in an unfavorable light on Law & Order's various franchises. And that's true.
But there is one group which is unvariably cast in an even more unfavorable light. The relatively poor folks who work for the rich or are related to the rich. The trophy wife with a prenup. The headmaster of the private school for the rich kids. The orphaned child whose rich parent denies them. The affirmative action student at the private school with the rich kids. The parent trying to get their kid into the ritzy private school. The surrogate mother for the barren rich folks (and her husband). And . . .
SPOILER ALERT . . .
the caretaker for the rich.
Suffice to say that I found this plot extremely unconvincing , , , and more than a little annoying. One of the weakest episodes in the first season, IMO. YMMV.
But there is one group which is unvariably cast in an even more unfavorable light. The relatively poor folks who work for the rich or are related to the rich. The trophy wife with a prenup. The headmaster of the private school for the rich kids. The orphaned child whose rich parent denies them. The affirmative action student at the private school with the rich kids. The parent trying to get their kid into the ritzy private school. The surrogate mother for the barren rich folks (and her husband). And . . .
SPOILER ALERT . . .
the caretaker for the rich.
Suffice to say that I found this plot extremely unconvincing , , , and more than a little annoying. One of the weakest episodes in the first season, IMO. YMMV.
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