"Self-Made" on first watch, have re-watched it twice since, was seen with mixed expectations. The story didn't sound anything extraordinary or new and up to this point of Season 7 only "Ammends" was outstanding. Logan's new partner Falacci didn't work for me in any of the three episodes of theirs pre-"Self-Made", Season 7 once again alternating between two partnerships. It was still seen anyway, as 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' still had brilliant episodes when it became less consistent and will always love Goren and Eames.
As far as Season 7 episodes go, "Self Made" is neither one of the best or worst. Somewhere in the middle if anything. Goren and Eames are fine as are the supporting performances, but there are other episodes with more involving plots that are less conventional. It is very interesting to see a pre-'Special Victims Unit' Pablo Schreiber (his William Lewis being one of the latter seasons' most memorable characters) in his second 'Criminal Intent' appearance, the first being "The Unblinking Eye".
There are plenty of good things here. The photography while very close up doesn't come over as too static or filmed play-like, while the production values are typically solid and have subtle atmosphere while not being drab and keeping things simple. When the music is used it is haunting and has a melancholic edge that is not overdone. The direction is sympathetic enough while not being static or gimmicky.
It is a mostly thoughtfully scripted episode, there is a lot of talk but generally it didn't feel too much. Shining particularly in the classic Goren-like perceptions and Eames' wit, as well as Shill's dialogue. The story starts off mostly quite promisingly and intriguingly and the supporting characters are not as sketchy as some of the previous episodes' supporting characters. Shill is a memorable snake-like character. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are terrific as usual and their chemistry has yet to be believable. The supporting cast are fine too, while Schreiber is good Peter Coyote's unnerving turn comes off most memorably.
For all those good things, there are drawbacks as well. Did feel that the story started to drag a bit in the middle act and got very predictable from doing little fresh with plot tropes that have been seen before frequently.
Did think that too much was crammed in towards the end with not enough time to explain it, meaning that the ending was on the rushed and convoluted side.
Overall, not at all bad though nothing to be blown away by. 7/10.
As far as Season 7 episodes go, "Self Made" is neither one of the best or worst. Somewhere in the middle if anything. Goren and Eames are fine as are the supporting performances, but there are other episodes with more involving plots that are less conventional. It is very interesting to see a pre-'Special Victims Unit' Pablo Schreiber (his William Lewis being one of the latter seasons' most memorable characters) in his second 'Criminal Intent' appearance, the first being "The Unblinking Eye".
There are plenty of good things here. The photography while very close up doesn't come over as too static or filmed play-like, while the production values are typically solid and have subtle atmosphere while not being drab and keeping things simple. When the music is used it is haunting and has a melancholic edge that is not overdone. The direction is sympathetic enough while not being static or gimmicky.
It is a mostly thoughtfully scripted episode, there is a lot of talk but generally it didn't feel too much. Shining particularly in the classic Goren-like perceptions and Eames' wit, as well as Shill's dialogue. The story starts off mostly quite promisingly and intriguingly and the supporting characters are not as sketchy as some of the previous episodes' supporting characters. Shill is a memorable snake-like character. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are terrific as usual and their chemistry has yet to be believable. The supporting cast are fine too, while Schreiber is good Peter Coyote's unnerving turn comes off most memorably.
For all those good things, there are drawbacks as well. Did feel that the story started to drag a bit in the middle act and got very predictable from doing little fresh with plot tropes that have been seen before frequently.
Did think that too much was crammed in towards the end with not enough time to explain it, meaning that the ending was on the rushed and convoluted side.
Overall, not at all bad though nothing to be blown away by. 7/10.
