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Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 5 Episode 7

In the Wee Small Hours (2)

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9.3

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 11/6/05

The squad continues the investigation into the murder of a teenage girl visiting from Iowa. The detectives uncover the sordid family life of a local judge whose son is linked to the Iowa teenager and another victim. Goren and Logan discover that the judge is a formidable foe as they come under scrutiny.moreless

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Fan Episode Reviews (7)

Amazing performance!

9.4

By cherrytree34, Oct 29, 2010

This is definitely one of the all-time best episodes of CI! The twists and turns come out of nowhere but still manage to be believable. Throughout the entirety of this two-part episode, the plot captures and holds the audience's attention.

Detective Bobby Goren, almost always calm and collected, gives one of his rare explosive performances after the perpetrator sends someone to terrorize his schizophrenic mother. His blowup on the phone when he hears about it is very moving, and you can feel his anger and anxiety as you watch. Later, when Eames is questioned about a letter she wrote years earlier, in which she requested a new partner, she breaks down. Although we rarely see her moved to tears, her emotion and desperation to explain are palpable, and we again feel with her. These are two amazing actors, and they really demonstrate their talent in this episode. Guaranteed to get your heart pumping and your blood boiling.moreless
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Great way to end the 2 part episode.

10

By SVU_CSI_Xfiles, Oct 29, 2010

I liked how they ended the episode. When it started it was like, how long could they really make it, but they did good with it. The plot was exactly what was needed to show everyone how much Bobby needs Alex, and how much she needs him. In this episode a lot seems to be revealed, all of their dirty little secrets and such. The crime and the plot was fantastic as well. It was a great way to get all four of the detectives together in one great episode, where they could show all of their skills off and stuff.moreless
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A judge's son is accused of rape and murder.

10

By auntydale, Oct 29, 2010

Wow. There just aren't enough words to describe now I feel about this episode. The finest moments came when the detective's pasts were being dug up by the judge's investigators. Logan, long-time L&O fans knew about. It was interesting to find out about Barek. Is it a coincidence that both she and Goren have training and education beyond what the Police Academy probably offers and that the two of them comprise the bulk of the brain power on the show? Faithful watchers knew that Goren's mom was schizophrenic. But the most riveting and compelling moment came when Eames was on the stand answering questions about her transfer request. Goren truly is an "acquired taste". Some viewers don't like him. He acts "weird". But the characters knowledge of forensics and phychology make him indispensable to the show.moreless
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The new and the old teams fit together perfectly...

9.7

By zaha, Jun 26, 2010

The plot of this episode was great. I had been sceptical about the Noth-Sciorra detective team but I thought they came off really well in this episode. I still think that the writers need to work on Noth's character because he's the only one who doesn't meld neatly into the team. Det. Goren is an insightful genius, his partner Eames is the foil that keeps things real, Det. Barek is less flashy than Goren but just as talented ...I think Noth's Mike Logan is supposed to bring the street smarts but I don't see that working as well in this series as it should yet. Still, this was a great episode. Side note - I really like the Barek character for some reason, but she's even more deadpan than Eames, something I hardly thought possible. Eames on the stand and Goren's reaction to it was interesting - and I think may give a clue to the serie's producers' reasons for adding the new team. Goren and his mom - interesting dynamic. I guessed who dunnit it partway through but the unraveling of the tangled web was wonderful to watch.moreless
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Bringing together all four detectives gave all the characters a chance to shine. BEWARE: SPOILERS

8.3

By Vessa289, May 29, 2006

The best part of this episode, for me, was watching all the characters really get into the case, and also seeing a more personal side to them.

It was funny to see Goren-Eames and Logan-Barek competing with each other as they chased down leads, watching what the other team was doing. The interaction between Goren and Logan was very interesting to watch, especially when they are arguing in Carver's office about who they think was more capable of Bethany's murder, and Carver has to basically calm them down and say "you're both right."

It was a great insight into the working relationship of the two partnerships. It was nice to see that Logan and Barek, newly partnered together, are starting to form a rhythym and understanding and even a bit of loyalty towards each other. It was good to see both characters in full swing, and I'm finding them more and more appealing. Barek seemed to make her presence known a bit more in this episode than others I've seen.

Goren's reaction to the private investigator hassling his mother was very moving, and I just love how he managed to turn his outrage into a way to extract a confession out of Judge Garrett.

The episode gave an interesting perspective of Goren and Eames' partnership. The scene in the courtroom when Eames explains why she initially asked for a new partner was gold- I felt so sorry for Goren, sinking down into his chair and looking so forlorn, and so sorry for Eames, because she never wanted to upset him by telling him that.

