Cop-and-courtroom series "Law and Order" explores the issue of store owner's use of deadly force in self-defense in this well-crafted if predictable episode.
Cop-and-courtroom series “Law and Order” explores the issue of store owner’s use of deadly force in self-defense in this well-crafted if predictable episode.
Recent Greek immigrant and watch-store owner George Costas (Adam Arkin) is arrested for the killing of two would-be burglars and claims self-defense as justification.
But detective partners Phil Cerreta (Paul Sorvino) and Mike Logan (Christopher Noth) disagree over Costas’ guilt. Cerreta believes the hard-working merchant acted correctly in the face of repeated threats and burglaries, while Logan sees Costas as nothing more than a self-appointed executioner.
Episode explores the various issues of self-defense, the right to defend business and property, the right to bear arms and the withering of the American dream.
It also touches competing sympathy buttons, both for working people struggling to make a living and for rights of all citizens, even criminals.
Popular on Variety
While this series is sometimes able to rise out of the formulaic niche it has carved–notably in the recent “Helpless” episode, which poignantly and realistically portrayed the plight of a police psychologist who was raped by her gynecologist–this episode is strictly by the numbers.
The show’s format is most of the problem, since it follows the traditional, repetitive model of cop shows in which two partners–one old, one young–trundle from witness to witness, slowly piecing the crime together. While this may in fact reflect the drudgery of detective work and is commendable for its refusal to embrace shoot-’em-up violence, it makes for slow TV.
It also is a recipe for wooden, expository dialogue in the hands of any writer less gifted than David Mamet. In a recent episode, for example, a woman explained that her lover had broken off their affair because “his yang got tired of my yin.”
Although a gifted ensemble of New York actors comes close to pulling off this kind of TV Raymond Chandler-speak, they are clearly struggling.
While the series seems to be mostly “Dragnet” without the sparkling dialogue, it does have a steady, insinuating rhythm as it meticulously dissects the different perspectives of a current issue.
What it lacks, with notable exceptions like the doctor rape episode, are character development, believable dialogue and realistic texture.
Jump to CommentsLaw and Order Self Defense
(Wed (11), 10-11 p.m., NBC)
Most Popular
‘Mad Max’ Director Says ‘There’s No Excuse’ for Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron’s ‘Fury Road’ Set Feud: Tom ‘Had to Be Coaxed Out of His Trailer…
Sarah Paulson Calls Out Actor Who Emailed Her Six Pages of Notes After Watching Her: It Was 'Outrageous' and 'I Hope I See You Never'
Anya Taylor-Joy Has About 30 Lines of ‘Furiosa’ Dialogue, Spent ‘Months’ Without Speaking on Set and Fought to Scream on Camera: ‘I've Never Been…
Marvel Seeks Subpoena Forcing Instagram to Unmask Alleged ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Leaker
'Megalopolis' Official Trailer Reveals Francis Ford Coppola's 'Best Work Ever'
Comcast to Launch Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ Bundle at a ‘Vastly Reduced Price’
‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ Renewed for Season 2 at Amazon, Donald Glover and Maya Erskine Not Expected to Return
Nicolas Cage to Star in Spider-Man Noir Live-Action Series at MGM+, Amazon Prime Video
‘Dune: Prophecy’ Casts Indian Superstar Tabu (EXCLUSIVE)
Bradley Cooper’s Two-Minute ‘Abbott Elementary’ Performance as Himself Submitted for Emmys
Must Read
- Film
Witness Anya Taylor-Joy: The ‘Furiosa’ Star on Making the ‘Mad Max’ Icon Her Own and Hopes for ‘Dune 3’
By Andrew Wallenstein 1 week
- Film
Box Office: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Climbs to No. 1 With $58 Million Debut
- TV
‘Squid Game: The Challenge,’ Matthew Macfadyen Among Winners at BAFTA TV Awards 2024
- Film
Ron Howard Remembers Roger Corman’s Mentorship and Impact on Filmmaking: ‘What a Life’
- Film
‘The Phantom Menace’ at 25: A Lover, Hater and Newcomer Debate Jar Jar Binks, Podraces, Droids and Darth Maul
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9mhnp%2Bjq2taKqVq7amw9Joo5qvXZa7pXnOq5ueql2osq2yjJ2cn52eqLJufZFpZ21rYG6GcXs%3D