Law & Order: Criminal Intent

The Third Horseman

Season 1, Episode 10, Aired 1/6/02

Episode Summary

The killing of an abortion doctor who was shot in his own apartment sends the detectives on a search for the sniper before someone else becomes the next victim. Carver worries that the case will end up being all about abortion rights.

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Cast & Crew

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Courtney B. Vance

A.D.A. Carver
Vincent D'Onofrio

Det. Robert Goren
Kathryn Erbe

Det. Alexandra Eames

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

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A sad story and unfortunately one that probably shouldn't be told.

8.5

"Great"

By jyarter, Sep 12, 2009 Report Abuse

There are no winners or losers in this debate. Only losers. Unfortunately this is one subject that you can never convince one side or the other they are ever wrong. It is probably the most polarizing issue facing any Christian faith based country and community.

Not a very well done story but they at least put the twist in the end about why this gentlemen would commit a murder of this type. He had more motive than just the debate and unfortunately it was his own agenda he was fulfilling.

The one point this story makes that is true is the law is the law and no matter how one feels murder is murder. Not one groups version but the version that fits the legal system. No one person has the right to take the law into their own hands. If one allows that you have anarchy.

As far as the episode is concerned they did have a tendency to represent one side better than the other which is their choice. As I stated in the summary this is one story that I think would have been better left untold. Other than that the acting was good by all participants and the investigation and how they tracked the perpetrator was clever. Thanks for reading...moreless

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A religious zealot kills an abortion provider. Goren and Eames track him down while simultaneously debating the issue of abortion.

3.0

"Bad"

By TedsMom, Oct 13, 2008 Report Abuse

This is an extremely disappointing episode of a usually high-quality show. I believe the writers' political views and bias got in the way of making the show realisitic. One thing that usually sets Criminal Intent apart from the original Law and Order formula is that CI usually is good at creating in-depth psychological profiles of the characters. In this episode, to the contrary, most of the characters are reduced to caricatures and possess the depth of a bumper sticker.

The anti-abortion people are portrayed as cartoon-like insane zealots whom everyone fears. The abortion providers, on the other hand, are portrayed as caring and loving angels of mercy. This is patently ridicuous. The abortion doctor who gets killed supposedly drives a four hour round trip commute from his Central Park home to the clinic in order to "help people." Ridiculous! Find me even one abortion provider (the bottom of the barrel for the medical profession) who can afford a home on Central Park. In the real world, most pro-life folks are reasonable people with normal lives who don't support violence in the name of their cause. Most abortion providers are just trying to make a living, not answering to a mythical higher calling of removing babies from people's lives. It would have been a much bettter episode if it had just focused on the mystery of the crime, rather than portray a completely lopsided view of a controversial issue. If the writers insisted on getting into the politics of the issue, they should have at least done a little research into reality.moreless

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Law and Order Criminal Intent!

7.0

"Good"

By ourkissgoodbye, Mar 13, 2007 Report Abuse

Detectives Goren and Eames are called on the case of an abortion doctor who is found murdered. They are on the hunt for anyone who has the skills of a sniper. They find a man named Dennis Griscom who used to be in the army and who greatly dislikes anyone who is involved with the abortion process. His dislike stems from the abortion of his own child, when his girlfriend Susan refused to have the baby. After he is let loose from the station house, Goren and Eames believe that he may target another person who was unable to prevent the death of his unborn child.

This was an ok episode. It was a little slow and I found that it was hard for me to keep my interest during parts.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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Notes
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Quotes
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- James Deakins: This guy has a death wish and he's going to take somebody down with him. Alex Eames: We can always hope he gets the order mixed up and shoots himself first. Edit
- (Talking about Eames) Lorne Cutler: You take orders from that lady? Robert Goren: She's got seniority. You know these woman on the force, they come with an extra set of brass ones. Edit
- Alex Eames: Suspicious dust balls? Robert Goren: It's spun glass, commonly used to make silencers. Edit
Allusions
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- The title of this episode, The Third Horseman, comes from the book of Revelation (6:5-6). The third horseman represents a great famine. Edit