EPISODE OF THE WEEK: BADGE

[Patcat]

Will air May 22, at 6pm (EST) on the USA Cable Network

First aired April 28, 2002. Twentieth episode of the first season.

Written by Marlane Gomard Meyer and Rene Balcer
Directed by Constantine Makris

Guest Actors:
S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren
Robert Clohessy as Phil Legrand
Viola Davis as Terry Randolph

Goren and Eames investigate the apparent murder suicide of a city accountant and his family. Their investigation leads to a gang of resentful police and ex-police led by a disciplined and charismatic school security officer.

Quotes:

Eames (at the crime scene): "This whole house is a note."

Goren: "Points that people didn't want to see. The people that killed the Sherwoods."

Eames: "Cops."
Goren: "Cops."

Deakins: "Cops it is."

Eames (to Goren): "Well, here's one reason why Randolph might've been denied for detective. Terry Randolph is a woman. Funny how that escaped your powers of observation."

Eames (to Phil Legrand): "How'd you get away clean?"
Legrand: "Clean nothing! I gave up a good job! All I've got now's the pension."
Goren: "Hasn't stopped you from living large, Phil. What you got in here? Prime rib and...Wow! Is that a lobster wiggling around down there?"

Legrand: "Why don't you take your Mutt and Jeff act off my property."

Randolph (to a drug dealer): "You and your collegues live and die at my pleasure."

Goren (to Legrand): "Twenty six years on the force and you never got out of the bag?"

Deakins: "Things are going to get real pleasant around here, so if you've got some good news, now's the time to share it."

Eames: "They decided to be the best bad cops they could be."

Van Buren: "I always hoped Terry wouldn't be defeated."

Eames: "Clerical mistake my ass."

Goren: "I can vouch for his assistant."
Eames: "Denise? You dog."

Carver (to Goren): "You'd make a hell of a defense attorney."

Randolph (about Goren): "There's nothing innocent about that baby face."

Goren: "That was your virtual arrest."
Eames: "And here's your real one."

Goren: "You see, one of my hobbies is studying the laws you were paid to enforce once. It's surprisingly cheap."

Goren: "You smothered two children with the same hands you tuck your daughters in at night."

Surprisingly, I found no discussion of this strong episode from Season One.

Terry Randolph is a nasty piece of work. Ruthless, determined, intelligent, wonderfully played by Viola Davis. How does she rank among the LOCI villains?

Does the police culture allow Randolph and her cronies to survive? Does it create them?

Would Randolph and her gang gotten away with the Sherwood murders if Goren and Eames weren't on the case?

Deakins is in a very difficult situation in the case. Comments?

Would Randolph have been a good officer if she hadn't become so bitter? Was she evil, or did she become evil because of being passed over?

Legrand's suicide--Did he have help getting the gun?

Was Randolph turned down for detective for other reasons than her gender? After all, both Van Buren and Eames moved up the ladder.

Where's the father of Randolph's children?

Does Randolph's mother know what's going on?

How well does Randolph read Goren? How well does he read her?

How does Eames react to cops being involved in this case?

Would Randolph and her gang gone after Goren and Eames?

How's Goren and Eames "good cop-bad cop" routine work?

Goren's last statement about Randolph's ability to apparently love her own children and yet kill children is, for me, the haunting center of this story. How can a human do that?

Comments: I enjoy LOCI episodes that examine the NYPD culture. There are too few of them, but they often seem to examine what happens when the protectors turn into the predators. I've read a few discussions of the inherent problem of having the NYPD force being an essentially middle class group assigned to protect people who are frequently much poorer or much richer. BADGE addresses some of the issues that occur when police feel resentful and entitled. Stories dealing with the police also seem to bring Eames to the forefront. Although she clearly hates cops who abuse their power, she also has mixed feelings about pursuing them.

This episode has some wonderful visual images, particularly Goren wearing Sherwood's bloody shirt and swinging that bat.

The poor Sherwoods. A man simply trying to do his job, and his family murdered because of it.

