Law and Order: Criminal Intent is one of my favorite shows, and Bryn holds it in high regards as well. I’ve watched most of the episodes, and seen them on DVD as well. I know quotes from the episodes, and Bryn claims I’m obsessed. Recently we were watching a rerun at one on the CW and talking to each other over the phone. Here are some of the things we discussed that we thought would make good discussion topics for the blog.
1) No Continuation
Every now and then there is an episode of Criminal Intent that really stands out (Bryn said: In some shows like Bones every now and then you get a bad episode, but in Criminal Intent every now and then you get a good episode.). Certain episodes rank high on my favorites list, and I want to watch them over again (Purgatory, Amends, Blind Spot, Ladies Man). These episodes have everything from amazing acting to an awesome script, and great character interaction. But there is absolutely no continuation. Eames gets kidnapped and in the next episode it mentions one therapy session and that’s it. There are no story arcs, which, let’s face it, are really interesting. The only reoccurring theme, I guess you could say, is Nicole Wallace, and that’s spread out over seasons not episodes. Now, to be fair, I guess it would be harder to keep up a continuing story arc with the characters schedules (they alternate weeks), but it could be done. A story could be continued with the viewers knowing the next part every other week. And things aren’t ever mentioned after an episode is done. For example, Goren never asks how Eames is after the kidnapping, and things like that. To be fair, there was a little story arc with Wheeler and her now ex-fiancé. Though this was probably written in to coincide with Nicholson’s pregnancy.
2) Little Characterization
The characters of Criminal Intent are a big part of the reason why I love the show. Eames is a no-nonsense tough (not to mention sarcastic) woman cop, and Goren is a quirky yet intelligent profiling detective who still manages to amaze everyone (though, perhaps not Eames). Previous characters that we loved include Logan and Barek, my personal favorite Deakins. The current characters (including Wheeler and Nichols, Rodgers and Ross, and of course, Goren and Eames) are all amazing, and add a strange kind of quirky personality to the show.
However, the only time we learn anything about the characters is in those aforementioned amazing episodes. Sure, in the first few seasons there would be moments when we learned something about the characters, but these moments seem fewer and far between. It was a while before we learned anything about Eames. While it has been said that this Law and Order is character driven, I believe that it could be more so.
Aside from those awesome episodes, the rest can be classified as just procedurals. I personally don’t mind, I’ll watch any episode.
1) No Continuation
Every now and then there is an episode of Criminal Intent that really stands out (Bryn said: In some shows like Bones every now and then you get a bad episode, but in Criminal Intent every now and then you get a good episode.). Certain episodes rank high on my favorites list, and I want to watch them over again (Purgatory, Amends, Blind Spot, Ladies Man). These episodes have everything from amazing acting to an awesome script, and great character interaction. But there is absolutely no continuation. Eames gets kidnapped and in the next episode it mentions one therapy session and that’s it. There are no story arcs, which, let’s face it, are really interesting. The only reoccurring theme, I guess you could say, is Nicole Wallace, and that’s spread out over seasons not episodes. Now, to be fair, I guess it would be harder to keep up a continuing story arc with the characters schedules (they alternate weeks), but it could be done. A story could be continued with the viewers knowing the next part every other week. And things aren’t ever mentioned after an episode is done. For example, Goren never asks how Eames is after the kidnapping, and things like that. To be fair, there was a little story arc with Wheeler and her now ex-fiancé. Though this was probably written in to coincide with Nicholson’s pregnancy.
2) Little Characterization
The characters of Criminal Intent are a big part of the reason why I love the show. Eames is a no-nonsense tough (not to mention sarcastic) woman cop, and Goren is a quirky yet intelligent profiling detective who still manages to amaze everyone (though, perhaps not Eames). Previous characters that we loved include Logan and Barek, my personal favorite Deakins. The current characters (including Wheeler and Nichols, Rodgers and Ross, and of course, Goren and Eames) are all amazing, and add a strange kind of quirky personality to the show.
However, the only time we learn anything about the characters is in those aforementioned amazing episodes. Sure, in the first few seasons there would be moments when we learned something about the characters, but these moments seem fewer and far between. It was a while before we learned anything about Eames. While it has been said that this Law and Order is character driven, I believe that it could be more so.
Aside from those awesome episodes, the rest can be classified as just procedurals. I personally don’t mind, I’ll watch any episode.
If you have any thoughts on this show, we’d love to hear them.
All the best,
~Mila
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