Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Best Defense (2002) User Reviews

Easy Villain To Spot, But Still An Intelligent Episode

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 15 December 2006]

Either I'm not as dumb as I think or this was an easy case to see through but I saw what the deal was right in the first few minutes.

Twenty minutes later it was confirmed, although not before a few red herrings that made me question my feelings on who was really the guilty party in this story.

Anyway, several things happen early to make it look like someone is trying to kill a prosecuting attorney. Finally, in the basement of his home, the attorney shoots and kills a burglar, or at least someone who supposedly was burglar.

As we discover, things aren't what they seem with this prosecutor and his wife, who also is a lawyer.

This is another intelligent, well-written episode, and fun to watch.

Goren was funny in this one

[cjf-75780 · 7/10 · 16 February 2021]

I am only reviewing this episode because it's one of my favorites - simply due to Goren's antics during their interview with Jerry and Allison Selwyn, the dinner guests on the night of the break in/shooting. The way he imitates Mr Selwyn is hysterical even if it adds absolutely no value to the investigation or the story. It's just funny!

Witness for the defense

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 27 February 2020]

All three of the previous Season 2 episodes were of a very high standard (especially "Anti-Thesis") and the season was generally as good as Season 1. Between the original 'Law and Order', 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent', the second season for 'Criminal Intent' was the second season that settled the quickest. The Season 2's for the other two shows also started off solidly but had the disadvantage of having to undergo a fair share of changes, something that 'Criminal Intent' did not have.

"Best Defense" doesn't reach the outstanding standard of the previous episode "Anti-Thesis", so it is a bit of a disappointment and a step-down in comparison. The high quality seen in the previous Season 2 episodes is still very much here though in "Best Defense", and on the whole it is still a very good episode with a lot of fine things. The ending underwhelms and there may not be enough of Eames, but the case and everything else is strong.

Production values are of a high standard, the gritty, slick style not lost. The music is not intrusive and not used constantly, also not being too melodramatic in any major revelations. The theme tune is not my favourite of the 'Law and Order' themes but one still remembers it and its quirkier, more rocky-sound makes it stand out amongst the other themes. The direction has breathing space but the story doesn't drag and the writing is always tight enough.

It is a very intelligently written episode and structured tightly, the playful interaction between Goren and Eames being entertaining and helps not make the episode too serious. While still taking the story seriously of course, the case is absorbing with some nice twists and turns. It is not an original story, with similar elements done elsewhere, but handled very well still. The supporting characters are all interesting, especially Peter Bonham, and well acted, while Vincent D'Onofrio dominates brilliantly. Courtney B. Vance also shines.

As said, it would have been nice to see more of Eames and more of her chemistry between Goren. Which entertains when there, but a little less of Goren on his own would have made a slight difference perhaps.

Didn't find the identity of the perpetrator that much of a shock, it did cross my mind as a possibility about a quarter of the way through. Worse was the motive, considering the nature of the crimes and what lengths were made it was disappointing that the motive seemed so trivial and anaemic.

Summarising, very good if not quite brilliant. 8/10

Tracy&Hepburn were not like this in Adam's Rib

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 21 December 2014]

David Marshall Grant over at Law And Order prime played an Assistant DA who had a nice case fixing racket going and killed a bail bondsman who was trying to cut himself in. In this CI episode he's once again back at the New York County DA's office a second rate prosecutor who is insanely jealous of his wife who is a top defense attorney. Shades of Adam's Rib, but Tracy never tried to do Hepburn what Grant tries with his wife Susan Floyd.

Only a minor mistake that Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe catch shifts their attention to Grant from his wife in the death of some poor bottom of the food chain criminal who gets set up and killed as part of Grant's plan to frame Floyd.

Left out of the loop is Courtney B. Vance the ADA who has already arrested Floyd. He's not a happy camper at the end of the show.

But you will be to see how an intricate plot falls apart.