Patcat

[DonnaJo]

WORD, Patcat, on your confusion about a mother who could love her own children yet kill other children.

This same idea was in "ITWSH," when Mrs. Garret murdered that girl to protect her son. It doesn't ring true for me. I would easily kill for my children, if their lives were in danger, real physical danger. But for money or to prevent them from going to prison....No. I don't care about money & would hire the best attorney possible when it comes to possible prison.

I LOVE how Goren noticed the carpet being vacuumed towards the exits. Brilliant! No one else would have noticed that. That is the kind of quirky genius that I sorely miss in the character.The "smartest guy in the room." I firmly believe that if Goren wasn't on the case, they would have gotten away with it.

Terry Randolph was exceptionally bad. And she had such a sweet Mom! It's not like she was raised by a hooker/drug addict. There's no excuse except to say that she's evil. Some people just are.

"Badge" is easily one of my favorite Season One episodes. Thanks for selecting it, Patcat. I'll post more later.

[Patcat]

Randolph's mother is awfully passive. I wonder what the father was like.

Patcat

[Patcat]

Donnajo--Love your Goren slide show.

Another question--what's going to happen to Randolph's children?

Patcat

[ragincajun]

I will need to watch it again, but wouldn't Randolph's mother get them?

[susan1212]

It never ceases to amaze me how vulnerable Robert is. In "Badge" when Randolph addresses his non-"'frugal" habits, he literally steps back as if struck physically. In "Mad Hops" he reacts similarly to the coach when he pegs Robert as "a boy with an indifferent father". He bounces back in both episodes by "using his words" and bringing the perps to justice through deception and trickery. In contrast, his reactions to being discovered now are more physical. In "Depths" he literally pushes outwards at the perp who says a person without parents or children is nothing. In "Self Made" he becomes physically aggressive with Shill when he realizes Shill is like Declan... a phony. He still has his moments, though. In "Amends" he takes that step back when Theresa's son tells him the Chief of D's said he is a whack job. (not that I expected him to hit the kid, but he looked like he got stabbed when the boy told him. ) In general, his inner rage is manifesting itself physically outward...ie with Frank, and even in "War at Home" when he trashes his desk.

In either case, though, his vulnerability is the cause for reaction. I would have thought after all these years in law enforcement he would have a tougher shell...but not so. He is the towering hero with an easily broken heart...and we find that so appealing because we all want to help and "comfort" him. At least I know I do!

DonnaJo - love your new avatar!

[Patcat]

I think all of his reactions are understandable. I do think Goren is more sensitive than other detectives. It's one of his chief weapons as a detective--it allows him to understand criminals and victims better. But it's also one of his chief vulnerabilities. In DEPTHS, I see his physical reaction as more of a defensive move that turned into an offensive one. In BADGE, I think he's struck by just how bright and dangerous Terry Randolph is. Her comments force him to make a reassessment, which he does. The one moment I really worry about is his attack on Shill in SELF MADE. He really does cross the line there. As for AMENDS, again, my heart bled for Goren. Here he is, coming in from personal leave, investigating a case that's ripping him apart, saving the department from its own mistakes, and what can of thanks does he get? To be called a "whack job" and ostracized by the people he's doing his best for. I suspect Goren has always known he's not entirely popular in the NYPD, but that it hasn't bothered him because he believes most people support him. (Deakins probably protected Goren and Eames from a lot.) In AMENDS, that idea takes a heavy blow.

Patcat

[sabry]

I believe that this sensitivity to make it more attentive to
details
quote In "Mad Hops" he reacts similarly to the coach when he pegs Robert as "a boy with an indifferent father". is perfect in my opinion
Goren's last statement about Randolph's ability to apparently love her own children and yet kill children is, for me, the haunting center of this story. How can a human do that?I thought the same thing .. as possible to love so much their children and then kill so ruthless...
I find it very beautiful game torque and the complicity of Goren and Eams

[Patcat]

I'm thinking (always dangerous), and wondering if Bobby's experience in AMENDS led to his actions in UNTETHERED. Having a sense that the department is against him and wouldn't help him could have easily led him to believe no one would help him protect Donnie.

Patcat

[susan1212]

May 21, 2008 8:01:37 GMT -5 Patcat said:

I think all of his reactions are understandable. I do think Goren is more sensitive than other detectives. It's one of his chief weapons as a detective--it allows him to understand criminals and victims better. But it's also one of his chief vulnerabilities. In DEPTHS, I see his physical reaction as more of a defensive move that turned into an offensive one. In BADGE, I think he's struck by just how bright and dangerous Terry Randolph is. Her comments force him to make a reassessment, which he does. The one moment I really worry about is his attack on Shill in SELF MADE. He really does cross the line there. As for AMENDS, again, my heart bled for Goren. Here he is, coming in from personal leave, investigating a case that's ripping him apart, saving the department from its own mistakes, and what can of thanks does he get? To be called a "whack job" and ostracized by the people he's doing his best for. I suspect Goren has always known he's not entirely popular in the NYPD, but that it hasn't bothered him because he believes most people support him. (Deakins probably protected Goren and Eames from a lot.) In AMENDS, that idea takes a heavy blow.

Patcat

I, too, find his reactions understandable... more than understandable, for all he's been through. I am just constantly (and happily) surprised that his job, and his life, hasn't hardened his heart.

Sabry - Yes, I agree. His sensitivity does make him more attentive to details. It also makes him more attractive, don't you think?

[sabry]

an aspect that makes it unique Goren is his being
safe and "ruthless" and then "weak" and sensitive ;an interrogation is an alternation of feelings and psychological pain the game will not ever see outside but always sharer.
One look and everything changes physicist used to express (very Italian style), Vincent find a great actor in this

[effie]

I've always thought it interesting too when Terri confronts Goren -- that as soon as she does... his fake accent gets dropped. Another acknowledgement I think of his realizing her power.

and always fun to watch Eames and Goren fake fight. They do it alot 'undercover' ...

[LO:CI]

May 22, 2008 8:28:19 GMT -5 effie said:

his fake accent gets dropped

I never realized he faked an accent there. What kind of accent do you mean?

May 22, 2008 8:28:19 GMT -5 effie said:

and always fun to watch Eames and Goren fake fight. They do it alot 'undercover' ...

I always thought Eames was really upset with him in that scene. Didn't she say something like you were out of the line when they'd already left Randolph's house?

[effie]

May 22, 2008 9:12:04 GMT -5 LO:CI said:

May 22, 2008 8:28:19 GMT -5 effie said:

his fake accent gets dropped

I never realized he faked an accent there. What kind of accent do you mean?

May 22, 2008 8:28:19 GMT -5 effie said:

and always fun to watch Eames and Goren fake fight. They do it alot 'undercover' ...

I always thought Eames was really upset with him in that scene. Didn't she say something like you were out of the line when they'd already left Randolph's house?

when they go to "mark up" Terri's beat at the school ... Goren does this dumb New York (Bronx, Brooklyn???) accent. He keeps it up in his interactions with her until the later scene where she bats back.

It always seemed to me that the fight was staged so they could work in the misdirect about the 2-7. They were in the kitchen the whole time I believe.

[diablodeblanco]

May 22, 2008 9:12:04 GMT -5 LO:CI said:

[quote author=effie board=discussion thread=2817 post=45933 time=121146289
9]

I always thought Eames was really upset with him in that scene. Didn't she say something like you were out of the line when they'd already left Randolph's house?

Faulty memory that I have, I thought the fight was fake for Randolph's benefit. Eames was trying to get on her good side by showing how men are still a problem for women officers. Also I thought that Goren's fake accent was an attempt to portray himself as something of a street cop from the Bronx or wherever. Kind of dumbing down and pretending to be an overbearing oafish sexist with some power and a willingness to use it. This also helped push Randolph closer to Eames.