Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST episode

[The Nth Doctor]

Logan begins to doubt the justice system of which he's part after a priest convinces him to re-open a murder case that's over a decade old.

I'm still sorry to see Chris Noth leaving again. I had hoped for a reunion with Don Cragen, or even Paul Robinette considering he has showed up again a few times on the mothership series. Alas.

Based on the description, I'm betting they're going to play up Logan's shaky history with priests.

 

[DontFeedPhil]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

Why is he leaving again? I heard he was, but not why? And are they gonna cancell the show or go back to all Vincent D. as the main guy all the time?

 

[Jack Bauer]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

Jeff Goldblum is replacing Noth. ^^^

 

[Aragorn]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

In this episode, as Logan is about to arrest a priest for sexual abuse, the church explodes, killing Wheeler and burning Logan exactly in half. When he comes to, Logan is scarred psychologically and starts taking the law into his own hands with the flip of a coin.

Why is he leaving again? I heard he was, but not why? And are they gonna cancell the show or go back to all Vincent D. as the main guy all the time?

He's got a film career going now. Of course, it's all about quality of choices, so that you don't become David Caruso or Shelly Long and your offers suddenly dry up because you've made one bad movie after another. But in terms of monetary value, if they're paying him $250,000 per episode for eight episodes a season (next season CI is only 16 episodes), he can get the same $2 million for a movie part.

 

[DontFeedPhil]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

Sure I see why he would want to go. And Jeff Goldblum for a replacement? Really OMFG! Thats gonna be a great choice...IMO.

 

[od0_ital]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

USA is really hypin' up that this is is Chris Noth's final episode of Criminal Intent, so, of course, that means his next stop is SVU!!!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

So there's one Goren/Eames episode left?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

Yes, there's one more Goren/Eames episode after this. I don't know why they're not showing that tonight, instead of having two Logan/Wheeler episodes in a row. I guess they wanted to have a Goren/Eames season finale. *shrug*

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

Excellent episode. This was a far better swan song for Mike Logan than his final episode on Law & Order (Exile aside, which I unfortunately can't comment on since I haven't seen it). Far better to free an innocent man and possibly have his name cleared and then quietly walk away from the job than to publicly punch a guilty man not convicted and get exiled on Staten Island (which got a nice reference). Plus, a shout out to Lennie Briscoe!

Logan's swan song aside, the murder mystery was pretty interesting. Working backwards from a vague tip from a priest, eventually unraveling the murder mystery and the other past deeds of the man who was not who he claimed to be. Additionally facing up against an A.D.A. with questionable ethics is always fun. I wonder if they'll keep up with that particular plotline next season, even though she's from a different district.

 

[Christopher]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

Not bad, although I think they made the case too overtly flawed. It's a bit hard to believe that nobody could figure out the conviction was bogus for 16 years when every single aspect of the case was so blatantly mishandled. It would've been better if it had been more of a challenge for the detectives.

I really hate Leslie Hope's DA character, not in the sense that she's a poorly done character from a creative standpoint, but in the sense that the character is a thoroughly contemptible person. There's nothing that gets my dander up like seeing people get unfairly accused or judged, and there are few things in this world lower than someone who claims to uphold justice but will knowingly convict an innocent person and allow a criminal to go free simply in order to advance one's own career. Unfortunately, the US criminal justice system is full of prosecutors who do just that, and not enough is being done about it because prosecutors are reluctant to act against their own. It's nice to see the problem getting attention in drama, though I don't know if it'll accomplish much.

Anyway, it's a shame that Driver was able to weasel her way out of the situation and didn't get held accountable for her crimes. At least the guy she railroaded got out, but how many other innocents has she put away, and how many other killers has she allowed to run free? And how much more harm could she do as attorney general? I hope this does get followed up on, and I hope she gets brought down.

Meanwhile, Captain Ross was a real coward here. I lost all respect for him with the way he kept worrying about the political damage Driver could do to him rather than getting on board with the exposure of this blatantly unethical prosecution. Even when presented with overwhelming evidence, including his own ME's testimony, he was still saying the case was based only on the confession and wasn't substantial enough.

I gather that this episode was made before Noth left the show. I don't recall exactly, but it seemed there was an odd cut during the final scene with Logan and the priest -- not in the sense of something being cut out, but a moment where the camera cut from a 2-shot to a 1-shot of the priest and the priest's tone of voice changed, making it pretty clear that two different takes had been cut together. I think that might have been the point where the priest told Logan to get out, to leave his job and find something else. I'm wondering if they brought the priest actor back for reshoots to tweak the content of that scene in order to set up Logan's departure. I could very well be misremembering the structure of the scene, though.

