9:03 - "Broad Channel" 2010-04-13

[Techguy]

We have date cards with dunk dunks, we also have a return of the opening music video. With all due respect to Alan Doyle and "Middle of Nowhere," the Rolling Stones "Sympathy for the Devil" is playing in my head:

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith...

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name,
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game

Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint

So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, have some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste...


Isn't the actor who plays Jackie Dooley a repeat offender, the BTK killer from "Shibboleth"?

We have here the Irish mob, the Russian mob, and dirty cops. Where's the new and improved light and fluffy brand for USA?

Just sayin'

[peterinmanhattan]

Techguy I agree, this was not a fluffy episode. My biggest gripe however was the music. Normally I love the background score for CI, but tonight I found the music so distracting. It seemed too loud and the Irish tone to it was just out of place (and being of Irish descent I love traditional Irish music). The only time there seemed to be a reprieve from it and a return to standard strings and pulsing rhythms was the final scene in the Interrogation Room.

Another technical gripe I have relates to the opening credits. For both SB and MEM the font has been bolded. If you really watch the difference, it's quite jarring.

In matters relating to the episode, the story has been done before. From what I can recall, the city cops vs. small town theme has been used in a considerably more effective manner in both "Siren Call" and "The Good." The constant references to the isolation of the town seemed to verge almost on kitsch.

Despite the retread of the story, I felt as though the story might've had more potential if the acting had more spark. Stevens only perked up when she called Nichols out on his bluffing Atwater, and Nichols only had fire in the final scene with Dooley.

And yes Techguy, Jackie Dooley was played by Kevin Conway the same actor who starred as Frank McNare, the BTK killer, in "Shibboleth."

[Patcat]

My reactions, written before I've read others (I find I'm easily swayed by other opinions, so this is in the interest of honesty).

It's always a pleasure to see the great actor Kevin Conway (the evil, evil guy in SHIBBOLETH) at work. But I wished we'd seen more of Jackie Dooley's evil side. It came out well in the final confrontation with Nichols, when Dooley rejected his son--indeed, anyone--who stood in his way, but until then he came across more as a Robin Hood like character. But perhaps this was the intent of the writers...

When will these criminals realize that someone is usually watching through that one way window in the interrogation room? Do they not watch TV? Or, as in the case of Jackie, aren't they criminals who know how this works?

Like what I saw of Ms. Mastratonio and her character. I liked Ms. Burrows and the way her character played Atwater. Her character is still terribly underwritten--not unlike Ms. Erbe's was in some of the earliest episodes--and I hope Ms. Burrows and the writers can give her some spark.

Mr. Goldblum was quite good. I think Nichols is depressed--Who wouldn't be, after the murder of your former partner and a friend and the departure of two people who I think he'd come to regard as friends--and Mr. Goldblum's performance seemed to show that.

But the whole episode seemed muted and rather perfunctory (I love that word) to me. Not a great deal of surprises or twists. I did enjoy Nichols' satisfaction at catching Dooley and Atwater.

Patcat

[DonnaJo]

I was surprised at how interested I was in the plot. The story moved along well, and I was very impressed with Jeff Goldblum's performance. I agree with Patcat - Nichols was depressed throughout the episode. I like how the writers addressed Ross' death, and gave Nichols a worthy adversary that he had a history with.

I'm not sure how I feel yet about Saffron Burrows. is she deliberately understated, or is that the best we'll see of her acting ability? I don't like how they are dumping many of Goren's unique traits into her character. Hey writers - you can't substitute the brilliance of Robert Goren, so stop trying. And in case we don't get how savvy and smart she is, they have Nichols telling her/us that she's good.

Where was the scene in the promo where MEM proudly announces that she's the new Captain of Major Case? Did I miss it?

Loved every scene MEM was in! She's awesome. I thought she was trying a times for a certain accent, but couldn't figure out what it was. She's tough, no nonsense, and right out of the gate backed her Detectives.

Glad to see the time cards are staying, and the reintroduction of the doink doinks. It's about time. I agree with Peter - did not like the opening Irish ballad. It was so loud that I couldn't hear most of the important teaser dialog.

[Moonbeam]

I didn't watch it. As I was surfing past, I caught a glimpse of John Hampton from "The Insider."

[DonnaJo]

I KNEW I recognized the corrupt cop from another episode. Thanks Moonbeam.

The Chief Of Detectives made another appearance. And again was a tool. I wonder how long it will be before we see him get on Nichol's case?

[jaquimichel]

I thought the interaction between Nichols and Stevens was well-played. I would think Stevens would be more low-key at this time because she's a newbie and still feeling out her new surroundings and partner. She should seem a little hesitant in her actions. Callas appeared to be strong and competent. I'm interested in the growth of both characters.

The plot was unoriginal but after nine years i expect retreads. It becomes about the actors' interpretation of the story and I thought all involved did a good job.

[Patcat]

Yes, good catch, Moonbeam. I watched the episode and didn't catch it was the same actor, although he seemed familiar.

Yes, the Chief of D's remains the man we all love to hate. The actor playing him is very good at this.

Patcat

[maherjunkie]

Does anyone know the ratings?

[quietfireca]

Apr 14, 2010 15:28:31 GMT -5 maherjunkie said:

Does anyone know the ratings?

I look forward to them. And subsequent weeks' ratings.

[tere]

I didn't see the episode, but here are the ratings:

"The post Goren/Eames era on Law & Order: Criminal Intent began down only slightly with 3.219 million average viewers (vs. last week’s 3.47 million) and level in the adults 18-49 demo with a 0.9."

(from tvbythenumbers.com/)

[DonnaJo]

Thanks tere.

It's probably way too soon to tell if the absence of Goren and Eames is going to effect the ratings in a significant way. Only time will tell.

Was I the only one who thought "Ewwwww" when Jackie started making out with that much younger woman?

And at certain angles, the young guy who killed the cop looked just like Johnny Depp, circa "Gilbert Grape." Anyone else notice that?

I said to myself that I wouldn't do any "What If's" about this episode. But I do wish we could have seen Goren and Eames interact with the new Captain. I think there would have been an immediate comradeship and respect by all parties.

[peterinmanhattan]

Upon a second viewing, I have to give this episode more credit that I had initially. I suppose I was just put off by the thundering volume of the music, but when I actually took the time to listen closely, I could understand what was being said. To borrow a word from Seinfeld-lore, SB is a "low-talker," and the loud music simply overpowered her voice. I agree that Jackie Dooley should've been portrayed with more of the reptilian qualities that Nichols claimed he possessed. Does anyone thing the writers could be setting him up as Nichols's Nicole Wallace? It could prove to be an interesting dynamic, especially since Nichols's investigations have a tie to Danny Ross. I also noticed this second time around that Callas all but disappeared from the entire second half of the show. Perhaps they gave her extra screen time in the beginning of the episode to introduce her character and didn't want to overwhelm the audience., but I found it odd that she wouldn't run over the case with the Detectives before they closed it.

[maherjunkie]

I did notice the next episode looks like the plot from Maledictus.

[Patcat]

NBC (still plugging all the holes in its schedule) will air this episode at 9pm(EST) on Saturday, July 17.

Patcat