1:04 - "The Faithful" 2001-10-17

[lawfan]

I'm a new fan of the show.....been catching up on "lost" episodes this past year. Seeing them out of order is hard, but these forums help fill in the blanks.
I saw "The Faithful" last night and thought it was good, but it made me cringe to see Det. Goren going through dirty sewer clothes with his bare hands and taking a drag of a cigarette that a homeless man just smoked. I never thought I was "Monk-ish", but I guess I might be a little. I never saw that disregard to safety concerns in other episodes. My husband is a detective also, but finds watching less enjoyable since it's so different when you have less time, workers and interesting cases. It is an engrossing hour though and I hope they keep this team together for a long time. Did they ever discuss past histories of the characters?

[maherjunkie]

Yeah, give it a few more episodes...and you'll get used to the Goren quirks..

[lawfan]

Yes, it definitely was an aquired taste. I love the other Law & Orders and the first time I saw this, I didn't quite "get it". Now I love it, and hope they keep up with the good writing and give the characters some depth but keep the intrigue. I like Chris in Sex in the City, but hope he doesn't steal to many episodes from Vince. I don't know the background on that except that Vince was tired and they thought sharing the show would be helpful. He just doesn't "click" in this format to me at all.

[maherjunkie]

You mean Vince or Chris? To me, Vince is the show..

[lawfan]

I meant I just wanted to see Vince in the show, not Chris Noth. I'm not saying he's not a good actor, but in this role, he doesn't seem right. This is "Bobby's" show with great supporting actors. I am not up on tv/celeb gossip, but I did read how Vince fainted twice on the set and was tired from burning the candle on both ends, etc. They said they brought Chris in to help and just in case Vince left. I haven't heard that is the case, so time will tell how long they share the role.
Watching it out of sequence was hard at first, with returning characters, but I quickly caught on with the number of reruns on various channels. The Faithful was the 4th in the first year and they fine tuned it since then. I've seen a lot of Det.Gorens quirks, but that show did give me pause when he took the cigarette. It was dirty and the man was thought to have TB!! But it did let us know that someone in his family (later we learn the mother) had mental illness when he alluded to "having a lot of practice"after conversing with the man.
With the lack of quality TV right now, I hope they keep this show going for as long as possible.

[rosemary]

I don't remember that "Detective Bob, got any smokes?" guy having TB. I think they mentioned it only explicitly referring to Howard, the schizophrenic guy. Of course, homeless people are likely to have lots of illnesses, but I don't think it's very dangerous to share a cigarette with somebody. Most illnesses that are contagious to the point that you can get them through saliva can also be contracted through small amounts of it in the air (the Bulbonic plague, for example).
I've always liked that scene. It's unclear whether Bobby fancies a cig himself or just wants to be good cop with the guy. Anyway, I think he somehow wants to impress Alex, because he turns us the back while dragging, into her direction, curious for her reaction. But Alex, as usual, is difficult to impress...

[lawfan]

You're right Rosemary, it was the other guy that had TB. I think it was done for effect too, but having a husband that's a detective, he takes the fun out of it sometimes. (I read in an online interview with Vince that he smokes and it's a "perk" as a celebrity to get to do it where others can't)
I'm glad Alex's character has grown since the earlier shows. Seeing it out of order, she was more of a "prop" to me in the beginning and now she seems more of a real partner.

[rosemary]

In the early episodes, maybe also in "The Faithful" Alex is often seen with a pad taking notes while interviewing witnesses. This looks like real police work, but secondary compared with what Bobby does at the same time. Sniffing at the corpse, finding evidence that the CSU missed… I liked the scenes in some 3rd season eps where Bobby and Alex "are discussing the corpse", as in "The Saint", for example. In later eps Alex even interrogates on her own. But it is Bobby's show, I agree, the show is about him. And yes, Vincent smokes…and quits from time to time, only to reprise the habit. This has already incited a hot discussion on the 100th episode thread.

[ragincajun]

Love the standing on the pew on how he wants a shot of the body taken. Just like a director.

[ikkinon]

hi i just bought the first series of this show having only started watching since the second season and "the faithful" doesnt work cos the disk is scratched, could someone do me a real favour and just walk me through what happens cos i dont wanna watch further without knowing what happens

thanks a lot

[DonnaJo]

Well, be sure to read the episode description on this Board. There are also descriptions at NBC.com as well.

To sum up the ending, Goren & Eames discover that this bad kid is really the son of the priest who is the main character and a parishioner from long ago. The kid has been trying to find his mother, to pay her back for abandoning him and/or extort money from her. To stop him, the priest kills him. Goren & Eames confront this woman & discover that she has never revealed this secret to anyone, and that if her family knew it her life would be ruined.

So Goren, with Eames' reluctant acceptance & without telling Carver, visits the priest at Rikers. Tells him if he admits to the murder , this woman will not have to testify in court in the priest's defense and no one will know her secret. The priest breaks down in tears, but agrees to a plea after Goren gives him a bible & tells him to look inside for redemption & answers.

Last scene, Carver confronts Goren about deceiving him as to the plea bargain and visit to the priest. Tells him that if he ever does it again, Carver will "have his badge."

It's a great episode. Try to catch in when it reruns, which is quite often.