History YMMV / LawAndOrderCriminalIntent

** The episode "Folie a Deux" has the missing baby girl's great-Aunt telling the detectives how she herself is in failing health and knows that the little girl is dead, even explaining how [[DeathByDespair the baby is the only thing keeping her alive.]] The woman is played by Lynn Redgrave, who would die of breast cancer less than a year after the episode's airing.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Many fans have responded well to Nicole Wallace, who in spite of being a SerialKiller and the BigBad, still has a [[MagnificentBitch strong]] [[TheseTropesAreEvilAndSexy appeal]] to her, even years after the series ended.

** Also, while no one could dare question that Creator/WhoopiGoldberg is a phenomenal actress, be it to make one [[Film/SisterAct laugh]] or [[Literature/TheColorPurple cry]], ''no one'' expected her to pull off such a performance in "To The Bone", where she wasn't just a believable character, but [[spoiler: evil as sin]].

** The NoCelebritiesWereHarmed version of Michael Vick who is central to Season 9's "Inhumane Society" is a boxer rather than a football player, played by Creator/MichaelBJordan in one of his first roles. Not only does this presage his playing [[Film/{{Creed}} Adonis Creed]], but since this is a Detective Nichols episode he plays scenes alongside Creator/JeffGoldblum -- who knew that [[Film/BlackPanther2018 Erik Killmonger]] [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse and]] [[Film/ThorRagnarok the Grandmaster]] knew each other casually?

** The season two episode, "Monster", is partially inspired by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Chambers_(criminal) Robert Chambers, who was committed the infamous "Preppie Murder" in 1986]] and his 2003 release. At the end of the episode, the suspect was sent back to prison [[spoiler: for committing a rape fifteen years prior and letting others take the fall for it and his being an accessory in his mother's present-day murder]]. In 2008, Chambers was imprisoned for another 19 years as well, but for selling drugs.

* GeniusBonus: Many of the episode titles, especially of the older episodes. Case in point, the episode, "Graansha" was a word meaning "stranger" in Shelta, an ancient language by Irish travellers and the suspect in the episode was a tradition-obsessed person [[spoiler: who killed his sister to keep people she brought into the fray of their sect out.]] Also, "Death Roe" has the latter word spelled like that because roe is the eggs of shellfish and the secondary victim of the episode was [[spoiler:served poisoned abalone as an intentional ploy by a competitor to sabotage the restaurant that served her.]]

** The season two episode, "Monster", is partially inspired by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Chambers_(criminal) Robert Chambers, who was committed the infamous "Preppie Murder" in 1986]] and his 2003 release. At the end of the episode, the suspect was sent back to prison [[spoiler: for committing a rape fifteen years prior and letting others take the fall for it and his being an accessory in his mother's present-day murder.]] In 2008, Chambers was imprisoned for another 19 years as well, but for selling drugs.

* HesJustHiding: A common theory concerning [[spoiler:Nicole Wallace's death at the end of season 7.]] Given that the information came from a less than reliable source and since [[spoiler:Nicole]] has faked [[spoiler:her]] own death before, this isn't entirely unfounded.

** Also, while no one could dare question that Creator/WhoopiGoldberg is a phenomenal actress, be it to make one [[Film/SisterAct laugh]] or [[Literature/TheColorPurple cry]], ''no one'' expected her to pull off such a performance in "To The Bone", where she wasn't just a believable character, but [[spoiler: evil as sin.]]

* LoveToHate: Nicole Wallace. Aside from being a BreakoutVillain and one of the only people to outwit Goren, her episodes were always popular [[spoiler: and many viewers were upset to learn she was apparently murdered, even to the point of refusing to accept this as canon.]]

