The season finale of the seventh season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which was the first season of the show to air on USA after the move from NBC. It’s a Robert Goren and Alexandra Eames episode, breaking from the pattern of the season (Goren/Eames and then Logan/Nola Falacci or Logan/Wheeler) along with the previous episode being Mike Logan and Megan Wheeler when the one before that was also Logan/Wheeler.
Goren is still dealing with the death of his mother when he finds a framed picture of him and his brother, Frank, at her grave. When he investigates further, he is lead down of path of personal heartbreak, self-destruction and shocking betrayal.
Related Tropes:
- Back for the Dead: Both Frank Goren and Nicole Wallace, recurring characters on the series, make their final appearances in this episode.
- The Bus Came Back: Gwen Chapel, the little girl from episode "Grow", returns in the episode and states how Nicole Wallace sent her flowers. It also provides a clue of Goren's nephew, Donny's, disappearance.
- Cycle of Revenge: Why it seems that Nicole is targeting Goren: as Gwen is possibly dying from cancer, she seeks this against Donny.
- Dying Declaration of Love: When realizing that Gage had double-crossed her and was about to kill her, Nicole said, "You tell Bobby he's the only man I ever loved." Once this was confessed, however, he immediately dismisses it, quipping "As if a monster like that could feel love."
- Finger in the Mail: The detectives are sent a heart in the mail. While it was believed to be Donny's heart, DNA testing confirmed it belonged to Nicole. In spite of this, Goren still refuses to believe it.
- Gaslighting: Discussed by Eames when she states that someone is doing this to Goren, trying to frame him for both Frank and Nicole's murders.
- Not So Stoic: The usually snarky and less emotional Eames reels back in horror upon finding a human heart sent to Goren. He on the other hand just stares at it, probably stunned at the discovery.
- Rage Breaking Point: When he learns that Dr. Rodgers told about his true paternity, he angrily confronts her in her lab. Thankfully, she's saved in the nick of time by Ross and she was rattled by Goren's rage, even covering for him claiming she dropped her tools.
- They Were Holding You Back: This was Gage's reasons for killing Frank and Nicole and trying to kill himself, as he believed that they were the causes of Goren's diminishing sanity and professional career.
- Trying Not to Cry: Goren, when discovering the body of his brother, Frank, having been pushed out of a window by Nicole and Declan.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Donny Goren, last seen in "Untethered" having escaped from prison, is referenced in the episode and believed to be the Victim of the Week, but was never physically seen outside if flashbacks and his current whereabouts remained unknown.
- You Bastard!: Goren's reaction to learning about Gage's killing of Frank and Nicole, in addition to his massive manipulation of him into thinking he killed them himself:You...son of a bitch!
