An apparent murder-suicide by an auditor at the city's comptroller office takes a turn when an audit of the school district's security system is found.An apparent murder-suicide by an auditor at the city's comptroller office takes a turn when an audit of the school district's security system is found.An apparent murder-suicide by an auditor at the city's comptroller office takes a turn when an audit of the school district's security system is found.
Photos
- Mandy Sherwood
- (as Mary McCann)
- Ronnie Jakes
- (as Mark Cassella)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTracy Howe has played three different roles over the course of the series:
- Episode 1.22 Tuxedo Hill (2002) - Declan
- Episode 1.20 Badge (2002) - Declan
- Episode 1.6 The Extra Man (2001) - Leon
- Episode 1.4 The Faithful (2001) - Declan
- Episode 1.3 Smothered (2001) - Martell
- Episode 1.2 Art (2001) - Martell
- GoofsAfter Eames and Goren help LeGrand help unpack his groceries from the back of his car, and LeGrand walks into his house, the back window is still up, when Eames notices a decal on the side window. But when Goren walks around to the back and notices the trailer hitch, the back window is now closed.
- Quotes
Detective Robert Goren: Your girls. They go to Mary Hill. That's ten, fifteen thousand a year for each. How do you afford it?
Terry Randolph: If something's important enough, you find a way. We're very frugal.
Detective Robert Goren: [chuckles] Oh... oh... My partner's a, a miser. I'm frugal. And neither of us could afford a house, two kids in a private school...
Terry Randolph: You're not that frugal. You buy nice clothes. Pay full price; nothin' in your size is ever on sale. You buy good-quality accessories, like that leather case. You're not married, so you spend money on dates. You like good food. You have someone in to clean your apartment every week. You're smart, have lots of interests and hobbies, and you spend a fortune on them. I don't wonder that you don't have money for a house; I wonder how you make subway fare, the way you spend money.
- ConnectionsReferences Mutt and Jeff Break Into Society (1911)
"Badge" had a very interesting and harrowing-sounding idea for a story, so coupled with my love of the show and that Davis was guest starring expectations were high. Expectations that were not only met but exceeded. Season 1 of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' had a good share of great and more episodes and not a bad one in any way, and "Badge" is among the best of the whole season and along with "Maledictus" it is one of the best episodes since "Homo Homini Lupis".
There are many reasons as to why "Badge" is a must see. A big asset is Davis, who is brilliant in a performance that's sinister, oddly amusing at other times and on occasion moving, creating a character far less one-dimensional as one may think considering the type of role she's playing. One of my favourite guest supporting turns of Season 1 and of the show in general. Her character is also one of the most fascinating supporting characters of the season, one where her actions are uncondonable but considered right by her. Another big asset is Goren, absolutely love him as a character and his eccentric ways of deduction but here on top of that it is Vincent D'Onofrio's comic timing that shines, the Boston accent is a scream, as is his impression of a cop that's rude and arrogant, and he is even more eccentric than ever.
Really love that "Badge" is one of those episodes where the perpetrator doesn't crack so easily and where Goren, like when he is psychoanalyzed, is thrown by them, an interesting change. The case was compelling, tight in pace, and how it is solved and how it comes together has always been a pleasure with this show. How the perpetrator is caught is wonderfully elaborate and Eames' role sees some of her most amusing dialogue. As well as the tension and intrigue, it was great that there were entertaining moments. Eames' dialogue, Goren's accent and bad cop routine and one of the show's best guest star lines in the Babyface quip.
Production values are still high, some occasional jumpy editing aside, while the music doesn't intrude and the writing piles on the tautness and intrigue without stopping. Kathryn Erbe contrasts with the ever great D'Onofrio more than nicely and she shines in her chemistry with him.
Summing up, one of the season's best. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 21, 2019