"Cold Comfort's" story on paper is an intriguing one, one of the more intriguing ones of the season, but also quite bizarre. One does wonder about how the show would pull it off without it sounding implausible. Will admit that on first watch the episode didn't wow me, loved the performances but the story execution was less convincing. On re-watches, being somebody who thinks 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' was a great show in its prime, it fared a lot better.
By all means "Cold Comfort" is not one of the best episodes of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' (or even of the overall solid Season 2) and not everything works, but a lot does and a large part of me does appreciate it. "Cold Comfort" admittedly is a very odd episode, how could it not be with the premise, and not always easy to follow. It is also one that is very sad, not an easy watch if not as uncompromising as other episodes, and leaves one deep in perceptive thought after. Just had to say that just in case what was said before made it seem that to me that it is a bad episode, which to me it isn't.
It can be far-fetched at times, especially towards the end. It can also get over-complicated and the medication and surgical instrument discussion lacked depth and was overdone.
How Eames reacted to the latter and their purpose didn't come over as realistic to me.
There is so much to like though. Goren is fascinating as always, without dominating too much. Have always loved his chemistry with Eames, who has some fun lines. Vincent D'Onofrio (the heart of the show) and Kathryn Erbe can't be faulted, and they are brilliantly supported in difficult roles in context of the subject matter by a poignant Jay Goeke and intense Josef Sommer. "Cold Comfort" is slickly made, sympathetically directed (especially in the character interaction) and not overbearingly scored.
Dialogue is intelligent and crisp, with some quirks and the story has many twists and turns, most plausible and always intriguing, and again like much of Season 2 has an admirable intricacy. Parts did leave me misty-eyed too, especially with the character of Nicholas who is in such a sad situation. Could not bring myself to completely hate the perpetrator.
Summing up, solid and one of the better that improved on re-watches but doesn't wow me. 7/10