** Seasons 2-7: [[FemmeFatale Nicole Wallace]] is a charming Australian murderer whose brilliance established her as the "[[ArchEnemy white whale]]" of Detective Robert Goren's career. First appearing under a false identity, Nicole manipulated Mark Bayley into committing murder so she could become a citizen, she then murders Bayley and subtly reveals her deception to Goren before escaping. Nicole then married Gavin Haynes and committed another murder, framing Daniel Croyan, knowing that Goren would doggedly pursue Coryan and ignore other possibilities, before murdering Croyan and framing it as a suicide to ruin Goren’s reputation. After using Haynes' loyalty to escape justice, Nicole divorces him and starts molding Ella Myazaki into a killer like herself, nearly killing Haynes then murdering Ella and faking her own death. Nicole then becomes engaged to Evan Chapel and desires to live a normal life with him and his daughter Gwen. When she learns that Evan is trying to murder Gwen, Nicole exposes him to the police and kidnaps Gwen, only to realize that her very nature makes her a threat to Gwen and releases her. Staying just out of Goren's grasp the whole time, Nicole is only stopped when Declan Gage murders her, her last words being, "[[FaceDeathWithDignity You tell Bobby, he's the only man I ever loved]]."
** "[[Recap/LawAndOrderCriminalIntentS6E1BlindSpot Blind Spot]]" & "[[Recap/LawAndOrderCriminalIntentS7E22Frame Frame]]": [[PsychoPsychologist Dr. Declan Gage]] is a [[TheProfiler profiler of serial killers]] who analyzes them and gets into their minds as a means of figuring out their next moves. He ended up passing on his methods to his protégée Goren, [[ParentalSubstitute thinking of him as a son]]. When a killer Gage tried to flush out by means of informing the press of evidence seems to resurface, Gage pushes to be involved in the case even when accused of the killings himself and gives Goren info and advice that helps him in investigating. After his now-estranged daughter Jo--and the true killer--ends up in a self-inflicted coma, Gage, [[ItsAllMyFault blaming himself]], seeks to free Goren of his personal demons to do right by him. While making himself appear to be a target as well, Gage ends up convincing Nicole Wallace to kill Goren's addict brother Frank and then kills her while leaving evidence that suggests Goren's the culprit, but then has it lead to himself so Goren will catch him. In doing this, Gage seeks to free Goren of the three people in his life still bringing him down [[WellIntentionedExtremist so he can finally start anew]].

** Another In-Universe example is done effectively by Nichols when coldly confronting [[spoiler: Captain Ross' killer, who, given his DiplomaticImmunity and a lack of evidence, [[KarmaHoudini gets away with both his murder]] and [[SelfMadeOrphan the murder of his own father]]]]. Obviously it works, given the OhCrap look on the man's face once Nichols is finished:
-->'''Nichols''': "So how will you meet your end? Shot by a trusted chauffeur? Poison from your favorite wife? Hanged in a basement like UsefulNotes/SaddamHussein? You know it's coming; you just don't know when."

* SuccessThroughInsanity: {{Deconstructed}}. Detective Robert Goren was encouraged by mentor Declan Gage to indulge his darker impulses to help him understand the criminal mind, and for a long time this approach served him well. However, after a particularly grueling season, he learned that Gage was manipulating events in order to kill Goren's brother and his nemesis, convinced that Goren would be a better detective with fewer people in his life to distract him. Instead, it drove Goren into a psychotic break.

** Frances Goren as well, which also crosses into "They Wasted a Perfectly Good ''Actress''" in veteran actress Creator/RitaMoreno. Even as a schizophrenic [[spoiler: dying of cancer]], instead of being given more of a thorough backstory, she's portrayed as unlikable and unsympathetic as possible and is emotionally abusive to her younger son. She even casually told him [[spoiler: that a SerialKiller is his real father, being the product of a long-term affair between the two]], further screwing with the detective's diminishing sanity.
** Jo Gage in "Blind Spot" is one of the most terrifying characters Goren and Eames have ever come up against, she kidnapped and tortured Eames, and is an effective EvilCounterpart to Goren. Except she's only in one episode and never returns, which some viewers found a waste of her talent.

** Also, it would have been an interesting storyline for Nicole Wallace to make an appearance during Goren's SanitySlippage throughout seasons six and seven and been able to use that to her advantage and [[BadassDecay mock him for no longer being at his best.]] Instead, she was treated to a throwaway episode that she was barely featured in [[spoiler: just to be unceremoniously killed off.]]

