Eosphoros 

A leader of the Atheist movement is kidnapped and murdered despite the ransom paid, and the detectives find a suspect close to home.

Director:

Alex Zakrzewski

Writers:

Dick Wolf (created by), Rene Balcer (developed by) (as René Balcer)

Stars:

Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Jamey Sheridan

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Robert Goren
Kathryn Erbe	...	Alexandra Eames
Jamey Sheridan	...	James Deakins
Courtney B. Vance	...	Ron Carver
Mara Hobel	...	April Callaway
Tom Riis Farrell	...	Rev. Douglas Callaway
Henry Stram	...	Wayne Callaway
Frank Whaley	...	Mitch Godel
Rita Gardner	...	Eleanor Callaway
Michael Luggio	...	Larry Hastings
Linda Powell	...	Ms. Ramone
Krista Apple	...	Althea
Ross Haines	...	Detective Riascos
Adam Way	...	Sven Eric
Steve Nuke	...	Claude Worrell

Storyline

A leader of the Atheist movement is kidnapped and murdered despite the ransom paid, and the detectives find a suspect close to home.

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Plot Keywords:

reverend | kidnapper murdered | eczema | uncle niece relationship | father daughter relationship | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

Eosphoros means "dawn bringer" or "god of the dawn star."

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Goofs

The character April states that she has rheumatoid arthritis because of her weight; however, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder and is not caused by obesity. Being overweight does increase the risk of osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.

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Quotes

April Callaway: You said that nobody would get hurt. You promised me!
Mitch Godel: [to detectives, sarcastically] I *promised* her. Can you believe this chick?

User Reviews

Bringer of dawn

"Eosphoros" (interesting title) was one of my first 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' episodes when starting to get into the show in my late teens. Back then it struck me as interesting enough but not exceptional or attention-grabbing all the way through. Watching more 'Criminal Intent' episodes subsequently not long after, "Eosphoros" didn't strike me as memorable as a lot of the episodes watched after and to be honest was soon near-forgotten about apart from the beginning.

Re-watching it recently, while there is a good deal to like about "Eosphoros" it still struck me as unexceptional and the second half was a good deal better than the first. So above average if it is stuck with but considering how one knows what the show is capable of this disappointed, and as far as the early season episodes go it's one of the lesser ones easily. Compared to other episodes of Season 4 and of 'Criminal Intent' in general, this episode felt on the bland and not particularly memorable side in a season that had a lot of tense, intricate and emotional episodes. Good idea, unevenly executed.

The episode is slick-looking and visually doesn't try to do anything too fancy or indulgent while also not being too safe. The music is not too dramatic and to me doesn't over-emphasise. Enough of the script intrigues and entertains, Goren's perceptions and such are as apt and amusing as one expects. The second half is better than the first, thanks to the chemistry between the responsible (an interesting and creepy dynamic), a few surprising twists that make what seemed obvious at first not so much and of course Goren (a lot of fun at the end). Didn't see the final solution coming.

Goren is still the fascinating lead character that plays a big part in the show's appeal. Love his and Eames' chemistry and Eames has some nice snappy banter that contrasts well with Goren. Can see nothing bad about Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe.

Having said all of that, the first half to me was on the mundane and ordinary side, not much tension and with not enough to make it stand out. Too much of it felt predictable and the pace lacks tautness. Frank Whaley overdoes it as Mitch, almost unintentionally comical in his final scene, where his moods and reactions being borderline erratic.

While enough of the script intrigued and entertained, some of it is too conventional early on and other parts, like at the end, were on the overcooked side. Goren's final line is quite terrible, one of his worst ever final lines and not worthy of him, and a line that will make atheists in particular grimace.

Concluding, not a bad episode but uneven. 6/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 2004 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wolf Films, NBC Universal Television, Val Com

Technical Specs

Runtime:

55 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1