While Goren begins seeing a therapist, he and Eames investigate the death of a bank executive who was in charge the Catholic Church in New York's funds that go to abuse victims.While Goren begins seeing a therapist, he and Eames investigate the death of a bank executive who was in charge the Catholic Church in New York's funds that go to abuse victims.While Goren begins seeing a therapist, he and Eames investigate the death of a bank executive who was in charge the Catholic Church in New York's funds that go to abuse victims.
Photos
- Alice Garvey
- (as Mary McCann)
- Helen Richardson
- (as Nedra McClyde)
- Detective Petracca
- (as Samantha Ross)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe riddle that Goren mentions in the psychiatrist's office is solved by asking either guard which door the other guard would tell you to enter, and then doing the opposite. The one who always tells the truth will tell you that the one who always lies would tell you to enter the door to hell, since that would be his lie. The one who always lies would falsely tell you the one who tells the truth would point you towards the same door, meaning you shouldn't believe him and should pick the opposite door.
- GoofsDetective Goren tells the M.E. that the olive oil and balsam found on the victim are the components of "myrrh", but they are actually the components of "chrism", which is used for anointing during certain rites in the Catholic Church.
- Quotes
Paula Gyson: Detective Goren? I'm Paula Gyson. Come on in.
Robert Goren: Sorry I'm late.
Paula Gyson: Well, it's tough to get away from your job.
Robert Goren: No excuse.
[looking around]
Robert Goren: Your office, it's... striking.
Paula Gyson: Thank you.
Robert Goren: These two doors, they remind me of a riddle. You know the one? Two identical doors. Two identical guards. One guard is an angel guarding heaven, he always tells the truth. And the other guard is a devil guarding hell. He always has to lie. You have one question to ask to get into heaven. What would that question be? You'll never get it. It's... You'll...
Paula Gyson: Give me time.
- ConnectionsReferences Bell Book and Candle (1958)
Because the 'Law and Order' franchise to me has a fairly hit and miss track record when it comes to bringing religion into their cases, sometimes it is intriguing and gives one the creeps but at others it comes over as heavy handed and too judgemental. Luckily, "The Consolor" does better than most episodes of the franchise at not doing any of the latter traps. And Goren's development doesn't take over the case too much. "The Consolor" is another great episode, which was a relief having been so impressed by "Rispetto".
"The Consolor" is at its weakest with everything to do with the therapy, which does intrigues and furthers Goren as a character but slows the momentum at points.
However, everything else is brilliantly done. It is as ever shot with the right amount of intimacy without feeling too up close, even with a reliance of close up camerawork. That the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time is great too. The music isn't over-scored, manipulative or used too much. There is intimacy and tautness in the direction.
Writing is tight and thoughtful, with nothing being laid on too heavily. It didn't feel like some statement was being made or that the writers were making too much of a judgement, both of which have happened with some episodes in the franchise that have religion playing a big role in the story. The story on the most part is absorbing and definitely packs a punch emotionally, with a sad and anger inducing case and also what is said in the therapy. A difficult and sadly still relevant issue is raised in this episode's case, which is done uncompromisingly where you really hate the responsible but also tactfully.
Goren once again is a great character as is his playful yet with degrees of tension chemistry with Eames. The climax is not quite as great as the one in "Rispetto", but again closer to the thought probing and tense ones of the earlier seasons rather than the rushed, melodramatic and ridiculous ones of some of the later episodes that didn't have Goren and Eames. Vincent D'Onofrio is terrific as can be expected. Can't fault the rest of the cast as well (Neal McDonaugh taking top honours in support), though Jay O Sanders never got the chance for his character to grow (not a bad replacement at all, but eight episodes is not enough for a regular cast member with a not massive role to stand out properly).
In conclusion, great. 9/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 2, 2021
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD