Gave this 7/10 stars after first viewing... Several years ago, I believe... After second viewing just recently, gave 9/10 stars... Thought more highly of O'Keefe's (Fr. Michael McShale) performance the second time around... Also thought that the writing and story were better than I remembered... Viewer, of course, thinks story will be the typical sexual-abuse story by a Catholic priest, and the writer(s) provide red herrings to lead the viewer that way... Nice surprise twist about two-thirds of way into the story: it caught me by surprise even though I had seen this episode before... And an interesting resolution to the case... The usual good acting by the regulars... With a nice delivery of the final line by Courtney B. Vance (Ron Carver) to Goren (D'Onofrio): "If you try and run one like that by me again, I'll have your badge.". [02.21.2020]
6 Reviews
Law & Order:Criminal Intent-The Faithful
Scarecrow-8811 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Howard(Michael Marisi Ornstein), an alcoholic, mentally handicapped bum with TB, is considered the prime suspect of the murder of a Catholic Church money collector, Abernathy(Stephen Henderson), and the bloody bag which contains the meager charitable money given by parishioners was in his possession. In actuality a repulsive junkie named Kevin(Alex Feldman) is the one responsible, having confronted the money collector after a mysterious benefactor made his bail when he was arrested for drug possession. St. Justin's Church is noteworthy for their contributions to the homeless and the fact that the crime was committed there means that Eames and Goren should get the investigation over and done with the sooner the better. Kevin is a "speed freak" and we see right from the beginning that he'll do anything, no matter how violent, to get more money so he can continue to purchase meth to supply his habit. Abernathy kept the records of the collections at mass and Goren and Eames need to find out his link to Kevin. When Kevin winds up dead, the case takes on a whole new dimension, one that concerns the embezzlement of St Justin's church funds by one internally able to get his hands on the money taken in by the Mass collection plate. Goren discovers that Kevin was actually given the last rites moments after his murder which is certain to cause quite an uproar. Father McShale(Michael O'Keefe), praised by the homeless as a hero, admits to something really eye-opening as it pertains to Kevin, and the detectives and ADA Carver have their hands full with a potential hung jury in trying the case of Donovon's murder. One lie and one major truth emerge regarding McShale's relationship to Kevin and it's a doozy. Goren appeals to McShale to "do the right thing" to protect someone who would've been extorted by Kevin, going behind Carver's back which concludes this powerful episode in heartbreaking fashion. A word of warning from Carver to Goren leaves a lump in the throat..do not keep secrets when it relates to solving a case and winning a trial just so that a third party can be protected against slander. The old "sins of the father" plays a major part in this powerful episode showing how Goren will go to great lengths for something he believes in. Kevin is quite a monster, a terror to everyone around him and inevitable victim due to his persistent desire to get his hands on cash to keep him silent over a situation he exploits until he is "put down."
Good works
bkoganbing1 May 2016
Back in my working days at Crime Victims Board I handled a claim for the murder of a church sexton at none other than St. Patrick's Cathedral. There was no investigation there except to delve into the perpetrator's psyche to find out why he clubbed a sexton to death when he tried to throw out the mentally disturbed perpetrator in front of a lot of witnesses.
This CI episode also involved the murder of Stephen Henderson a church sexton at a much smaller Catholic Church which is known for doing good works with the homeless population.
The focus is at first on Alex Feldman who is a kid from the foster care system who has a violent temper and a nasty drug habit. We know he's capable of it when we see him and running buddy Renoly Santiago beat up a hotdog vendor for some cash to score.
Then later Feldman is murdered and Goren and Eames have to shift their attention.
All I'll say here is that both priest Michael O'Keefe and Vincent D'Onofrio prove themselves mensches.
Feldman really steals the show in this story.
This CI episode also involved the murder of Stephen Henderson a church sexton at a much smaller Catholic Church which is known for doing good works with the homeless population.
The focus is at first on Alex Feldman who is a kid from the foster care system who has a violent temper and a nasty drug habit. We know he's capable of it when we see him and running buddy Renoly Santiago beat up a hotdog vendor for some cash to score.
Then later Feldman is murdered and Goren and Eames have to shift their attention.
All I'll say here is that both priest Michael O'Keefe and Vincent D'Onofrio prove themselves mensches.
Feldman really steals the show in this story.
A wonderful 1st-season episode of L&I/CI sets a tone for many more to come
Muskox537 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Excellent episode, with several nice plot twists, ending up in a very different place from any that we might have suspected as things were getting started. Good police work by Goren and Eames, but the real kudos go to O"Keefe as a priest who is willing to make real sacrifices for those he loves—sacrifices that include serious violations of several commandments. Both Goren and he are put in a position where they have to break rules for the good of others; both do so without trying to weasel out of their guilt. Great writing, fine acting, excellent direction. This fourth episode really gets things going for the series!
