Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent (2024– ) User Reviews

A nice beginning

[mamet-94713 · 7/10 · 25 February 2024]

The series debut was fine.

People seem to forget that this is Criminal Intent so we get a twisty plot, over-intelligent detectives who might be on the spectrum and not much courtroom action.

Although far from perfect I think the premiere delivered.

The quips exchanged by the lead detectives keeps things light when things are heavy (and it might hint at a deep relationship between the two) and the plot twists were just enough to keep the episode moving along.

The use of the city of Toronto is done well without bludgeoning the spectator with Toronto overdose.

My only qualms with the first episode is I'm not sure I enjoyed the police lieutenant, her dialogue seemed off and also there was way too much walking (fast) and talking!

All in all I'll be sticking around to watch other episodes.

Okay first episode

[karena44 · 6/10 · 24 February 2024]

I have to laugh at some of the reviews here.

I'd like to point out that Law & Order Criminal Intent does NOT include a trial. The episode always ends with the case solved and the bad guy getting arrested. So no, there is nothing "missing" in the Toronto formula, it's exactly the same format as the original Criminal Intent.

My review: I found the two leads to be pretty good, and Karen Robinson is terrific as usual. Character development should be interesting.

I found the acting of the guest cast cringe-worthy at times, but some of that may be the dialog. Perhaps the director? And the plot was pretty lame. If this was "ripped from the headlines" I sure don't recall the story.

My biggest complaint was how fast everyone was walking. And even the talking seemed really fast. It was weird.

Hopefully the following episodes will have better actors in the guest roles, and a more thoughtful script. The plot in the first episode had some major holes in it.

Well, it's not bad but it needs smoothing out and a fact-checker

[rander-88123 · 7/10 · 16 March 2024]

Northern Ontario accent on detective? Not likely. They mentioned assisted death - More Western countries do it now. Captain has some disease? She looks like a bulge-eyed alien. Fast talking in parts; like a millennial directed it, but the jiggling camera is out of the 90s. At first I thought it was just because they were on a boat, but it kept going. Detective doesn't ask questions, he makes closed-ended statments. Crooks can just stand there and say nothing! The usual evil Russian villains! Thankfully, not expanded on. Typical red herring black suspect shown, briefly, but of course, he wasn't the villain(s). Fake university was referenced. Lots of villains came from real ones, like University of Toronto. "Guelph regional police?!" Guelph Police Service!! All the cop plods are white, all the higher ranks, the techs, the crown attorney (our DA) are black. It's 'cause they filmed it on the Earth on the opposite side of the sun from us. People still referencing newspapers?? Are they kidding? NO one does. But it moved along. "High-level criminals." Translated: Mostly white and relatable to the audience. But if any American watching is interested in Toronto's actual criminals, go to Google, type in, "Toronto's most-wanted" and go to the first link...

Hooked on the Show

[munroerobert-66832 · 10/10 · 24 February 2024]

It delivered everything I wanted in a Law and Order Criminal Intent in the Toronto setting. The solid and experienced cast delivered strong performances. The Bitcoin fraud + murder plot was good. I'm hooked and looking forward to the season. The supporting cast was excellent. Karen Robinson (Schitt's Creek) was convincing in her role as the inspector. Award winner Anaya Mengesha was perfect in his role as a police tech guy. Nicola Correia-Damude (The Boys) was a convincing pathologist. The leads, Aden Young (The Unseen) and Kathleen Munroe (Patriot) hit the mark as investigators. Bottom line: this show had everything I expected in a Law and Order episode.

Not a very good start

[rjal-1 · 7/10 · 28 February 2024]

I am a Torontonian and I was looking forward to Toronto being a character. The scene from the island was good because it showed people who have Never considered Toronto, what it looks like from it's best side. The local references were good except, the business being at 3 Bay Street, when it was obviously at Front and York.

The cliche Toronto sign at City Hall, Cherry Beach, those placed are fun to see in a favourite TV series.

There were at least 3 references to Muskoka, so I thought maybe we would see that, but nope, it was a dead-end part of the story. Also,,,The Filmore...really? Did you have to ?

