Nearly all the previous episodes of all the previous three seasons of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' range between decent and outstanding. The only one that disappointed me, while still being watchable, was Season 3's "Ill-Bred". It is hard to not expect a lot from any season opener for any regularly watched show, still watch 'Criminal Intent' re-runs from time to time, and that was certainly the case with this show's Season 4 opener "Semi-Detached".
"Semi-Detached" delivered on first time viewing. It has continued to deliver on all re-watches and the kind of episode that gets better and better with each re-watch with more gotten out of it each time. It was a brilliant way to start off Season 4 (like the previous three seasons generally very solid and at its best brilliant but not completely consistent), couldn't have been better actually, and of all 'Criminal Intent's' ten season openers "Semi-Detached" to me is among the best of the ten.
The photography is slick and subtly gritty as usual and while the locations are limited in number they are still pleasing to look at and the more intimate ones aren't claustrophobic. The editing has also come on a long way since the show first started and it was always good from the very beginning, just that it became smoother and crisper as the production values became more refined. The music is haunting while not going over the top and not being intrusive, too constant and melodramatic music would have ruined the mood and would not have let the dialogue do the talking as effectively.
Also terrific here is the script. Once again, the writing is taut and thoughtful, without being wordy (which is great for a show that is quite talk-heavy). The interaction between Goren and Nelda is brilliantly written, with lots of tension and even poignancy, and is the heart of the episode. The writing at the end made me bite my nails and brought tears to my eyes. The story is always diverting and this was a case of where the perpetrator being easy to figure out early on was not a problem.
Not with them being so fascinating and not your usual perpetrator, a more complex and compassionate one rather than the nasty pieces of work and thinking they're above the law types of perpetrators one sees a lot throughout the 'Law and Order' franchise. While Goren and Eames sparkle in their chemistry as always, he shines even more with Nelda. Liked Goren's character development and that we learn something new about him, and also that he is more low-key and compassionate. Cannot fault the acting, Vincent D'Onofrio is terrific and the emotion in his line delivery at the end especially felt like he was really feeling the pain himself. Even better is the remarkably nuanced Francie Swift, as far as 'Criminal Intent' guest performances go she is up there with the best in my view.
To summarise, outstanding start to Season 4. 10/10