Sins of the father
TheLittleSongbird27 July 2019
The first three episodes of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent', when still in its very early stages, was a little bit like an up and down roller-coaster, but a not too big or steep one. Instead of the getting better with each episode that one somewhat likes to see (but understands if not the case) and have found that to be the case with a good deal of shows. The show started off very good with "One", then great with "Art" and then very good again with "Smothered".
With "The Faithful", we have in my personal opinion, 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent's' first "outstanding" episode, though as is clear above not disparaging what came before. It has all the positive qualities that the previous three episodes had, executes all of them even better (thought that would have been difficult to do when "Art" especially did its positive attributes so well, but this episode achieves that) and has even more of them. That is always great to see in early stages of a show, or even a season.
Can find nothing really to criticise. Didn't find how Goren is written an issue here as he is always like that on 'Criminal Intent' (though this is perhaps the first extreme example), his personality does take getting used to admittedly and it did so with me first time watching and getting into it.
Production values are slick and gritty, the photography complementing the atmosphere and locations very well. It is great that all the 'Law and Order' shows let the dialogue do all the talking in talk-heavy (but never overly so) shows and used the music sparingly and a lot of it was low-key while having more presence in dramatic moments or during revelations. "The Faithful" does that. While the main theme is not one of my favourites of the franchise, it sticks in the mind.
As is on the most part the case, the writing is thought-provoking and not too simple or complicated. Easy to understand while still handling it with maturity. The case is gripping and has the right amount of twists, didn't find it too overtly obvious and thought that it tackled a challenging subject very well. Every bit as interesting is how the detectives work and how they solve the crimes, Goren's methods are pretty unique and he is hardly a forgettable character either.
Vincent D'Onofrio portrays him splendidly and Kathryn Erbe is an equally as good softer contrast. Courtney B Vance shines at the end with his soft-spoken but attention grabbing threat. Alex Feldman comes very close to stealing the show as his nasty character, and Michael O'Keefe's conflicted priest likewise.
Overall, outstanding. 10/10
With "The Faithful", we have in my personal opinion, 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent's' first "outstanding" episode, though as is clear above not disparaging what came before. It has all the positive qualities that the previous three episodes had, executes all of them even better (thought that would have been difficult to do when "Art" especially did its positive attributes so well, but this episode achieves that) and has even more of them. That is always great to see in early stages of a show, or even a season.
Can find nothing really to criticise. Didn't find how Goren is written an issue here as he is always like that on 'Criminal Intent' (though this is perhaps the first extreme example), his personality does take getting used to admittedly and it did so with me first time watching and getting into it.
Production values are slick and gritty, the photography complementing the atmosphere and locations very well. It is great that all the 'Law and Order' shows let the dialogue do all the talking in talk-heavy (but never overly so) shows and used the music sparingly and a lot of it was low-key while having more presence in dramatic moments or during revelations. "The Faithful" does that. While the main theme is not one of my favourites of the franchise, it sticks in the mind.
As is on the most part the case, the writing is thought-provoking and not too simple or complicated. Easy to understand while still handling it with maturity. The case is gripping and has the right amount of twists, didn't find it too overtly obvious and thought that it tackled a challenging subject very well. Every bit as interesting is how the detectives work and how they solve the crimes, Goren's methods are pretty unique and he is hardly a forgettable character either.
Vincent D'Onofrio portrays him splendidly and Kathryn Erbe is an equally as good softer contrast. Courtney B Vance shines at the end with his soft-spoken but attention grabbing threat. Alex Feldman comes very close to stealing the show as his nasty character, and Michael O'Keefe's conflicted priest likewise.
Overall, outstanding. 10/10
This ep. should be called: 'Goren gets it'
moviefreak90712 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Okay, here's the deal. Throughout this episode Goren is acting like a spoiled child or a hard-headed rebellious teenager. Doing whatever he likes, Breaking rules, disrespecting authority. A good example of this is the hilarious scene where Deakins is talking to the priest. Much like the common scene where a mother waits till the guest is gone to punish her child, Deakins is trying to keep calm and intercept all of Goren's rude and untactful comments while at the same time giving him "shut your mouth" glares, which soon turn to "You're dead when they leave" ones. But the straw that broke the camel's back was when Goren hid an important witness from A.D.A. Carver. Carver found out near the end of the episode and the last lines where his: "Detective... if you *ever* try to run one by me like that again, I'll have your badge." This softly, yet clearly, spoken threat, was about as severe a tongue-lashing as one could get. As he said them, Goren looked at him for a moment, then quickly looked down. What could he say? He was busted, cold hard. And that my friends, is the story of how Goren got it.
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