Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Endgame (2007) User Reviews

An extraordinary episode, one of the best ever

[wd-8 · 10/10 · 11 July 2007]

A very different kind of episode. Terrific acting from D'Onofrio, Scheider, Erbe and Bogosian and the whole ensemble. Great writing and direction as well. (Spoilers in review)

In this episode, we see what great writing, direction and acting can produce. This is not a detective story typical of the Goren-Eames series (Holmes & Watson). It is a grand manipulation of victim (Goren) by monster (Brady), with Eames and Goren's family caught in the slip-stream.

The weaving of the monster, mass murderer Brady, into Goren's difficult relationship to his mother, and his own questions about his identity, is masterful. Writers Leight and Rorick are clearly working with Sengupta-like attention to story, character and detail.

The story unfolds simply at first, with the serial killer, Brady, facing imminent execution, desperate (it seems) for just a little more time, a little more life.

But it only seems that way. Brady has a final story to tell, one that he is desperate to play out to and with his victim, Goren. So finely balanced is the story, that the viewer is not sure whether Brady's game is confession, penitence, greed, or voyeurism.

He's watching Goren carefully. Why? He's fishing, casting bait on a line, catches Goren and begins to pull him in. Telling him clue by clue of the missing identities of his victims, until...

He set's the hook with a victim from Goren's own family, and a possible further victim, we soon see, in Goren himself.

Goren's relation with his mother, a riveting and astonishing performance from Rita Moreno, takes a sinister twist when we find the long-ago affair between her and the killer. An affair that has possibly produced an heir.

This realization pushes the stressed Goren over the edge for a minute, until he pulls back from madness. He teeters on the edge again in a final scene with his mother, but again pulls back.

Does Goren know who he is? Is he the monster's son? The mad woman's son? Or is he the sum of his life, his mastery of detection, his integrity, his genius?

I distinctly got the impression that this may be the last episode for D'Onofrio.

I hope not; but What A Way To Go !!!

( Goren will be back in Season 7 in 2007 )

A must see for two great performances; one by Mr. D'Onofrio, the other by Mr. Scheider.

[bukumi · 10/10 · 11 March 2008]

Law and Order: Criminal Intent: "End Game" is as good as television cop drama gets. Roy Scheider, Vincent D'Onofrio and Rita Moreno infuse their characters with compelling, believable and disturbing nuance in this intelligent and efficient telling of the unveiling of personal and painful tragedy as evil is revealed one move at a time. I was unaware that Miss Moreno was playing Detective Goren's mother until I subsequently checked the cast member list on IMDb -- she is totally convincing. Mr. Scheider distinguishes himself again in what turns out to be one of his last and, arguably, one of his best performances. Mr. D'Onofrio deserves major kudos for this particular episode; so does the directing and writing team.

The final stage

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 18 March 2021]

After being disappointed by the previous episode "Bombshell", a big part of me was expecting an at least good episode in the penultimate outing "Endgame" and certainly not another misfire. Did have high expectations though, as it was another episode to centre heavily around Goren (who was fascinatingly developed in Season 6) and also his family life (personally found the other two episodes to explore his personal life were season high points).

"Endgame" not only lived up to expectations, it surpassed them in a truly amazing episode. Not only is "Endgame" for me the best episode of the inconsistent Season 6, it is also up there among the best ever episodes of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent'. Namely because of it being a masterpiece of character interaction and acting. It is a huge improvement over the bizarre and hugely underwhelming "Bombshell", one of my least favourite 'Criminal Intent' outings.

Vincent D'Onofrio for one gives another exceptional performance. Season 6 saw a different, more conflicted and more vulnerable side to Goren, something that not everybody liked but to me it was great and it really advanced his character. Loved the subplot and scenes with Goren's family, some incredibly moving moments. Heart-rending when at the deathbed.

The scenes between Goren and Brady fascinated and were both suspenseful and genuinely scary. Helped by that Brady is one unnerving and intimidating "human being", chillingly smart in his taunting and the interaction between him and Goren fascinates and chills. The teamwork is great, have always said how great Goren and Eames' chemistry is.

Rita Moreno's performance hits hard and is deeply felt, while Roy Scheider is quite a terrifying presence as Brady. The story balances unsettling and twisty case and emotionally impactful family drama/personal life as expertly as one can get. The script is intelligent and taut, showing no signs of being too talky.

