Search - Law & Order Criminal Intent - The Third Year on DVD

Third year -- Good and Bad

Adam Dukovich | 08/23/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am a huge fan of the show and really got into it at the end of the first season, which I own on DVD. It's curious that they're releasing the third season before the second, also it's a bit disappointing, since I have to wait longer to get that set. CI's second season was addictive television: I looked forward every week to the episode to come on Sunday, to see Vincent D'Onofrio nail another clever would-be criminal mastermind. The third season was good throughout, but it had fewer flashes of greatness than its predecessor and it seemed to produce more clunkers than the other two seasons.

Some of the highlights include an episode about architects, murder, and polygamy (Undaunted Meddle), a corporate travesty to challenge Enron (Mis-Labeled), an Anti-Semitic serial killer (A Murderer Among Us), a very unhappy family (Shrink-Wrapped), and a master con artist (The Saint). There were a few more star appearances: Judd Hirsch (Ordinary People), Stephen Colbert (tv's The Daily Show), and Brent Spiner (Star Trek). On the negative side, Kathryn Erbe gave birth to her second child during the season, so we got Samantha Buck for a few episodes instead. The show, to its credit, tried new things, some of which worked (the above shows) and some that didn't (the flat F.P.S. and Mad Hops, plus an embarassingly banal D.A.W.).

All in all, the third season was weaker than the first two, but real fans will enjoy its charms. If you are among them, check it out, but if you're wondering what this whole Criminal Intent thing is about, I'd recommend holding out until the second season is released."

Great show - but where's the rest?

Mike Donovan | Middle America | 05/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' is one great cop show. With a detective like Goren to surprise us every week with his skills is something to behold. Which, of course, in the real world means this series has incredible writers. Dick Wolf's 'Law & Order' franchise includes some great series - the original 'Law & Order', 'Law & Order SVU', but Criminal Intent is my favorite as I like like good old-fashioned detective, cop shows. It's rarely been done better.

However, unfortunately, this is a NBC-Universal project which means it's a Universal DVD property. For those that don't know - they are NOTORIOUS for beginning series on DVD and after a season or two, dropping them cold. No release for this series in going on two years now, it looks like another Universal casualty. Add that to classics like Dragnet (one season and out), Adam-12 (one season and out), Emergency (one and out); and even classic comedy series that deserved the best treatment: Leave It To Beaver - two seasons and no more. Universal does this time and time again and it's getting where I don't trust Universal when they begin a series release on DVD. Season Four for 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent', anyone???"

THEY ALWAYS GET THEIR MAN OR WOMAN OR CHILD

Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 10/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Vincent D'Onofrio's somewhat warped Robert Goren continues to be the glue that holds this excellent series together. Watching Vincent work, one almost feels as uncomfortable and/or jittery as his character. Aided by tightly woven scripts and uniquely orchestrated opening scenes, this series continues to provide expert dramatic acting and is vastly entertaining.
This third year has episodes unique in how they twist themselves from what you might have expected: a cop with a sleep disorder; a woman in a vegetative state; the push for canonization of a religious figure; a psychiatrist and her psychologist husband's unorthodox game playing; a Svengali-like teen who gets girls to commit murder for him. This and much more with good guest turns by actors like Claire Bloom, Judd Hirsch, Karen Sillas, John Savage, and Margaret Colin.
Kathryn Erbe adds brilliant support as Vincent's partner and the series continues to be one of the strongest of the franchise."

Up to standard... Just.

Ms. V. J. Leyton | Cardiff, UK | 03/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was not my favourite series of Law and order, possibly due to the fact Eames was out of action for some of the episodes and I never really took to the temporary partner. Most of the episodes were as good as usual but some of them lacked the creative thinking outside the box elements that keep me interested.

Well worth a watch if you're a fan but not a very good start for new watchers!

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