Here is the discussion topic for Law & Order “Almost Famous” which aired on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Please feel free to add any feedback you have about this episode in the comments!
We're now back to the standard of the cop-side being good and the lawyer-side having problems.
Again, I like the dynamic of Cosgrove and Shaw have developed. I also like the Lennie Briscoe-like turn Cosgrove has been given where he straight-up is completely ignorant about current trends online and in social media like TikTok/YouTube (and their in-universe equivalent). I also appreciated that Cosgrove didn't blame the mother and even stated, "Teenager operate on a need-to-know basis." Thinking back to my own teenage years... Yeah, pretty much. My problem? When they got to the restaurant, I literally yelled at my screen, "DON'T RUN!" Every episode MUST have a chase. I think this is a problem since the writers clearly don't feel they're injecting enough drama/action into the show.
The lawyer-side...
You know, I think I figured out my overall problem with the revival. The problem is nothing can ever be straight forward and that's what I appreciated in the original run when I started. Yes, there were episodes where Ben/Jack/Mike traded up. But there were also episodes where, once the arrest was made, it was to show how difficult a clear-cut trial any case could be.
The revival is so determined to put the viewer off-balance and throw in at least 3-4 curveballs/twist EVERY episode at this point that it is tiresome and indicative that the writers and Rick Eid don't understand what the spirit of the show is about anymore. They had a perfectly fine story with the kid setting into motion the homicide. I think, I would have appreciated this being a case where it ended on a plea bargain with the agreement that he'd testify against the manager and that's where the episode could have ended. Also, what DID happen to the father?
Instead, it felt incredibly rushed that we went from the super, the content creator, to the manager. That said, I actually can't say Price did a bad job. Did the judge make some questionable rulings? Absolutely, but given the current times and, perhaps, the commentary that judges are fallible as well, I can appreciate that and, to me, this is where the drama could have been heightened. Jack advising Price on how to deal with each judge, or perhaps who appointed that judge and why it'll be tough for them. Instead, we get a very rushed lawyer-side.
The ending? This is where the logic kind of fails. If they have evidence that the manager recklessly endangered the lives of minors multiple times and those actions caused serious bodily harm... 1 count of manslaughter to plead out? Sir, we went through the last 30 minutes of you trading up for this. I'd have said, "Yeah, no plea bargain, we're going to trial on all these extra cases or you can plead to all the extra cases and serve 20 years concurrently."
I feel like any one of the three defendants could have been an entire episode onto itself.
Didn't they do a Law & Order SVU episode like this with a similar storyline of trouble at a house for social media influencers? This story felt so familiar. I likes it for the most part. Cosgrove and Shaw are clicking well and that makes the first half of the show so interesting and even fun to watch. The legal half is missing something. Maybe as @Valens Hawke said, it was the judge making some questionable rulings. Price, thought, did put all his eggs in one basket and it wasn't until the video was thrown out that they got more serious about getting other people who had bad experiences with that house. I would have thought establishing a pattern of dangerous behavior would have bolstered his case, even if he still could use the video. The parents were a piece of work, but even that scenario reminded me of another episode (Law & Order) where they had a Michael Jackson type character whose parents allowed their kids to be with him, for money if I recall.
For me, the problem is that the assistant district attorneys are a big mismatch. I’m not a fan of Hugh Dancy. I do not see him as leading man material. He doesn’t have the handsome good looks the way Sam Waterson did back in his heyday; Sam was a big draw to the original shows because of that. Honestly, Dancy gives me Joel Grey vibes. Then they pair him with the stunningly beautiful (and almost 15 years younger) Odelya Halevi who is too perfect looking for her role. Perfect eyebrows and teeth, very full lips, flowing hair, neat and tidy business suits. Mostly she looks all dewy-eyed and fertile. It feels like I’m watching a cosmetics or hair products commercial. The fullness of her features is too stark of a contrast with Dancy’s thin-lipped, high-foreheaded face with the receding hairline. How is it that producers don’t see this? Otoh, Jeffrey Donovan is settling in well as as detective. I agree that L & O storylines love to throw hook after hook into the plots but that almost seems to be the normal with many tv shows these days, as if they need to continually shift gears to hold the viewers’ attention. Still a good show to watch, but imo, the ADAs lack chemistry.
In this “Almost Famous” episode, Natalie Gold gives a fabulous performance as Jason Wheeler’s lawyer, putting a maddening spin so much of the evidence.
Did anyone count how many times the characters said, "a 14-year-old CHILD." Not "kid" or "boy," just "A CHILD." I bet they said that phrase at least 6 times in the first half. The writers must have really wanted to emphasize that.
@Valens Hawke, I thought @Laurie F was referring to Fast Times@TheWheelhouse, Season 23, episode 25. The smarmy content house owner even had the same surname as this episode’s final perp, Diggy Wheeler then, Jason Wheeler now. Surely there’s a cut scene linking them?
And I hope you’re scratching that creative writing itch outside of these episode comments! Also, totally agree re: yet another Chase, it’s like the writers are excited at having two younger cops so always have them jump over trash cans and run through industrial kitchens.
@Camille, whoa there, getting steamy! I’m not sure many viewers judge the success of a lawyer team based on how well they look visually. I agree re: Natalie Gold, she was great - I’d have put her character on the courthouse Steps of Doom. And Mad Max’s parents. And Wheeler. And all the content creators…
That was certainly an episode...
