A Look Back At "Alpha Dog"

Yeah, I know, it’s been a minute…or two…since the final Goren/ Eames episode of Season 8 aired. Obviously, I have never been one to worry about being the first to post comments or screen caps of recently aired episodes. That’s not my style. I work at my own pace, and I do this for…well…me. But if there are others along the way who happen to glean some small measure of pleasure from my meager offerings…then that’s just dandy, too. You flatter me by stopping by my blog now and again, and I thank you for it.

And now, a few words about “Alpha Dog.”

A day or two after this episode aired, I checked the All Things Law & Order blog, and I had to agree with her…I was confused the first time I watched it. Mainly because I couldn’t keep two of the main characters straight…two of the women…the perp’s wife and the dead guy’s “paramour.” They looked too much like one another, and it took my “aged” brain a while to differentiate between the two. By that time, we were well into the story, so I dispatched the notion of trying to figure out the “who” and the “why” dunnit, and just concentrated on the best part of Law & Order CI…Bobby.

Did you check out the pictures hanging on the wall of Hamp’s (the murder victim) apartment…Gandhi, Cary Grant, and Nelson Mandela. Guess he wasn’t just another buff bod and pretty face, huh? Go figure! But I’ve gotta ask…is it even “remotely” possible for a corpse to be in that reclined position? Frankly, I don’t know how the actor maintained that pose throughout the whole scene.

I loved Eames’ little smirk after Rodgers says, “I’ll hold off judgment until after I crack his chest.” This was in response to all of Bobby’s suppositions, educated guesses, and “gut” instincts as to how Hamp had died; i.e., suffocation.

Again, I find myself agreeing with ATL&O…I thought memory foam mattresses “bounced” back. I’ve slept on them, in fact, and never had any part of my super-sized body’s indentation left for me to fall back into hours later.

Okay, I feel the overwhelming "need" to pause in my “recap” of this episode to interject a personal plea to the wardrobe department for next season…assuming we get a next season. Please, by all that’s holy, burn the damned striped shirts before next season. VDO has trimmed down again, so maybe he’ll be back to the suit & tie and French cuffs regime. If not, that’s okay, but just PLEASE, “No more striped shirts!!” she shrieked in her best “Mommie Dearest” freak-out.

Another memorable line comes from Rodgers in the morgue when she says, “Detective Goren, once again, has an irritating way of being right.” Yes, he does, Rodgers, and that is why I love him so much.

And now for...perhaps...the best line ever delivered by a LOCI guest star. It is the one said by Hamp’s ex-wife when Bobby and Eames are questioning her at 1PP, and she tells them, “I’ve played a murderess, I know how they think.” I love that line and loved equally Bobby’s reaction…that little smile and chuckle. Yeah, right…this chick “knows” how a murderer thinks.

“Remind me to never get old.” Ah, if only it were that easy. It has been so long since I jotted down these notes that I don’t remember which character said this or in what context, but I can surely empathize. I am forever telling people, “Don’t get old.” It’s not fun…nope…not one little bit.

Detective “Goblin?” I’m still chuckling over that one. My poor, picked-on Bobby. And look at Eames, rushing to correct the insipid man. I adore the look on Bobby’s face…it’s like he’s thinking, “You little pischer…I could squash you like a bug.”

It was amusing watching Bobby “brush” the photographers/ paparazzi out of the way when they went to the rally looking for the girl that Hamp hit-on in the bar the night he was murdered; i.e., Gala. I wonder if Vincent D’Onofrio does that in “real” life when he goes out. Most likely, he has "people" to do that sort of thing for him.

“Major Case Squad – the name “implies” competence and judgment,” says Captain Ross after the debacle at the rally makes the cover of a local tabloid. Granted, Bobby’s “judgment” may be off a little at times; i.e., Nicole, Nelda, and Leslie fairly "leap" to mind, but there is no questioning his competence or passion or integrity or compassion or dedication or…well, you get the idea.

I have another plea for next season, and that is for “proper” lighting please. I’m talking about the scene when they go to question the guy in prison and Bobby can be found “propping up” a wall. This is a man who should not be kept in the dark, people. They just don’t light him adequately sometimes. It is "annoying" and…frustrating.