The actors, well, as soon as I heard Graff speak I cringed because that is so obviously a put-on accent which no Toronto resident has. It's from "not quite sure where" or maybe just east of that. Non-local viewers are going to think that's what we sound like...we don't.

BUT, I know that these things take time so I will stick with it and hope for better.

Cerebral Canadian take on the classic formula

[jtattle · 8/10 · 3 April 2024]

This is a well-executed, engaging, entertaining Canadian version of Law & Order CI (the series franchise that focuses on the police investigation and not so much the courtroom). Detective Graff is gruff, experienced, canny, distanced, and perhaps cynical about human relationships. His accent is classic rural Ontario and for foreigners, immigrants and first gen Canadians who've only ever lived in a city, you'd need to visit Sudbury to get it. It is the speech of hockey arenas outside the GTA. Bateman is probably intended to be the urban, less experienced counterpoint (the character went to university in Montreal and is a single mom from a two-ish-night stand). Canadians pride themselves on not being slick, brash, Americans and that contrast definitely comes through. If you need bombast and machismo in your characters you aren't going to like it. The colour-palette is also much less gritty than the NY versions - the old chestnut is that "Toronto is New York run by the Swiss" and there is a consistent cool blue-grey-green-glass tone-International style to the series settings. I bet the Australians will get it and like it.

Law & Order Toronto is criminally prepared to become a classic.

[totaldramamuseum · 7/10 · 23 February 2024]

Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent makes a surprisingly good case for itself in its series premiere - using its Canadian setting to its advantage to introduce a new and fresh side to the franchise, with potential to become a fan favourite entry.

The characters are somewhat under-utilized, focusing more on the individual "case-of-the-week", opening the door for possible character development in the near future - if the show lives to reach one.

The cases are interesting and make for a good time filler, but as with any procedural, the appeal can wear off and the cases can become somewhat dull.

Case in point, Law & Order Toronto has its priorities set on establishing its Canadian roots while ensuring the cases-of-the-week shine - at least in the beginning.

Offer to a great start

[kimallen-40169 · 10/10 · 23 February 2024]

"Law & Order Toronto" is a refreshing and rational crime procedural that portrays law enforcement professionals as methodical investigators rather than trigger-happy heroes. The show delivers sharp dialogue that reveals character nuances, personal histories, and hidden motivations. It consistently surprises viewers with unexpected twists and subverts our expectations. The partnership between detectives creates a compelling dynamic that keeps us rooting for their success. "Law & Order Toronto" is a thoughtful exploration of human nature, justice, and the pursuit of truth set against the backdrop of Toronto's multicultural fabric.

Not really what was the original, Law & Order Criminal Intent, an ok start but needs better story plots and better actors

[georgeszaslavsky · 6/10 · 23 February 2024]

Not really what was Law & Order Criminal Intent which happened in New York with actors of way much higher caliber like Vincent Donofrio, Kathryn Herbe,Chris Noth, Jeff Goldblum, Courtney B Vance, Jamey Sheridan and Saffron Burrows. The first episode was ok but not really comparable to the original Law & Order Criminal Intent. Vincent Donofrio and Kathryn Herbe truely excelled in their roles of Goren and Ames, the actors Aden Young who play Graff and Bateman are not up to Vincent Donofrio's and Kathryn Herbe's levels. Will give it another shot but still, not always spin offs are better than the original series ,execption made of law & order SVU running its 25th season.

Disappointing start

[katzanddog · 4/10 · 2 March 2024]

In my opinion the show lacked empathy and made no attempt to have the audience invest in either the victims or the outcome. The story was obvious. The clues too coincidental. I figured out who did it within the first few minutes. It almost seemed like a parody of the original Law & Order. Made me wonder if they used AI to write the script after having a computer app review a few episodes other versions of Law & Order. Some reviewers implied the chemistry of the main characters was off, but I think the actors probably did the best they could with the material they were given. And other than them mentioning Toronto several times, I didn't get a Canadian vibe at all. Too bad because we were really looking forward to a Canadianized version.

Not bad for an international spinoff.