The production values are fine, have always liked the photography's intimacy and grit and the look of the show has come on a good deal over-time (and it was good to begin with). The music doesn't intrude and has a haunting quality, have not always remembered to say that the theme tune is easy to remember and holds up. The direction is impeccable.

In summary, absolutely fantastic in every sense. Quite a special episode. 10/10.

UNREAL!

[t_mack-84817 · 10/10 · 27 February 2020]

Best episode in the series by far! Bobby Goren Forever!!

Law & Order: Criminal Intent - Endgame

[Scarecrow-88 · 10/10 · 12 February 2014]

I have no idea why D'Onofrio didn't win the Emmy the 2007 season for his remarkable performance in "Endgame." This is the kind of episode that details a man's aching and loss with an accumulation of emotional battles that really work as an albatross he has a hard time recovering from. There's the dying mother, the junkie brother only around to ask about a possible inheritance, and the possibility that a serial killer is Bobby Goren's father. This is a difficult episode to watch if you really care about Bobby. The late, great leading actor Roy Scheider turns in a phenomenal performance as serial killer handyman Mark Ford Brady, on Death Row and about to die by the needle for seven murder convictions, most involving strangulation. Scheider wants to delay his death through a scrapbook with photographs (he claimed to be a photographer as a hobby way into the 60s) that will involve Goren and Eames who work to resolve the identities of the women in it. Some are missing women found thanks to the scrapbook while others are women listed to prolong the investigation. Then comes a second scrapbook which could personally link Goren to Brady. The final conversation between Bobby and his mother, Frances (Rita Moreno) is so devastating; how she's so sickly and reliving a past she regrets and Bobby running the gamut of denial and heartbreak is raw and grueling. Eames having to speak on behalf of Bobby to Captain Ross when he wants to remove the detective from the case for being too close to the killer shows how loyal partners are to one another. Ross proves here that he really does care about his detective's well being and emotional health. The intense final scene between Bobby and Mark is powerful as a killer provokes his son to see if the "killing gene" is hereditary. Tony Goldwyn's Frank sinks to the bottom and shows exactly how bad an addict he has become. Frank isn't even there to see his mother take her last breath while Bobby holds Frances' hand. The discovery of the bodies and the testimony of a rape victim who survived Mark by pretending to enjoy the rough sex are potent and riveting. A magnificent hour of television, with performances that deserve all the accolades heralded to the actors who gave them. This could be Scheider's finest hour and D'Onofrio matches him scene for scene.

One Of The Best Episodes The Last Few Years

[ccthemovieman-1 · 10/10 · 14 September 2008]

If you're a fan of this series, this a "must see," and I rarely use that cliché.

This is one of the most intense episodes in recent years on this program. The story involves a serial killer from the past who, as things unravel, killed more people than was assumed. He also had an affair - get this - with "Detective Goren's" mother!

"Mrs. Goren" also is a key member in this episode as she is dying and her son and her spend her last days in the hospital discussing many things including her knowing this man.

The man, the killer, is "Mark Ford Brady" and is played by veteran Hollywood movie actor Roy Scheider, a fine actor and a guy, at least to me, usually plays fascinating characters. This one is no exception. This man not only is a monster who killed many, but he's still manipulating people - most notably our hero "Goren" - as he tries to postpone his execution.

Goren, played to perfection by Vincent D'Onofrio, is a shaky guy to begin with, an extremely intelligent and emotional man who usually keeps his emotions in tact. But when he loses them, as he has a few times this season, it's scary. He almost goes to pieces here when he finds out some shocking revelations about his mom and "Brady." Thus, it's both Scheider and D'Onofrio who keep us riveted to the screen in this one.

Rita Moreno, another veteran actor, should not be overlooked, either. She plays Goren's mom, and you can't keep your eyes off of her, either. I'm telling you: this is one of the most intense episodes in the history of this program (along with the "Nicole Wallace" stories.) This is great stuff.

More like Ted Bundy than John Lee Roche?

