In Law and Order: Criminal Intent, we focus on a fictionalised version of the NYPD’s Major Case unit. In each episode, the squad are tasked with investigating high-profile cases and bringing down those responsible.

Unlike the sister shows in the Law and Order franchise, Criminal Intent focuses not just on the detectives’ work to crack the case, but also on the mental state and motives of the criminals themselves. As the investigation gets underway, the criminal also takes a central focus, with the story flitting between the two sides of the same crime.

The show highlights motivations and circumstances that lead to a situation – though identity is often hidden from viewers, allowing them time to see if they can crack the case themselves before the squad do.

First launching in September 2001, the series ran for 10 seasons, totalling 195 episodes, before ending in June 2011.

The longest-standing cast members of Law and Order: Criminal Intent are:

• Kathryn Erbe (City On A Hill, The Sinner) as Captain Alexandra Eames

• Vincent D'Onofrio (Godfather of Harlem, Daredevil) as Detective Robert ‘Bobby’ Goren

• Jamey Sheridan (Arrow, Agent X) as Detective James Deakins

• Courtney B Vance (61st Street, Genius) as ADA Ron Carver

• Leslie Hendrix (Law and Order, Gotham) as ME Dr Elizabeth Rogers

Other key stars who were part of the cast during its run included:

• Chris Noth (And Just Like That, The Equalizer) as Detective Mike Logan

• Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Wicked) as Detective Zack Nichols

• Eric Bogosian (Billions, Succession) as Detective Danny Ross

• Julianne Nicholson (Hacks, Paradise) as Detective Megan Wheeler

• Saffron Burrows (You, Mozart in the Jungle) as Detective Serena Stevens

• Annabella Sciorra (Tulsa King, Truth Be Told) as Detective Carolyn Barek

• Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Blindspot, Limitless) as Captain Zoe Callas

Law and Order: Criminal Intent has been certified 15 – meaning the series is considered unsuitable for younger audiences.

Reasons for this rating is due to the show containing:

• No swearing

• Some scenes of violence

• Presence of guns (though rarely shot)

• Some scenes of blood and injury

• Depictions of death, and dead bodies

• Some episodes depicting sex-based crimes – including rape

• Some episodes depicting of child-focused crimes – including paedophilia, grooming and abuse

Law and Order is a long-running crime drama franchise, with multiple spin-offs across several countries.

The official run of Law and Order series are:

• Law and Order (1990-2010, rebooted since 2021)

• Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU) (launched in 1999)

• Law and Order: Criminal Intent (2001-2011)

• Law and Order: Trial By Jury (2005-2006)

• Law and Order: Organised Crime (launched in 2010)

• Law and Order: LA (2010-2011)

• Law and Order: True Crime (2017)

• Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent (launched in 2024)

The franchise has also spawned a series of books and video games.

As well as the central Law and Order world, the series at times crosses over with other emergency services procedurals produced by Dick Wolf – either with full episodes or with character cameos when investigating cases.

In 1995, Homicide: Life on the Street became the first show to cross over with the main Law and Order, with one character – Detective Munch – later leaving Life on the Streets to become a full-time cast-member on Law and Order: SVU from its launch in 1999 to 2014.

Find out more about Homicide: Life on the Street here, or watch on Sky Witness now.

The franchise has also branched out to appear in the One Chicago Franchise, with characters appearing in shows Chicago P.D, Chicago Fire and Chicago Justice.

These shows are also all available on Sky, and you can find out more about One Chicago here.

All episodes of Law and Order: Criminal Intent is available to watch on Sky Witness and NOW.

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