Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Icarus (2011) User Reviews

You're the laughingstock of Broadway

[Mrpalli77 · 9/10 · 17 October 2017]

A young actor was ready to perform "Icarus" on stage in a Broadway musical. He was a low profile sit-com actor and that was his chance of the lifetime. Unfortunately, something went wrong, the rigging where he was hung collapsed and he crashed into the ground, dying as a result before the stunned audience. The victim was not so beloved by co- workers: the producer and the alcoholic director (drunk even at farewell speech) are afraid of a failure that can lead them on a downward spiral. Even the coach and once in a while lover becomes a suspect, so as the more qualified actor who would take his place and the easy-to-bribe laborer in charge of the rigging. When an insurance comes up, detectives manage to connect the dots.

The dumb assistant (Michael Panes) is the classic person you can't trust, he can change side every time he has a chance. He's even a touchy person, as we can see at the end of episode.

What a fun episode

[schwa88 · 8/10 · 28 April 2024]

This was a great episode with lots of twists and turns and the usual red herrings. There's something kinda old-fashioned about the whole episode, like it's from another time period. It's like a '70s show dressed up in 2010 clothing. Pretty cool.

Cynthia Nixon is splendid, as usual, and Bobby's scene with the psychologist was amazing. Vince is an amazing actor. The finale scene does not disappoint!

I didn't know Sardi's was still in business, but I haven't been to the theatre district in a while.

How odd that they recycled the name Amanda Robbins to be used on SVU. What is the story behind that?

Too close to the sun

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 4 November 2021]

"Icarus" is the penultimate episode of not just a very good Season 10 but also sadly of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent'. It is a "ripped from the headlines" kind of episode that 'Criminal Intent', and the whole 'Law and Order' franchise, did well a lot, especially the ones revolving around difficult subjects. This time taking inspiration from the Broadway production of 'Spider Man: Turn of the Dark', a troubled production riddled with disasters.

Season 10 impressed me hugely and one of the best episodes of it is "Icarus". It handles the subject in good taste, not in a way at all that's cheap or exploitative or with too much of a feeling of too soon. All dangers with cases inspired by real life cases and headlines, especially considering how the cases are depicted in the media. And it is a wonderful episode in its own way, what 'Criminal Intent' is all about and despite being set in a familiar setting it didn't feel predictable or too ordinary.

The photography is slick and subtly gritty as usual and while the locations are not many they are still pleasing to look at and the more intimate ones aren't claustrophobic. The music is haunting while not going over the top and not being intrusive, too constant and melodramatic music would have ruined the mood and would not have let the dialogue do the talking as effectively. The direction is sympathetic and alert.

Writing is tight and thought-provoking, especially in the detective work and the way Goren and Eames interact. Not to mention the cutting and not over-cruel Julie Taymor and Spiderman references and the zinging one liners from Eames. The story does sound quite ordinary on paper perhaps, which is another danger with "ripped from the headlines" stories, but the story execution in "Icarus" grabs the attention from the get go with a story that is increasingly complex and twisty. It does get complicated later but never became incoherent to me. The denouement is a clever one and staged and written in a way that's classic Goren, he sure has not lost his unique way of breaking people down to get to the truth.

Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are terrific and their chemistry is delightful. Cynthia Nixon and Michael Panes play it to the galleries in their guest turns, particularly Nixon.

Overall, wonderful. 10/10.