EPISODE OF THE WEEK: IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS, PARTS

[Patcat]

Will air April 16 on the USA Network. Part 1 at 6 pm (EST) Part 2 at 7 pm (EST)

Episode # 95. Episodes 6 and 7 of the Fifth Season. First aired November 6, 2005.

Written by Stephanie Sengutpa and Rene Balcer.
Directed by Jean de Segonzac

Guest Actors:

Colm Meaney as Judge Harold Garrett
Lucinda Jenney as Elise Garrett
Matt O'Leary as Ethan Garrett

Repeat offenders:

Billy Lush as Connie Smith
Elizabeth Rodgers as Dr. Leslie Hendrix

Synopsis: The disappearance of a Midwestern teenaged girl on a class trip to New York City leads to a powerful judge and his son.

Quotes:

Eames (Watching Goren and Logan leave Major Case): "There they go, Ocean's 2."

Barack (about the FBI): "They couldn't stop an asthma attack."

Mrs. Peterson (to Faith Yancy): "Now, I'll take your interest any way it comes. But do not confuse my desperation with gratitude."

Arthur Branch (signing the warrant for Judge Garrett's arrest): "It's not enough to do good--you have to be seen doing good."

Waitress (to Goren when he shows her a picture): "No, I've never seen him. Is he your grandchild?"

Goren (to Eames): "You're right. I am an acquired taste."

Goren (again to Eames): "I'm lucky you withdrew that letter."

Notes: This episode is at least partially based on the Natalie Holloway story, where a young woman disappeared while on a school vacation.

IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS is the title of a Frank Sinatra album.

The character of Faith Yancey is based on the television personality Nancy Grace.

Does anyone know if Nancy Grace is aware of her fictional counterpart?

There's a lot going on in this episode. How the press handles some stories, how racism plays a part in what and how some cases are handled, the dynamics of the Garrett family, the attacks on the detectives. How well are all of these elements handled?

Does the murder investigation get lost in the shuffle?

So, in the end, who goes to jail and for how long?

I can't help but think the Garretts would have had a happier life if the Judge favored Fred Astaire or Tony Bennett rather than Frank Sinatra.

Does Evan have a chance at anything approaching a good life?

How well do the four detectives work together?

Is this episode exploitive?

Was the invasion of Mrs. Goren's life the start of her decline?

Was the revelation of that transfer request the start of Goren's troubles?

Should Goren express more anger towards Eames about that request?

Why didn't Eames pursue the transfer?

Would Goren pursue the man who invaded his mother's life?

What did Garrett hope to accomplish by attacking the detectives?

Comments:

Judging by the many comments this episode generated, this was a very popular episode. It's extremely well cast and acted. The two actresses playing the mothers of the murdered girls are dignified and moving. Matt O'Leary is quite good as Ethan Garrett, and Colm Meaney is fantastic as the evil Judge. The series' regulars are wonderful, with Courtney Vance especially good in conveying Carver's repressed indignation at having his abilities challenged. This was the episode that gave me some hope for Annabella Sciorra's Barek. The character is actually given something to do, and the actress shows real sparks in her scenes with Kathryn Erbe's Eames.

But if a lot of us are honest, the scenes we remember are the ones connected with that damned transfer request. Ms. Erbe is remarkable on the stand, but watch Mr. D'Onofrio's reactions. It's quite stunning to watch fear, anger, hurt, regret, and acceptance cross his face and body in a matter of seconds and in very subtle ways.

I hope we haven't talked this one to death.

Submitted for your discussion and debate.

Patcat

[trisha]

Your questions are all very thought provoking. The one about Evan strikes me as the most interesting at this moment because I don't think I ever really considered him and where he'll end up and how he'll turn out.

Perhaps I should watch again before posting, but my impression is that the boy showed empathy and remorse, buried as it was in his blustering and mimicking of his father. With therapy, I think a decent human could still be salvaged.

Faith Yancy ... my FAVORITE recurring character. Nancy Grace is a disgrace to her profession. BOTH of them. She sooooo deserved to be skewered like that, and I'd love so much to see her skewered again and again and again. Has she appeared on SVU, too?

And LOL on the judge favoring Bennett or Astaire!

[DonnaJo]

As much as I love this episode for the two teams & Erbe's fantastic courtroom, I always wonder what is going on with Goren? He is very quiet & introspective. Nothing really fazes him until Mom is threatened. I always get the feeling that either D'Onofrio was displaying Goren with a lot of personal problems that were concealed (the old days, LOL), or D'Onofrio was ill or upset himself.

Good question, about what happens to Evan? He displayed a sociopath's indifference to others. Can't blame all of that on Mom & Dad. I think he'll always have issues. Hopefully he'll get enough help to be able to function in society.

The aria always bothers me, as does Goren's final line about parents understanding murdering another child to protect their own. Sorry, as much as a mother loves her children & will do anything for them, murdering a helpless teenage girl & throwing her body in a marsh so your son doesn't have to deal with a possible rape charge is far beyond a normal mother's maternal protective instinct.

Anybody have an opinion about that?

[lilymaybeme]

I also really liked this episode.I think this may be right about the time Goren's mom's physical heath takes a turn for the worse, though I'm not 100% sure of my time line. I don't always get the shows in order here. We've seen most of season 5 and season 6 started a while ago... but now we're back to reruns. I may have to resort to downloads!

Anyway, back to the subject at hand... We don't know anything about previous partners, but Goren knows himself pretty well. He's probably already had issues with partners , but I get the idea he's always had respect for Eames. He never spoke down to her like he did with her replacement. Hearing that letter read in court must have left with mixed feelings: surprise ( because he never had a clue she felt that way), understanding (because that was how his previous partners may have reacted) hurt ( because, well, that would hurt) and happy, because she publicly withdrew her comments and said out loud how highly she thought of him.

As for parents understanding... I have a difficult son. I have sacrificed a lot to help him, and there isn't much I wouldn't do for him or my daughter.. But NEVER, NEVER EVER would I take another life, and certainly not somone else's child. That line bothered me too.
Now I'm going to start downloading season 7 after everything I've read posted here, I can't wait to start watching it