** Rose, the killer's girlfriend in "In The Dark". It is rather sad that she [[spoiler:had a [[{{Squick}} coffin baby]] [[NightmareFuel that calcified in her stomach over 30 years ago]]]] and she ''would'' have been sympathetic in that alone... if only she hadn't [[spoiler: lied about her daughter being alive and "in trouble" (with drugs, ostensibly) and [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom led her boyfriend to kill homeless men for the money]] "[[TheGhost Jenny]]" needed for rehab.]]

* ValuesDissonance: The episode "The Glory That Was..." has been removed from rotation due to the ColdOpen featuring a lesbian couple in bed together. Even though the episode aired in 2009, the fact that the LGBTQ community is far more widely accepted these days had led many to believe that very little issue would be caused if aired today and a demand that the episode return to the air. It isn't available on Peacock either, which is especially weird since the service launched in ''2020''.

* DiagnosedByTheAudience: Goren seems to have trouble connecting with others, has a hard time accepting changes in routine (most notably displayed any time Eames is absent), gets obsessive about things easily, latches on to small details, fidgets quite a bit... a lot of signs of someone on the autism spectrum.[[note]]This may be {{Actor Shared Background}}/{{Disabled Character Disabled Actor}}, as Vincent D'Onofrio himself is dyslexic and [[https://youtu.be/WvI6pMyAMHk?t=155 possibly autistic.]][[/note]]

* DiagnosedByTheAudience: Goren seems to have trouble connecting with others, has a hard time accepting changes in routine (most notably displayed any time Eames is absent), gets obsessive about things easily, latches on to small details... a lot of signs of someone on the autism spectrum.[[note]]This may be {{Actor Shared Background}}/{{Disabled Character Disabled Actor}}, as Vincent D'Onofrio himself is dyslexic and [[https://youtu.be/WvI6pMyAMHk?t=155 possibly autistic.]][[/note]]

* DiagnosedByTheAudience: Goren seems to have trouble connecting with others, has a hard time accepting changes in routine (most notably displayed any time Eames is absent), gets obsessive about things easily, latches on to small details... a lot of signs of someone on the autism spectrum.[[note]]This may be TruthInTelevision as Vincent D'Onofrio himself is dyslexic and [[https://youtu.be/WvI6pMyAMHk?t=155 possibly autistic.]][[/note]]
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Many fans have responded well to Nicole Wallace, who in spite of being a SerialKiller and the BigBad, still has a [[MagnificentBitch strong]] [[EvilIsSexy appeal]] to her, even years after the series ended.

** The episode "Contract" features Creator/JeffGarlin as a Harvey Weinstein-esque producer who is covering up the fact that he raped a teenager. Almost ten years later, the real Harvey Weinstein would be accused of rape and sexual misconduct by a number of women, including former CI star Annabella Sciorra. And then, a few years after ''that'', Jeff Garlin himself would be accused of sexual misconduct on ''Series/TheGoldbergs'', resulting in him being fired from that show. And then, a few days after ''that'', Chris Noth, who starred in the episode, would be accused of sexual misconduct by Zoe Lister-Jones, who appeared all the way back on "Diamond Dogs", the first CI episode in whcih he starred.

* AmbiguousDisorder: Goren seems to have trouble connecting with others, has a hard time accepting changes in routine (most notably displayed any time Eames is absent), gets obsessive about things easily, latches on to small details... a lot of signs of someone on the autism spectrum.[[note]]This may be TruthInTelevision as Vincent D'Onofrio himself is dyslexic and [[https://youtu.be/WvI6pMyAMHk?t=155 possibly autistic.]][[/note]]

** In the episode "Collective", Alex reads off this rather [[IncrediblyLamePun interesting]] pun from a brochure:

* SpiritualSequel: Some of the episodes are like a darker take of ''Series/Columbo'' in the sense of a ReverseWhodunnit. Even after the SeasonalRot, a good number of episodes openly showcase who will be or was the killer, and the majority of the episode after that is leading up the clues and information the detectives can find to lead back to the killer. Robert Goren was even something of a modern, more abnormal take on Lieutenant Columbo, both of them being highly eccentric, considered abnormal by all but their closest associates, and yet so extraordinary at catching out the smallest details of suspect profiling that they tend to cotton onto the perp well before anyone else.

