Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Gemini (2003) User Reviews

"Make Your Brown Eyes Blue"

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 26 December 2006]

Two eyeglass store clerks are murdered the same way brings the attention to the Major Crimes heavyweights Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Eames (Kathryn Erbe), along the boss "Capt. James Deakins" (Jamey Sheridan) and the district attorney "Ron Carver" (Courtney B. Vance)

It becomes quickly apparent that the company VisonQuest is involved here somehow as cardboard counter-top advertising blue contact lenses have obviously been moved so that the police will notice them. "Obviously, someone is trying to make a point," says Det. Goren.

Later, a third murder then takes place - same MO: 9-millimeter shot in the head, this time on a plastic surgeon. Even later, a fourth killing takes place but with a slight different MO.

It goes on from there and winds up involving a strange pair of brothers, in which the younger one has big mental problems and the older one is just plain "evil," as Goren tells him.

Ego, money, racism, schizophrenia, and more are all involved in this bizarre episode. Barry Del Sherman and Michael Gill do a nice job playing the brothers.

Dead Ringers

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 24 June 2020]

Season 3 of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent', generally one of the best shows in the 'Law and Order' franchise especially in the early seasons, started off really well with "Undaunted Mettle". So if anybody liked that episode, they would understandably have high expectations for "Gemini", certainly did myself before my first watch. The premise sounds strange but also fascinating, though if one knows what the title means and symbolizes they would know in a way what to expect.

"Gemini" to me was a very good episode, if not a show or even season classic. It may be too strange for some, and to me there is no denying that it has an odd vibe about it so that opinion can definitely be understood. Something being strange is not always a bad thing, it just depends on how much it gets so. It is also though very entertaining and intriguing even more so, with so much of what makes prime-'Criminal Intent' so good evident and executed very well.

It isn't perfect. Some of "Gemini" from personal opinion did get on the too bizarre side in the middle.

Also think that in the middle the plotting could have done with a little more clarity and subtlety.

There is so much however that works in "Gemini's" favour. The production values are slick as usual and the placement and tone of music is always appropriate and not intrusive or melodramatic. The direction allows the episode to have breathing space but doesn't let it wallow that it becomes too draggy. There is some strong acting as usual here. Vincent D'Onofrio never stopped embodying Goren and has typically great chemistry with more understated but also witty Kathryn Erbe. The acting is not just strong from them, but "Gemini" is lifted by the unsettling portrayals from Barry Del Sherman and Michael Gill.

Gill, as the stronger one of the brothers, especially gives one the shivers and their chemistry is suitably twisted. The script entertains, with some nice amusing quirks to balance out the creepiness of the story, and also provokes thought. Goren's perceptions are some of his most accurate and apt, especially in his summing up of the two brothers (he was always spot on in his summings up of criminals). The story always compels and doesn't feel obvious or too confused. Goren as ever is a fascinating lead character, one of the franchise's best ever, without it being too much of the Goren Show that some of the later episodes had in my view.

On the whole, very well done if odd. 8/10

"He may be crazy. But you're evil."

[pepper_f · 8/10 · 29 March 2022]

A contact lens salesmen is found shot and Goren and Eames realize they have a serial killer in their hands. This episode was pretty good in general albeit, I felt it needed a little bit more. The plot does get a bit confusing in the middle but a re-watch does help give a better understanding of what happens later. Other than that, though, the plot in general is pretty good and I liked how things escalated as the episode went on. The antagonist(s) were pretty well-characterized too felt and I sorta do feel bad for one of them based on how they were treated.

Overall, Gemini was pretty good but it needed a bit more in my opinion. Good antagonists though.

For Appearance Sake

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 21 November 2014]

Barry Del Sherman and Michael Gill play a pair of brothers who are as radically different as you can get. Sherman is a loser with a drug problem who has some radical notions about people changing their appearances to fit conventional stereotypes of beauty. Gill is your average businessman, but he's found a way to take advantage of some of his brother's quaint notions.

Those notions could be quaint except that there's a string of murders involving a optometrists who sell contact lenses that change eye color, beauticians who dye hair, and plastic surgeons who you might want to see if you want to look like Brad Pitt. In fact Marilyn Monroe for women and Brad Pitt for men is the look we're all supposed to want.

Gill sees an opportunity to take advantage of his crazy brother's ideas and Vincent Donofrio and Kathryn Erbe have quite the time in sorting it out.

Interesting episode, but a bit too weird.