Christopher Noth has said good bye to Law and Order Criminal Intent, in a final episode that aired on USA Cable Network and on NBC this week. Noth was an original cast member of the original Law and Order series. Noth reprised his role of Detective Michael Logan in the spin off , Criminal Intent, from 2005 until 2008. The Law and Order franchise features dramatic stories about the New York police department and the office of the New York District Attorney.
Noth originated the character of Detective Mike Logan in the original five seasons of Law and Order, starting in 1990. His character played the younger, brasher detective partnered with three different world weary detectives, the last of which was Jerry Orbach. Noth was written out of the original Law and Order when his character lost his temper and decked someone. which got him busted down to Staten Island.
Law and Order Criminal Intent Detectives
Detective Mike Logan returned for the Criminal Intent Spinoff in 2005. Noth alternated with Vincent D'nofrio, in his role as Detective Robert Goren. Vincent D'Onofrio's partner is Kathryn Erbe. The cast rotated every other week, switching off lead characters.Noth was partnered with three different female leads during his three season tenure: Juliann Nicholson, Alicia Witt and Annabella Sciorra.
Into the Mind of the Criminal
The Law and Order Criminal Intent series takes the viewer into the mind of the criminal. Viewers know who the perpetrator is early on, making the series unique in the crime genre. The intrigue of the show is watching the detectives track down the criminal, trapping the guilty into confessing. Vincent D'Onofrio is particularly effective at stepping into the criminal mind, in a facinating, sometimes creepy portrayal.
Detective Mike Logan
Other than his work as an intense crime fighter, with a sense of idealism about right and wrong, the series did not reveal much about the personal life of Detective Mike Logan. The viewer got the sense that his work was his life, which was brought to light in Noth's final episode.
Final Episode for Chris Noth as Mike Logan
In the final episode, Detective Logan tangled with an overly ambitious former ADA ,running for Attorney General, for the second time in a month. The ADA had railroaded an innocent man into prison for a crime he had not committed. In the course of the investigation the detectives proved that the man who had been in prison for 16 years was innocent. The power hungry Attorney General candidate put roadblocks in their path and threatened their careers.
Detective Logan was visibly distressed by the corruption of the legal system. When the politician put her career above doing what was right, Logan forced her hand by revealing the story to the news media. Once the story was front page news, the politician was forced to right the wrong. She went a step further by actually taking credit for correcting the injustice.
In the ending scene, Logan was talking to a priest, who had been instrumental in the case. The priest asked Logan if he was happy and if he had a family. the answer to both questions was a world weary no. The priest advised Logan to get out of the police force, pointing out that there was another life outside the department. As Logan departed, the viewer might had thought that the decision was up in the air, except for the ads that had promoted that this was Noth's last episode.
The Show Will Go On
Chris Noth will be replaced by Jeff Goldblum in the next season.
Christopher Noth
Christopher Noth was born in Madison, Wisconsin, but is now the ultimate New Yorker. The actor is popular for his character, Mr. Big, in the HBO series Sex in the City. Noth is a partner is a New York restaurant. Chris Noth and his girlfriend, Tara Wilson, had a son in January, 2008.
Law and Order Criminal Intent Season 7 Finale
Law & Order Criminal Intent Returns April 19
