TV on Disc: ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent – The Seventh Year’
Law & Order: Criminal Intent – The Seventh Year (Shout! Factory) is the final season of this incarnation of the franchise to feature Chris Noth as Detective Mike Logan, the character he created on the original “Law & Order” and resurrected in the fifth season of this spin-off to give star Vincent D’Onofrio a break from the schedule. It’s also one of the best seasons. Alicia Witt steps in as Noth’s “not a people person” partner for five episodes (stepping in for Julianna Nicholson while she was on leave) and Noth goes head-to-head with an unscrupulous, possibly criminal DA (Leslie Hope) who puts her career above justice. And that’s not even the season finale; it pits D’Onofrio’s Goren against his nemesis Nicole Wallace (Olivia d’Abo) in a case that involves the murder of his brother (Tony Goldwyn) and the machinations of his mentor (John Glover), which nearly drives him over the edge.
Kathryn Erbe is the show’s quiet strength as Goren’s partner, a sharp investigator who plays counterbalance in social situations, and Eric Bogosian is the unit Captain, who understands the way power works in the department. 22 episodes on five discs. DVD only, no supplements.
