Much better than average for me! The takeoff on Aruba was really funny! It makes me wonder if 'mom' took care of her. (In case you haven't been keeping up that, the latest is that she is still alive, somewhere, being used as a sex-slave)!
It does suck that he is only showing up every OTHER episode now. I'm planning on skipping the ones with Noth in them.
How bizarre was Colm Meaney playing an American? Not a bad accent - no worse than Hugh Laurie's, at least - but I can't recall him ever dropping it, even when it would make sense for him to.
While L&O:SVU came across as ridiculous and over-the-top silly in the first two eps of the season, L&O:CI found a whole different form on USA. Grittier, with very different direction style. The camera angles and quick cuts helped add to a different look that at times seemed claustrophobic, at other times felt like a giant expanse. Best CI opener / start for a long time.