Grow

Nicole Wallace (Olivia D'Abo) is back and she's not guilty of her daughter's murder because the Australia soil features makes the DNA report impossible. The sharp and charming criminal works as a librarian and she's ready to go after a 5 million lawsuit settlement. The victim now is a doctor (former junkie, as pointed out by Goren after seeing his teeth and an old picture of him in long sleeves during summer season), whose wife and brother were killed by strange accident. But nothing is what it seems at first place and plot twist occurred at the end of episode.

Det. Logan (Chris Noth) plays a little cameo in helping the other detectives, taking some information out of a paroled black felon

Was excited in seeing Season 5's opener "Grow". Nicole Wallace was a character that made a big positive mark ever since her first appearance in Season 2's "Anti-Thesis", likewise with her chemistry with Goren, and all her episodes are great and more. All the previous four season openers of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' ranged between very good (Season 1's "One") to brilliant (Season 4's "Semi-Detached"), so expectations were high understandably.

Those high expectations luckily were met. It's not my personal favourite of the Nicole Wallace episodes, that's still "Anti-Thesis", but it is a great episode and a great season opener. Of the Season 5 openers for the original 'Law and Order' ("Second Opinion"), 'Special Victims Unit' ("Tragedy") and 'Criminal Intent', "Grow" is for me by far the best being the only outstanding one. Anybody that loved the previous Wallace episodes will love this, all the appeal of them are here too.

Do agree that it does start off a bit slow and not immediately easy to follow. The episode though does very quickly get going and most of the time comprehension was not a problem.

Once again, the story always compels and while it is very intricate it doesn't feel incoherent. Nor does it come over as too simple, thanks to lots of twists and turns. Absolutely love the tension and battle of wits between Goren (once again Goren meets his match in somebody worthy of his enviable intellect) and Wallace which really sizzle in intensity and fun and the heart of the episode. The episode is smartly and tautly scripted, with lots of attention grabbing intrigue and entertainment value.

Vincent D'Onofrio and Olivia D'Abo are both terrific, D'Onofrio tells so much while sometimes saying little or nothing and when just reacting to something through expressions and little touches. D'Abo is both alluring and chilling, though it was very interesting to see Wallace have a softer side (compared to being a complete creep and deadly in her previous appearance, Season 4's "Great Barrier"). Everybody else is fine too but those two are on another level.

Production values are stylish and like Seasons 2 and 3 there is a slightly brighter look than the first season while maintaining the show's grit. The music doesn't overbear and is not overused. The direction is deft and allows D'Onofrio and D'Abo to have fun.

In conclusion, great. 9/10

After Bobby Goren, there's nobody I enjoy watching more in this series than when Nicole Wallace (played by Olivia d'Abo) is in one of the episodes. She is definitely the "yin to his yang" or reverse, however you'd like to call it... But they are two mirror images of the same personality with the only difference being that Bobby works on the side of "good" whereas Nicole represents the opposite side of "evil". It's almost like something out of an old Western film, with the Good guys wearing white, and the Bad characters all dressed in black. I can't help but think of so many Classic, Hollywood Westerns that are too numerous to mention here. The beauty of watching them do a scene together, is how almost "unscripted" it feels and natural, that the dialogue just happens. It's not stunted, there is no feeling of somebody just reading words off of a script, it just happens the way the best scenes always do... in the best shows, the best movies, and the best entertainment of any kind, is when it's just really, as they say, "in the moment." And boy... When these two get together, it is so in the moment, that you don't need anybody else to "move the story forward" or "to draw a conclusion to an ending", because Bobby Goren and Nicole Wallace get it all done, just by themselves! I just saw this episode less than a month ago, and after starting to watch a few minutes... Wound up finishing the whole episode, all the way through to the end...I could not turn it off. No need to say anymore than I already have... It speaks for itself!

These episodes with "Nicole Wallace" are tremendous. Olivia d'Abo does a great job playing her. I'm sure the people connected with this TV show that, because they keep bringing her back. She's "Det. Robert Goren's" nemesis and it's always fun watching these two people match wits.

There is a great twist to this adventure between these two, one that puts Nicole in a new light....somewhat! I won't say because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen this episode. Suffice to say that when "Bobby" figures out what's going on, it's fascinating and a shock. Great stuff. By the way, she's the only one I recall who calls "Robert Goren" by "Bobby."

This starts a little slowly and is a bit confusing, which is normal, but once Nicole's pretty face pops up on screen, the story is off-and-running. The big question is, Is Nicole behind more murders and trying to ruin another family to get money?"

I always enjoy seeing Vincent D'Onofrio's facial expressions when he deals with this woman, too. Vince does a great jobs with little mannerisms, as regular viewers of this show know.

Now that Criminal Intent has finished it's run you kind of regret that Detective Bobby Goren and Nicole Wallace from Australia didn't have more verbal sparring matches for the viewer to enjoy. Makes one savor the ones they did have.

This episode concerns the death of a city housing inspector. The victim was just a worker drone type of civil servant in a job where the bribe opportunities. But it was the unique way the deceased was dispatched into the next world that intrigues our CI detectives.

Who now include Chris Noth just getting back from Staten Island exile and getting his feet wet at Major Case.

Olivia D'Abo of course is back as the incredibly amoral Wallace. But this one shows she does possibly have some empathy for others Especially for one little girl.

Turns out this girl's family is far sleazier than Nicole Wallace. You'll have to tune in to see what I mean.