The Pardoner's Tale

I thought the most interesting part of this story was the ending, which our two heroes, Detectives Goren and Eames totally disgusted with their boss, A.D.A. Carver. That's unusual, because they are usually all on the same page.

The story involves a killing of a newspaper reporter and why and who is responsible? The latter is the big question because it winds up involving the governor, although he is never seen nor directly implicated.

Goren works his way from the driver of the vehicle, to the shooter who used the driver in the getaway, to the guys who hired the shooter up and up and up the ladder. It gets a bit complicated in parts....and winds up with hard feelings all around, and nobody feeling too good about anyone.

All the previous episodes of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' are in my opinion very good to brilliant, such a promising standard for so early on which one doesn't always get with shows, which range from great from the get go, solid but a little unsettled but gets better and doesn't ever take off. So hopes were understandably high for "The Pardoner's Tale", when the good things about all the episodes are so many and are actually more than good. Making one truly gripped and excited for more.

"The Pardoner's Tale" turned out to be a very good episode, but a little disappointing compared to "The Faithful", "Jones" and "Poison". All three were brilliant episodes, especially loved "Jones" for the tension and the ending while "Poison" had one of the season's most reprehensible perpetrators. "The Pardoner's Tale" doesn't quite have those interest points that set those episodes apart, but did execute its components very well.

It is very sordid though, 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' at its most sordid at this point, and may not appeal to all tastebuds. Do understand and agree somewhat that it does leave a bad, or at least unpleasant aftertaste.

Parts of the episode are a touch on the over-complicated side.

Great things are many though. An interest point of "The Pardoner's Tale" is the ending, with a rare occurance of Goren, Eames and Carver not being on the same side and Carver actually disgusting the other two. Different but an interesting side and change to their chemistry without being too out of character. The viewer is always kept guessing and it was great to see, as always intriguing and entertaining though also unorthodox, how the detectives got to the truth and their methods (have always liked that about 'Criminal Intent').

All the writing for "The Pardoner's Tale" is a good balance of not being overly-simple or too complicated, treating the viewer with respect with neither making them feel dumb or losing them. The production values are slick as always and the music (though there is a preference for the other 'Law and Order' themes) isn't overdone in orchestration or how it's used. Vincent D'Onofrio expertly brings out Goren's hard-boiled personality, matched by a more understated Kathryn Erbe. Their chemistry carries the episode very well.

On the whole, very good but not the season at its best. 8/10