'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' started off incredibly impressively with a Season 1 that didn't have a bad episode, all ranging between pretty good and outstanding. The outstanding episodes, like "The Faithful", "Jones" and "Homo Homini Lupis", having a lot of tension and emotional power. "The Third Horseman" to me being the one slight disappointment, mainly because of having a controversial subject that it could have handled a little better and in a more balanced way.
"Maledictus" is among the season's best episodes to me. Not just because the case is strong, but mainly because of the emotional impact. It's one of the most disturbing and most (somewhat) affecting episodes of Season 1, and the most disturbing and emotional 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' episode since "Homo Homini Lupis". If not quite as much as that episode, which is still a hard-hitting watch and really stands out in that sense amongst all the episodes of the show. Also consider it the best episode since that.
With the episodes, although liking them on the whole, between "Homo Homini Lupis" and this, part of me did find some of the storytelling not always particularly realistic (namely the perpetrators getting away with big secrets for so long with nobody, even close friends and family, suspecting). That was not an issue here in "Maledictus".
It may not be the most original of stories, but "Maledictus" still contains a very intricate case without falling into the trap of convolution. It is disturbing, with a method of murder that is truly grisly (one of the show's grisliest in my mind), so much so that one cannot blame the team for their initial thoughts on who committed the murder and why. It is quite tragic, especially with the killer's past, and personally couldn't bring myself to completely hate who was responsible while not condoning in any way what they did (with the murder being as brutal as it was). Actually in a way found myself hating the victim more, despise it when anybody tries remorselessly to slander others and it is still happening far too much. In especially newspaper celebrity gossip articles.
Production values are as slick as usual and the music is a good fit without being melodramatic or obvious. Still like the theme tune, though there is a preference for others in the 'Law and Order' franchise. The dialogue is equally intricate and nuanced, especially in the final scenes while Eames has some nice and sometimes amusing lines. Love the well contrasted chemistry between her and Goren. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are note perfect while David Thornton plays a well rounded character with intensity and even a little poignancy.
On the whole, great. 9/10