* IdiotPlot: "Betrayed" is this in spades. A former girlfriend of Capt. Ross, who is also a former cop-turned-crime writer, has a younger husband who went missing along with his mistress. Naturally, she would be a suspect; however, due to both her interference/manipulation of the situation (and knowledge of police procedure) ''and'' Ross' himself telling Goren and Eames to back off due to his friendship and blind devotion for her, they have no choice but to investigate other leads and ultimate dead ends, just because of the torch he's carried for her all these years. Not only does it stall the investigation and delay the time to discover their whereabouts, but it makes Capt. Ross (and the detectives, by extension) look incompetent.

* {{Shipping}}: Goren/Eames has a rather large fanbase. There are also fans of Logan/Wheeler (or, really, Logan/his latest partner) as well; however, Logan/Wheeler actually had some resolution in-universe. Also, although it's not ''nearly'' as popular as Goren/Eames, there's also Goren and Paula Gyson, the psychiatrist he's ordered to see in season 10.

* AudienceAlienatingEra: Even though one could argue any time after season four could be this, season six is when it hit full stride. Rene Balcer left as the series' showrunner, [[ReplacementScrappy Warren Leight]] stepped into the position and with him, new writers who weren't too familiar with the ''Law & Order'' franchise came along and ruined the dynamic of the show. The show took a more emotional standpoint to it and stop focusing some much on the criminals (which was one of the main hooks of the show), the writing was more in line with rival show '''Series/{{CSI}}''' [[WereStillRelevantDammit (even having episodes start off with a pop song in a hope of the storyline becoming more appealing)]] and they got rid of the time and location cards, which are a staple of the franchise. Even with these changes eventually being done away with and Leight leaving the position, the damage was done.

** At the end of "Brother's Keeper", Goren goes through a [[AdultFear brief scare when he thinks his brother was found dead]], but it turned out to be another man. [[spoiler:The ending gets hard to watch since Goren would ''really'' find his brother dead in the future. And he didn't just die, he was ''murdered''. ''By his mentor''.]]

** The NoCelebritiesWereHarmed version of Michael Vick who is central to Season 9's "Inhumane Society" is a boxer rather than a football player, played by Creator/MichaelBJordan in one of his first roles. Not only does this presage his playing [[Film/{{Creed}} Adonis Creed]], but since this is a Detective Nichols episode he plays scenes alongside Creator/JeffGoldblum -- who knew that [[Film/BlackPanther Erik Killmonger]] and [[Film/ThorRagnarok the Grandmaster]] knew each other casually?

* FoeYay: Goren and Nicole Wallace, so very much. The reason for her obsession with him is described, at one point, as being ''because'' she couldn't seduce him. Even as she was [[spoiler: about to be murdered by Declan Gage, her last words were]] "You tell Bobby that he's the only man I ever loved."

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The original and the newer theme songs, which are remixes of the themes of [[Series/LawAndOrder the Mothership]] and ''Series/LawAndOrderTrialByJury'', respectively.

* DorkAge: Even though one could argue any time after season four could be this, season six is when it hit full stride. Rene Balcer left as the series' showrunner, [[ReplacementScrappy Warren Leight]] stepped into the position and with him, new writers who weren't too familiar with the ''Law & Order'' franchise came along and ruined the dynamic of the show. The show took a more emotional standpoint to it and stop focusing some much on the criminals (which was one of the main hooks of the show), the writing was more in line with rival show '''Series/{{CSI}}''' [[WereStillRelevantDammit (even having episodes start off with a pop song in a hope of the storyline becoming more appealing)]] and they got rid of the time and location cards, which are a staple of the franchise. Even with these changes eventually being done away with and Leight leaving the position, the damage was done.