Law & Order - Criminal Intent: The Fifth Year [DVD]

The fifth season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent marks the appearance of Detective Mike Logan (Chris Noth). Noth originated the role in the 1990 premiere of Law & Order--the series that spawned the popular franchise. This time he's partnered with no-nonsense detective Carolyn Barek (Anabella Sciorra). The pair are in the same unit as Detectives Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe). Criminal Intent purists may resent the intrusion of a new team of detectives and seeing quirky Goren only in about half the episodes, but the addition pumps some new life into the procedural drama. While Goren is a nervous intellectual who meticulously pieces together cases, Logan is confident but reactionary. Logan's temper has been somewhat tamed from his earlier days on the police force, but he isn't above tuning up a perp to get him locked up. Both teams work together in a two-part episode involving missing children who may have been abducted by a very high-profile and vindictive pedophile. The season's most memorable episodes still are Goren-centric. The season premiere finds Goren matching wits with his nemesis, serial killer Nicole Wallace (Olivia d'Abo). The antagonizing nature of their relationship has been fascinating to watch over the years because they share some similar traits--traits that neither would like to admit they have. Other standout guest stars include Whoopi Goldberg and Malcolm McDowell. All 22 episodes--which originally aired on NBC during the 2005-2006 television season--are included in this five-disc boxed set. One of the beauties of the Law & Order franchise is you never know which characters may be replaced. By the end of the season, several of the more popular regulars will be gone. --Jae-Ha KimProduct DescriptionNew York’s war on crime enters an unprecedented phase of tension and conflict in the fifth season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Legendary producer Dick Wolf presides over 22 episodes of compelling, ripped-from-the-headlines cases as the Major Case Squad takes on some of its most difficult scenarios to date—from brainwashing and foul play to bondage and bizarre ritualistic killings. Chris Noth joins cast members Annabella Sciorra, Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Jamey Sheridan and Courtney B. Vance as well as guest stars Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Gladis, Leslie Hendrix and Malcolm McDowell for each riveting moment of suspenseful drama. Discover why this unique series in the critically acclaimed Law & Order franchise stays with viewers like no other show ever has long after the final clue is revealed.