Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) In Treatment (2009) User Reviews

You're an authority figure, but you have a problem with authority

[Mrpalli77 · 8/10 · 6 October 2017]

During a fund-raising event, mobile phones of guests and hosts started ringing at the same time. The company lost million in a blink of an eye and those wealthy people had something to be angry about. Shortly after, the CEO was stabbed in the bathroom and died as a result. This securities firm happen to be a fraud (15% return rate, like Argentina bond a decade before) with connection to tax havens; easily is going to file for bankruptcy very soon. The other CEO in order to avoid investigation seeks shelter in a fancy rehab, where doctor-patient privilege is a standing point. Anyway Nichols managed to get in the session, where all the patients lost huge amount of money in the company, collecting evidence in the process. Nichols, whose estranged father is a shrink, doesn't have much feeling with the therapist from the start; it's a psychological war where one has to break down sooner or later.

We figure out Wheeler is pregnant; the father is the criminal liar seen in the 7th season, wanted by the FBI and now in prison. Nichols gives her baby socks as a present.

Uneven treatment

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 23 June 2021]

While loving 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' in its early seasons it did become inconsistent halfway through its own and the unevenness was never completely corrected. Was not crazy about the introductory episode of new character Zach Nichols, titled "Rock Star", and wasn't crazy about him as a character or how he worked with Wheeler. The character did grow on me though in later outings quite quickly thank goodness and he did have some very good episodes in his run.

His second episode "In Treatment" is not one of those very good episodes. It is not a terrible episode by all means, but it felt very uneven and has similar strengths and flaws to "Rock Star". As far as Season 8 goes, "In Treatment" is one of the lesser ones and a disappointment after following on from the brilliant previous episode "Identity Crisis". As far as 'Criminal Intent' goes, for me it's in the weaker end as well and did have potential to be better than it turned out and improve over "Rock Star".

Production values are slick and are simple without being simplistic. The music is haunting and not too over-emphasised when used. The direction is sympathetic while having momentum and personality.

The acting is very good. Despite not liking Nichols as a character, Jeff Goldblum gives one hundred percent commitment. Also liked Wheeler's character development, she's come on a long way since she was first introduced though never have had an issue with her in the first place.

Sadly, the story never properly grabbed me and is very predictable. The perpetrator's identity and everything about the how and why of the truth are not surprising at all, found it pretty obvious actually due to nothing new done with familiar ground. It also at times felt rather strange, especially towards the end. Capped off by a very melodramatically contrived climax.

Furthermore, the writing has some thoughtful moments but could have been tighter, more flowing and been more subtle, a lot of it is too forced. Particularly with Nichols. Who as a character is still not doing it for me, too bizarrely quirky and overly silly for the sake of it and at times bumbling. He and Wheeler still don't gel, the chemistry has a strained try too hard feel and they are just too much of an odd couple (with him vastly overpowering her). A few parts are not particularly buyable and even awkward, such as Nichols interrupting a group session that easily in a high security building.

Concluding, still uneven. 5/10.