User Reviews

Up to this point of Season 1 of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent', and of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' overall, there had not been a bad episode. Consider actually all the previous twelve episodes good to outstanding (especially "The Faithful" and "Jones"),"The Third Horseman", which had a very sensitive subject and could have handled it in a more balanced way, being the only one to disappoint a little.

"The Insider" is a very good thirteenth episode of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent', comparing very favourably with the previous episodes, if not one of the best of the season. Perhaps would put it somewhere around high middle. It doesn't have the emotional power of "The Faithful" or the increasing tension of "Jones", but that doesn't mean that "The Insider" is bland or not compelling. Quite the contrary in regard to the latter.

Like with a few of the previous episodes, suspects are too few and you have no doubt who the killer is not long at all after they are introduced (the somewhat less than subtle writing for them is a bit of a give away also), which takes away a little from the surprise factor and for anybody that likes to be kept guessing that may disappoint.

Not much wrong otherwise though. The case is a very compelling one, and while the who aspect is obvious there are plenty of twists and turns still and how the killer is caught is worth seeing the episode for alone, it is very clever and one gets a lot of satisfaction out of it. It was interesting to see the conflict of Goren being so angered by what Hampton was up to, it is true that nobody (characters and audience) wants the case to go in this direction.

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 brilliantly 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. Adam Trese is suitably cold-blooded.

Summing up, very good. 8/10