A friend of Lennie Briscoe's approaches Logan about a deathbed confession to a triple homicide, but unfortunately he can offer very little details, forcing Wheeler and Logan to dig deep to find the actual case. Having found the case, they find that someone was already convicted - though he vehemently denies it, stating that his alibi was he was breaking into another car, though no one reported this. The case had two eye-witnesses, but as they are uncovered, the detectives find that one was blind in one eye, and the other was bargained into being a witness - and the ADA who tried the case was Terri Driver. Given Driver's history, Logan is convinced that she didn't investigate properly, and another suspect soon comes to light. Meanwhile, Driver is concerned about her reputation, and discovers that Wheeler's fiance has mob connections. As Logan and Driver clash in the press, Wheeler soon becomes the victim, and Logan begins to question his career.
There is something of the landmark about this episode, being as it is Detective Logan's final appearance on Criminal Intent, and arguably the entire Law & Order franchise. Chris Noth was almost synonymous with Law & Order, trumped in recent years by Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterston and S Epatha Merkerson. But Noth's firey detective has brought spice to the series, fighting with the DA's office and coming into conflict with his partners over the years. This last episode is almost a homage to all of those things as Logan's actions are disapproved of, not just by Ross, but also by Wheeler as he is determined to go into battle with ADA Terri Driver. When Driver asks him at one point if he is prepared to fight her office, given Logan's past relationship with now DA McCoy, it's perhaps not so surprising that he probably is.
But even as Logan decides to leave, having probably destroyed his career in obtaining justice (not for the first time), his partner Wheeler also suffers considerably as a result. Opening the episode by looking absolutely hot in a blue number to attend a benefit function, Wheeler starts to get out and about with her fiance only for her to soon discover that he may actually have a shady side; one which someone is prepared to blow open in order to protect their own secrets. Quite who that is, is never revealed (although there are enough hints for us to assume that it is actually ADA Driver), but Logan's actions finally do indeed have the consequences that seem inevitable and Wheeler's private life is destroyed.
Plotwise the episode is an interesting one, a murder case having been rush investigated and prosecuted, resulting in some poor guy being locked away in prison for sixteen years for a crime he didn't commit. Logan, with Wheeler's unquestioning support, uncovers the truth of the situation, but this in itself seems hardly the point of the exercise. Nothing is going to be done until Logan goes to the press with information that is embarrassing to the criminal justice system. The episode is about Logan's determination to see justice, and the lengths he will go to get it.
Am I disappointed that Logan is going? Well, part of me is, and part of me isn't. Logan's never quite seemed entirely comfortable at Major Case, but seeing Logan back in action has been an absolute joy. Thanks for returning Chris. We've enjoyed it.
"A-"
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