The idea of the story is a very good and interesting one. 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' was a great show at its best, despite being very inconsistent in the later episodes. Had high hopes for "Boots on the Ground", after being so impressed by the previous two episodes "Rispetto" and "The Consolor". And anything that has Michael Kelly, so wonderful in 'House of Cards' and no stranger to the 'Law and Order' franchise, already interests me further.
"Boots on the Ground" didn't disappoint in yet another great episode of a very high quality and far too short season. Perhaps it is not the best episode of Season 10, but it is one of the best looking ones (that's being mild) and has one of the best individual scenes of the show in quite some time. Everything with the therapy left me mixed for this season overall, but "Boots on the Ground" is another strong example of the writers seeming to remember what made 'Criminal Intent' so great at its best.
Am going to start with the numerous excellent things this time. It is the best looking episode of the season, the best looking episode of the show in a while and one of the best looking episodes of the show overall perhaps. It has some beautiful stylish shots and has a subtly gritty atmosphere. The music didn't sound melodramatic or too constant and the direction is accomodating while still having pulse.
Writing is thoughtful and lean without being dry with no signs of extraneous fat. The story is crisply paced and has complexity and tension with many complex but plausible and not confusing twists and turns, the climax is one of the best individual scenes of the show in quite some time with its tension, shock value and Goren shining in the way only Goren can. The way the perpetrator is taken down is memorable.
Can't fault the regulars, Vincent D'Onofrio always delivered on the show regardless of the material, and Kelly is perfectly cast in a role that plays to his strengths as an actor.
My only issue was the therapy session, that felt on the tacked on side especially in a case like this.
In summary, excellent once again. 9/10.
"Boots on the Ground" didn't disappoint in yet another great episode of a very high quality and far too short season. Perhaps it is not the best episode of Season 10, but it is one of the best looking ones (that's being mild) and has one of the best individual scenes of the show in quite some time. Everything with the therapy left me mixed for this season overall, but "Boots on the Ground" is another strong example of the writers seeming to remember what made 'Criminal Intent' so great at its best.
Am going to start with the numerous excellent things this time. It is the best looking episode of the season, the best looking episode of the show in a while and one of the best looking episodes of the show overall perhaps. It has some beautiful stylish shots and has a subtly gritty atmosphere. The music didn't sound melodramatic or too constant and the direction is accomodating while still having pulse.
Writing is thoughtful and lean without being dry with no signs of extraneous fat. The story is crisply paced and has complexity and tension with many complex but plausible and not confusing twists and turns, the climax is one of the best individual scenes of the show in quite some time with its tension, shock value and Goren shining in the way only Goren can. The way the perpetrator is taken down is memorable.
Can't fault the regulars, Vincent D'Onofrio always delivered on the show regardless of the material, and Kelly is perfectly cast in a role that plays to his strengths as an actor.
My only issue was the therapy session, that felt on the tacked on side especially in a case like this.
In summary, excellent once again. 9/10.