EPISODE OF THE WEEK: THE GOOD DOCTOR

[Patcat]

Will air 6 pm (EST) May 15 on the USA Network
First aired November 25, 2001. 9th Episode of the First Season

Written by Geoggrey Neigher and Rene Balcer
Directed by Constantine Makris

Guest Actors:
Robert Knepper as Dr. Peter Kelmer
Penny Balfour as Lisa Voight

Goren and Eames investigate the disappearance of a plastic surgeon's wife. They become convinced the woman was murdered, probably by her not so grieving husband.

From the headlines:
This story is apparently based on the murder of Gail Bierenbaum. In 2000, her husband Robert was convicted of killing her in 1985 after she tried to divorce him. A torso believed to be hers was found in the Atlantic Ocean, and it was believed Mr. Bierenbaum threw her dismembered body from his plane.

Quotes:

Deakins: "How do we like being an annex to the Missing Persons Bureau?"

Eames (about the doctor): "I should have him organize my sock drawer."

Goren: "I took a few psych classes in college."

Eames: "My partner has a fancy name for guys like you, psychopaths. I call them screwups."

Goren: "We worried about the noses he did at City Hall getting bent out of shape?"

The Judge: "It's the fourth amendment, Detective, not the three and three fourths."

Goren: "You know us. We're like dumb dogs. We get a scent and follow it."

Airplane mechanic: "Recreational pilots, they all think they're Mercury astronauts."

Goren: "He thinks we're idiots. He's playing with us. I wanna shove a stick in Kelmer's cage and see what he does."

Eames (to Kelmer as he's arrested.): "Down, boy."

Carver: "I've got a case without forensic evidence. A case without...I can't even prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim is even dead."

Eames: "He wasn't convicted on the evidence. He was convicted because the jury didn't like him."

Goren: "I'll take 'em any way they come."

Surprisingly little comment on this first season episode.

In my view, Kelmer is one of the classic examples of a criminal who underestimates Goren and Eames. He also dismisses Carver as a civil servant. How does he compare to other villains?

Would Kelmer have killed Valerie if he hadn't discovered the affair?

Has Kelmer killed before? Would he kill again?

Is Valerie about to change? Does she get lost in this story?

Goren and Eames must move through all levels of society in their work. How does this happen in this episode? How well do they deal with their own prejudices?

Where and when did Goren go to college? Did he graduate?

Why isn't Carver asking for the warrant?

Eames and Goren disagree about revealing the discovery of the torso. How does this compare with other disagreements?

Does anyone like Dr. Kelmer?

Carver appears reluctant to put Goren on the stand. Comments?

How believable is Goren's testimony?

Would Kelmer have been convicted if he hadn't testified?

We finally get to see Carver in action in court. Comments?

What will happen to this case when it's appealed?

This is a remarkably linear story for LOCI. Kelmer is the first and only real suspect. Does this hurt the story? Is he too much of a villain?

Comments: Yes, I know I've complained about LOCI episodes being unduly complicated, but this story seems to be unduly simple. Its ending is rather abrupt as well, and there's no real duet at the end with Goren dueling the villain. I also find the courtroom action a bit of a stretch. Kelmer's attorney appears to be sharp enough to stop Carver and Goren's antics, although I very much enjoy Courtney Vance's bright bulldog and Mr. D'Onofrio's innocent acts. Kathryn Erbe has the unenviable role of playing devil's advocate at several points in the story, a part she plays convincingly. I like the way Goren sets the scene for his confrontation with Kelmer, and the way Goren and Eames tag team Kelmer. A solid episode, but one without the subtleties that mark the best LOCI.

Patcat

[DonnaJo]

I like that this episode is pleasantly simple. Sometimes the plotlines are so convoluted, that if you miss one line or exchange you're lost until you get a chance to play it back.

I really liked the Lisa Voight character (Peter's stupidly innocent girlfriend). Accepting his lame answers & excuses as fact. In the past, we've discussed Goren's line to her - the one where he calls her " very beautiful"...*cough* *cough.* I don't see it.

