Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Shrink-Wrapped (2004) User Reviews

Fun episode with strong guest performances

[jbirks106 · 9/10 · 7 March 2019]

First there's Brent Spiner, whom most viewers haven't seen outside his role as Data on Star Trek TNG. Margaret Colin has a slightly slimy sultriness as his wife, also a psychiatrist. And no conversation between shrinks must include the line "how does that make you feel?"

Both are so absorbed in their own mutually manipulative relationship they barely notice their daughter, played by Taylor Roberts. But she's watching everything they do and taking notes.

A pair of sick shrinks

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 10 March 2016]

The Major Case squad gets involved in the murder of a young musician who was in therapy and was involved with his therapist Margaret Colin. This was something very much encouraged by Colin who has seen her husband also in the therapy game do over and over again. In fact for a pair of mental health professionals these two, Colin and Brent Spiner play some very disconcerting mind games on each other and their daughter Taylor Roberts.

The Law And Order franchise has come back to this theme over and over again, two adults and the games they play and the devastating effects it has on their offspring. Poor Roberts, she would have been better off being the daughter of a pair of factory workers.

Roberts is the one in fact who does the deed. She's lived with these two and just being an observer she's been affected by what these two have done. All she ever wanted was to be the child of normal parents, something that is denied to too many in life.

Having been the child of one psychologist this episode affected me personally. I'm not sure how I would have handled two of them. Roberts in a mostly restrained performance until Vincent D'Onofrio gets the truth out of her is just brilliant when we get down to what really happened.

In fact this is one homicide that without the peculiar quirks and mind turns of Robert Goren I'm not sure could have been solved. Well maybe Jeff Goldblum might have done it as well being also the son of a mental health professional.

Spiner and Colin are one pair of sick shrinks.

Wrapped in creepiness

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 4 August 2020]

"Shrink Wrapped" has one of the most interesting, most difficult to resist and most unsettling premises of all the episodes from Season 3. Even before watching on my first viewing of the episode, even the premise alone made me immediately want to see it and part of me had a very strong feeling that it would be at least good. Also am somebody that likes very much 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' and of the type of show that it fits under.

Was not at all disappointed on my first watch of "Shrink Wrapped". It is another 'Criminal Intent' episode to be even better with each re-watch, namely because the case is even more interesting than before, because of getting even more out of the supporting characters. Because it is more emotionally investable. Basically, it was due to that there was more to appreciate than first time round and it just clicked with me more in various ways.

Production values are as appropriately slick and gritty, yet not overtly, as ever. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way.

There are great unsettling performances from eerily sultry Margaret Colin and an against type Brent Spiner. Taylor Roberts is also just brilliant at the end and her restraint for most of "Shrink Wrapped" was effective and never felt "going through the motions"-like. The character interaction is also incredibly well done, the twisted games played by the parents has seldom been creepier for any show/series.

It was also emotionally devastating seeing how much it affects Roberts' character, the franchise did excel when any episode of any of the show showed what bad decisions and behaviours from parents affects their offspring. Still love the chemistry between Goren and Eames, which played always a big part in prime-'Criminal Intent's' appeal, and the script is tight and smart without falling into silliness or self-indulgence. The story is always absorbing and never felt too obvious or too complicated. It is especially great towards the end and at the end, due to the acting, momentum and emotional impact being at their best.

Very little again to criticise here in "Shrink Wrapped". For me, while Vincent D'Onofrio is still very good he did seem somewhat subdued compared to usual here. The intensity and quirkiness that are such big parts of Goren are present more in other episodes.

All in all, great. 9/10

Therapists That Need Therapy

[pepper_f · 9/10 · 11 April 2022]

A musician is found stabbed with acid on his face and Goren and Eames start looking into a family with two shrinks and their daughter.

This episode was really good, in my opinion. The plot is intriguing and the characterization of the family is fantastic, in my opinion (especially with the parents and then the daughter later on). It's also one where the perp is one that I can somewhat sympathize with. Overall, the supporting characters are very unsettling and played well by their actors. As for the main cast, Goren is always fun to watch and Eames is pretty funny with her one-liners. Deakins and especially Carver are also pretty good as well in my opinion.

Overall, "Shrink-Wrapped" is a pretty great episode because of its plot and especially interesting supporting characters in it. It's one where I hate two minor characters more than the antagonist that actually did it.