This was a fitting exit for both Jack McCoy and Sam Waterston. Jack gets the win and, in typical Jack form, outmaneuvers his boss and plans an exit which can help to guarantee a replacement that will uphold the law and fight for justice. And Sam leaves on a high note, hopefully to enjoy life! I wish Sam all the best.
6 comments:
This was a decent episode. I am jokingly going to say that this episode is both my favorite and least favorite episode of the revival!
It's my favorite because it was a good send-off for Jack McCoy/Sam Waterston. It's the worst episode because he's leaving the show.
The only thing that would have made the episode better was if there were more scenes with Jack/Sam. I will miss him -- Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn) as giant shoes to fill!!!
“It’s been a hell of a ride” John Jack McCoy
Farewell, Jack.
As you said Chris a fitting farewell for a beloved character and a a great actor. Jack back in the courtroom. Jack nailing the guy on the stand. Jack getting his man despite the pressure from the Mayor. Seriously did the Mayor not know any better? Jack went up against the Governor and won. He stood no chance against “hang ‘em high” McCoy! Then sticking it to him on the way out. Classic Jack. I’m glad we got the old Jack back even if it was one last time. Side note/nit pick. Although, and yes I know Sam wanted to move on, but do we actually buy Jack caving to the Mayor and possibly losing the election after what did happen with the Governor? I think not! Also the election should have been an ongoing storyline. That part just felt tacked on. And then the final shot of Jack looking at the courthouse one final time as he leaves. Perfection! An amazing episode. And judging by social media this week Jack and Sam will indeed be missed by many especially those of us who grew up with him. I honestly can’t remember a time when Jack McCoy hasn’t been around in my lifetime.
Jack’s closing summation reminded me of his testimony in the season 18 episode Illegal while prosecuting a riot in Central Park - “The bottom line Miss Sanders – where there’s a law, I’ll enforce it. Where there’s a crime, I’ll prosecute it. Where there’s a victim, I’ll speak for that victim. That’s my bottom line.” Also in the same episode when called a placeholder by the higher ups in the NYPD - “A placeholder? Let me be clear. If anyone gets in the way of this investigation, I’ll have every cop who was in the park before a grand jury, without immunity. Anybody who pleads the fifth, I’ll indict them for obstruction.”
Two gripes. First. The use of side characters or lack of use rather continues to be an Issue. No ME. No psychiatrist. Dixon seems to just be there with not much to do. I mean when’s the last time we’ve actually even been in her office for a scene? I also know the Mothership started out not diving too much into the characters backgrounds but after scanning X tonight I have to agree with some there. We know next to nothing about some of these characters outside of the job. Little tidbits here and there would be nice. Secondly. The writers actually did know how to write Jack all of this time? Then why waste him for the limited time you had him? Ugh! Also does this actually mean they know how to write an episode of the Mothership yet continue to just try reinventing for the sake of reinventing?
Mayor Payne's plans backfired. I expect to see more of him in the future. Politicians like Mayor Payne won't disappear in 1 round. You have to find a legitimate way to take these types of people down.
On the positive side, I am glad that Jack McCoy's political knowledge helped his team, and that the new executive DA can expose Mayor Payne before he harms New York.
Another thought came to mind after rewatching the episode this morning as I was working from home. At the end when Jack stands for the verdict, he's all alone. No second chair. Kind of fitting as he has been known to often stand alone when sometimes he was the only one fighting for justice for the victims.
"Mayor Payne" was a play on words is my guess. I was thinking it sounded like "major pain" which is what he was. Jack McCoy knows how to play 3D chess and outsmarted Payne easily. Jack was a class act and one smart guy, he knew exactly how to win the case AND stick it to the Mayor, Bravo!
The case was dull and didn't interest me but I knew that it was leading to something big with McCoy so I went with it. I was hoping for more time with McCoy in the courtroom but that's okay, as long as he got the win I am happy.
Sam Waterston will be missed. No one can fill his shoes. No one. I think Tony Goldwyn will be a fine replacement though and may breathe some life into the legal part of the show because it's been lacking a bit with Price. It should create some drama having a new boss in town.
I think Law & Order is the best of all the Law & Order shows. There isn't any one person in the ensemble cast that hogs the limelight every week (unlike a certain lead on SVU) and because of that it is able to really tell a story and get a message across every week. Sam will be gone but I think the show will continue to do well for a long time.
So I finally watched this episode this past Saturday. And... I have thoughts. This is an edited section of a review I wrote on Tumblr.
I guess where the writers got something right was Jack believes in justice for the victim, regardless of who you are. And they gave Jack one last courtroom battle. And, on one hand, it is fitting. They wanted Jack to go out in a figurative blaze of glory. He was alone in the court, no second chair. I do wonder if he thought about all the second chairs he’s had and how they helped him along the way (I am getting weirdly emotional writing this). And despite the fact he got burned, he managed to burn his enemies on the way out.
But this isn’t the end I wanted.
Sometimes, a low-key ending is suitable for a character who worked (by my own calculation) 50-plus years in the DA’s office (perhaps closer to 60 years). Who tried some significant cases, contributed to case-law that the show SHOULD HAVE REFERENCED, mentored each of his second chairs after Claire and Jamie. Mentored Mike Cutter.
Jack simply deciding just to retire and not run for re-election and spend the rest of his days fixing his relationship with his daughter, spend time with his grandson, write a book, maybe be a talking-head on legal shows (no, I can’t see that), fine. But I wish they could have convinced Sam Waterston to finish out the season, maybe recording something so they show a goodbye party or SOMETHING to start next season, and then have the newly-elected DA introduced. That would have been more satisfying.
I guess I'm in the minority on that, but that's okay. I feel Jack deserved better than what we got but I cannot fault Sam Waterston for wanting out at this point.
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