Law & Order: Criminal Intent hit a milestone with this evening's 100th episode and boy did they deliver with this one! Regular CI viewers are familiar with Detective Goren (played by Vincent D'Onofrio), a modern day Columbo of sorts and his nemesis Nicole Wallace (Olivia d'Abo). A moment of back story for those not familiar - Wallace is a brilliant serial killer that changes jobs and lovers as frequently as most women change handbags. She has, over the past few years, committed several near-perfect murders but always finds an escape hatch. Her last actually appearance on the show was this past fall and she is currently a fugitive, no doubt hiding out right beneath Goren's nose.
Tonight's episode was about Bernard Fremont (played to the hilt by Michael York), most certainly a legend in his own mind. Pompous, arrogant and yet he still is surrounded by younger women that will do anything to please him. Bernard has masterminded a murder and robbery ring of sorts. He befriends wealthy tourists, invites them to elaborate parties and then cleans out their rental properties while they're kept drugged somewhere else. Unless he thinks death would be a better ending for them.
His bevvy of blondes do much of his dirty work in order to one up each other for his attention. His newest addition is actually initiated onscreen as she strangles a cohort under his close guidance. Marcel proved to be a flunky of Bernard's by leaving a severed head where police could find it - after a few party guests did.
Goren and his partner, Alex Eames (Kathryn Erbe) slowly begin putting the pieces together until they realize that Bernard is in fact Nicole Wallace's French boyfriend that taught her how to kill nearly 20 years ago. The duo was busted at an airport and both served nearly ten years in a Thai prison. Nicole's French boyfriend has been mentioned in passing in at least three previous episodes and to finally meet the man himself was a great twist for regular viewers.
Goren and Eames of course managed to turn Bernard's girls on each other and then came up with enough evidence to make Bernard believe that they had narked him out. He broke by singing his own praises in the interrogation room. Staring at himself in the mirror, enamored by his own reflection.
The episode ended with Bernard making bail and being killed on the stairs of the courthouse by "a blonde" who injected him with something lethal. One could easily assume his "star pupil" Nicole Wallace finished him off and of course, got out of there just in time.
This single hour delivered on so many levels. Goren was at his intellectual best, looking flustered as he deciphered an old typewriter ribbon. Eames really had some sarcastic zingers, some that left you wondering- does she really fall for married men? York's character would have been twisted all on its own, the fact that he is connected to Wallace was like being handed that one last gift under the Christmas Tree.
Perhaps best of all, this paves the way for Nicole Wallace to come back yet it'll be fresh - imagine Goren pushing her buttons about Bernard! More emotional fuel to add on to an already red-hot fire.
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
1 - Sister Ray
I watch this show occasionally and thought this episode was a little over-the-top, but to each his own. It would have worked better as a movie.
2 - fezzi
it was a great episode, & a great article! we loved getting more background on nicole & love that she's coming back. Goren & nicole have great chemistry-fezzi
3 - bbking1123
goren and emames are great together