When I heard the news that the cast was changing I was mad. I love Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe on the show and after 8 seasons i want more. I questioned what the Hell they were thinking.
I’ve seen the first two episodes of Season 9 and I have to say the send off was perfect. LOYALTY part one and two were really something special and on the strength of these two episodes I think the show will still be a favorite.
Something weird is going on with their Captain (Eric Bogosian) and Goren and Eames are not going to let it it sit. Before long things get crazy with the international implications, FBI and the upper brass in NYPD all tangling things up.
I don’t want to give anything away plot wise, but the title of the shows, LOYALTY is right on.
Goldblum is great, I like his new partner played by Saffron Burrows (Boston Legal) a lot as the new Detective from Chicago.
Don’t worry, it looks ike Law and Order Criminal Intent will still be a great show, and I for one, can’t wait to keep watching.
Look for it on TUESDAY March 30th on USA Network
Looking forward to a great episode, but I for one, will not be watching CI once Vincent and Kate are gone. They ARE CI and IMO, Jeff Goldblum will be the demise of the show.
The cool thing about CI is that Goren was so unusual in his thinking and how he got information from people. Of all the actors who could have been selected to carry on that style of unusual and not go over the top with it, Jeff Goldblum was an inspired choice. I wish NBC hadn't been such morons in dropping the show. They need CI back to fill holes they stupidly made, but their loss is USA's gain. I have to go to friend's to watch it (no cable/dish), and I gladly bring a pizza every week for the privilege. The show is still excellent with the new characters.
Look, I am hyperbookworm@yahoo.com. If you have seen the episode, I want to know and I promise I won't tell ANYONE else, but the wait is killing me.
Wait a sec! The title of the episode changed AGAIN! First it was Puntland 1 & 2, then Mad Malluh 1 & 2, now it is Loyalty 1 & 2? What's up with that?
The version I saw is indeed Loyalty, parts 1 & 2. The episodes were done except for a few spots that may get a bit more special effects.
I'm not giving anything away, sorry. But I will say that while I love Goran and Eames, they were treated respectfully and the end for them forks, in a huge way.
I know you said you weren't giving anything away-but, am I understanding you right, did you say that Saffron Burrows in the two-parter? And casefile-wise, is "Loyalty I and II" any good?
I have been a loyal fan of Law and Order: Criminal Intent from the beginning, and all due to the brilliant and charismatic Vincent D'Onofrio.
I also began to greatly enjoy Kathryn Erbe as Alex Eames with her dry wit and snarky comments, and the close bond of frienship and loyalty that developed between the two charcters– Sherlock and Holmes.
But to say that Jeff Goldblum is an "inspired" replacemnt is less than accurate.
Goldblum's charmless tics and deadpan mannerisms render him emotionally stagnant.
Vincent brought endearing quirks to his role and the sensitivity and emotional depth he brought to the his role made us CARE about Bobby. Not to mention that D'Onofrio is incredibly hot and sexy unlike Goldblum.
As for those who quibble about Vincent's weight gain– when a man has true sensuality it doesn't matter what size he is or becomes– he'll always have it!
Right now, Mr. D'Onofrio is like a sexy teddy bear that I'd take to bed in a New York second!
If others prefer human grasshoppers like Goldblum, then welcome to them, but when Vincent goes from the show, then I will go, and just cherish his Bobby Goren in reruns, or in my DVD collection along with his other incredible movie roles of the past!
Saffron Burrows is introduced in the first two episodes, Loyalty I & II.
I thought the casefile-wise it was great. Goran goes out with style in a way that is right for him, and Eames does the same.
It's going to be some great TV!
Thanks for the info, I've been kind of starved for it ever since reading the "death/resignation/firing/promotion among the top three" spoilers. It's been rather torturous having to worry about the fate of one of my all time favorite 'teams' on television.
I sure hope you're rightand this is good, as this will be my finale episode of LOCI. LOCI is Goren & Eames, they started it – they should get to end it. They don't, but I will stop watching.