[zafrom · 11 October 2011]

3-1/2 years later, now that I have finally seen it, I agree with the other reviewers that this is an excellent episode. Also, after reading these user reviews, I watched "The X-Files" episode "Paper Hearts" on amazon.com. Unlike foxsong, I saw and heard only general similarities between "Paper Hearts" and "Endgame". Both episodes, I think, are more similar to Ted Bundy than to each other. L&O CI does have a habit this 6th season of helping itself to whatever was recently in the news. For example, a notorious model dies? Three months later her story is in the episode "Bombshell".

Although I don't (yet) know what else, other than male serial-killers of females, is the inspiration for "Endgame" and "Paper Hearts", I recommend that you watch each and decide for yourself. Each features an excellent, and chilling, portrayal of a serial killer. In "Paper Hearts" it's Tom Noonan as John Lee Roche. Kathryn Erbe and Gillian Anderson (in X-Files) have less flamboyant, and also important, roles portraying more-normal people. But Vincent D'Onofrio and Rita Moreno make a powerhouse team.

What an episode

[BerlinAngel · 10/10 · 17 February 2008]

I was thrilled, really! Never expected such an end! An outstanding performance by the ensemble, especially D'Onofrio! Once more he showed us what an excellent Actor he is! Hopefully we will have more of this! Thank you for this work! It's not very often that I can't sit still on my couch when I watch TV, but this time... I have been addicted to Criminal Intent from the first second it had been the first time on the TV screen in Germany. I told a lot of my friends and family to watch it and nobody regrets it. So, I have to wait and see 'till the new season will start (which is the 7 here in Germany). I guess it will be a long time 'till fall! And again: thanks to everybody who was involved to Crimianl Intent for the last years!

I called her Bambi

[Mrpalli77 · 9/10 · 28 September 2017]

An old serial killer named Brady (Roy Scheider) is waiting for being executed and he's spending his last days in a death row cell. He was convicted of raping and murdering seven women, but the list is much longer. Towards a cellmate locked up by Goren months before, he manages to lead detectives to a scrapbook hidden in his former apartment rooftop where 80's pictures drive to many more victims. Goren and Eames start a treasure hunt discovering a lot of dead bodies in the process. More pictures emerges from an old shack where Brady used to spend time off with his then lovers. Goren finds out something shocking that could take its toll on him for the rest of his life.

Great performance for special guest star Roy Scheider who resumes the villain character similar to the one seen in "Cohen&Tate" movie.

MS. MORENO'S EPISODES: BEST OF SERIES!!!

[Erin50266 · 10/10 · 19 March 2024]

I have been a Dick Wolf fan for as long as he's been on the air and this is my favorite of all his series, with SVU and Chicago PD running a very close second and third! So second time around and now binge watching, loving even more Ms Moreno's performances as Mrs Goren- what a National Treasure! She and Mr. D'Onofrio had such sweet chemistry and this episode with Mr. Schneider may be the best in the entire series. (Except for no Jamey Sheridan of course. Eric B. Is a fave but not in this role- there is just something about him in this role that does not ring true for me at least and it doesn't get better after an entire season I'm sad to say.) I can't say enough about Ms. Erbe too, because she is always just such a talent and I'm thrilled that I found her adolescent show with Jackie Mason online recently ("Chicken Soup") Because I think Now I've seen the balance of her and Mr. D'Onofrio's work. My favorite partners and just a few short seasons to go- this is the series that ended way too soon! A much belated thanks to all cast and crew and everyone who made this series such a joy to watch!

This ep used to be called The X-Files "Paper Hearts"

[foxsong · 5/10 · 11 March 2008]

I saw this Law & Order Criminal Intent episode this afternoon for the first time and was struck by its similarity to the Season 4 X-Files episode called "Paper Hearts" -- so much so that I immediately watched the X-Files DVD afterward to be sure. Not only is the storyline almost identical, but entire sections of dialogue were lifted almost line-for-line from "Paper Hearts."

My fiancé hadn't seen the X-Files episode before and was amazed by the parallels (or, as he called them, the ripoffs) when he watched it. I was able to predict just about every plot turn beforehand by remembering what happened on the X-Files episode!

I can't imagine we are the first people to have noticed this. Just out of curiosity, I've spent some time this evening searching for a six-degrees-of-separation kind of thing between the writers of this ep and of X-F, but haven't found any yet.