The idea for "D.A.W" did sound intriguing when reading the summary. Yet, despite my love for 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent', encountering fellow fans on and off line that didn't care for the episode lessened expectations a bit. On first watch "D.A.W" didn't wow me to be perfectly honest, just seemed too bizarre and not easy to comprehend. Big emphasis on first watch though, which was quite a few years ago so a re-watch or two was inevitable.
Luckily, "D.A.W" fared a lot better on re-watch. It is not even close admittedly to being one of my favourite 'Criminal Intent' episodes and there are better episodes of Season 3. It struck me as an often impressive penultimate episode and any appeal is understandable, but can understand the point of view for anybody not so enamoured (with that being my experience initially). Albeit "D.A.W" is a pretty strange episode too. Strange is not always a bad thing. It is though when it gets a little too much.
Which to me "D.A.W" sometimes did. Same with "Gemini" from early on in Season 3. For instance the motive, did find on first viewing that it was not an easy one to swallow and still is today. By 'Criminal Intent' standards it's quite bizarre.
Did think too that there is a seen it all before vibe in parts, due to few surprises and some of it being too obvious too early.
In spite of how all of the above sounds, there is a huge amount to recommend with "D.A.W". The episode is slick-looking and visually doesn't try to do anything too fancy or indulgent while also not being too safe. The music is not too dramatic and to me doesn't over-emphasise. Vincent D'Onofrio is on top form, especially at the accident scene and at the end. Kevin Tighe is effectively smarmy.
Script is entertaining and tight, without waffling or getting too silly. The story may feel too strange and unoriginal at times, but it still engages enough and doesn't come over as too simple or too complicated. Really liked how the overall truth is revealed. Goren is a lot of fun to watch and is so commanding, without it being too much of the Goren show. The cast overall do great.
On the whole, a lot to recommend in this penultimate episode for Season 3. 8/10
Luckily, "D.A.W" fared a lot better on re-watch. It is not even close admittedly to being one of my favourite 'Criminal Intent' episodes and there are better episodes of Season 3. It struck me as an often impressive penultimate episode and any appeal is understandable, but can understand the point of view for anybody not so enamoured (with that being my experience initially). Albeit "D.A.W" is a pretty strange episode too. Strange is not always a bad thing. It is though when it gets a little too much.
Which to me "D.A.W" sometimes did. Same with "Gemini" from early on in Season 3. For instance the motive, did find on first viewing that it was not an easy one to swallow and still is today. By 'Criminal Intent' standards it's quite bizarre.
Did think too that there is a seen it all before vibe in parts, due to few surprises and some of it being too obvious too early.
In spite of how all of the above sounds, there is a huge amount to recommend with "D.A.W". The episode is slick-looking and visually doesn't try to do anything too fancy or indulgent while also not being too safe. The music is not too dramatic and to me doesn't over-emphasise. Vincent D'Onofrio is on top form, especially at the accident scene and at the end. Kevin Tighe is effectively smarmy.
Script is entertaining and tight, without waffling or getting too silly. The story may feel too strange and unoriginal at times, but it still engages enough and doesn't come over as too simple or too complicated. Really liked how the overall truth is revealed. Goren is a lot of fun to watch and is so commanding, without it being too much of the Goren show. The cast overall do great.
On the whole, a lot to recommend in this penultimate episode for Season 3. 8/10
