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Post by DonnaJo on Sept 25, 2009 20:15:57 GMT -5
I will refrain from specifics until the west coast has seen this, but I was enthralled from the teaser until the conclusion! A fantastic episode! Cutter's summation gave me a lump in my throat. Anyone who isn't moved by this episode has no heart, no soul. Jack McCoy. Finally, the official NYC District Attorney. His good works can now continue in full force. He isn't afraid of anyone. Not even the current Administration. I like how they dealt with Van Buren's cancer. Just enough. And based on the preview for next week's episode, Lupo gets very personally involved with a witness. I noticed the phrase "more colorful" used to describe this seasons flavor. Bravo to Rene Balcer and everyone involved with this episode.
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Post by dragonsback on Sept 25, 2009 21:13:39 GMT -5
A come-hither, insightful review, DonnaJ.
Now, can we all give nick5oh a decent burial, and move on to post-mastodon life on the planet?
When Rene Balcer joins the best of current showrunners and actually engages with the likes of us, then I shall be more interested.
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Post by annabelleleigh on Sept 25, 2009 21:40:41 GMT -5
Written by Rene Balcer and Keith Eisner.
No heads on pikes I'm afraid. But at its heart this episode restated persuasively a powerful truth: that societal and political progress depends wholly on the persistent, conscientious acts of individuals.
I guess that's the continuing story of Law & Order -- and why I'm so drawn to it.
More from me after a second viewing.
AL
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Post by Jefferaldo on Sept 26, 2009 9:25:12 GMT -5
What an opener for the 20th Season.
While I did think the plot was a bit far-fetched in that there was no way the charges could have been sustained, it had a very important message behind it that everyone needs to think about.
René Balcer has not failed to impress. As CI goes down (possibly depending on how casting and writing for the 9th season goes) L&O is constantly rising in quality. The current cast is fantastic and also reaches a mini-milestone on its own: For two season consecutive season transitions, the cast hasn't changed.
I thought it was nice that Van Buren finally got a new wig (or rather, hairstyle). Her cancer story arc should be interesting if it is played right and not just mentioned and only brought up in say the season finale.
I was a bit disappointed that the opening credit sequence wasn't updated considering it is the 20th season. The Simpsons did a major overhaul on theirs for their 20th year and I was hoping L&O would do the same.
Perhaps I should take it upon myself to do it hehe.
Looking forward to the rest of the season.
ETA: Also the defendant, Franklin was it? Repeat offender from "Wasichu"
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Post by trisha on Sept 26, 2009 13:07:49 GMT -5
Cutter really disappointed me in this one -- sounded like my ignorant, Bushie father-in-law. Bluck. I know someone had to play devils advocate, but did it have to by my new tv bf? I don't know how to forgive him just yet. Other than Cutter's stunning lack of morals and logic in the face of residual emotional turmoil, I thought this was one of the finest episodes of the series. I especially like the way the Obama administration was skewered for their cowardly lack of follow-through. No sacred cows on this show -- everybody gets their slaps when they've got them coming. btw, Jeff, I'd love to see you redo the intro
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Post by DonnaJo on Sept 26, 2009 13:25:02 GMT -5
Yes Jeff...I would love one of your superior intro's. If it isn't too much trouble. Trisha, I was also WTF when Cutter started getting all "Bushie"( I'm adding this great word of yours to my vocab) ;D But I thought by the end that he was changing his tune, and realized that his attitude wasn't ethical. I liked how McCoy sort of understood how he could feel that way, and gave him time to figure things out. I believe that the verdict was going to be guilty before the Feds stopped everything. So did Cutter.
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mimi
Detective
Posts: 231
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Post by mimi on Sept 26, 2009 22:13:52 GMT -5
I love that there was a slim to none chance that we would get to the verdict. That's exactly why I enjoyed this episode. I don't believe McCoy thought this case was winnable, but he surely wanted to mark this topic into judicial stone. Unlike Cutter who wanted to know the verdict, McCoy seemed at peace with the whole thing.
I think that Cutter represented the people who want to sleep knowing that someone somewhere is protecting him and the country. I sense that he's afraid that the US still has a target on its back, yet he doesn't want to give in to that fear.
I believe that the verdict was going to be guilty before the Feds stopped everything.
I wouldn't be too sure of that, but I guess we will never know! And surely the big administrative honchos didn't want to take that chance and wisely put a stop to the trial. The judge said "there's no verdict until it's entered in the records", I have to disagree with that.
What we believe individually is in itself a verdict.
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Post by annabelleleigh on Sept 27, 2009 17:13:54 GMT -5
Just saw "Memo from the Dark Side" again. I have a page of notes on this brilliant teleplay which I'll summarize and post tomorrow. But as the sun sets where I sit it has become Yom Kippur.
As this L&O premiere reminds me: There's so much for many to atone for.
AL
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Post by annabelleleigh on Sept 28, 2009 20:49:46 GMT -5
Instead of summarizing my notes let me say only this: I read The New York Times; I listened to NPR; I've seen the images on the cable news networks and yet only now -- in "Memo from The Dark Side" -- do I feel and fully understand the issues at stake and why I should continue to care. The arcane, remote, and divisive -- the stuff of editorials and Op-Ed pages that many would rather bury (including Eric Holder and Barack Obama) -- have been brought back into focus with their human faces.
What cuts glass in this episode is the dialogue. It's stuffed with political facts yet avoids the lecture (unlike some of the clunkier teleplays over 20 years). The writing is elegant, economical and natural. In that and in its urgency the teleplay brings to mind the film "All The President's Men."
Bravo to Balcer and Eisner and kudos also to actors Sisto and Anderson who carried well the heavy information load usually consigned to the "Order" side of the story.
AL
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mimi
Detective
Posts: 231
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Post by mimi on Oct 2, 2009 7:54:49 GMT -5
How depressing! The ratings for the season's premiere were very disappointing. L&O was beaten by a rerun of FlashFoward and by Ghost Wisperer. In the 18/49 category L&O scored a frustrating 1.3/5. It makes me mad when good TV and excellent writing fall into oblivion for no reasons. Good God it is an epic moment for L&O and all the stars are aligned for a memorable season.
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