3 reviews
Vanity, Greed, Lust, Violent Natures: They're All Here
- ccthemovieman-1
- Dec 20, 2006
- Permalink
Master Manipulator
- bkoganbing
- Dec 27, 2014
- Permalink
"You spell Junkers with a J, just be happy it wasn't Messerschmitt"
Season 2 of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' started off really well, cannot rave about "Anti-Thesis" especially enough. Before dipping a little post-"Malignant" and nearly returning to form with "Baggage", which saw the season step in the right direction. Was hoping that "Suite Sorrow" would be even better, despite the story on paper (based again on a real life case ripped from the headlines) being a pretty tried and tested one.
In execution, the story didn't feel tried and tested to me. The ideas are old but they are executed in a fresh and intelligent, as well as hugely enjoyable, way. "Suite Sorrow" for me is an excellent episode, one of the best and most entertaining of Season 2 and the best since "Anti-Thesis". It is also a good example of how good the 'Law and Order' franchise at its best is at their ripped from the headlines-based stories, it didn't matter that the victim is essentially a caricature seeing as the rest of the episode is so good.
My only complaint for "Suite Sorrow" is a minor one. Although the ending is tense and truly unexpected, it also felt slightly rushed.
Other than that, "Suite Sorrow" is great. The usual solid quality of the production values are here, while the music avoids being over-dramatic and the direction going at a pace that lets the drama speak but not letting it wallow too much. The script doesn't ramble and not only is it intelligently written, it also contains some of the season's most hilarious wise-cracks.
The story is thoroughly absorbing and a lot of fun. My feelings on the ending are on the mixed to like side, the shock value of it being what saves it. There is some lovely character interaction though, great to see Goren and Eames' chemistry shine a lot, and the interrogation scene with the botox needles being treated like darts is one of the season's, and show's, best interrogation scenes and classic Goren.
Both Goren and Eames are equally delightful, and the supporting characters are also memorable. This is an episode where the sympathy is actually for the killer, while not condoning their actions, it's the Machiavellian father that one actually hates by the end of the episode. All the acting is strong, Vincent D'Onofrio and Amy Ryan being especially excellent (D'Onofrio throughout, especially in the aforementioned interrogation scene, and Ryan in the latter stages).
In conclusion, great and one of the season's better episodes. 9/10
In execution, the story didn't feel tried and tested to me. The ideas are old but they are executed in a fresh and intelligent, as well as hugely enjoyable, way. "Suite Sorrow" for me is an excellent episode, one of the best and most entertaining of Season 2 and the best since "Anti-Thesis". It is also a good example of how good the 'Law and Order' franchise at its best is at their ripped from the headlines-based stories, it didn't matter that the victim is essentially a caricature seeing as the rest of the episode is so good.
My only complaint for "Suite Sorrow" is a minor one. Although the ending is tense and truly unexpected, it also felt slightly rushed.
Other than that, "Suite Sorrow" is great. The usual solid quality of the production values are here, while the music avoids being over-dramatic and the direction going at a pace that lets the drama speak but not letting it wallow too much. The script doesn't ramble and not only is it intelligently written, it also contains some of the season's most hilarious wise-cracks.
The story is thoroughly absorbing and a lot of fun. My feelings on the ending are on the mixed to like side, the shock value of it being what saves it. There is some lovely character interaction though, great to see Goren and Eames' chemistry shine a lot, and the interrogation scene with the botox needles being treated like darts is one of the season's, and show's, best interrogation scenes and classic Goren.
Both Goren and Eames are equally delightful, and the supporting characters are also memorable. This is an episode where the sympathy is actually for the killer, while not condoning their actions, it's the Machiavellian father that one actually hates by the end of the episode. All the acting is strong, Vincent D'Onofrio and Amy Ryan being especially excellent (D'Onofrio throughout, especially in the aforementioned interrogation scene, and Ryan in the latter stages).
In conclusion, great and one of the season's better episodes. 9/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 25, 2020
- Permalink