Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) In the Wee Small Hours: Part 2 (2005) User Reviews

Grungy, But Fun To Watch Thanks To Meaney

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 23 July 2008]

........Continued from last episode......

Well, it did turn out to be more about the judge than his son and the story is even sicker than it first looked Boy, these Law & Order shows get pretty grungy at times.

Colm Meaney, as that judge and the bad guy in this story, was fascinating. Meaney had to drop his Irish accent and go with his American one, and he sounds authentic. He also has that tough look about him, too, which is intimidating. He's a 30-year veteran of movies and TV and a very fine actor.

The best part of this two-part story might have been some of the one-liners uttered by all the detectives. Many of them are subtle and they're funny, helping to break up the sordid storyline.

In the end, it's another slam at PC slam at fathers, the son being who he is because he didn't get enough love from his day, and the mother......well, she's a mystery in here all the way to the end when she gets involved with a very unique and good twist to the story. That surprise ending helped make the story a good one overall.

The most memorable scene in here was the trial one with Eames on the stand and the defense attorney trying to paint her and someone who concurs that Goren is a nut-case. As someone who is a fan of this show, it was an emotional few minutes to see our two "heroes" put in a very awkward position. There were several very intense scenes in this two-part story, but that was the one which had me most riveted to the television.

I have no idea if these four detectives will ever work together on a case again but I hope they do. It was fun to watch them all at once.

One Of The Best Episodes In The Series - If Not The FRANCHISE

[seaofmilton · 10/10 · 23 January 2020]

Okay, since this here is a two-parter I don't feel like making two separate reviews for everyone to go back and forth to, so I'll just all of it here.

In this two-part episode a teenage girl on a trip with her high school classmates goes missing and the Major Case Squad is called in to investigate. Now I know this sounds like a simple 'ripped from the headlines' story, but here's where I get into my first praise for the episode: making it ripped from the headlines but going above and beyond into making it unique. Unlike the Anna Nicole inspired episode from the succeeding season, this one draws us in with such a thing but then builds upon what it's based on and makes it's own thing out of it and doing it so well you'd almost forget this is based of the Natalie Holloway case. As the episode goes on, the detectives discover an older missing case involving another teenage girl of the same age, which then leads them to a prominent judge and his teenage, Frank Sinatra-admiring son.

Note that I said Major Case Squad and didn't simply refer to Goren and Eames or Logan and Barek. Here, as a real treat for us, both teams work together. This is where two more praise lies: fitting both teams in and making it feel like it's one of the other's episode without the opposite seeming as a tackled-on extra. The writers managed to get Goren, Eames, Logan and Barek together, bothered to make each of them contribute something to the case and give the implication that they don't always work together but they do well when the situation arises. Onto the third point, we also get to see Capt. Deakins and ADA Carver have roles here, the former directing his detectives and showing compassion and giving them tips on how to handle the case whenever they hit a roadblock and the latter gets to show off his lawyer talents in the courtroom (one of the last times this will happen in this series). Not to mention, we get to see Carver interact with series DA at the time Arthur Branch (played by the late Fred Dalton Thompson) and while they're brief it doesn't take away from the action and incorporates a little of that old mothership series feeling into it.

However, it's not just our six main enforcers of justice who shine here. Virtually everyone in this two-parter gives in decent, if not excellent performances, from the aforementioned Judge Garrett (played by Colm Meaney) to the wannabe grownup son Eric (Matt O'Leary) to the judge's wife Elise (Lucinda Jenney) to the Nancy Grace expy Faith Yancy (Geneva Carr). Even the minor characters such as the missing black girl(the one who disappeared in-story before our main victim)'s mother gives quite the great dressing down to Yancy over ignoring her missing daughter whilst not sparing any expense at focusing on the other missing girl (who happens to be white) with a well written line of "Don't mistake my desperation for gratitude" to close off their conversation.

Another strong point is how the episode manages to keep us on our toes whilst still remembering it's a Criminal Intent episode, not only managing to focus on the suspects/criminals but also throwing in good twists and turns to keep us invested. It bothers to leave no stone unturned right down to the last minute. Not to mention, it bothers to show off our characters. In addition to that, we also get a few good scenes that build off on the main characters. From Branch's interaction with Carver we see that he trusts him to handle the case and get a conviction and Carver politely declining a promotion when seeing not-Nancy Grace on TV saying he's not one for leadership. Also relating to Branch is where he rips up the arrest warrant Carver has for the judge, only to give him a new one with HIS signature on it, showing to everyone that he means business. Relating to Goren and Eames, we see a scene with the former where Goren goes to the judge's residence once he discovers the guy's been looking into his personal life with Eames and Carver tailing behind. When said judge points out the various cloudy of his life. Goren manages to give him his patented interrogation all whilst in a tranquil fury, pointing out the judge's numerous moral and personal falters and getting the guy to confess to statutory rape. Then in the courtroom when the judge's attorney brings up Eames' partnership with Goren we have Carver managing to get Eames to admit that she withdrew the transfer request she initially had made when first partnered up with Goren, showing how she warmed up to him and appreciate his brilliance. Afterwards, we see Goren and Eames have a small talk with her apologizing for not telling him sooner, with him telling her "I am an acquired taste" showing their partnership to still be rather strong.

