Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Players (2007) User Reviews

He's a self-proclaimed "Wanksta"

[Mrpalli77 · 8/10 · 27 September 2017]

After a trial involving the rapper "Apocalypto" (Samuel Smith) in which he was sentencing to 5 to 15 years, the judge's son, a teenagers drawn to hip- hop culture was found dead with a bullet in his neck; he was dropped off the judge's SUV car with an ace of hearts card. At first, detectives looked for perps inside gangsta's world, then they drew the attention to carjacking partners, who had strong "shemale"'s alibi. But the perps had to be found elsewhere. The boy was attending a prep school and he befriended other spoiled brats who wanted to play "wanksta" in order to escape the routine. After connecting them to a bodega robbery, it's not hard to figure out he wasn't the only one wannabe gangster.

On the side, Det. Wheeler tried to collect evidence to find her father, who disappeared years before. He could be buried along with other bodies but the episode left this question unresolved.

Wheeler's missing Father

[joeman146 · 8/10 · 1 March 2009]

The story line about Wheeler's Father cuts in & out of this episode 3-4 times with a major related ending. The script is 52 pages or about 52 minutes. It was in the original airing. I guess USA has less air time & more commercials, therefore; cut out this story line within the story completely. Wheeler's father was involved with the liquor industry & liquor wholesaler's. One liquor wholesaler complained about being shaken down, he & another wholesaler disappeared soon after. At the end, a mafia dumping ground is uncovered with 4 fresh bodies, two being the liquor wholesaler's. Wheeler's Father isn't one of the bodies, he's to tall, yet, there's more digging to do.

Music and culture

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 18 May 2016]

Judge Paul Dossett is the judge on the criminal case of a notorious rapper who is of that culture where doing a murder guarantees you success as an artist. Number one with a bullet takes on a different meaning. When his teenage son who goes to an exclusive prep school and is a big fan of that music and culture.

In fact there's a whole slew of kids at that almost all Caucasian school who really dig that gangster stuff from the 'hood. It's there that the solution that Christopher Noth and Julianne Nicholson find.

All I can say is where do these kids get their role models? Look for nice performances from Harris Yulin and Michael Stahl-David as a grandfather and grandson who are soulmates. Kind of like Sean Connery and Matthew Broderick in Family Business.

Seeking the truth

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 10 March 2021]

When it comes to Season 6 of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent', the Goren and Eames episodes tended to fare a lot better in overall standard. The Logan and Wheeler outings were more variable, there were great episodes absolutely but others didn't work so well (though only "Bombshell" was a misfire and "Tru Love" came close). "Players" immediately did sound more interesting than most of them, as anybody that generally doesn't care for Wheeler (actually like her) will be pleased to see some development.

In this regard "Players" doesn't disappoint. It is one of the best Logan and Wheeler episodes and, despite not quite being on par with the best of the Goren and Eames outings and despite not being a 'Criminal Intent' classic, it is one of the most interesting Logan and Wheeler episodes and one of the better non-Goren and Eames ones. As far as Season 6 goes, which was very hit and miss overall which is such a shame as Seasons 1-4 at their best were so brilliant, "Players" is also one of the best.

My only issue is that for my tastes, and this was true for quite a few Season 6 episodes, the ending is a little too hastily wrapped up.

"Players" is great everywhere else however. It looks good, with the usual slickness and subtle grit. Really liked too that the photography was simple and close up but doing so without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when used, and luckily it isn't constant, and when it is used it doesn't feel over-scored. The direction allows the drama to breathe while still giving it momentum as well. The script is tight and smart, it always intrigues and doesn't become too talky.

Actually really liked the story and did think that it was very involving, even if it didn't have the same amount of tension that other Season 6 episodes had. The case does have a lot of twists and turns, meaning that the truth was nowhere near what one would have thought from the beginning of the episode. "Players" does a great job with Wheeler's subplot and it was good to finally see some development to her other than being the more understated and loyal partner. It had a good deal of heart and wasn't too soap-operatic. The characters are not likeable true but they were to me actually still interesting. Especially Thomas Grady Jr, who clearly had a lot of love as a father but also clearly knew right and wrong without taking sides, refreshing for the job he is in and as a father figure in the franchise (not covering up or taking the law into his own hands).

Can't fault the acting, Chris Noth always delivered as Logan and Julianne Nicholson gives one of her best performances of 'Criminal Intent', she is very moving here. The supporting cast are equally good, Harris Yulin (doing wonders with a relatively small role), John Dossett and Michael Stahl David indeed make fabulous contributions. But it is surprising that nothing has been said about the subtly authoritative turn of Christian Hoff.

Overall, great. 9/10

Noth Always Good, But Still Sad To See D'Onofrio's Roles Dwindling

[ccthemovieman-1 · 7/10 · 8 September 2008]

I really enjoy watching Chris Noth play "Dectective Mike Logan," but there is still no way anyone can replace Vincent D'Onofrio as "Det. Robert Goren." I say that because for five years, he was the man but now in this sixth season, as the year goes on we are seeing less and less of D'Onofrio. Now, it seems like two out of every three episodes feature Noth and his partner "Det. Megan Wheeler." I like her but I sneaked a peek at the cast listings here at IMDb and saw she - Julianne Nicholson - isn't going be here much longer, either, but then comes back after a year's absence! What's up with that? I just getting used to Annabella Sciorra as Logan's partner, "Det. Barak," and now "Wheeler" is here, gone, and then here again.

I also make the above remarks because in episodes like this one, Noth is the best thing going for the story. The story is not intense at all, and really not all that involving. Who wants to see nothing but unlikeable characters from a judge with a temper, another man and his cold kid, his even colder grandkids and prisoner-for-life grandpa? That's basically it here in this case about who killed the young guy, who was kind of a jerk himself! The latter wanted to be a "wankster." 'Nuff said.

The story may not get my recommendation but Noth, as always, is a take-no-bull kind of guy and he's fun to watch. Veteran actor Harris Yulin also is great but he has a very minor role. Too bad because he's good and his father was a fascinating "bad guy." Note: In the plot summary here on the title page, it reads, "Meanwhile, detective Wheeler learns that her long-lost father may still be alive." Well, there was nothing in this episode about Wheeler's father, unless "MyTV" cut out that part.