All Things Law And Order: The Right Thing

(Please note: I viewed this episode early via an NBC screener so it's possible some things could have been changed before airing on the network. I'll update later, as needed.)

I still have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming…Law & Order is back! After airing what was going to be its last episode in May 2010, all I had left was my hope that *someone* would eventually realize their grave mistake and do the right thing and revive the series. As the years passed, the less hope I felt. I’m not going to rehash why it was canceled. That ship has sailed. I’m just thrilled that it’s returned.

After watching the season 21 premiere of Law & Order, it felt like Law & Order really hadn’t been gone over a decade. The episode included returning cast members Sam Waterston and Anthony Anderson, both which helped the new cast fit in seamlessly. It's only been one episode, but the cast chemistry feels right - a good sign! Steve Zirnkilton's opening narration is there; it wouldn't be a proper Law & Order without it. The opening credits have updated visuals, and still include the familiar Law & Order theme as the original, with a slight modification to the tune to make it more contemporary. The story is still told using the usual format: the crime and investigation in the first half, the legal wrangling in the second. Also included were the black and white intertitles telling you when and where the action occurs, with the familiar “DUN DUN” sound. They are still in the 27th precinct. A huge plus: the sets were recreated to keep the same look and feel, the only difference being the courtroom.

Most importantly, the return of Law & Order brings back the opportunity to tell more stories based on the social issues of the day. Law & Order excelled in focusing on the hot buttons of the times, topics that were often controversial and polarizing. It gave viewers something to sink their debating teeth into. Likely the topics and the outcomes will continue to trigger disagreement. Will they get preachy? Probably, but this goes with the territory. I’m looking forward to the "post-episode" debate, which is one of my favorite parts of the show.

Here is the cast:

Sam Waterston – District Attorney Jack McCoy
Anthony Anderson - Detective Kevin Bernard
Jeffrey Donovan - Detective Frank Cosgrove
Camryn Manheim - Lieutenant Kate Dixon
Hugh Dancy - Assistant District Attorney Nolan Price
Odelya Halevi - Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun

The case involves the murder of Henry King, an entertainer accused of 40 rapes. (I wonder who that could be based on…just kidding.) He believes he was wrongfully charged for those crimes. He was released from prison after 3+ years because it was uncovered that the prosecution had offered him immunity so he could be deposed in a case involving one of the rape victims. The prosecutor who offered immunity: Jamie Ross, former ADA for Jack McCoy, former defense attorney, and former Judge (in Law & Order: Trial By Jury). Jamie has excelled in these positions but it seemed like trouble and controversy always followed her close behind, and in this episode it sticks to her like flypaper. With all her experience, one would think she’d know better.

After claiming his innocence on a talk show, Henry found dead on the street, shot multiple times. Enter Detectives Bernard and Cosgrove, along with their Lieutenant, Kate Dixon. It’s obvious early on there is some tension between Bernard and Cosgrove, who have only been working together two months. Cosgrove can’t seem to censor himself and he appears to have a short fuse. He and Bernard tangle a bit over their different approaches to current hot button issues: race, police behavior, bystanders recording police interaction on their phone, and police accountability. Bernard seems world-weary; after all these years he’s still a detective, but his experience helps him to find a way that he and Cosgrove can discuss their differences calmly. It’s yet to be seen whether they’ll continue to get along.

Lieutenant Kate Dixon is a blank slate at this point, but it’s clear that she’s established herself as a no-nonsense boss, and the one who helps focus the detectives while she fends off the pressure from her own bosses. I’m looking forward to seeing how Kate Dixon develops this season.

The rape victim, Nicole Bell, becomes their prime suspect, and Cosgrove’s use of lies while questioning her gets her to confess. When ADA Nolan Price (along with ADA Samantha Maroun) are given the case to prosecute, Price is concerned that Cosgrove’s lies will put his case in jeopardy. Despite DA Jack McCoy’s assurances that the use of lies in the interrogation was perfectly acceptable, Price makes the error of deciding not to use it, thinking he can win the case on the evidence, which is weak at best. Price forgot one of the rules of Law & Order: when Jack McCoy gives advice, TAKE IT! (Jack gets his subtle “I told you so” moment later, and I loved it.) It was fairly obvious that Price was going to do his own thing. But, just like Jamie creating the situation which allowed Henry King to be released from prison, Cosgrove’s inability to control his mouth puts the case against Nicole in peril. After been told by Price not to mention Nicole’s confession, Cosgrove blurts it out on the stand anyway. Luckily for Price, the judge refuses to call a mistrial. Cosgrove later angrily tells Price that he “catches” them and Price is supposed to “cook” them. Clearly Cosgrove has a massive ego and expects full support from Price. Price, on the other hand, is naïve with a big ego of his own as well. He doesn’t understand – or maybe not care – that the “big bad police department”, who is their partner, is under attack and their actions scrutinized. I suspect there will be continued friction between Cosgrove and Price. (I think I see a pattern here with Cosgrove.) Having a character such as Cosgrove that’s a hothead makes for good drama, as long as it’s not overused.

But things get worse. Jamie throws a massive wrench into the case when it becomes clear she had contact with Nicole on the day of the murder. When Jamie refuses to reveal to Price what the conversation was about, this leaves him no choice: he must call on Jamie to testify. When she takes the Fifth, this helps Price’s case a bit, despite Jamie not saying a word about what she and Nicole discussed. If the look on Jack’s face and his body language when he watches Jamie exit the courtroom is any indication, she’s in deep, deep trouble.

The only minor criticism I have is with the closing argument. It’s obvious that Price alienated himself with the jury and that Nicole’s testimony affected them. What is bothersome is that Price has ADA Samantha Maroun conduct the closing, using the fact that her sister was raped and murdered years ago, and that the police never arrested the offender. It’s another situation where some woman had to suffer (both Maroun and her sister) in order to win Price’s case, a case that he risked losing it because of his hubris and his weak evidence.

One other star of Law & Order is not a person – it’s the courthouse at 60 Centre Street in Foley Square, probably the most dangerous (or deadliest) location on television (wink). It makes an important appearance at the end of the episode, highlighting the frieze over the entrance with the quote "The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government". We’ll see if they can live up to this standard. Doing the “right thing” is not always easy.

NOTE: Five deleted scenes have been released and are on my blog at the following link; the videos may have a limited life so catch them while you can! Law & Order “The Right Thing” deleted scenes which aired on Thursday, Month, Date, 2022.

Here is the recap:

On a TV show, Henry King states he will say this one last time: he’s innocent. The host asks that all the allegations against him…and he finishes, saying they are false. He states he spent 3 years, 2 months and 11 days in prison for a crime he did not commit. He adds, like many people of color, he was wrongfully charged, and wrongfully convicted. He looks straight into the camera and says he has never had non-consensual sex with anyone, ever. He states his mission in life is to make sure those responsible for this travesty of justice are held accountable. Then and only then can they begin a path towards a more enlightened and racially just society.

Later, police are on a scene and Detective Kevin Bernard and Detective Frank Cosgrove hear from an officer that a young couple were fooling around and walked down the stairs to have sex – explaining it’s their words not hers – until they see a dead guy bleeding out. His name is Henry King, as singer, among other things. There are five gunshot wounds, 380 shell casings – four to the chest and one to the groin. It does not look like a robbery as his wallet is still in his pocket and his watch is on his wrist. Cosgrove comments the over/under on this guy was nine months. Bernard says he gets it, but…and Cosgrove asks but what? Bernard adds every victim deserves respect, even the ones that raped 40 women.