Season Ten Premiere Advance Episode Review
“Rispetto” Airing May 1, 2011
LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT Sunday Nights at 9 EST on USA NETWORK
April 23, 2011
By Lena Lamoray
USA NETWORK PRESS RELEASE: DETECTIVES GOREN AND EAMES FAREWELL SEASON TO FANS PREMIERES ON A NEW NIGHT “LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT” BEGINS SUNDAY, MAY 1. Emmy-Nominee Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe Return for the Tenth and Final Season; Executive Producer Chris Brancato Joins the Series and Veteran Actor Jay O. Sanders Joins the Cast as Captain Hannah. Guest Stars include Neal McDonough, Jeri Ryan, Andrea Roth and Jay Mohr. LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT, USA Network’s hit original scripted series, will return for its final farewell with eight all new episodes on a new night, Sunday, May 1 at 9/8c. LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT, produced by Wolf Films and Universal Cable Productions, created and executive produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf, was developed by René Balcer. Shot entirely in and around New York City, the third installment of the “Law & Order” franchise takes viewers deep into the minds of its criminals while following the intense psychological approaches by the Major Case Squad. The final season of LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT features the long-anticipated return of Detectives Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Eames (Kathryn Erbe). A tribute to the passionate fans, the show will take viewers to new heights with intrigue and crime-solving as never before. Terminated for insubordination a year ago, Detective Goren has been reunited with his long-time partner at the behest of new Major Case Captain Joseph Hannah (Jay O. Sanders), a friend of Goren's since Academy days. In addition to plunging into colorful, dangerous mysteries, Goren has mandatory sessions with brilliant police psychologist Robyn Widrow who will ultimately help him unravel his tortured past, and chart a course in the right direction. Each week, viewers will be taken through sizzling, sexy episodes of murder and provocative themes, such as: a beautiful female banker whose sole client was the Catholic Church; an adventuresome rogue who may be the country's best cyber-warrior; a woman who was blackmailing a wealthy, tabloid-fodder "bad boy." Guest stars this season include Neal McDonough (“Boomtown,” “Band of Brothers”) as a Monsignor who has been a driving force for good works of the Church, starting soup kitchens, orphanages, and cancer wards; and Jeri Ryan (“Leverage,” “Shark”) as Naomi Halloran, a former CIA official who has started a private security company worth hundreds of millions. Special guests also include Andrea Roth, Jay Mohr and Adrian Pasdar. Chris Brancato joins as executive producer and showrunner for the tenth season of LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT. Brancato has written for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Boomtown” and “Beverly Hills, 90210,” has served as a consulting producer on the Joss Whedon series “Tru Calling;” and as co-executive producer on the critically acclaimed series “Boomtown.” LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT had a strong ninth season, delivering 3.60 million total viewers to the series on Tuesdays in 2010. LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Cable Productions. Dick Wolf, Peter Jankowski and Chris Brancato are executive producers.
LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT “Rispetto” Season 10 Premiere Advance Review, Airing 5/1/2011
LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT returns with a gratifying season ten premiere that welcomes back the one and only, Vincent D’Onofrio as Detective Robert Goren and the ageless, Kathryn Erbe as Detective Alexandra Eames. Vincent and Kathryn reprise their beloved roles as Goren and Eames beautifully and seamlessly. Jay Mohr guest stars as Nyle Brite, a fashion designer. I have always been a huge fan of Vincent’s and I can never turn the television off when one of the older episodes of LAW & ORDER: CI comes on. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen all of them at least five times and it doesn’t hurt that they are repeated on so many different networks. The fans of LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT made it their priority to get the dynamic duo of Goren and Eames back and if everyone tunes in and watches this season perhaps we will not have to say goodbye. If the premiere episode represents even a fraction of what we will see this season, then get ready for an incredible run. I believe that we are going to be treated to one of the strongest seasons ever of LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT and please do your part and watch because if the ratings are strong enough than perhaps the dreaded swan song will not be sung. “Rispetto” - After a young call girl is murdered, investigation leads Goren and Eames to a hard-partying, “rockstar” fashion designer extraordinaire. Would the fashion house’s key members stoop to murder to protect the runaway train wreck who makes them all millions?
LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT is one of those shows that I can never get sick of and I enjoyed last season with Jeff Goldblum and Saffron Burrows. Jeff as Detective Zach Nichols and Saffron as Detective Serena Stevens, just added a different feel to the show and they were never trying to emulate Goren and Eames because in all honesty, how could they compete with a chemistry that had years to develop. Viewers were unjustly harsh on the duo and I understand that change is difficult but I think that it was the kick that the show needed to get their fans inspired to take action. You voiced your opinion and now we have Goren and Eames back and quite possibly the strongest season to date.
Jay Mohr guest stars as Nyle Brite, a rockstar fashion designer that could clearly give Charlie Sheen a run for his money. He is known as the “bad boy of fashion”. Nyle finishes up his fashion show and has a soiree at his house that he abruptly wraps up when a familiar face enters the room. Jay is more known for his comedic roles but he really flexes his drama muscles and does an amazing job bringing Nyle to life. I know when I think of people that should be cast as fashion designers, Jay Mohr wouldn’t even make it on my list but luckily the people behind the show envisioned the designer in him that was just waiting to be released.
The Major Case Squad is called in when a body is discovered and Goren and Eames survey the scene. While looking for clues they reminisce about college days and how some things never change. Goren hones in on a few details that probably would have gone unnoticed but he is the master of all and has a plethora of knowledge pertaining to various subject matters. Goren is such a fascinating character and his little quirks and nuances make it impossible to take your eyes off of him. Towards the end of this episode he makes a very convincingly fabulous phone call that demonstrates that he plays to win. I can’t sing the praises of Vincent enough.
Goren and Eames pay Nyle a visit and question him about the call girl, Sara’s murder. Nyle is more concerned with “bad vibes and bad mojo” than he is about the young girl but Goren and Eames know better than that. They discover a message and want to know the true meaning behind it because they believe that is the key to solving the case.
One of my favorite scenes in this episode is when Goren does what we all want to do and calls someone out on their obnoxious texting. I agree with Goren and I think it is completely rude when you are speaking with someone and they are texting at the same time. Go Goren! Eames has a great scene in this episode, too when she exclaims; “You’re a train wreck” to a very deserving individual. She also gets in some pretty insightful closing remarks.
Goren busts out the old handshake handcuff move and I love it. Goren can make anything work and he even proves it by elegantly declaring that someone is a “prick”.
Jay O. Sanders has been added to the cast this season as Captain Hannah and I’m assuming that we will find out more about him in future episodes. He has made appearances in episodes of LAW & ORDER and LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT as different characters. I love how the LAW & ORDER franchise always brings in the same people to play different characters.
“Rispetto” is the perfect episode to get you psyched for the season. It doesn’t waste time in getting to the good part because the entire episode is so rich with interesting characters and did I forget to mention that Goren and Eames are back. I adore this show and this episode and I know that you are going to love it, too so don’t be shy in voicing your opinion and let me know what you think. Do not miss the return of Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe as Goren and Eames in LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT Sunday, May 1st at 9 PM EST only on USA NETWORK.