Crime Drama TV

The Bravo Network, along with KUSI, TNT, and USA air reruns of L&O: Criminal Intent, and on Sunday evening they ran a mini-marathon: three episodes back-to back, mostly in sequence, which I thought was fairly interesting. Each of the episodes featured (and I so use that term lightly) Samantha Buck in the role of Goren’s temporary partner, G. Something-I-don’t-care-to-remember Bishop while Katheryn Erbe’s Det. Eames was on real-life and cinematic maternity leave. Buck was only on the show for twelve episodes, and I gotta hand it to the writers and Vincent D’Onofrio–Goren’s shaky adjustment to this temp character certainly echoed mine as a loyal viewer. Don’t take me wrong–I had no problems with each of Det. Logan’s partners, and am currently smitten w/Alica Witt as the married, mother of (I think) three Det. Falacci, but that’s because Logan’s character doesn’t require much to work with. Goren, conversely, has been, from Episode 1, a composite of personality oddities ranging from obsessive compulsion (bow down to the master, Monk!) to high-functioning autism, and Eames was and is the only person aside from psycho-nemesis Nicole Wallace capable of handling Goren’s complex character.

Buck irritated me, frustrated Goren, and the first episode Bravo aired, “F.P.S.” (a reference to first-person shooter games) portrayed that emotional instability beautifully. The bad guy was experiencing many of the similar feelings toward his slowly-becoming-ex partner that Goren was toward Eames, and was thus motivated to commit a series–a series–of intricately planned crimes that sent Major Case on a satisfyingly long hunt for the truth. In the end, however, justice was served, and some of Goren’s demons were purged with the news that Eames would be shortly returning.

Bishop didn’t even try to get Goren, and thus, during her brief time on CI, she caused some serious and lasting damage. Like Cousin Oliver, or the second Aunt Viv on Fresh Prince. Adieu, mon cheri.

“Goren hates you and you really suck . . . bye bye Buck.”