Law and Order: Criminal Intent - Vincent Donofrio Carries This Compelling Television Show

Character Robert Goren is the Lynchpin to This Gripping Detective Drama

Craig Kohler, Yahoo! Contributor Network
May 21, 2007 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Recently rumored to be leaving the show, Vincent Donofrio is (fortunately) now slated to stay on for future seasons of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Why is this so significant? Simply put: the show revolves around his brilliantly developed character: Robert Goren. Donofrio brings his big-screen movie experience to this television show, elevating it well above the average American cop or detective drama. Even people who are not fans of the genre should give the series a try, solely based on the strength of Donofrio's main character.

Donofrio's character on Law and Order: Criminal Intent represents a complex mixture of tortured genius and brilliant sleuth. He is at once able to slip inside the minds of criminals and profile them to the point where he can break them psychologically and, often, cause them to confess. The most gripping moments of Law and Order: CI inevitably involve Donofrio. These frequently feature the Goren character's realizations or edge-of-your-seat interviews with suspects. However, equally often, such intense scenes reflect his failures or self-doubt. The show's other characters are at their best when they play off of Donofrio, supporting, questioning or even undermining the character of Robert Goren.

Major series-shaping events and plot arcs often revolve around Donofrio's character. Recurrant villains and support characters usually give some insight into his personality or otherwise inform his role. Goren's family has come up in critical episodes, and, like Goren himself, his family members are shown to be complex and flawed, but always dynamic and fascinating. Even the Goren character's weaknesses act as strengths in relationship to the series, providing perspective and adding complexity to the show. Goren's partner never hesitates to point out problems with Goren's logic or reasoning, when they occur. Kathryn Erbe (who plays Alexandra Eames) acts as part sidekick and part critic to this domineering and demaning detective.

Fans of Donofrio and other viewers may recognize him from such diverse roles as a time-travelling lover (Happy Accidents) or a giant alien cockroach (Men in Black). Donofrio uses his background to his advantage in developing the character of Robert Goren, who is at once comprehensible to viewers but often reveals new layers of his personality. Both scripted revelations (such as a recent shocker about Goren's parents) and character developments (such as Goren's own psychological flaws) serve to make Law and Order: Criminal Intent continually more interesting as a series. With any luck, Donofrio will continue to remain a part of the show indefinitely, even as he pursues other projects as an actor and a director.

Published by Craig Kohler

Nothing to see here folks. Move along, move along. View profile

Law and Order: Criminal Intent - Vincent Donofrio Carries This Compelling Television Show

Character Robert Goren is the Lynchpin to This Gripping Detective Drama

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