All in all, In The Wee Small Hours is where Criminal Intent brings it's A-game and deliver one hell of an enjoyable experience that manages to compare with some of the best episodes from the original Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Hence why I'm giving this two-part episode (both separate and together) a 10 out of 10. For those of you who enjoy the series but haven't watched all the episodes yet, watch this one when the opportunity arises (or record it if you can't at the moment it airs).

More hours of intensity

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 26 November 2020]

The first part of the two part "In the Wee Small Hours" was truly great and often wonderful, and among the high-points of Season 5. What sounded like a potentially unlikely four-people partnership turned out to gel really well and the episode did an even greater job at making Goren, Eames, Logan and Barek interesting. It was much more than just setting things up for what was to come, with more than enough interesting content to fill a single episode.

Part 2 in my mind is even better and the best episode since the season opener "Grow". The chemistry gels even more, and one particularly has a surprising amount of depth. The character writing of the four lead characters is richer, especially Eames although Goren is more true to character here. Not to mention more Carver. The supporting characters are even more interesting, especially Garrett. The story is even more twisty and cleverer and also has more emotional impact.

Once again the two partnerships are not disconnected and while the two are different they are not too much of an odd couple, it was actually interesting seeing the different approaches to the case solving. It is very moving seeing how much Goren means to Eames and vice versa and Logan and Barek are interesting to watch together in their own way with more insight seen in how they work. All four are even more interesting than in the first part, all serving a point to the crime solving and how it affects them. Eames in particular shines, there is more development to Barek and it was great to see Goren truer to character and with more development.

It was great in both parts of "In the Wee Small Hours" to see more of Carver, a character not seen enough on 'Criminal Intent' and it really shows off how fine an actor Courtney B Vance is. Although the supporting characters were already interesting in the first part, they progress more here. The story is always thoroughly absorbing with a lot of moments that one doesn't expect and suspense. Did not see the ending coming, although if there is one small criticism (which was overlookable to me because everything else was so incredibly well done that it wasn't that jarring) it was that the motive for the murder was not easy to swallow on first viewing.

There are two very emotional scenes here. The biggest standout being Eames on the stand, that brought a lump to my throat and is one of the most powerful scenes of not just Season 5 but also the whole of 'Criminal Intent'. So moving to see a different side to Eames. The other was Goren's phone blow-up, some extraordinary acting from Vincent D'Onofrio. All four leads are on fine form as is goosebump-inducing Colm Meaney.

Once again, "In the Wee Small Hours: Part 2" is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. Nice use of locations too. The music doesn't get over-scored or overwrought, even in the more dramatic revelation moments. The direction doesn't try to do too much and is understated but never flat or unsure. The writing is intelligent and although, like the show in general, there is a lot of talk it doesn't feel long-winded.

Concluding, outstanding and a season and show high-point. 10/10

Well-executed by all parties concerned!

[garrard · 22 April 2006]

The fifth season of "Criminal Intent" saw a change in format: rotating stars. Regulars Vincent D'onofrio and Kathryn Erbe alternated with newcomers Chris Noth, reprising his "Mike Logan" character from the original "Law & Order, and Annabella Sciorra. Jamey Sheridan and Courtney B. Vance returned in their respective supporting roles of Captain Deakins and ADA Carver. The change in program allowed the writers variety in dealing with the different acting styles of D'onofrio and Noth, along with the different investigative techniques of the characters they played.

No where is this better shown than in the two-parter "In the Wee Small Hours," aired during the November sweeps. Both parts permit all six of the principals to appear together in a combined effort to solve the disappearance of a visiting high school student and the apparent involvement of a respected judge ("DS9's" Colm Meaney) and his son (Matt O'Leary).

Meaney, who appeared in the Oscar-nominated "The Commitments," affects a believable American accent (occasionally slipping into his Irish brogue) and effectively portrays a man with a fetish of his own coupled with a desire to keep his, as well as his son's, business private. His character will do whatever is possible, including intimidation of the detectives, to maintain his judicial standing and reputation.

Meaney, O'Leary, and additional guest Lucinda Jenney, as the judge's suffering wife, deliver Emmy-worthy performances.

And credit must be given to Geneva Carr in her role of the Nancy Grace-like "Faith Yancy". Not only does Carr match the lawyer/TV host's relentless hosting/questioning style but she does a pretty good southern accent, too.

The writers of this installment had fun crafting dialog that is reflective of the different characters, rife with sarcasm and wit. "In the Wee Small Hours" benefits from its longer length, allowing more character interaction and development, ending with a highly satisfying resolution.

And a revelation involving the Goren and Eames characters is surprising.