Now, I knew it would be Eames who questioned the chick in the sauna. The one who Captain Ross said was, “…beautiful, very beautiful. That kind of beauty requires high maintenance.” (I’m starting to not like Ross again.) Anyway, wouldn’t it have been an absolute “hoot” if Bobby had been the one who stepped through that sauna door instead of Eames? You can’t see me, but I’m smiling at the thought.

And now for the most obnoxious quote of the episode. It’s one of the things Duke’s wife says to Eames in the sauna; i.e., “It’s not just money, it’s the power that comes with money. “Little people like you” don’t understand.” Well, I “understand” this much…she’s a Bitch!

When the Scotch turns up missing and Eames’ explanation is, “Well, it’s not a perfect world. Some Scotch-loving cop obviously drank it,” I love the reaction-look on Bobby’s face. We all know how he is partial to Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Now, I don’t know if Eames was “implying” that Bobby was the “Scotch-loving” cop who purloined the potent potable, but I suppose that a $2,000 bottle of Scotch from a private stock that is not for sale to the general public “could” be a daunting temptation…even to someone with Bobby’s staunch resolve. Nah, he didn’t do it…not my Bobby.

Did anyone else find it odd that a former cop was “stupid” enough to leave his prints on the crime scene seal on the door at Hamp’s apartment? I suppose that would explain why he’s a Security Cop now and no longer a member of the NYPD.

DNA takes weeks to process…says Ross…and yet they magically, routinely have it in a matter of days/hours. Well, we really can’t track that kind of thing anymore since they took away the date tracker. I'm one of the few who actually miss the "doink-doink" and the date stamp.

And I’m really getting tired of everyone taking potshots and picking on my Bobby. I’m talking about the scene near the end when Duke comes striding into the squad room, taking names and making threats and announces to Bobby that “he” is at the top of his list. Got news for you, smarmy little pipsqueak of a man…Bobby is at the top of “my” list, too…albeit for vastly different reasons. So, get in line, buddy, get in line.

As usual, in the end, Bobby very cleverly gets his man to confess and all is well that ends well. And so ends another Goren/Eames season of Law & Order CI.

A lot of people were not too happy with Season 8 overall...starting with the fact that USA postponed the original start date from November 2008 (I think) until April 2009 and then chose not to air the episodes in the order in which they were filmed to the obvious lack of continuity in the length of Goren's hairstyle and facial hair to the horrible decision to write and present "All In" the way they did to the...well...you fill in the blanks.

When all is said and done for me, however, all I can say is I was happy to have Bobby back in Season 8. And I look forward to having him come back again and again and again...until he's a doddering old man, solving crimes from a bed in his room at the "Happy Trails" nursing home. Until then...here's the "Alpha Dog" slideshow for your viewing pleasure.

"Alpha Dog" Slideshow - Season 8

"Family Values" Recap

The first thing I have to say about this episode is that I am "officially" tired of the religious themed storylines. I thought this was a very good episode and Bobby was in “prime” form; especially at the end. But, for the record, I feel compelled to say that not everyone who believes in God is an irrational, homophobic, fanatical, murdering lunatic...all evidence to the contrary if one is to believe Dick Wolf and his bevy of writers.

Second, right off the bat, I noticed “three” repeat guest stars. Besides the obvious David Harbour, who played the charismatic “master thief” in “Silver Lining” back in Season 4, there were two others. Susan/Susie Misner, who played Harbour’s wife in this one, also co-starred in “Smothered” in Season 1 and “Acts of Contrition” in Season 5. And Karen Ziemba, the gay drama teacher, co-starred in D.A.W. in Season 3 as the doctor’s love interest. You know, the way they recycle actors on Law & Order CI and the other two Dick Wolf shows, I have to wonder what will happen to them all when the franchises finally leave the air.

And third, just how stupid do the writers think we are? The bad guy’s name is Paul Devildis. I’ll repeat that…D-E-V-I-L…dis. Yeah, he's the devil. We got that when he bashed in his brother-in-law’s head. I’m sure the eight of hearts that was prominently displayed on Paul’s workbench when he was constructing the pipe bomb was meant to have some symbolic meaning as to Paul’s psyche as well, but my interest has not been piqued enough to inspire me to research it.

