When it comes to talking about the previous seasons of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent', Seasons 1-4 were very good as an overall whole, the weakest episodes still being decent and the best being absolutely outstanding and 'Criminal Intent' high points. From Season 5 onwards, the show became a lot less consistent, the best episodes were still outstanding but the worst episodes were real misfires (two of which being in this season).
One of them being this episode "Palimpsest". Of the two, "Gods and Insects" being the other, this is marginally worse. As although that episode was heavily flawed and indicative of 'Criminal Intent' running out of ideas, it didn't make the mistake of not feeling like a 'Criminal Intent' episode or even not feeling like an episode of any of the 'Law and Order' shows. "Palimpsest" makes this mistake. If there was a bottom 10 of the worst episodes of the show, this for me is down there and am not sure how much of a popular opinion that is going to be.
"Palimpsest" is not a complete disaster. The production values are fine, have always liked the photography's intimacy and grit and the look of the show has come on a good deal over-time (and it was good to begin with). The music doesn't intrude and has a haunting quality, have not always remembered to say that the theme tune is easy to remember and holds up.
Jeff Goldblum tries his best with what he has, though the performance he gives is below his usual standards (at least he tried) and Mili Avital remarkably manages to give a nuanced performance that also unsettles, those facial expressions.
That is sadly pretty much it when it comes to the praise. "Palimpsest" is an example of a change of pace episode. That is not a bad thing just to say, there are many changes of pace for many shows (including all three of the major 'Law and Order' shows, this, the original and 'Special Victims Unit') that are simply brilliant and fare brilliantly as episodes in their own right. At least though in spirit they felt like they belonged in their respective shows, whereas "Palimpsest" could have passed for something else entirely. If anything it felt like a strange mix of Agatha Christie (one of my favourite authors just to say) at her dullest and most derivative and a very toned down 'Clue' without the broad humour and colourful characters.
For me, "Palimpsest" was a dull and silly episode, with no tension, suspense or a single original thought as well as one of the show's most contrived and melodramatic denouements. Stevens is severely under-utilised and Goldblum tends to over-compensate. This is one of the few episodes of 'Criminal Intent' where the acting is really not good from almost everybody, except Avital and with Goldblum having his moments. Nichols' personal life is too heavily focused upon and is both bland and forced. The dialogue is overripe and sounds awkward and less than taut this time.
Overall, very underwhelming episode. 4/10.
One of them being this episode "Palimpsest". Of the two, "Gods and Insects" being the other, this is marginally worse. As although that episode was heavily flawed and indicative of 'Criminal Intent' running out of ideas, it didn't make the mistake of not feeling like a 'Criminal Intent' episode or even not feeling like an episode of any of the 'Law and Order' shows. "Palimpsest" makes this mistake. If there was a bottom 10 of the worst episodes of the show, this for me is down there and am not sure how much of a popular opinion that is going to be.
"Palimpsest" is not a complete disaster. The production values are fine, have always liked the photography's intimacy and grit and the look of the show has come on a good deal over-time (and it was good to begin with). The music doesn't intrude and has a haunting quality, have not always remembered to say that the theme tune is easy to remember and holds up.
Jeff Goldblum tries his best with what he has, though the performance he gives is below his usual standards (at least he tried) and Mili Avital remarkably manages to give a nuanced performance that also unsettles, those facial expressions.
That is sadly pretty much it when it comes to the praise. "Palimpsest" is an example of a change of pace episode. That is not a bad thing just to say, there are many changes of pace for many shows (including all three of the major 'Law and Order' shows, this, the original and 'Special Victims Unit') that are simply brilliant and fare brilliantly as episodes in their own right. At least though in spirit they felt like they belonged in their respective shows, whereas "Palimpsest" could have passed for something else entirely. If anything it felt like a strange mix of Agatha Christie (one of my favourite authors just to say) at her dullest and most derivative and a very toned down 'Clue' without the broad humour and colourful characters.
For me, "Palimpsest" was a dull and silly episode, with no tension, suspense or a single original thought as well as one of the show's most contrived and melodramatic denouements. Stevens is severely under-utilised and Goldblum tends to over-compensate. This is one of the few episodes of 'Criminal Intent' where the acting is really not good from almost everybody, except Avital and with Goldblum having his moments. Nichols' personal life is too heavily focused upon and is both bland and forced. The dialogue is overripe and sounds awkward and less than taut this time.
Overall, very underwhelming episode. 4/10.