As well as being someone who loves 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' (especially in the earlier seasons), and the original 'Law and Order' and prime-'Special Victims Unit', another main reason for seeing Season 1's twentieth episode "Badge" was for Viola Davis. Just find her to be an immensely gifted actress, and among the better ones working today. It also fascinated me seeing her in one of her earliest television roles and even earliest credits.
"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
"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