Sometimes I wonder that Goren isn't very picky about a woman's looks. This isn't the first time that he's called someone lovely or beautiful that really wasn't, IMO. Or else it's a ploy to gain their trust? What woman wouldn't be accommodating to a man that said she was beautiful?

Adore, adore, adore the Goren court testimony. I found him very convincing as a cop who was angry & deliberately messing up on the stand. Kelmer's lawyer was justifiably outraged by Goren's remarks. And the judge was sort of confused. He must know Goren from previous cases & I got the impression that he didn't know what to make of his testimony.

Very disturbing scene, the retrieved woman's torso at the morgue. Equally disturbing to Goren, who flinches & turns his head just for a split second when seeing the woman, before resuming complete professionalism. Great subtle acting by D'Onofrio.

[maherjunkie]

I agree. Since he didn't say it to her face I assume he meant it. Sometimes men see these things differently.

[Summerfield]

I love this episode because we see someone so self absorbed brought down, rightly so. I like the fact the judge is played by the same actor that played the friend of Goren's dad.

The girlfriend was not beautiful. It was Goren's ploy.

You forgot to mention the picture Goren showed the girlfriend when he asked her about "what were you doing here" or something to that effect (its been awhile since I've seen it). His demeanor and her reaction is classic.

[noc]

There were some great lines in this one. Thanks for writing them out.

I agree that Goren uses the beautiful as a way to put women at ease. It also stands to reason that a plastic surgeon would tell his girlfriend that she is beautiful. Valerie was beautiful, but the girlfriend was more pliable.

I thought we were given more information on Valerie- the victim- than some others. But, we needed it since it gave us insight into Kelmer. She was immature and an addict, so my guess is she wasn't about to change. She did discuss it but I don't think she would actually change. Pretty common dynamic for control freaks (or enablers, as I prefer) and addicts, for anyone who's been through al-anon.

I did wonder if he had killed a woman who was "inconvenient" before since he so easily disposed of his wife. At a minimum, he had snuck out of the airport without a flight plan before.

Hope this makes sense - unlike recent postings

[DonnaJo]

Noc! You reminded me of a great scene that I forgot about.

The one when Valerie's boyfriend reveals the nude portrait of her, at Goren's request.

He likes it ( Duh, of course) but Eames snarks, "You couldn't pay me enough."

Thanks.

[ragincajun]

I just love how Goren gets on the stand, and knows he will provoke the " Good Doctor" to take the stand, and he will lose his cool. I just wonder, if Goren's testimony will be grounds for apeal , if it were real life.

[maherjunkie]

I love it when he plays dumb too.

[diablodeblanco]

May 13, 2008 8:16:38 GMT -5 DonnaJo said:

Noc! You reminded me of a great scene that I forgot about.

The one when Valerie's boyfriend reveals the nude portrait of her, at Goren's request.

He likes it ( Duh, of course) but Eames snarks, "You couldn't pay me enough."

Thanks.

I doubt his entire interest was art appreciation. LOL

I wonder if he would have been so quick to request a peek if the painting had been of the painter's boyfriend.

[Summerfield]

Goren and Eames had good reason to believe the painter's girlfriend was the missing woman. Sex, drugs and all that time in the studio, it's not far from A to B. In answer to your odd question, with Goren it's possible. Anything is possible, if the networks weren't so homophopic. Personally I don't think Goren gives a rat's patooty about sexual orientation.

[maherjunkie]

You mean whereas a crime is concerned or personally?

[Summerfield]

If sexual orientation is an element of the crime, then sure he gives it some thought. Otherwise, I don't see him much concerned with it.

[Patcat]

Both Goren and Logan seem to be very tolerant and open minded when it comes to sexual orientation. Goren treats the pharmaceutical executive very tolerantly, especially after he discovers the man's personal integrity. And I seem to recall cases where he encounters gay women and isn't upset by it.

Patcat