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Law & Order: Criminal Intent

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Season 1, Episode 1, Aired Sep 30, 2001

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9.0

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Goren and Eames are called in when a jewelry heist leaves behind three bodies, two of them innocent bystanders. After ruling out mafia involvement, they realize the thefts are directly connected to recent credit card thefts and stolen identities. They're led to an extremely charismatic thief, and their only hope is convincing one of his partners to turn on him.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Ajay Mehta

Mr. Wahdi
GUEST STAR
Jake Weber

Karl Atwood
GUEST STAR
Michele Hicks

Gia DeLuca

Vincent D'Onofrio

Det. Robert Goren
Kathryn Erbe

Det. Alexandra Eames
Jamey Sheridan

Capt. James Deakins
Courtney B. Vance

ADA Ron Carver

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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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I don't like this show.

1.0

"Abysmal"

By kittycat57, Dec 13, 2011

Please read my review on Law & Order Criminal Intent. You will find it if you look on the reviews about this show. Just type in Law & Order Criminal Intent and just click reviews and you will find my review or just scroll through them all, it won't take to long though, might save you a few bucks if you decide to trade it in for something more serious. You will find out the reason why I don't like this show and why it's just plain terrible. There are way better shows out there believe me on this one.moreless
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A very effective pilot

9.0

"Superb"

By Freticat, Oct 11, 2010

As far as episodes that want to draw one into watching a series goes, this was superbly effective. From the very outset, the viewer wants to sympathize with the innocent victims, hate the coldness of the criminals and want to root for the boys and girl in blue as they try to set things right. However, this also sets the tone for Gorens' insufferably superior attitude, which is, to this day (Fall 2005) the major flaw in this otherwise well done series.moreless
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An elaborate diamond heist leads to three dead, including one of the perps. Goren and Eames eventually haul in the mastermind's girlfriend and Goren convinces her that her bisexual partner has given her AIDS, leading to her betrayal of the thieves.moreless

9.7

"Superb"

By mjmkms, Sep 20, 2010

Although I was already hooked on CI long before I finally saw this episode, I think that it would have done a very good job of hooking me by itself. The episode shows off several of Goren's most interesting oddities, such as his "Goren lean" and intuition about how to get criminals to turn their partners in. It also includes some of the ever-amusing civilian impersonations by Goren & Eames, this time with Goren as a store proprieter selling laminating machines. All in all, this was a great episode. I like how a bit more emphasis is put on Goren's more interesting facets than in some of the later episodes. A great watch!moreless
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I never see spin-off of "Law and Order" I must watch L&O: C.I." and "L&O: SVU" so beefore The first "L&O" title I not see a long time since in the mid-'90 . as well .moreless

10

"Perfect"

By dougtv, Sep 20, 2010

Ok I will see what that about thye cops looking a muder weapon or killed people in the cases every episodes I not see the shows a long time . maybe I will watch the shows in the local cable tv every day. If the show go to DVD box sets I need .
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A pretty tightly woven story line with sharper than usual cinematography, (or maybe it's just that I haven't watched a network series in a decade, back when tvs had picture tubes.) Characters were nicely set up to evolve.moreless

9.0

"Superb"

By Firefligh, Sep 20, 2010

I just started watching L&O CI last month and was eager to see the opening episode. Really have to disagree with the previous reviewer who lamented the setting up of the 'insufferably arrogant' Goren character. I thought the writers (and the actor) hit on an interesting mix of humility and hubris, confidence and complexity.

Consider the desire of Goren to first inform the parents of the victims before starting the investigation. The promise to find the killers could have been done with bravado, but D'Onofrio was all earnestness and concern. In fact, it was the Eames character that came across a bit supercilious in the opening episode - tho I enjoyed the touch of 'who the hell does this guy think he is 'tude, as well.

I liked the 'right-brained' remarks of Deakins and the cameo by Dianne Wiest which did a lot to move the audience toward what the Goren character will be about. I've seen a handful of rerun episodes over the past few weeks and am sorry I never watched the originals. Very intriguing portrayal by Vincent D, imo.

