Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Traffic (2010) User Reviews

A sign of the zodiac. She's a scorpio.

[Mrpalli77 · 6/10 · 11 October 2017]

An old editor was found dead in his home. He liked girls very much, mostly teenager hookers and he used to get angry when mob agency sent him prostitute above drinking age. Anyway he was a big client for Russian mobsters who run a prostitution ring. He had also an affair with the seventeen years old's daughter of his female number two at the magazine, the just divorced, stone cold Mia Caruso (Conor Leslie). The death of a gay employee (put into the crime scene to divert detectives from the real perp) helps Nichols and Stevens finding the right pattern to follow.

Boring episode, not any surprising turn of events. The two detectives arguing about the way to question a suspect. Being a mother with a teenager daughter, Stevens are not so eager to go

too far, while her partner, being a single with no child, doesn't care too much about young girl's feeling.

Bad relations

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 15 September 2021]

The character of Zach Nichols didn't do much for me in his first two episodes, neither of which doing much for me as episodes. My problem does not lie with Jeff Goldblum but the writing. In the next two though, my opinion on him completely changed and the episodes in question were also much better. Serena Stevens was a bit mixed for me as a character and it did depend on the material, the chemistry between her and Nichols was never non-existent but it didn't ignite in the same way Goren and Eames' did.

Season 9 is a very variable season of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' that suffered from primarily too much change too soon that never completely gelled. It just in general, despite some very good episodes, lacked the same amount of spark that the best of Seasons 1-4 had. "Traffic" is one of the weaker episodes of the season, though not a show low point. It's far from terrible, but it's not too great either. My view is somewhat conflicted this time.

Certainly there are good things in "Traffic". It is a visually slick episode, typical for 'Criminal Intent' and the 'Law and Order' franchise, and one with the right amount of muted grit, the photography doesn't try to do anything too fancy or gimmicky while not being claustrophobic and keeping things simple. The music doesn't overbear with the theme tune still memorable. There are moments of tight direction.

Goldblum is always watchable and he understands his material and gives life to it without overdoing it. The supporting cast are above competent. The ending is nicely staged enough if not exceptional.

However, there are shortcomings. Callas is still not doing it for me as a character and has in general been underdeveloped, have absolutely nothing against Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio but she never seemed to click or look too enthusiastic in the role. Saffron Burrows is radiant to watch and is nicely understated, but opposite Goldblum in chemistry she generally seemed bland throughout her stint compared to his stronger personality and that's the case here.

Also on the whole found the plot rather over-stretched and dull, with very few surprises and too much been there done that. The script could have had more edge and tautness. The supporting characters seemed underdeveloped.

Mixed feelings on "Traffic" overall. 5/10.