When the judge in a race-relations case is murdered, Goren and Eames sift through the likely suspects until they pick up a thread to a very unlikely one.When the judge in a race-relations case is murdered, Goren and Eames sift through the likely suspects until they pick up a thread to a very unlikely one.When the judge in a race-relations case is murdered, Goren and Eames sift through the likely suspects until they pick up a thread to a very unlikely one.
Photos
MacIntyre Dixon
- Franklin Traynor
- (as Macintyre Dixon)
Ty Thomas Reed
- Sean Barton
- (as Ty Reed)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis series likes to reinforce its "ripped from the headlines" feel by the use of - headlines, in mocked-up newspapers. Up until this episode the mocked-up paper has been called "New York Ledger" baring a remarkable resemblance to the real New York Post. In this episode, instead, we are shown for the first time a "USA Daily" which is remarkably similar in format to the real USA Today
- GoofsEarly on, when the detectives are interviewing Judge Barton's children, Gloria Barton stands up and her microphone pack is clearly visible on her lower back.
Featured review
False power
There were some truly fine episodes in Season 4 of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent'. A few disappointed, such as "Eosphoros", "In the Dark" and "Sex Club" (with some major issues too had with "A View from Up Here" and "Collective"). Other episodes however were superb, such as "Semi-Detached", "Want", "Magnificat", "Stress Position" and "Shibboleth". So overall Season 4 was a solid if inconsistent season of 'Criminal Intent' so there were high hopes for its finale "False-Hearted Judges".
"False-Hearted Judges" was impressive on the whole, though for a season finale and considering that Season 4 started off so brilliantly with "Semi-Detached" part of me was somewhat disappointed as well. As far as the fourth season goes, this is towards being one of the lesser episodes, with many great things as well as a few short-comings. It was not though down to being dull or too predictable (far from it), or down to it being uncomfortably strange (it's not).
It's namely down to the pacing being erratic. It is a slow starter for a brief period, but then it too often feels rushed and could have had more time to breathe in order for the viewer to digest. Goren does agreed jump to the truth and conclusions and figures too much of the case too quickly, and too easily at times here, too.
One connection comes so suddenly that it was a stretch for even such an intelligent person to figure it out so quickly without much warning.
However, there is a lot to like about "False-Hearted Judges". The hunting terminology is interesting. The undercover spiel is heavy-handed but wonderfully and amusingly so. The ending does give the chills. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are typically terrific, as is David Andrews. Goren is still a great character, tough as nails, amusing and at times compassionate and Eames' sass never gets old. As always, it's a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole.
Writing is tight enough and thoughtful, being never less than intriguing. Also did like, despite the problematic pacing, that the story was never obvious while not being over-complicated either. Did like that one thinks that the case centres around one thing and then by when everything is revealed it's not what it seemed at first. Some may find the truth on the odd side but unlike a couple of other Season 4 episodes it doesn't feel too much of that.
Concluding, good finale to a solid if inconsistent season but misses out on being great. 7/10
"False-Hearted Judges" was impressive on the whole, though for a season finale and considering that Season 4 started off so brilliantly with "Semi-Detached" part of me was somewhat disappointed as well. As far as the fourth season goes, this is towards being one of the lesser episodes, with many great things as well as a few short-comings. It was not though down to being dull or too predictable (far from it), or down to it being uncomfortably strange (it's not).
It's namely down to the pacing being erratic. It is a slow starter for a brief period, but then it too often feels rushed and could have had more time to breathe in order for the viewer to digest. Goren does agreed jump to the truth and conclusions and figures too much of the case too quickly, and too easily at times here, too.
One connection comes so suddenly that it was a stretch for even such an intelligent person to figure it out so quickly without much warning.
However, there is a lot to like about "False-Hearted Judges". The hunting terminology is interesting. The undercover spiel is heavy-handed but wonderfully and amusingly so. The ending does give the chills. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are typically terrific, as is David Andrews. Goren is still a great character, tough as nails, amusing and at times compassionate and Eames' sass never gets old. As always, it's a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole.
Writing is tight enough and thoughtful, being never less than intriguing. Also did like, despite the problematic pacing, that the story was never obvious while not being over-complicated either. Did like that one thinks that the case centres around one thing and then by when everything is revealed it's not what it seemed at first. Some may find the truth on the odd side but unlike a couple of other Season 4 episodes it doesn't feel too much of that.
Concluding, good finale to a solid if inconsistent season but misses out on being great. 7/10
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 5, 2020
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