Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Shandeh (2002) User Reviews

Twisted religion

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 25 March 2020]

My initial thoughts before watching "Shandeh" first time was very similar to those for "The Pilgrim". Very interesting idea, but was worried about how the religion in question would be portrayed (meaning whether with tact or bias) and whether the characters would be stereotypes and whether they would be sensitively done ones or offensive. Watched it anyway as someone who really likes 'Criminal Intent' and my feelings on re-watches of the episode are the same as first time.

In that "Shandeh" is a good and interesting episode, with a very memorable supporting character, great character writing for Goren and with a mystery that does engross. More tension though wouldn't have gone amiss and it is a bit on the heavy-handed side. The opposite to "The Pilgrim" (am comparing having re-watched both episodes back to back), which actually surprisingly handled its subject remarkably tactfully but could have taken more risks as a result.

"Shandeh" does well with showing how twisted religion and family values can be and the lengths people would go to uphold honour, but part of me somehow felt that it could have done it with more of a subtle touch and not been as obvious what its stance on the situation was, the opposite was what was appreciated about "The Pilgrim".

Would have liked a little more tension at times, and what would have improved that would have been if the responsible (or at least complicit) wasn't as prematurely obvious. Just my view though. Also more of Eames and her chemistry with Goren, when she is there she is hardly bland and their chemistry is entertaining with some tension but at times the episode is too much of "The Robert Goren Show" and she and their chemistry play second fiddle.

That is not too awful a thing. Goren has always been a fascinating character, huge fun to watch with intriguing deductive skills and cute and hilarious quirks/mannerisms. Exactly the case throughout here and a big part of the fun and intrigue in "Shandeh", and throughout 'Criminal Intent', is him looking into the perpetrator's mind, how we see his mind works and how he figures it all out. He is on top form on those fronts. The ending does satisfy and the character of Ursula Sussman is one of the show's, and possibly also franchise's, most vicious mother figures in quite a frightening way.

Once again, the episode is well made, appropriately scored and directed at a good pace. The script has both amusement and shock value as well as being intelligently written and the story is particularly engrossing in the second half without being muddled or crowded. Vincent D'Onofrio is a sheer delight and Linda Lavin really chills the blood as Ursula.

All in all, pretty good but not great. 7/10

Interesting episode!

[allexhoward2000 · 7/10 · 26 January 2024]

Okay episode! A child born out of wedlock is literally a mamzer or "basturd" in English although this fact is never mentioned or even hinted at in the child's presence! Shandeh in Yiddish suggests a major source of shame or disgrace! Too predictable and simplistic an episode although D' Onofrio was superb as always and carried his character's role and complexities extremely well! Eames carried her role well as always but the episode could have used more positive portrayals of the numerous other good aspects of Orthodox, G-d fearing Judaism! Was an interesting portrayal nonetheless with interesting elements throughout!

This Tme L&O's Target Are Orthodox Jews

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 20 December 2006]

I forget all the "Jewish mother" jokes I've heard over the years, especially from Jewish friends....but I doubt any of them had a mother like this one: Ursula Sussman (played by Linda Lavin. Remember her?) Yet Ursula's story, as extreme as it is, isn't't totally bizarre in the one aspect of a family "protecting its good name." I am sure many more than one sin has been covered up over the years by families attempting to do likewise. However, murdering your daughter-in-law may not be the most advisable way to keep the good family name!

This is an interesting episode, as most of them are. Also, let's see, we had a Protestant family member not on the up-and-up a few weeks ago, a Muslim extremist last week and an Orthodox Jewish family look bad this week. What other "religious" group can the Law & Order atheists slam next week? Stay tuned.

Getting rid of the "Shiksa"

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 3 October 2014]

The victim in this Criminal Intent story is the Catholic wife of a Jewish kosher foods magnate Ned Eisenberg. In the community she married into she's known as a Shiksa, a woman who is not Jewish.

Ned Eisenberg who on the other Law And Order franchises plays rather oily defense attorneys plays this man who is on the one hand a pretty rich man, president of his own company. But he's totally under the domination of his mother Linda Lavin. She's a Jewish mother on steroids.

When the wife and mother of his children is killed Vincent Donofrio and Kathryn Erbe go to work. They look in a few places before coming up with the right suspect.

The reasons here would make no sense to anyone except if they were Jewish and most likely orthodox. Still it's a frightening story about how twisted religion can sometimes make you.