[bobbysandfeld · 8/10 · 25 February 2024]

I'm not a big fan of Law & Order as an American but when I got the Canadian version a watch, I gave it a shot. Sure many Canadian shows might hire talentless actors that make the show boring but hey, at least we recognized a star in the first episode right? I saw Peter Mooney from Rookie Blue and Burden of Truth. It also gets a little bit boring for me but not that much. I've watched many Canadian shows like The Listener, Murdoch Mysteries, Transplant, Saving Hope, Rookie Blue, 19-2, Heartland, Diggstown, Cardinal and Private Eyes but this and Wild Cards are my new favorite TV shows I watched.

I liked the first show, but they need to tone down the platitudes.

[lenwenzellw · 6/10 · 25 February 2024]

I liked the first show, but they need to tone down the platitudes. The two main characters are interesting, but they are a little too intensely focused on delivering clever repartee instead of solid police work. A few too many cliches. There is one point where the two detectives are walking at a break neck speed across the plaza at city hall speaking to what is supposed to be someone in the Crown Attorneys Office. Are they trying to suggest the C. A. is a D. A.? It feels off. Are they also trying to quickly set the series scene with recognized landmarks? The scene would have been better in an office with more dialogue, where they could introduce other characters. Instead they chose the quick fix that was entirely without context.

The series first episode gets off to a lukewarm start, but it seems to have possible potential. That is if the writers can avoid some of the platitudes, and numerous cliches, and if the producers can restrain their rush to introduce a new series without letting characters, and stories drive the series. Do they have a tiny budget, or are the producers too inexperienced; I guess time will tell.

Too generic, scripted and over-produced

[one-headlight · 5/10 · 14 March 2024]

Though nobody can match Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe and the chemistry they had together in the original Criminal Intent, the two lead actors here seem quite uninspired and generic in their role. The mediocre writing could definitely be partly to blame, however.

The Law & Order franchise became famous and well-loved from a production value based in realism that makes the show feel more human and relatable to the average viewer. This show falls into the same trap that the majority of modern TV does--it tries too hard and ends up feeling too polished, generic and out of touch as a result.

Not a bad start, a few flaws

[cyberflag · 8/10 · 23 February 2024]

Nice to see Toronto getting some credit. Way too many tv shows and movies filmed in Toronto pretending to be an American city.

Episode 1 was a decent story but I expected something better to kick off the series. Good points? Actors do a fine job, characters are interesting. Weak point? Terrible stunt work. Daniel falling off the boat is so obviously a stunt man wearing a wet suit. The wife being hit by the car is a couple of quick cuts between her standing there, a windshield shattering and a car grille. Guess they didn't have much of a budget.

Cinematography is good, with many iconic Toronto locations featured including Toronto Island, Nathan Phillips Square and the skyline.

If they can improve the writing and the stunt work the series should last.

I can't get by the intro

[kellyphilipharris · 6/10 · 1 March 2024]

I want to love this... I really want to. I would just ask the Law and Order franchise to make one change. Either read the into as "Torono" or change all the others to "New York, New York."... no one, literally no one says Tor - Ron - To ... unless you are from elsewhere.

All I'm saying is if it's about a certain city, mispronouncing the name is really a sticking point for residents of said city. It's an easy fix and by doing it they would get huge love from Torono peeps. I want to see this show succeed and have already seen people I know on screen. Still it's really offensive and hurtful to people who live in the city whose name you cannot pronounce,

First episode shows the quality and promise you'd expect from this franchise

[FENR8R · 10/10 · 23 February 2024]

Ignore the trolls here, this show is very good out of the gate. This show feels mature - as in that they've been making them for years - rather than the way many first few episodes need time to gel. This series starts off as worthy kin to the Law & Order franchise with great expectations for the coming episodes. Aden Young is the featured lead in this episode (and has top billing) and he brings forth an interesting character with depth and a hint of typically Canadian sarcasm. His partner, played by Kathleen Monroe, is fine but is definitely the second banana this time but I expect she will be the featured lead next week, on some kind of rotation or another. Tonight was 95% police procedural and that's okay. The trial side will come to the fore another day. I speculate they'll go with a variety of formats, one week mostly detective work, another week might be heavy on the trial. It's hard to say with one episode to go on but with the other featured players having only brief appearances, we'll just have to wait for more stories to play out. Fans of Schitt's Creek will recognize Ronnie (Karen Robinson) as the team's boss. The story itself is a well-written contemporary tale of crypto-investment greed with enough red herrings to keep viewers guessing. There are enough Canadian references for an international audience without being too much or too clever for us local viewers. This is definitely a quality series and while only 10 episodes will be available for its debut season, I'd rather have high quality over high volume. If they keep up this pace, I would think there will be more seasons to come.

