Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001)

Seldom has a fatally flawed concept been better executed than on Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

The best thing about the show is that its cast is so overqualified for it. Vincent D'Onofrio is one of the most inspired and versatile young actors of our time. He was unforgettable in an episode of "Homicide: Life on the Street" in which he barely moved; he spent most of it trapped under a subway car.

Subtlety is not a hallmark of the writing, nor of Christopher Rich's performance as Reba's faithless spouse.

After dialing it down to an 11, [Vincent] D'Onofrio — along with some creepy stories — is turning CI into the best of the L&O franchise.

[Vincent] D'Onofrio is so eccentrically entertaining, even his costar Kathryn Erbe seems fascinated. ... Add tight plotting, and CI is the L&O of the year.

Still, the plot that sparks this dramatic energy, as happens too frequently with the ageing L&O franchise, is humdrum, trusting too much to fans' loyalty and anticipation of the closing spectacle, when Goren flays the murderer into confession.

That's more than a simple bid to cash in on nostalgia for two of the show's original cast members, though it does have that basic appeal. Their return also adds a new dimension to the show.