I can't imagine a better title for the last episode of Goren and Eames. Criminal Intent is over for me when they are gone.
I'm following Vincent right out the 'Exit LOCI' door. In fact, I don't know anyone who intends to stay with it. The show ends for me the second the credits roll on Detectives Goren and Eames. I have ZERO interest in Jeff Goldblum's character, and a 'lighter' version of 'Criminal Intent' I assume must mean it's without the 'Criminal' in the 'Intent'. Maybe they'll hunt for people's lost pets every week. Thanks for the interesting write-up tho', even if I'm still nervous about the outcome for my favorite detectives.
Lizzie
I have always adored Bobby Goren and I loved Criminal Intent because of him. Once Loyalty, part 2 has aired, I will no longer watch the show. I will miss Goren very much.
I'm sure there are a lot of Jeff Goldblum fans who will watch the show, but those of us who have watched LOCI from the beginning because of the unique, clever, and ingenious Goren…well, a great many of us will be bidding the show farewell at the end of Part II. I only watched the Noth and Goldblum episodes in recent years to help keep the ratings UP so the show would not be canceled. Now that Goren and Eames are leaving, I don't give a flip about what happens to the show.
The worst part of this is that "Loyalty" should have been a season finale, ending Season 9 after we all had a chance to say our goodbye's to Goren and Eames. What the network did was gut the show and then try to fill in the cracks with carbon copies of the beauty that was once there.
"Loyalty" will be my final Criminal Intent episode. And it's a fitting title. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe began it and they should have been the ones who ended it. And for me, they will be.
The network's treatment of them, and of Eric Bogosian, was shoddy and shameful. What went down, and how it went down, left a nasty taste in my mouth. And if the casting calls I have seen of future episodes are any indication, the "new" Criminal Intent is going to be a paperdoll copy of every other show out there.
The Law & Order franchise once meant originality. It was daring and gritty and real. The other two shows began to go "Hollywood" – playing for flash over substance. Criminal Intent, thanks to good writing talent and the superb acting skills of Vincent and Kathryn remained true to the original intent. Substance in *spades*.
Now, as the "new" blood is ushered in and the tone is "lightened", Criminal Intent is going to become just what the other two shows are. Instead of being "on the cutting edge", Law & Order has simply become a BRAND.
It's a damn shame.
Does anyone see the irony in the fact that fact the Goren/Eames exit episodes are entitled "Loyalty"? Huh? How 'bout it D'Onofrio-only fans? Granted, I've been watching the show from the start and the main reason for that was Goren, but Jeff Goldblum's doing a nice job – especially with the horrible writing he (and the rest of them) had to deal with last season. If the writing rebounds this season I will definitely watch.
Unfortunately these networks think some of their viewers are idiots and will watch whatever they decide to dribble out there. Well, I watched the show for the reason they started it and with the actors they started with. So, now they are gone, my reason for watching is gone. Simple as that. Unfortunately that reason will only dawn on them after the ratings are gone too.
Hey anonymous…when someone screws you over the way the networks did us LOYAL fans…just how much do you think we should take? You don't get to treat people the way Vincent, Kathryn, and Eric were treated without consequences.
JG might be doing a fine job, but the network screwed me and so I'll not be watching. The show will go into reruns on Bravo one day, and watching them there won't give USA any ratings. That's when I'll catch up.
no way goren is gone that was the best actor on the law and order shows get him back at any cost youve got the money do it please new season bull new show totally it sucks
I am a dedicated fan of Bobby G but have been out of the country for a while and don't know what happened! Someone please tell me! I have watched the new LOCI and am not appalled but just think of it as a brand new show. It should have a new name like, say, "Law and Order: Pulling a Fast One". But NOT "Criminal Intent"
I have faithfully watched Criminal Intent all because of the totally awesome D'Onofrio and Erbes. He especially made the show and they were a great team complementing each other perfectly.I will no longer watch now that they are gone. That was the end for me.
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