User Reviews

Here in western New York this episode of Criminal Intent will have particular interest to viewers. One of the local historical figures Father Nelson E. Baker is going through the process of canonization. What the requirements are as laid out by Detective Robert Goren has to be investigated just as it is for a late priest in this story.

Phyllis Somerville is killed when a lye bomb explodes in her face causing her a fatal heart attack. It turns out that when she was a teen she was said to be cured by a miracle, that was some forty to fifty years ago.

It is the investigative process itself to verify that one is deserving of being a saint that is the issue of this story. I won't go into it further but the motive here could only have been solved by the eclectic mind of Detective Robert Goren.

Stephen Colbert gives the performance of a lifetime in this riveting episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. The direction by veteran Law and Order favorite Frank Prinzi is taut, suspenseful, and creative, giving this entry in the series a special excitement. Lois Smith is especially fascinating in the role of the mother who has driven her son to extremes with her fanatical devotion to religion. Kathryn Erbe is always underrated and should receive particular mention for her marvelous portrayal of Detective Alex Eames. Overshadowed by Vincent D'Onofrio, Ms. Erbe deserves far more credit than she's received for her superb work over the course of the entire series.

While the first half of Season 3 was well done, with all the episodes being decent to great, to me the season hit its stride with "Unrequited" and generally the second half was better (with one exception that from personal view was the weakest of Season 3). All the best episodes being in this half. "The Saint" had another one of the season's most interesting and creepiest story concepts, and those adjectives still apply when it comes to the episode's execution of this concept.

"The Saint" is brilliant and one of Season 3's best. It has everything that makes prime-'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' so good, and prime-'Criminal Intent' did so much right and those great things still continued when the show didn't feel quite as good in the later seasons. "The Saint" also has other great things that makes it stand out, namely a particularly brilliantly done character relationship that forms the heart of the episode.

First and foremost, and it is hard to know where to start with all the praise, "The Saint" has two fantastic guest star performances that manage to steal the show from under the regulars (and stealing the show from under Vincent D'Onofrio as Goren is not something you see a lot). Lois Smith is formidable and in her best moments curdles the blood in a formidable role not easy to not overact. The biggest surprise of "The Saint", and it was a very pleasant one, was seeing Steven Colbert in an atypical dramatic role (or at least of a character like the one he plays here), excelling brilliantly at being menacing but also somewhat moving at times. That was what was always impressive about 'Criminal Intent', and the whole 'Law and Order' franchise for that matter, drawing great performances from actors in roles that show a different side to them.

One of "The Saint's" biggest interest points and what makes it stand out so much is the relationship between James and Betty, a dynamic riveting in its tension where we see how much the latter has over the former. Like "Shrink Wrapped", also from Season 3, we see what such a hold affects the offspring. In this case, it is quite chilling and also tragic. James is a very interesting and surprisingly complex character, where one hates his actions but can't bring themselves to properly hate him. Actually found myself hating Betty more.

Vincent D'Onofrio is back to being vintage Goren, in a good way, after being for my tastes a touch too subdued in "Shrink Wrapped". His neuroses and perceptions are so spot on and are both entertaining and intelligently handled. Do agree that one cannot ever overlook Kathryn Erbe (never have myself), who is more understated but also still sassy and contrasting so well with D'Onofrio. Their chemistry always sparkled, which is a big reason as to why the second half of Season 3 is better with Eames having a temporary replacement for most of the first half of the season, and plays such a big part in 'Criminal Intent's' appeal.

Writing is intelligent and taut and the story is always compelling, going at a controlled pace but tight enough, that handles a difficult subject that could be potentially heavy-footed and one-sided if not executed well with tact and without taking sides. It especially fascinates in the mother-son relationship that dominates, without overly so, the episode. The episode looks good, is appropriately scored and the direction paces everything beautifully.

Overall, brilliant and a season high point. 10/10

Star power propels this episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" to the top of the class, a strong showing by comedian Stephen Colbert -proving his acting chops without a doubt. But the real star is Lois Smith, a magnificent character actress who always gives a lived-in performance whatever the material, or medium: movies, TV or stage productions.

The religious subject matter is not as controversial as sometimes covered on a Dick Wolf show, but still compelling given the somewhat mysterious process of canonization, especially in the modern era when the notion of who deserves to be considered a saint, whether a famous figure like Mother Teresa or an unknown cleric toiling in some faraway region of the world can seem an antiquated notion and procedure.