Like the original 'Law and Order' and 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit', 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' was great in its prime. Not just for the clever and entertaining cases, the character of Goren and the magic of Vincent D'Onofrio and his chemistry with Kathryn Erbe, but also how there were episodes that took on difficult, heavy subjects and didn't shy away and pulled no punches instead (if not quite as much as the other two).
Am not going to go quite that far calling Season 2's penultimate episode "Zoonotic" one of the best 'Criminal Intent' outings, can think of many others that are a little better. It is still great and one of the best episodes of Season 2, which was solid in quality if somewhat inconsistent, as well as being one of the creepiest and wackiest. Thanks to two of the most twisted, in ways that are both freaky and off the wall, supporting characters of the early seasons.
Embodied wonderfully by Todd Stashwick and especially James Urbaniak as the more repulsive of the two to truly creepy effect. They make for a very menacing and entertaining pair together, certainly not subtle (not that it needed to be though and it's never in a "taking one out of the episode" way) but there were not a lot of supporting characters in Season 2 to be this twisted. One cannot dismiss the fine work of the regulars, Vincent D'Onofrio is still a joy as is his playful chemistry with the more understated but just as witty Kathryn Erbe.
"Zoonotic" complements its fine cast with a script that's taut and has both entertainment value and tension. The story is not hard to follow and it doesn't telegraph things too early. When it comes to highlight scenes, the highlight here is the climactic interrogation, which is very edge of the seat and sees the twisted relationship between the two men reach its peak when chilling truths are revealed. Can't fault the production values or music either.
My only complaint is the very end, a little too sombre and a tone that doesn't entirely fit with the tone of everything that came before.
Otherwise, great. 9/10
Am not going to go quite that far calling Season 2's penultimate episode "Zoonotic" one of the best 'Criminal Intent' outings, can think of many others that are a little better. It is still great and one of the best episodes of Season 2, which was solid in quality if somewhat inconsistent, as well as being one of the creepiest and wackiest. Thanks to two of the most twisted, in ways that are both freaky and off the wall, supporting characters of the early seasons.
Embodied wonderfully by Todd Stashwick and especially James Urbaniak as the more repulsive of the two to truly creepy effect. They make for a very menacing and entertaining pair together, certainly not subtle (not that it needed to be though and it's never in a "taking one out of the episode" way) but there were not a lot of supporting characters in Season 2 to be this twisted. One cannot dismiss the fine work of the regulars, Vincent D'Onofrio is still a joy as is his playful chemistry with the more understated but just as witty Kathryn Erbe.
"Zoonotic" complements its fine cast with a script that's taut and has both entertainment value and tension. The story is not hard to follow and it doesn't telegraph things too early. When it comes to highlight scenes, the highlight here is the climactic interrogation, which is very edge of the seat and sees the twisted relationship between the two men reach its peak when chilling truths are revealed. Can't fault the production values or music either.
My only complaint is the very end, a little too sombre and a tone that doesn't entirely fit with the tone of everything that came before.
Otherwise, great. 9/10