I'm going to give it a couple of more episodes....

[abfabjb · 6/10 · 24 February 2024]

I am going to be fair and maybe give it a few more episodes.

I should say that as a Torontonian, I was looking forward to this series blending a tv staple with the city I call home. I would think that many other Canadians will watch it just because it's not another show filmed in our cities, doubling as a place in the US. There have be countless times when I've been watching a tv show or a movie where I've recognized a place in my city but it's being passed off as New York or Chicago or Philadelphia. We're finally starting to see shows like Nurses and Transplant where we're passing off a Canadian city to being an American one.

Blending a tv juggernaut like Law & Order with a different country and a different culture may seem like a slam dunk. But this is where this show doesn't ring true. Maybe it's clinging too much to its original formula, and that's ok, but it's not New York and it's definitely not American. Even in the introduction, with the guy with the world famous Law & Order voice giving his intro then saying "these are their stories" and the gavel falls, he can't even pronounce Toronto the way people from the city say "Toronto" and it sounds inauthentic.

The actors are ok and I'm not quick to judge them as they will find their rhythm in their first season. When you look at long-running shows like Friends, Will & Grace or SVU, if you go back and view pilots and the first couple of episodes, they haven't quite fully realized their full character. Rachel Green, Karen Walker, and Olivia Benson were not quite themselves in the first few episodes. So I think the actors will find their rhythm as the show moves forward and if the show moves forward.

What doesn't work in the formula? It's too American, too slick, and although there are some Canadian writers on the show, Dick Wolf has final say and that's probably why it doesn't work well. He needs to be there as an advisor and not as someone who vetoes everything just because he wants the dialogue to be a certain way. I found a lot of the conversations and banter to be very American, not very Canadian, and definitely not Torontonian. If you took out the strategically placed landmarks, and asked me if the show and actors were in Canada or the US, I would have guessed the US, This might be trivial to most people, but just because you share a border with a culture, does not mean you are the same. Scottish people are different from the Irish. And just because France and Spain share a border, does not mean that they have the same cultures and values.

Was it horrible-no. Was it great-no. Only time will tell once it shakes out it's initial jitters.

Amazing show to add to the Law and Order franchise

[winfallwiley · 10/10 · 19 March 2024]

Been watching the Law and Order shows since they begun in the nineties. Dick Wolf has always been an asset since his Miami Vice days (which I loved ;-). This show has captured the essence of a low key drama with a huge star cast, especially with Aden Young. He is an amazing actor and pairing him with Kathleen Munroe is excellent! I do think Karen. Robinson's portrayal is harsh, I think a new actor is needed here, Tattiawna Jones or Mylène Dinh-Robic would have been a better choice for that role. We are enjoying the banter and the cases, so in my view, an awesome addition to the Dick Wolf files.

Not sure yet?

[mcass7 · 7/10 · 1 March 2024]

The main detectives Graff and Bateman almost mirror the American counterparts Goren and Eames. Which was my favorite partnership on the American version of Criminal Intent. And I like K. C. Collins. I hope the writers give him some more screen time.

It does have potential. Toronto is a super diverse and beautiful city. There is abundance possible concepts for the writers to use that would not only set the show apart but showcase the city.

I would love to see the show follow the basics of the Law & Order brand but it needs to set it self apart. It has big shoes to fill. With the shortest current spin off on its 5th season.

Ashamed of this show from my home city

[artboyle · 1/10 · 2 March 2024]

After watching the first 2 episodes I can safely say the writing is absolutely amateurish, I mean this is high school creative level content. Suspects are cleared so casually while villains fall apart at the first whiff of suspicion.

However, this is nothing compared to the disastrous and never ending stream of talentless actors that are inflicted upon the viewer. Characters lack even the most basic ability to play any role convincingly.

