Law & Order: Criminal Intent

A politician's daughter evades a murder attempt by pretending she has died. As Goren and Eames probe the case, they uncover a network of deceit that ultimately points to City Hall, revealing hidden motives within the municipal hierarchy and threatening the political establishment.

Playing Dead is a television episode classified as a programme. It falls within the episode genre and centres on a crime‑driven storyline. The title hints at the central ruse that drives the narrative, while the format promises a self‑contained plot typical of a single instalment, and is designed to be watched as a stand‑alone story. The story kicks off when the daughter of a local politician becomes the target of an assassination attempt. Rather than succumbing to the attack, she cleverly pretends to be dead, thereby evading her would‑be killers. Her feigned demise becomes the catalyst for the subsequent investigation, and her quick thinking buys crucial time for the authorities. Detectives Goren and Eames are assigned to the case. As they sift through the evidence, they begin to trace a complex web of lies. Their probing uncovers a series of deceptions that point beyond the immediate crime scene, suggesting a deeper conspiracy. The duo’s methodical approach gradually peels back each layer of the ruse. The trail of falsehoods ultimately leads the pair to City Hall, implicating political circles in the scheme. By following the clues from the staged death to municipal corridors, Goren and Eames reveal how the murder attempt is intertwined with municipal intrigue. In doing so, they expose how power can be weaponised within municipal structures, bringing the episode to a close as the detectives confront the hidden agenda at the heart of the city’s administration.