User Reviews

A murder took place in a multicultural neighborhood, inhabited by orthodox Jews, black people and punk rock white guys. There is an artist commune owned by an old rock star who played at Woodstock and now works as a manager looking for new rookies. It's easy to figure out that the loft is a dirty place full of bugs where tenants spend time by playing guitar, having sex and smoking weed. One day, a wannabe rock star is stabbed to death just outside a close pub and shortly after another musician is shoved in elevator shaft. There must have been too much competition inside the commune or a groupie should have shifted less bed than she actually did, paying more attention to her pillow talks. Anyway Nichols managed to take some DNA evidence from bug stings that helped him to solve the case.

Jeff Goldlum takes the place of Chris Noth as the senior detective and he performs a pondering character similar to the first Seth Brundle (prior to mutation in "The Fly") and to scientist David Levinson (Independence Day)

Re-watched Season 8's second episode "Rock Star" as someone who likes 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent', namely Seasons 1-4 though (it started to vary when the alternating partnerships were introduced) and has been re-watching and reviewing overtime all the episodes of the original 'Law and Order', 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent'. Also to see how the character of Zach Nichols and the always watchable Jeff Goldblum would fare.

After being very impressed by the Season 8 opener "Playing Dead", "Rock Star" disappointed me. It definitely has its moments and good things and Goldblum definitely gives it his best shot, but the story could have grabbed me a lot more, Nichols doesn't strike me as a particularly character here (he did actually grow on me despite being no Goren) and the central chemistry doesn't gel as much as ought. "Rock Star" is far from a terrible episode, don't consider any 'Criminal Intent' episodes as that distinction with even misfires such as "Bombshell" and "Assassin" having their moments.

Shall start with the good. The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic and there is some nice direction.

The episode does start off quite well, it's a neat set up and struck me as unsettling enough, the bed bugs bit was cool. Some of Nichols' quips are amusing. Goldblum gives a very committed and energised performance and Julianne Nicholson is her usual pleasantly understated self. The acting actually is fine overall.

Less so is most of the case, which is very predictable from too few twists and hardly anything that surprises. Even the truth didn't shock me that much despite spending some of the episode suitably unsure of who it was. Also thought that it was quite pedestrian in pace and not always focused. Some of the dialogue could have been toned down and not been as overripe and also could have been tauter.

Nichols didn't quite do it for me in his first episode, am not blaming Goldblum but the writing. The over the top quirkiness doesn't fit within the rest of the episode, almost like a comedian trying to be more subdued and go against type but struggling, and is overdone. Goren is quirky, but as has been said there is a reason for that and an understandable one. Nichols seemed that for the sake of it. The character interaction doesn't gel, Nichols and Wheeler are too much of an odd couple (she was with Logan but they also contrasted well and worked more harmoniously) in personality to clashing effect and Wheeler feels dull in comparison. This felt more of an excuse to introduce Nichols and not spend enough time on everything else.

Bottom line, didn't rock for me sad to say. 5/10.