The story line was fine, but I didn't appreciate the titillation value of the anal sex angleI'm realistic enough to understand tho, that that is how a program draws in the prurient interests. I don't watch L and O SVU because 'vice' crime lines don't interest me like 'mysteries' do..and I appreciate that CI evidently didn't wallow in that direction.
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- Unlike many episodes that follow this one, this episode actually involves a crime that would be investigated by the real Major Case squad (the crime being a commercial burglary worth over $100,000)
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QUOTES (10)
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- Mr. Wahdi: Over there were the Russians, 127 carats D and E, white, flawless. There it was Canadian pieces, 78 carats not the best quality, for earrings. And here, uncut stones I'd just brought back from London two weeks ago. One piece was 22 carats. Robert Goren: Altogether, 300, 350? Mr. Wahdi: Maybe, I cannot be sure. Robert Goren: Well, let's call it $300 million; you can beef it up later for the insurance.
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- Robert Goren: It could be a prison tattoo. Alex Eames: How could he get to prison without leaving his prints in the system? James Deakins: How'd my luggage wind up in Amarillo last Christmas?
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- Karl Atwood: (to Gia) You say you don't believe them? Prove it.
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- Robert Goren: (about Gia) She won't run, Ms. Lewin. Nora Lewin: (to Carver) Do you trust his judgment? Ron Carver: On this? Yes I do. Nora Lewin: Should I trust yours?
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- Ron Carver: Funny thing, the law. Right hand commits the murder, left hand pays for it (Carver shrugs) Schindel: Uh how can my client help himself here? Ron Carver: Names and addresses, I take the death penalty off the table. Schindel: Life without parole? I mean, that's pretty steep. H-He's got no record of violence. Ron Carver: He does now. And the offer is not gonna hold. We found him; we'll find the others with or without his help. (Carver leans back, juggling his hands) Life? Death? You choose.
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- (To Atwood, believing she has AIDS.) Gia DeLuca: We're both dead anyway. You killed us. Alex Eames: Think again, Gia. You got a long and healthy life ahead of you. Robert Goren: I lied. Sorry.
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- Robert Goren: Bad guys do what good guys dream.
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- Robert Goren: You notice anything unusual? Alex Eames: Not really. Robert Goren: It is just that she's putting lipstick on her eyeball. She's taking a picture of the safe.
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- James Deakins: Goren, I realize how unstimulating police procedure can be for a right-brained guy like you, and I say this with all the respect due a Detective First Grade: touch all the bases.
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- Alex Eames: (looking at the bag of diamonds) Once she got her hands on this, why she didn't run ? Robert Goren: It wasn't about that; it was about him. Alex Eames: Men come and go, but diamonds Robert Goren: Diamonds don't keep you warm at night.
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NOTES (7)
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- International Titles: • Brazil "Lei e Ordem: Crimes Premeditados" ("Law & Order: Deliberate Crimes") • Croatia "Red i zakon: kriminalna namjera" • Finland "Kova laki: Rikollinen mieli" ("Tough Law: Criminal Mind") • France "New York - Section criminelle" ("New York - Criminal Section") • Germany "Criminal Intent - Verbrechen im Visier" ("Criminal Intent - Sights set on Crime") • Greece "Nomos kai taxi - Astynomikes istories" ("Law and Order: Police Stories") • Italy "Criminal Intent" • Portugal "Lei & Ordem: Intenções Criminosas" ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent") • Serbia "Red i zakon: zlocinacke namere" • Spain "Ley y orden: Acción criminal" ("Law & Order: Criminal Action") • Sweden "I lagens namn: ur brottslig synvinkel" ("In the Name of the Law: From a Criminal Point of View")
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- This episode was dedicated to the tragic events that happened on September 11, 2001.
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- In considering doing a new installment of the Law & Order series, creator Dick Wolf modelled Detective Robert Goren on famous literary detective Sherlock Holmes.
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- As with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the opening music for this installment of the series is a remix of the original Law & Order theme.
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- The opening narration states: In New York City's war on crime, the worst criminal offenders are pursued by the detectives of the Major Case Squad. These are their stories. This is the only Law & Order spin-off not to begin with the words [i]n the criminal justice system.
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- Each spin-off of the original Law & Order has featured a cameo from one of the original series stars. Dianne Wiest brings the character of D.A. Nora Lewin to this episode.
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- Special billing was given to Dianne Wiest (Special Appearance by) in this episode.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- In the scene where Goren and Eames find the body in the trunk of the Cadillac, Goren discovers a small container with some of the stolen diamonds. He remarks "all that glitters" in referring to the diamonds. This is a common misquotation from Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, Act II, Scene VII. The correct line is "all that glisters is not gold."
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