The two main characters, a walking encyclopedia of non essential trivia who would do better on Jeopardy and his female partner who's specialty is providing disapproving looks and eye rolls report to a person with one eye that appears to have its own planetary orbit. One can see nothing but that eye when she appears on screen. The murderer could come into the room kill everyone else and no one would notice because you cannot take your eyes of one of hers.

In summary, this show embarrasses anyone from Toronto as well as the the entire Law & Order franchise as it would not even be acceptable as a YouTube podcast let alone come from a storied franchise.

Someone from the master franchise needs to intercede and stop this ASAP.

Totally Loved It!

[Yentric · 10/10 · 4 March 2024]

The first two episodes were awesome. I'm so proud that it's being shot in Toronto. And I'm so proud to be a Torontonian. Especially loved the second episode. The crazy opening scene with the neighbours-intervention was discombobulating and the last scene in the interview room was a very tricky head trip. The whole show is extremely well shot. It's really cool to see Toronto looking so amazing. I'm used to seeing Toronto shot to look like some other American city like New York or Chicago. So it's about time that we have more series that reveal this awesome city for what it is. We don't have to be ashamed of the CN Tower anymore!!! ;) Overall, all of the acting is intriguing and gripping. The two leads have great chemistry. In terms of story, I really didn't know what's gonna happen next. I.e. Who is the real perp? Which is something I love about Law and Order. AND!!! - I don't mind the ToronTo pronunciation thing. ToroNo has a little bit of a smallish-city vibe and it's about time we all got better enunciation! ;)

Slow start but getting Better.

[rwsdktmw · 6/10 · 30 March 2024]

All new shows take some time to establish themselves. The leads have settled into a realistic relationship. The writing and stories are ok but will improve with time just like all Law and Order series. It follows the same outline of the American Criminal Intent, which was different than the main series. I think there was some miscasting in the secondary leads. The fellow who is the prosecutor could be in it more, and the inspector is weak. I absolutely think it will get better if given a chance. I also hope for more heinous crimes which I'm sure Toronto can provide. Aden Young is fun to watch like Donofrio with their subtle knowledge of everything. Please don't cancel it's going to get better.🙏

This is NOT Toronto

[alexander0214 · 3/10 · 23 February 2024]

As a big fan of Law & order SVU, and being a fellow Torontonian; I really wanted to like this new series. I did not.

I struggled getting through the season premiere. There is nothing to the main characters; they are so bland. Graf has some weird accent that I could not place. Abriginonal? Newfie? Frenchie? I have absolutely no idea. It was so bad that I couldn't focus on the show and made me upset that this was how they wanted to portray the great city of Toronto as I am assuming this was an accent being purposefully added to make him sound more "Canadian". Bateman is just blah. If I'm gonna watch a whole season of something the main character needs to bring something to the table, the only thing she was good at was power walking around to look like she had places to go and every second mattered. It did make me laugh though. It looked like she was walking on a trampoline she was bopping up and down so aggressively with her hair flailing around it was comical to watch. The captain sucked too. Sorry to hate on all these actors but she looked like she was a Pug brought to human life. Again, nothing special about her or how she portrayed the captain role.

For a season premier this fell well short of a show I would ever watch had it not been for the Toronto backdrop. Way to poo all over a great city and show.

Coming Around

[dane-46531 · 8/10 · 15 April 2024]

I was excited for the first episode, liked it enough to keep watching but with declining enthusiasm. However episode 6 has made me think that the gross errors in location facts and the wooden acting are all a big joke and I find that very funny, quirky and refreshing!

The main people behind the show are all from Toronto so the hard T in the beginning voiceover is deliberate because they know that it is irritating only to people in on the joke! And some of the addresses are crazy inaccurate but it brings an odd sensation that feels like they have managed to get across the point that yes this is a proven formula but you can do things that are still fun to a specific group.

I am going to continue.

Disappointed

[edcavin · 4/10 · 25 February 2024]

I was looking forward to this so much! I have seen Law and Order UK version and thought that this might reflect a little more of the Canadian police and judicial systems. Where was the order part? Usually the first half of the show is the police investigations and the second half is the courtroom procedures. There was none of that. Nothing at all, showing the courtroom part of the procedures. This particular first episode also seemed to show so many ... what do I want to say, conveniences, that allowed the leading male character to come up with some brilliant conclusions.

Bring back Street Legal.