“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” Has Winning Formula
By Christine Wilson, 09.20.06

A pretty, 30-something redhead picks up her cordless phone. The unsuspecting damsel chats with a masked predator as his leather-gloved hands inch up the stairwell railing in her dark apartment hallway. An instant later, the black leather glove covers the redhead’s mouth as the predator violently grabs her from behind.

If the first scene isn’t exciting enough, consider the second: the agonizing execution of the redhead. The murderer stabs her to death with pinking shears. Vivid scenes such as these, paired with an attention-keeping plot will ensure Law & Order: Criminal Intent a successful season.

The show’s formula is similar to those of previous seasons: Detective Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio) fills the role of the charming lead detective. Detective Eames ( Kathryn Erbe) is his witty, supporting sidekick. The two face brutal opposition, but in a heroic display of impeccable detective work, they manage to save themselves and catch the killer.

A refreshing feature of this season’s premier was the believable plot. Previous seasons of Criminal Intent sported a storyline that was melodramatic and predictable, but this season promises unusual yet realistic situations for the characters.