It was also good to see that, being an episode with a courtroom scene, Carver had something more to do in this one. Vance is a great actor, but he's under-used on a show that primarily focuses on the detectives.

As for the case they were investigating, they did well to focus on Tiana & Bethany's mothers, because it made the case seem much more relevant, and sad. I initially thought that I couldn't accept Colm Meaney as a bad guy (being a Star Trek fan), but he was thoroughly creepy and the character was sickening. The TV news reporter was also very effectively irritating.

The only problem I had with the plot was that I couldn't really swallow the ending. Maybe I missed a vital point, but I don't see why Elise Garrett needed to kill Bethany to protect her son. Goren suggested that it was because she saw how young Bethany was and that it would result in a scandal with the judge, and she didn't want her son involved. But wouldn't a scandal have been Judge Garrett's problem, not the kid's? I mean, he was only a year older than Bethany, so I think that's legal under New York law. Was she worried that the police would get him on a drug charge, or that the scandal would humiliate him, or something?

Like I said, maybe I missed a vital point. But in an effort to turn the viewer's attention away from Elise, so as not to give away the culprit too early, I think they neglected to develop her character and motivations properly. I mean, so she was devoted to her child- so is my mum, but she wouldn't murder and innocent person for me. Jeez.

But never mind. I like this episode best for the insights it gave into the main characters. Having all four detectives working together was an effective dynamic, and they should make some more episodes like this in the future.

(Phew. Long review. Now, if only I could get paid for prattling on about TV).

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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Vincent D'Onofrio	Det. Robert Goren
Kathryn Erbe	Det. Alexandra Eames
Chris Noth	Det. Mike Logan
Annabella Sciorra	Det. Carolyn Barek
Jamey Sheridan	Capt. James Deakins
Courtney B. Vance	A.D.A. Carver

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Colm Meaney	Judge Harold Garrett	Guest Star
Matt O'Leary	Ethan Garrett	Guest Star
Lucinda Jenney	Elise Garrett	Guest Star
Leslie Hendrix	Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers	Recurring Role
Geneva Carr	Faith Yancy	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- This episode includes the one of very few trial scenes in the show, unusual in that the rest of franchise is heavily dependent upon court scenes.
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QUOTES (6)
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- Harold Garrett: Careful, Ms. Buckley, Mr. Carver's prone to errors.
  Ron Carver: For a man who admitted having sex with a 16-year-old murder victim, arrogance isn't the best defense.
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- (After Garrett lists Bobby's character flaws as told by his mother.)
  Ron Carver: Judge, this isn't necessary.
  Robert Goren: It's all right, let him talk.
  Harold Garrett: You go ahead, Mr. Carver, you pursue your reckless prosecution. You'll see what I'm capable of; I'll show you.
  Robert Goren: What're you gonna show us? That you're not a broken buffoon? That you're more than the sum of your infirmities? Huh? With your bum knees and your herniated groin
  Harold Garrett: How dare you!
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- Ron Carver: I got word someone pulled your FBI personnel file. What will they find?
  Carolyn Barek: The record of somebody who was very unhappy. I was on loan to them for two years after 9/11. I wanted to talk to somebody across the hall, I had to clear it with three supervisors. (annoyed) I those people couldn't stop an asthma attack.
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- Ron Carver: Justice is a jagged road.
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- (To Goren, who is determining ink-blot freshness by poking them.)
  Alex Eames: They must love you in the produce section.
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- Arthur Branch: It's not enough to do good, you gotta be seen doing good.
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NOTES (3)
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- Fred D. Thompson (D.A. Arthur Branch) is the fourth actor to play the same character on all four Law & Order series.
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- Special billing was given to Fred Dalton Thompson (Special Guest Appearance by) in this episode.
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- This episode was one of two that Wolf Films submitted for consideration for a 2006 Emmy nomination.
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ALLUSIONS (3)
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- (Referring to the second condom found.)
  Alex Eames: There was a second shooter.
  
  For many years, popular theory has held out that there was a second shooter during the J.F.K. assassination.
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- Judge Garrett: Traitor! You Iago! Iago!
  
  Iago is a Shakespearean villain from the play Othello. In the play, Iago is the best friend of the hero, Othello, who manipulates Othello to the point where Othello is consumed with murderous jealousy. Oftentimes a traitor will be termed an 'Iago'.
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- This episode appears to be ripped from the headlines of the Natalee Hollway case. Natalee Holloway was a teenager from Alabama who disappeared while on a post-graduation trip to Aruba on May 30, 2005. In both cases, one of the prime suspects was the son of a local judge.
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