ReplyDeleteWe're now back to the standard of the cop-side being good and the lawyer-side having problems.
Again, I like the dynamic of Cosgrove and Shaw have developed. I also like the Lennie Briscoe-like turn Cosgrove has been given where he straight-up is completely ignorant about current trends online and in social media like TikTok/YouTube (and their in-universe equivalent). I also appreciated that Cosgrove didn't blame the mother and even stated, "Teenager operate on a need-to-know basis." Thinking back to my own teenage years... Yeah, pretty much. My problem? When they got to the restaurant, I literally yelled at my screen, "DON'T RUN!" Every episode MUST have a chase. I think this is a problem since the writers clearly don't feel they're injecting enough drama/action into the show.
The lawyer-side...
You know, I think I figured out my overall problem with the revival. The problem is nothing can ever be straight forward and that's what I appreciated in the original run when I started. Yes, there were episodes where Ben/Jack/Mike traded up. But there were also episodes where, once the arrest was made, it was to show how difficult a clear-cut trial any case could be.
The revival is so determined to put the viewer off-balance and throw in at least 3-4 curveballs/twist EVERY episode at this point that it is tiresome and indicative that the writers and Rick Eid don't understand what the spirit of the show is about anymore. They had a perfectly fine story with the kid setting into motion the homicide. I think, I would have appreciated this being a case where it ended on a plea bargain with the agreement that he'd testify against the manager and that's where the episode could have ended. Also, what DID happen to the father?
Instead, it felt incredibly rushed that we went from the super, the content creator, to the manager. That said, I actually can't say Price did a bad job. Did the judge make some questionable rulings? Absolutely, but given the current times and, perhaps, the commentary that judges are fallible as well, I can appreciate that and, to me, this is where the drama could have been heightened. Jack advising Price on how to deal with each judge, or perhaps who appointed that judge and why it'll be tough for them. Instead, we get a very rushed lawyer-side.
The ending? This is where the logic kind of fails. If they have evidence that the manager recklessly endangered the lives of minors multiple times and those actions caused serious bodily harm... 1 count of manslaughter to plead out? Sir, we went through the last 30 minutes of you trading up for this. I'd have said, "Yeah, no plea bargain, we're going to trial on all these extra cases or you can plead to all the extra cases and serve 20 years concurrently."
I feel like any one of the three defendants could have been an entire episode onto itself.
Didn't they do a Law & Order SVU episode like this with a similar storyline of trouble at a house for social media influencers? This story felt so familiar. I likes it for the most part. Cosgrove and Shaw are clicking well and that makes the first half of the show so interesting and even fun to watch. The legal half is missing something. Maybe as @Valens Hawke said, it was the judge making some questionable rulings. Price, thought, did put all his eggs in one basket and it wasn't until the video was thrown out that they got more serious about getting other people who had bad experiences with that house. I would have thought establishing a pattern of dangerous behavior would have bolstered his case, even if he still could use the video. The parents were a piece of work, but even that scenario reminded me of another episode (Law & Order) where they had a Michael Jackson type character whose parents allowed their kids to be with him, for money if I recall.
ReplyDeleteSeason 13 season finale, "Smoke." I didn't make that connection, but yes that does fit.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the problem is that the assistant district attorneys are a big mismatch. I’m not a fan of Hugh Dancy. I do not see him as leading man material. He doesn’t have the handsome good looks the way Sam Waterson did back in his heyday; Sam was a big draw to the original shows because of that. Honestly, Dancy gives me Joel Grey vibes. Then they pair him with the stunningly beautiful (and almost 15 years younger) Odelya Halevi who is too perfect looking for her role. Perfect eyebrows and teeth, very full lips, flowing hair, neat and tidy business suits. Mostly she looks all dewy-eyed and fertile. It feels like I’m watching a cosmetics or hair products commercial. The fullness of her features is too stark of a contrast with Dancy’s thin-lipped, high-foreheaded face with the receding hairline. How is it that producers don’t see this? Otoh, Jeffrey Donovan is settling in well as as detective. I agree that L & O storylines love to throw hook after hook into the plots but that almost seems to be the normal with many tv shows these days, as if they need to continually shift gears to hold the viewers’ attention. Still a good show to watch, but imo, the ADAs lack chemistry.
ReplyDeleteIn this “Almost Famous” episode, Natalie Gold gives a fabulous performance as Jason Wheeler’s lawyer, putting a maddening spin so much of the evidence.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone count how many times the characters said, "a 14-year-old CHILD." Not "kid" or "boy," just "A CHILD." I bet they said that phrase at least 6 times in the first half.
ReplyDeleteThe writers must have really wanted to emphasize that.
@Valens Hawke, I thought @Laurie F was referring to Fast Times@TheWheelhouse, Season 23, episode 25. The smarmy content house owner even had the same surname as this episode’s final perp, Diggy Wheeler then, Jason Wheeler now. Surely there’s a cut scene linking them?
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope you’re scratching that creative writing itch outside of these episode comments! Also, totally agree re: yet another Chase, it’s like the writers are excited at having two younger cops so always have them jump over trash cans and run through industrial kitchens.
@Camille, whoa there, getting steamy! I’m not sure many viewers judge the success of a lawyer team based on how well they look visually. I agree re: Natalie Gold, she was great - I’d have put her character on the courthouse Steps of Doom. And Mad Max’s parents. And Wheeler. And all the content creators…