And Wheeler does clean up nice.

 

[mostly_nameless]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

I voted mediocre. There was nothing in this episode that we haven't seen before at least half a dozen times. Another bad DA and another innocent man in prison....yawn. That was a pretty boring swan song for such a longterm character.

And, seeing Captain Ross be so wimpy didn't do anything for me either.

 

[witchie]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

Excellent episode. This was a far better swan song for Mike Logan than his final episode on Law & Order (Exile aside, which I unfortunately can't comment on since I haven't seen it). Far better to free an innocent man and possibly have his name cleared and then quietly walk away from the job than to publicly punch a guilty man not convicted and get exiled on Staten Island (which got a nice reference). Plus, a shout out to Lennie Briscoe!

Logan's swan song aside, the murder mystery was pretty interesting. Working backwards from a vague tip from a priest, eventually unraveling the murder mystery and the other past deeds of the man who was not who he claimed to be. Additionally facing up against an A.D.A. with questionable ethics is always fun. I wonder if they'll keep up with that particular plotline next season, even though she's from a different district.

You said it. This was a far better send off. I was so worried they were going to kill him. If the DA would go after a priest, Logan would be easy pickings. I'm not sure if the DA went after Wheeler's fiance or if the FBI was already interested in him. I think she might have known about that investigation and decided to use it to her advantage to kill the other investigation.

I'm not a fan of Exile, which was on about 2 weeks ago, because of OCC behavior by some L&O regulars.

Chris Noth will be missed.

 

[ancientone51]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

My first response was...That was IT!!!???

Seemed to be a bit UNresolved. Hopefully something will be said next week (which looks good) or next season.

I just thougt it wasn't as clear an ending for the character s it might have been.

As far as Wheeler...could it be a bit of a take on Anne Hathaway??? Hum???

 

[Aragorn]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

Well even though the cold case was pretty easy for them to put together, I still loved this episode and it was a nice sendoff for Logan. Though part of me was wondering if they'd repeat themselves and have him go blow-to-blow with Driver. Glad they didn't.

Maybe they should've had a shipper moment where he shows up at Abbie's doorsteps or something.

 

[DontFeedPhil]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

I agree with Ancientone51. At the end of the episode I was like...Thats it???!!! Kind of a booring sendoff...

 

[mrcoaster]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

Even though I hardly watch the show (Law show clone #938), I can't stand that Noth guy. Good riddance!

 

[Christopher]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

I agree with Ancientone51. At the end of the episode I was like...Thats it???!!! Kind of a booring sendoff...

Keep in mind that they didn't know it would be his last episode while they were making it. Given that, it works pretty well.

 

[Cutter John]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

Put me down as another one who was awfully dissapointed by the ending. I wish they could've kept Noth around just long enough for a proper goodbye. I HATE when they just leave us hanging like that.

In a way I was also dissapointed by Driver. As big a bitch as she was being I really expected her to be involved in the shooting, rather than just a politician worried about her image. Heres hoping she comes back again just long enough for Logans replacement to take her down once and for all. And to give Ross a chance to get his balls back. I don't know, its episodes like this where they really need to have an ADA back on the program. They're the ones who should've been putting up all the resistance rather than Ross.

And man, poor Wheeler. She is coming back next season isn't she? Being in the middle of a federal invetigation is not gonna be good for her career.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

I'm not a fan of Exile, which was on about 2 weeks ago, because of OCC behavior by some L&O regulars.

It was on recently and I missed it?! Was it on USA?

What does OCC stand for?

And man, poor Wheeler. She is coming back next season isn't she? Being in the middle of a federal invetigation is not gonna be good for her career.

Yes, Wheeler is returning next season.

 

[Christopher]

Re: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "Last Rites" Chris Noth's LAST epi

In a way I was also dissapointed by Driver. As big a bitch as she was being I really expected her to be involved in the shooting, rather than just a politician worried about her image.

Heck, if she'd been trying to cover up her own involvement in the shooting, that would've been less evil, because at least she would've had a more understandable motive. Committing such a gross miscarriage of justice merely to advance her career -- that's just sick.

I'm not a fan of Exile, which was on about 2 weeks ago, because of OCC behavior by some L&O regulars.

It was on recently and I missed it?! Was it on USA?

What does OCC stand for?

From context, I think that's meant to be OOC, for "out of character."