After eight years, I never tire of hearing Bobby say, “Just one last thing.” It is good to know that some things never change, don't you agree? He says this in the beginning when he and Eames are interviewing Paul and his wife and it happens to be another one of those scenes when the observant (translation...obsessive) viewer can tell that he is "fidgeting" about. It's a head shot of Bobby, but one can see his shoulder “vibrating” because he is bouncing that nervous leg of his.

I’m liking Ross better again now that he seems to have rid himself of that enormous chip he’d been carrying on his shoulder earlier this season. Guess he had to have time to get over Bobby’s “face off” in his office during “Frame.” For example, when Bobby states he’s pretty sure they’re dealing with a first offender, Ross accepts Bobby’s assessment without making some sarcastic comeback. Lately, every time Bobby says something, Ross makes a snarky comment, so I am glad to see that is changing. They’re on good enough terms for Bobby to do some of the briefings, too.

Looks like the effects of aging are starting to creep up on my guy, too. Have you noticed him stretching reading items to arm's length? It happens to all of us...eventually. After all, the eyes are the first things to go...so they say.

How "convenient" that the daughter turns on the radio at just the right moment to learn that her mother has been murdered...no reaction, by the way...and that “Daddy” was wanted by the police for questioning. I understand she recognizes that her father is acting strangely, but to make that leap to think he is a psychotic murderer… she’s astute for her age. And then when she tried to run away…I knew she was doomed. I mean, I’ve watched enough B-movies to know that running into the woods away from the “bad guy” never bodes well for the heroine.

I guess it was Eames’ turn to use the walkie-talkie this week since Bobby had it last time. And this stakeout was orchestrated a good deal better than the previous one.

Okay, I’m all for the “heroine” taking control of her destiny and having the presence of mind to leave clues for her rescuers to follow, but...come on. Really? Did you check out the “perfect” symmetrical drawing of the box with the cross? I can’t draw that well freehand, and she had her hands tied behind her back, could not see what she was doing, and was in fear for her life from her maniacal father. And when Ross asked “what it was” and Bobby said, “You tell us,” was he being sincere, or playing with the captain, or just “including” him in their investigation?

My new favorite LOCI moment…at least for the time being…has to be watching the look of determination on Bobby’s face as he marches over to Paul and grasps him by the shoulder and leads him away from the others. Talk about being taken out to the woodshed. Although, did you notice that somewhere along the walk from the driveway to inside the cabin, Bobby shed his gloves and scarf?

In all the years I’ve watched this show, I’ve never been able to determine if Bobby believes in God or not. He certainly knows a lot of scripture and Biblical stories and their interpretation regardless. I know I would not want to engage in a theological discussion with the man, but then I don't discuss religion with too many people.

This was quintessential Bobby at his best. When he “tricked” Paul into revealing that his daughter was still alive, he let him know it with a cocky, “Now I do.” All the intimidation techniques were back…like standing behind the perp and talking into his ear, and badgering him to say the name of the one who told him to kill his family and the others, right up to the full-on frontal assault— Oh, yeah…my Bobby is most definitely back.

Lots and lots of very nice close-ups of Bobby during his "aria," however, have you noticed those once perfect teeth (caps... whatever) are starting to show a little wear and tear? One of his front teeth (the one on the left if you are looking at him straight on) appears to be a little "shorter" and there is a small space starting to appear to the right of the other one. I noticed it a while ago, but shied away from saying anything, lest I get hung in effigy for daring to imply that he is less than perfect. Hey, no one enjoys a trip to the dentist.

Everyone is talking about how Bobby looks like a big ol' cuddly "teddy bear" in that coat he is wearing in the final scene, and I do not disagree. But, if they all skedaddled straightaway from the cabin to the cemetery to rescue the fair damsel in distress, then where did it come from? He was wearing his overcoat at the cabin. Guess he was carrying a backup in the SUV, huh?

Well, the good news is we get another Goren/Eames episode this week, and it looks like it's going to get "personal" with Eames. Let's see, "A brutal murder brings out skeletons in Eames' closet." Hmm...she always comes across as a bit of a prude and holier than thou, so this should be interesting. I also can't wait to see her reaction to Bobby's question, "You slept with him?" Looks intriguing.

And now to the "Family Values" slideshow, and it's another big one...100 photos of Bobby and the rest.