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Post by Techguy on Apr 27, 2010 22:28:37 GMT -5
The Iraq War undertones were very disturbing. Murdered civilians, body mutilations, the nightmares of witnesses and participants. This subtext almost overwhelmed the main plot storyline for me, but fortunately it held together long enough for me to comprehend and appreciate this latest Season 9 episode.
Sure, a high powered Wall Street type was the ultimate villain, but at least the financial wheeling dealings took a back seat to the real subject of this episode, about absolute power and how it corrupts absolutely, especially when there is an impressionable and vulnerable underling handy to do most of the dirty work of covering up misdeeds.
Nathan the power broker did consider himself a god of sorts, protected by his status and his even more powerful father's influence and bailouts. Poor David was the insect in Nathan's world, the Toyota to Nathan's Mercedes, willing and eager to take the rap for his "friend" until confronted by the consequences of his misplaced loyalty. It's then, under the merciless prodding and goading by Nichols, that David ceases to be an insect and becomes, ever so briefly, the slayer of Goliath Nathan in the episode's aria. The Biblical David, of course, not only slew Goliath but beheaded the Philistine's body. The irony here is that David beheaded Nathan's victim Kevin, as well as the murdered unarmed Iraqis, to assist Nathan in covering up his crimes. It seems that Kevin got his head together soon enough and just long enough to complete the deed figuratively to bring Nathan down.
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Post by Patcat on Apr 28, 2010 8:44:25 GMT -5
So, it appears the first episode I've missed (due to exhaustion and sheer need for sleep) was a good one.
Patcat
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Post by lovebug on Apr 28, 2010 10:51:00 GMT -5
Techguy's comments are more interesting then the actual episode (IMO) I haven't watched the other episodes but, if they were anything like this one, I'll pass.
MEM seems more like a flight attendant checking to see if anyone needed their pillow fluffed rather than a captain of the MCS. Burrows is apparently just a sex pot that Nichols lusts over (SB in cocktail attire/Nichols eyes roving over her) Not what I was hoping for.
The script was weak and the dialogue didn't give the "character actors" much to work with although, the fellow playing Nathan captured the essence of scum bad very well.
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Post by DonnaJo on Apr 28, 2010 16:21:08 GMT -5
Like lovebug, I was expecting more from Callas this episode, like where she's from and how she became Captain of Major Case. What episode deals with that, I wonder?
They didn't waste any time sexualizing Burrow's character. Wolf whistles and leering by the guys. Even Nichols had a hard time containing himself. I didn't see the hotness myself. I hope they don't go there every episode. I don't think we've ever had Eames play a high end escort and glam up accordingly (thank God). Too SVU-like.
But I did enjoy the crime story. And Nichols/Burrows are a good team. More equal in their talents and status. And I didn't feel the need to compare them with Goren & Eames. Nichols was less Goren-like and displayed more of his own unique quirks and personality.
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Post by tere on Apr 28, 2010 21:47:37 GMT -5
I just saw Tuesday's ratings:
"USA’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent average viewership tumbled down to 2.823 million from last week’s 3.537 million viewers, but it held the same 0.9 adults 18-49 rating as last week."
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Post by trisha on Apr 29, 2010 10:51:32 GMT -5
DonnaJo, I completely agree that these two are more equal than G&E were and not only don't I feel the need to compare them, I don't really see the comparisons others make. She's nothing like Eames, and while one could point to quirks and a penchant for psychoanalytical profiling, I don't see much Goren in Nichols. Goren had a deep seeded need to confront injustice. Nichols just seems to delight in foiling bad people and winning, and how could I not love that? Nothing tickles me more than seeing pretty veils ripped off of ugly people.
While I agree with TG on all the many strengths and interesting bits in this one, the thing I liked best is that David didn't get to deal his way out of prison. You know me. I can't stand it when people don't have to own up to what they did and pay for it. David may not have killed Kevin, but he still cut him up and threw him away like a scrap of garbage, and it wasn't the first time he'd done such a thing. Will there be an investigation into what happened in Iraq, too? That's the ending note I'd have liked to see, not the bit about the wife waiting.
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Post by lovebug on Apr 30, 2010 8:30:35 GMT -5
Trisha, your comment "I don't see much Goren in Nichols. Goren had a deep seeded need to confront injustice. Nichols just seems to delight in foiling bad people and winning, and how could I not love that?" was very well put. I think some fans ( myself included) saw Nichols as a sort of rip-off of Goren. I like the dialed down version of Nicholas, I think JG found his character this season. (He was great in the episode)
Now if only they can "find" some great writers...
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Post by crimefighter on May 1, 2010 12:29:07 GMT -5
And some viewers!
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Post by maherjunkie on May 1, 2010 13:29:05 GMT -5
I just saw Tuesday's ratings: "USA’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent average viewership tumbled down to 2.823 million from last week’s 3.537 million viewers, but it held the same 0.9 adults 18-49 rating as last week." "Tina, bring me the axe!!!!!" |
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Post by Patcat on Jul 2, 2010 10:34:06 GMT -5
This episode will repeat on NBC on July 4th, Sunday, at 10 pm (EST) after the Macy's Fireworks Spectacular.
Patcat
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Post by Patcat on Jul 6, 2010 8:31:51 GMT -5
I caught up on a couple of episodes yesterday, including this one. I enjoyed it, especially Jim True-Frost's performance as the underling.
Patcat
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Patrick Roy, 2006 inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame
