I thought, in the very long time that we had between seasons, that we might as well make a thread for what we hope for/are curious about for next season.

--I hope Goren is able to get over his "my dad might be a serial killer" crisis soon, because, really, why would that bother him once the evil evil man was dead?

--I hope they manage to have the detectives work together more often, cause I really like group dynamics, but I don't want Eames and Goren to slide further apart. I think they have a really healthy relationship right now, but I fear that can't last.

--I wonder if Goren will tell Eames about his "father" or if she already knows.

Anyone else?

I know I'm one of the few that enjoys the glimpses into the characters' personal lives but I am hoping they continue to show bits and pieces of Goren moving on with his life.

Nothing drastic but maybe some hints that his load has been lightened and he might actually be enjoying life more.

I'd also like Eames to continue taking the lead more and maybe it leads Goren and Eames to a clash a bit.

As I said in another thread, I'd enjoy all the detectives working on a twisted tale together a bit more often.

Lastly, I'd like them to get back to more juicy criminals.

Nice ideas! I too wish for Eames to keep getting more and more badass. I've always loved her, though I'm sure a lot of it has been holdover from loving the actress so dearly as Shirley Bellinger on "Oz."

I wish for Anabella Sciorra to return--I'm sure I missed her departure, can't remember what happened to her, but what an awesome character. Without her, I wish for the Logan stories to just drift away, and for Vincent D'Onofrio to magically get all the sleep he needs to be able to perform every week. I can't help it; I'm narratively selfish.

I hope the budget constraints don't hurt the show.

I hope Logan gets some good stories this year AND a partner who'll stick around for more than one year... hey, Eames can work with both of them.

I also hope we get another "all four" story, if nothing else so we can get another Eames crack like "There they go, Ocean's 2."

I hope the ratings are amazing so we don't have to sweat out renewal.

I hope Goren and Eames are okay--but then I'm always worried about that.

Hope they are ok with what?

Okay with each other I mean. I guess, since they left on a kind of sad note, I'm afraid for them. I dunno, TiberRiver's Youtube vids have got me all depressed. Ignore me, as my grandma would say.

I'd like to see:

- Logan and Eames partnered up while Wheeler is working on her old case (and CN is on preg leave) and while Bobby is out after his mom's passing (I can't believe he'll return to work right away - or that he would be allowed to)

- I hope that the rumor that Carver will make an appearence or have a recurring role as a judge is true

- I'm with Yellowbird but I'll go even further and wish for full personal story lines. Straight procedurals are beginning to bore me.

- I want an update on Deakins. I'm starting to warm to the new guy but I miss Jimmy.

I think you mean JN....

But I totally agree. I've been clamoring for a Logan/Eames ep. They'd bring the snark.

Eames didn't really bring much snark to the table last season, I hope she's back to her old self next season, but I never felt there was much merit in an episode with Logan and Eames. It would be just too much snark to be any good.

Heh. Whoops.

I think you might have a point, but the actors could probably pull it off. I think a L/E pairing would be more important as a time for the two of them (especially Eames) to develop a new appreciation for their actual partners. Then we could go back to the in-sync partnership that G/E used to have.

I just assumed they wouldn't break them up until Vincent was ready to leave. I am a sucker for shipping friendships. So ideally for me he'd go borderline nutso, Eames would pull him back, they'd hook up, and Goren would go private eye. Outside of the precinct Vincent could have some even meatier, crazier storylines to sink his teeth into. And occasionally make an appearance with Eames.

*sigh*

What? A girl can dream, can't she?

Heh, I kinda like that idea, Yellowbird, except for the hooking up part. I think of these two as PFL's, partners for life. At least while they have jobs, to me it's heresy for them to have other partners. That's why I like the idea of a foursome episode but not a E/L episode. But that's just me.

Oh this is such a great topic, thank you, I feel like writing a Moby Dick length book :)

I want...I feel like a little girl with a present list

I want Goren to find out that the serial killer wasn't his father. His dumb brother shows up again and says "Oh it was the *other* Uncle Mark..." no I just want the DNA to prove it, anyway Vincent looks nothing like Roy Scheider.

I want Rene Balcer back, there I said it. I know he is running the M-ship but it doesn't begin till January so he and Dick Wolf can go back to fixing CI. Warren Leight can go write for SVU since I don't watch it. :)

Without Balcer nearly all the wild strangeness that made CI unique among detective shows was gone. It was so sad. I want it back.

I don't think there are any real problems between Bobby and Alex but I want them together in all their shows and to remain close and loyal. I want the humor and Eames' snark totally to return. I want more of those hilarious scenes where they present themselves as a quibbling couple to the suspects.

I hope the spoiler rumor is true too! Maybe we should all spread it so it'll happen.

Logan...I want Scorria back. She had just gotten into her role when they wrote her out. Logan needs a partner he's worked with before. They can bring back Wheeler down the road. Actually what Logan really needs are good scripts but then so do G and E! (See Bring Back Balcer above)

And once the show is itself again I want season 8 and a great finale that leaves the door open for everyone to return in a few TV movies for NBC.

Well you asked :)

I want... Goren not to go crazy.

I want... Nicole Wallace to never appear in an episode again, either physically or merely in reference.

I want... Serial Killer Dad not to be Goren's dad.

I want... Julianne Nichols (or was it Nicholas - I forget) to have her baby quickly (I like Wheeler).

I want... Goren to be sad that his mom died but relieved that he can be his own man now. It will be a struggle for him, as he's always been a detective and a caretaker and not much more, but I think he will eventually embrace the free time he has now and will start living life. Maybe they write him off as retiring - because that's WAAAAY better than having him go crazy!

I want... Carver back. And Deakins.

I want... Goren. Oh, sorry, that's another thread! ;)

I don't see him as ever retiring - but I could easily see him teaching at the police or FBI Academy. It could be a whole new show!

I want this too, badly. I think everyone here does. I wonder what Renee would do with the whole "father might be a serial killer" plotline.

I want Eames' snark back. She's just not Eames without the snark. I'm okay with character development, but REALLY, Warren, you're taking this too far.

I'm with the group of folks that wants Deakins and Carver back
I don't want to be in the personal world of Bobby anymore. It was a good run, but enough now - leave it to those of us who write fan fiction to fill in the blanks, go back to season one when there was a crime and they had to do detective work and live in the CRIMINAL's INTENT wasn't that the point? Go back to Bobby being Bobby, Eames MUST snark again, we don't need anymore of Bobby's brother, DON'T bring back Nicole/Elizabeth/Olivia. And maybe consider a storyline that isn't totally resolved in 39 minutes - a two parter is fine, I don't even mind if they want to have a two parter with Logan again. All stories don't have to be so easily answered in one show.
No mental break downs for Bobby, he can deal with his father or maybe father off screen.
Eames must continue driving and one fast appearance of her sisters son would be fine - but don't over do it, maybe as we see the credits or something.

No girlfriend/boyfriend for either of them!

Make Eames happier! Please!!!! That poor woman has a father who was convicted with betraying the city which probably the whole NYPD knows, her husband was killed, she was a surrogate mother and is probably too old now to have children of her own, she was kidnapped, had to listen to a woman being tortured to death and almost died herself, but she is never allowed to be weak, it's always poor Bobby with his family problems and she has to put up with his mood swings and is probably regarded as the second fiddle in their partnership from most of their colleagues. SO give her something to smile, make her laugh, honestly, I worried more about her in "End Game" because she looked so sad! Beautiful, but sad.

A bigger cast!! Let Logan join them for an episode, or get another ADA, but only Goren, Eames and the new captain... I also miss the court scenes

And I do like those tiny glimpses into their personal lifes. I'd like to see them meet with friends, outside from work. Like, e.g. Goren would call Eames to tell her about something he found out and we see her sitting in a cafe with a girl friend. I don't know, I'd just like that.

Better crimes! Sometimes in the past seasons there were episodes that left me stunned (like the one with the guy who lobotomized women to make them stay or the one with the woman who had her dead daughter still inside her), but in this season... most of them were boring and didn't feel... CI-ish ;)

keep Eames' haircut and clothes! I really liked her hair this season, she looked great!

But honestly - I'm glad there IS a new season!! :)

No Logan or girl with the short hair and freckles ever again! Don't need them and Logan is HORRIBLE on this show.

BRING BACK DEAKINS--hate, hate,hate the new guy, he is such an insufferable ass!

Then you'd have no show...

I agree with Bad Kittah. I wasn't a Logan fan to begin with, and I don't care for him on this show.

If they are going to give him another partner, bring back Barek. I liked her better than Freckles, or at least give him a partner with more personality then he has.

Also, no Nicole Wallace in any way, shape or form.

Au contraire, mon frère (or "ma soeur" as the case may be): there was a LOCI before Logan and his assorted partners, and there would still be a LOCI show without Logan and his assorted partners. I'm not voting to kick Logan off, because I like his pairing with Wheeler, however, I'm just pointing out that Goren and Eames had a show for several seasons before Logan and his posse showed up at Major Case.

ma soeur....but my point is that right now, the way it's constituted, they split the show. VDO agreed to it, everyone's signed up, so it's not going to change. I think my point is that I'm getting kinda tired of "kick Logan out" because it's not going to happen. Although I do have to say this is less contentious than sitting through the season 8 & 9 wars on XF.

Plus I'm a Logan fan and I wouldn't be here without him.

Kick Logan out. LOL okay you're right they signed him on and now he is staying, whatever, so get a partner we can all stand, so far they are 2 for 2. I didn't like marbles-in-her-mouth or freckles. How about trying one more time and finding someone watchable! Please! I didn't mind Logan on the mothership. I didn't like him coming on my perfect show and bringing his smug face to my perfect show. He is sort-of growing on me, but the last Logan episode ticked me off, crying for a date! Please! Made me all irritated at him all over again. They have this season to make me like him or I'll just watch VDO and KE every other week.

Please let EB be on my screen less than 30 minutes all season like they did to my favorite Deakins, Ross ANNOYS the life out of me, and I like Eric as an actor too!

While I don't make a point of watching Logan's weeks, I totally avoided him when he was paired with Annabella. I really like Wheeler. I'm dying to know if she's a big ol lesbo.*crosses fingers*

Anyway, I thought Logan's eps this season were more interesting. He's obviously in pain and suffering from loneliness. He was almost begging Wheeler to come back. Like he can't stand to be abandoned again.

I agree Yellowbird. Not about the lesbian part, 'cuz I really don't care about that but I do like Wheeler and I also thought that the Logan eps were much better than the previous season. (Brightblue is right about the last ep though - p-eww!)

For season 7 I'd like them to continue on with the L/W pairing. I think they're really cute together, and while in the real world having a partner that teased you a lot would be annoying in the the TV world it's fun.

I'd be happy if they just had him blink more. Ross annoys me too, but mostly because of the stare of "hey! look how intense I am. No, really!". Ross did start to grow on me after he stopped treating Gorne like crap, though.

Okay, ma souer, I get your point! :)

And I never watched the Logan episodes when he was paired with Barek - I skipped those eps until Wheeler came aboard, then I started watching every week, regardless of who was featured. But is Wheeler gone for good? 'Cause Logan DOES seem desparate for some companionship, romantic or professional. Poor guy. No wonder he was so shook up over his neighbor girly's death.

And does it bear repeating that I don't want Goren to go mad? I mean, I know it doesn't need repeating that we all want a Nicole Wallace free LOCI (of ANY season from now on), but I just want to reiterate that I don't want CRAZY GOREN. Unless it's funny crazy, like when he was trying to relate to the homeless guy that time and Deakins said, "The Goren Show is back" because that's FUNNY CRAZY GOREN. Not, Oh My God He's Gone Off The Deep End Goren.

Actually, my wish is everyone's mentally healthy this year. No breakdowns, no romantic crises, no ghosts (I love Logan but, outside of the Lennie reference, I did not like that ep in the least). For my money, I don't need all the baggage--that's what killed SVU for me (well, that and the elevation of Elliot and Olivia over everyone else and almost no Munch & Finn). So let's have a mentally healthy year for everyone.

And give us some decent cases, not the RFTH retreads we got most of the season. Let's see more "In the Wee Small Hours" and less Anna Nicole Smith knockoffs.

Oh my, so much word, culturevulture. That is my number 1 wish.

Word. I was so excited about him coming on and I'm so NOT excited about the way things turned out. He would have been better as a lawyer than a police captain - I absolutely fail to see him walking a beat or doing any of the things cops have to do to get where he is.

Bring Deakins & Carver back. Or just have Carver read books on tape, just so I can listen to his voice - yum :D

Roy Schieder isn't Bobby's dad.

More cases with all 4 main players.

Word. I have a job doing legal proofreading and sometimes when it gets really boring I imagine Carver's voice eloquently pronouncing the words...you know the way he says "defendant..." love it. Just re-watched one of my favs last week, the sadly creepy No Exit and noticed again what an important role Carver played. What happened? They need that legal balance.

Again, totally agree with the Bobby's dad comment above.

All four detectives again, 2 hour movie, yes, but of course they need a good story...no RFTH (I think In the Wee Small Hours was the exception that proves the rule, besides they fabricated a lot of it), and no personal crises. I do like the idea of them searching on location though, there was something chilling about that scene in East Hampton in ITWSH. Just come up with a great story that can involve four players, Deakins, Carver, a Rene Balcer script and let USA promote the hell out of it.

I hope that USA & the writer's will realize that quality episodes such as Magnificant, Want & Semi-Detached from Season 4 are what stay with the viewers & what will get them good ratings on cable. We need to see Goren back to his dark, brooding weird self, minus the mommy angst.

Love love love when Goren goes all empathetic with the crazy perps like Tagman (Want)& Nelda (Semi-Detached) & gets all angry, like with the cruel hubby in Magnificat.

Also want to see Bobby dance (just a little), and wear his nice casual clothes with shades, such as the leather jacket from D.A.W.

And please, one more time have him & Noth wear their dress blues?

culturevulture opined: ma soeur....but my point is that right now, the way it's constituted, they split the show. VDO agreed to it, everyone's signed up, so it's not going to change. I think my point is that I'm getting kinda tired of "kick Logan out" because it's not going to happen. Although I do have to say this is less contentious than sitting through the season 8 & 9 wars on XF.

Plus I'm a Logan fan and I wouldn't be here without him.

Hey culturevulture, I'm new here and I think you're right, -VDO agreed to (and needed, physically?) the situation of bringing Noth onto the program, and much as I love to see Goren, VDO might have left CI if they hadn't lessened the demands on him.

(I like Logan ok but hafta admit that Goren is why I watch CI.)

I miss the old Goren, like I see on YouTube, with his quirks more evident and the strain on the character less so. I thought VDO brought a lot to the table in S6 tho, I liked seeing Angsty!Bobby, too.

OT, I was there for the S8-S9 battles on TXF. And at the risk of being ridiculed <g>, I was a Defender of Doggett. ;-)

spookycc - VERY new to LOCI, VERY avid VDO fan

You know in the beginning I really, really hated Noth and wished he would leave or that VDO would recover enough to go back to his regular schedule and we wouldn't need him anymore. However it's obvious L&O producers love the character so they're keeping him on.

Surprisingly? I think he's started to grow on me, I'm finding him less and less annoying as seasons go by. Sure he'll never top the love of VDO, but I think perhaps the characters is evolving just enough for me to mostly tolerate him. Perhaps I'm dreaming but I swear even his snark is getting less and less asshole-ish (really Eames's snark I like, it's funny and she manages to say it without coming off like an ass). Honestly Wheeler might have had potential in the beginning (not that I don't me Sciorra sp?), but I was sadly willing to give her a shot hoping for another great parnter dynamic and it just never happened. I need another season to really give it a shot, but unless the writers convince me I'm not interested.

Word on bringing back Carver or bringing in a new ADA.

I heard some dark stuff from Eames's past is gonna threaten her partnership with Goren. It's on the character profiles on USA. Anyone know about this?

In the character descriptions on USA, I was a little surprised by the reference to Eames being depressed about giving up her nephew. She's always seemed so good with the decision to help her sister(?). I hope they don't go with the ticking biological clock storyline with her. Some people actually make a choice not to have children. Also, I watched the promo on the USA site several times to figure out what Goren was saying when he busts in the room. The old times end now? Brother returning? Surely he's not yelling at Eames.

I so hope they don't go with a Bobby losing it storyline. Yes, his mother was schizophrenic. But, late onset (over 30) schizophrenia is very rare in general and occurs more in females. For males, this late of an onset would be very unlikely. Plus, there would have been signs beyond him being a little weird if he were prone. A brief psychotic episode in response to a stressor maybe, but that can happen to anyone. Ditto, for some sort of dad's a murderer so maybe I am too storyline. It's nature and nurture. For someone to suddenly in their 40's become "uncharacteristic" - meaning they've always been kind, caring, respectful and then decide maybe I really want to torture, maim, and generally pillage - I'ld suspect a brain tumor, toxic exposure, something like that. Dealing with the bombshells - the death of his mom and the possibility his father being a murderer - would definitely be hard. Off his game, moody, needs support and maybe therapy, but not a complete character re-write. If he's been "ok but a little weird" for this long, he should still come out "ok but a little weird". Sorry, I'm a clinical psychologist and sometimes the liberties with the psych stuff makes me cringe. I have no idea who's consulting for this one or SVU but they need to get a better shrink on staff. Especially for SVU. Getting off the soapbox now. Going back to lurking and hoping they don't mess with my TV boyfriend.

Would somebody please help me understand something and i apologise in advance if i come across as a complete idiot.

The promo that you mentioned on the USA CI website, is it the one with Goren bursting through the door screaming that the old days are over? is that the one that you mean? Because i am absolutely sure that's the scene from 'Blindspot' and its Declan Gage he's yelling at and not Eames.

Or are you talking about a completely different promo?

Like i said, apologies for being completely confused

It was definitely Declan Bobby was yelling at in the promo. I'd recognize that clip anywhere, it's popular on Youtube.

I think the whole wedge-driving dark secret from Eames's past is silly, it's already been done in season 5 two-hour epi. At the same time, I'm already concerned. Again. Man, just when I was hoping we'd get a break.

My bad. It is the same promo Keenangel and The Librarian. I guess I'm not as obsessed as I thought cause I thought they were scenes from the new season. That would explain the lack of facial hair..."doh". Thanks for the clarification.

Know what's got me really worried? This was supposed to be VDO's last year, all the news stories have him working for seven years and then his contract is over. Now, with the future threat to Eames and Goren's relationship, what if that's how they end Bobby's run, with them on the outs and unreconciled? I think I could handle it, but I really hope that's not how it turns out.

I've thought about the contract being over and whether VDO would be back for another season. So much to stress about ... I console myself with permission to buy the DVD's.



That would be awful Librarian. I've learned from SVU that often these teasers that seem to be a sign of bad things turn into no big deal when actually aired. Course SVU proved me completely wrong on that consolation at the end of last season.

I was just Wikipedia-ing the characters of "The Shield", and I thought, what if this season turns out all "the Shield"-like? It was a bizarre thought.

For the wishes and speculation thread: Bring skinny Bobby back. My wish is that VDO has been working out, eating well, resting up, and working out, and we get an older, greyer version of Season 2 Bobby. He looked absolutely disgusting last season.

I have to disagree with you Baywom. I think Bobby looks great no matter how chunky he looks. I think someone upthread said he was a big man and carried his extra weight well. For his health though, he should probably lose a few pounds. YMMV.

Hey did anyone else just see the CI/Monk Ad on USA? With Goren and Eames saying Howdy to Mr. Monk and Natalie in Monk's house? It looked like it was newly filmed. Funny!

I had a giggling fit when I imagined an episode of "Monk Meets Goren." Never happen, of course, but funny!

With all that you've seen and heard about this season, how do you think it will be?

I think it will be fantastic!

I'm really looking forward to "a bit" more of the personal storyline. I enjoyed Goren's interactions with his brother, more so than the ones with Mom. Hopefully Tony Goldwyn will return for some scenes, and perhaps be a better brother to Goren (who really could use a support system).

Like the idea of Eames' personal situation getting some attention. The best medicine for what ails Bobby would be to focus on someone else's problems & not his own. Helping Eames through some family drama would be therapeutic, as well as interesting to the viewers.

I just got back from the USA Network forums on CI. (I know, I was a bad girl.) They said they saw the preview for "Amends," and it sounds intense, anyone know where I can see this preview?