Semi-Detached

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

aprinton-1's comments do not apply to this episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" at all, sorry. a-1 is talking about actor Fisher Stevens in the "original" "L&O"--in fact, about him in two epis, both in the original "L&O." Stevens does appear in this "L&O:CI" epi, too, though, portraying a shock jock on WVYS ("W-vice") radio. He also appears as a totally different character, the literary agent of a murdered young writer, in another "LOCI" epi.

This shock jock is not an appealing character, but Fisher plays him well and totally believably. There's something visually cartoony in the 30- or 40-something shock jock's wardrobe, hair, ballcap, and carriage, plus the personality Fisher depicts is immature and self-centered. He seems so real, you can't believe he's married to a relatively normal, perhaps classy woman, played by Tatum O'Neal--but then the jock has had some problems before and was undergoing another rough patch, plus he's a shock jock, after all. So, that makes you wonder what's wrong with a woman who marries a shock jock in the first place. Maybe they married young, and Tatum's character grew up, but Fisher's never did.

I'm actually at this page, though, because of Francie Swift's portrayal of Nelda Carlson. There were things about it that were fascinating, besides her at first looking like a grown-up version of one of my nieces. I wouldn't say all of Francie's mannerisms and inflections were subtle, to paraphrase another reviewer, but they weren't always supposed to be, and it was amazing watching Francie the actress put them out there. Not being an actor myself, I sometimes wonder how someone picks all that up and can put it out at will, and sometimes intensely and mashed together or in machine-gun succession but seeming to be real. Francie has quite a "repertoire," and she used these body mannerisms and vocal changes and all those supertrained facial muscles effectively--stunningly--in the service of the character arc.

This is something that I like about "LOCI," especially compared to the other two "Law & Orders" or the "CSIs" and most other dramas of recent years: Not only are the lead actors top notch, but the guest stars are, too. The writers and directors really give them a lot to work with. (The regulars of "House," for example, are good actors, but the guest stars {patients etc.} aren't given a whole lot to work with.) At 1 hour, "LOCI" often seems too short to cram in as much mystery, detective work, character development, and denouement as it does, but that must make it fun for the guest stars--like Francie--to compress a "2-hour performance" into 1.

I'd give this episode a "10" except much of the on-air shock jock talk was vulgar, perhaps gratuitously included as attention grabbers for this first episode of a new season.

Francie Swifts show stealing portrayal of Nelda is incredible in this episode. She made me feel attraction, fear and sympathy for her character from first to last scene. This depth of character is why I love the Law & Order universe and once again another master class of casting!

In this Criminal Intent story we see a bit more of victim Fisher Stevens than usual. Stevens plays a radio shock jock of the Howard Stern variety, not above making lewd and lascivious comments on the air at female callers. It gets him in trouble with the station and later on killed though it is disguised as suicide somewhat. But of course the eclectic mind of Detective Robert Goren sees through that.

It turns out that Stevens was on some kind of anti-depressant medication which was manipulated. There begins the hunt for who did the manipulating.

I can't say more even to praise the performance of the perpetrator lest I give too much away. I will say that even the most professional alleged detachment can be suspect.

In this one Vincent D'Onofrio really has to get in the suspect's head for a confession.