MeeVee Interviews Law & Order: Criminal Intent Exec Producer Warren Leight, Part I - Page 4

There's a lot of animosity and tension between Goren and Ross.
They're feeling each other out. It's tricky. If you're the boss of both Logan and Goren, it's not easy. Those are two good, sharp, talented cops (and actors), and they don't define compliance.

How many years have you been with the show?
This is my fifth year. I wasn't there for the first year of the show, but came in for Season Two.

What inspired all of the changes in the show this season?
At times, the notion of Criminal Intent got a little bit lost, where we would focus on the arcane way the criminal covered up his crime. I like the episode we did this season with Martha Plimpton. That's kind of terrific, because you've gotten to know a little more about Goren because you met his mentor. At the end of it, I think you feel something for Martha Plimpton's character even though she's killed three people and kidnapped Eames. You feel compassion for her.

After five years, I've talked a lot to Katie and Vince and said, "Look at how your relationship has changed in real life; how you relationship has changed and grown over the years. Don't you think that should be reflected in the show?  Imagine if you were cops covering real murders every week, how does that isolate you from your family and friends over time?  Who can you talk to about this stuff?"  Five years in, it's about time we let people in a little bit more on your process; on how you emotionally deal with this."

Part 2 of the interview - Law & Order: Criminal Intent airs Tuesdays nights on NBC.