Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent

Matt Roush says...

TV’s most distinctive sound effect (“Chung-chung!”) knows no borders. The latest attempt to adapt the durable Law & Order franchise to a different country is a reminder that the formula still works, regardless of locale. Like its predecessor (2001-2011), Criminal Intent is basically a weekly whodunit, and its success depends on the personality of those doing the legwork. Shouldering the burden as erudite Det. Sgt. Henry Graff, Aden Young (Rectify) lacks the laser intensity of Intent‘s original star Vincent D’Onofrio, but it can be fun watching him make Sherlock-style observations. (In the premiere, he’s the only one who notices that a piece of abstract art is upside down.) He’s paired with the no-nonsense Det. Sgt. Frankie Bateman (Kathleen Munroe), and together they tackle Toronto’s toughest cases, beginning with the disappearance of a crypto investor from his yacht during a VIP event. “Hiding from his own party, that’s my kind of guy,” Graff quips, channeling the mordant spirit of Law & Order‘s beloved Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach).

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