The detectives try to determine why a social worker was killed with a lye bomb, and whether it has anything to do with a Catholic saint.The detectives try to determine why a social worker was killed with a lye bomb, and whether it has anything to do with a Catholic saint.The detectives try to determine why a social worker was killed with a lye bomb, and whether it has anything to do with a Catholic saint.
Photos
Edward Hajj
- Blaine Devlin
- (as Edward A. Hajj)
Lydia Jordan
- Charlotte
- (as Lydia Grace Jordan)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode seems inspired by the case of forger and murderer Mark Hofmann, who in the late 1980s falsified historical Mormon documents and then "discovered" and sold the said documents back to the Mormon church. The falsified church documents supposedly proved that Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith had practiced black magic. After selling the falsified documents to the church and swearing that he'd given them the only copy, Hofmann leaked the story to the press so as to shame Smith and expose the supposed cover-up. Hofmann eventually murdered two people and confessed to both the killings and the multiple forgeries. He is currently serving a life sentence in prison in Utah.
- GoofsAs James was examining the handwriting of the two papers before him, his hand brushed the left hand one, causing it to twist slightly counterclockwise on the desk. A moment later, it's suddenly straight again. When the camera angle changes again, it's back to being askew.
- Quotes
Detective Alexandra Eames: One fake miracle, two real deaths.
Featured review
The deadly saint
While the first half of Season 3 was well done, with all the episodes being decent to great, to me the season hit its stride with "Unrequited" and generally the second half was better (with one exception that from personal view was the weakest of Season 3). All the best episodes being in this half. "The Saint" had another one of the season's most interesting and creepiest story concepts, and those adjectives still apply when it comes to the episode's execution of this concept.
"The Saint" is brilliant and one of Season 3's best. It has everything that makes prime-'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' so good, and prime-'Criminal Intent' did so much right and those great things still continued when the show didn't feel quite as good in the later seasons. "The Saint" also has other great things that makes it stand out, namely a particularly brilliantly done character relationship that forms the heart of the episode.
First and foremost, and it is hard to know where to start with all the praise, "The Saint" has two fantastic guest star performances that manage to steal the show from under the regulars (and stealing the show from under Vincent D'Onofrio as Goren is not something you see a lot). Lois Smith is formidable and in her best moments curdles the blood in a formidable role not easy to not overact. The biggest surprise of "The Saint", and it was a very pleasant one, was seeing Steven Colbert in an atypical dramatic role (or at least of a character like the one he plays here), excelling brilliantly at being menacing but also somewhat moving at times. That was what was always impressive about 'Criminal Intent', and the whole 'Law and Order' franchise for that matter, drawing great performances from actors in roles that show a different side to them.
One of "The Saint's" biggest interest points and what makes it stand out so much is the relationship between James and Betty, a dynamic riveting in its tension where we see how much the latter has over the former. Like "Shrink Wrapped", also from Season 3, we see what such a hold affects the offspring. In this case, it is quite chilling and also tragic. James is a very interesting and surprisingly complex character, where one hates his actions but can't bring themselves to properly hate him. Actually found myself hating Betty more.
Vincent D'Onofrio is back to being vintage Goren, in a good way, after being for my tastes a touch too subdued in "Shrink Wrapped". His neuroses and perceptions are so spot on and are both entertaining and intelligently handled. Do agree that one cannot ever overlook Kathryn Erbe (never have myself), who is more understated but also still sassy and contrasting so well with D'Onofrio. Their chemistry always sparkled, which is a big reason as to why the second half of Season 3 is better with Eames having a temporary replacement for most of the first half of the season, and plays such a big part in 'Criminal Intent's' appeal.
Writing is intelligent and taut and the story is always compelling, going at a controlled pace but tight enough, that handles a difficult subject that could be potentially heavy-footed and one-sided if not executed well with tact and without taking sides. It especially fascinates in the mother-son relationship that dominates, without overly so, the episode. The episode looks good, is appropriately scored and the direction paces everything beautifully.
Overall, brilliant and a season high point. 10/10
"The Saint" is brilliant and one of Season 3's best. It has everything that makes prime-'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' so good, and prime-'Criminal Intent' did so much right and those great things still continued when the show didn't feel quite as good in the later seasons. "The Saint" also has other great things that makes it stand out, namely a particularly brilliantly done character relationship that forms the heart of the episode.
First and foremost, and it is hard to know where to start with all the praise, "The Saint" has two fantastic guest star performances that manage to steal the show from under the regulars (and stealing the show from under Vincent D'Onofrio as Goren is not something you see a lot). Lois Smith is formidable and in her best moments curdles the blood in a formidable role not easy to not overact. The biggest surprise of "The Saint", and it was a very pleasant one, was seeing Steven Colbert in an atypical dramatic role (or at least of a character like the one he plays here), excelling brilliantly at being menacing but also somewhat moving at times. That was what was always impressive about 'Criminal Intent', and the whole 'Law and Order' franchise for that matter, drawing great performances from actors in roles that show a different side to them.
One of "The Saint's" biggest interest points and what makes it stand out so much is the relationship between James and Betty, a dynamic riveting in its tension where we see how much the latter has over the former. Like "Shrink Wrapped", also from Season 3, we see what such a hold affects the offspring. In this case, it is quite chilling and also tragic. James is a very interesting and surprisingly complex character, where one hates his actions but can't bring themselves to properly hate him. Actually found myself hating Betty more.
Vincent D'Onofrio is back to being vintage Goren, in a good way, after being for my tastes a touch too subdued in "Shrink Wrapped". His neuroses and perceptions are so spot on and are both entertaining and intelligently handled. Do agree that one cannot ever overlook Kathryn Erbe (never have myself), who is more understated but also still sassy and contrasting so well with D'Onofrio. Their chemistry always sparkled, which is a big reason as to why the second half of Season 3 is better with Eames having a temporary replacement for most of the first half of the season, and plays such a big part in 'Criminal Intent's' appeal.
Writing is intelligent and taut and the story is always compelling, going at a controlled pace but tight enough, that handles a difficult subject that could be potentially heavy-footed and one-sided if not executed well with tact and without taking sides. It especially fascinates in the mother-son relationship that dominates, without overly so, the episode. The episode looks good, is appropriately scored and the direction paces everything beautifully.
Overall, brilliant and a season high point. 10/10
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 5, 2020
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