Law & Order

Charity Case

Season 17, Episode 12, Aired 1/12/07

Episode Summary

Green and Cassady investigate after Sean Archer, a producer who had recently adopted a child from Africa with his wife, well-known actress Sofia, is gunned down outside an ice cream shop while holding baby Christopher. The shooting is soon linked to the recent adoption of Christopher, which had received international scrutiny because it appeared to have been pushed through based on the couple's celebrity status. McCoy and Rubirosa initially investigate the murder of Sean Archer, which soon turns into an investigation of a child's death when the identity of baby Christopher comes under question.moreless

9.0

EPISODE RATING: Superb

49 votes

Your Rating: 10

"Perfect"
Your Rating: 9.5

"Superb"
Your Rating: 9

"Superb"
Your Rating: 8.5

"Great"
Your Rating: 8

"Great"
Your Rating: 7.5

"Good"
Your Rating: 7

"Good"
Your Rating: 6.5

"Fair"
Your Rating: 6

"Fair"
Your Rating: 5.5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 4.5

"Poor"
Your Rating: 4

"Poor"
Your Rating: 3.5

"Bad"
Your Rating: 3

"Bad"
Your Rating: 2.5

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 2

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 1.5

"Abysmal"
Your Rating: 1

"Abysmal"

Rate It

Watch Online

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Jesse L. Martin

Det. Ed Green
Fred Dalton Thompson

D.A. Arthur Branch
Milena Govich

Det. Nina Cassady

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

See All

This story reminds me of stars like Madonna and Angelina Jolie. It’s about a white actress who adopts a poor, impoverished, African baby, in an effort to gain publicity.

10

"Perfect"

By lharris1, Dec 14, 2010 Report Abuse

I was awestruck by this episode. It was well acted and the story was riveting. However, it has a more personal connection to me. I felt like a part of my life was used for this spellbinding story. For instance, part of the episode took place in Newark, New Jersey, which is my hometown. I was born and raised here. Then one of the court dates in the episode was on my birthday. Isn't this ironic, but fascinating. To top it off, one of the characters actually had my name. My name is LaShanda Harris, which is unusual for television. I can't help but wonder if the writers pulled my name from the city's file in an effort to make the story believable. They even spelled my name the way it is misspelled on my birth certificate, Lashonda Harris. I feel like I won the lottery. I am such a fan of Law and Order and am happy that in such a weird way I was apart of an episode. Is there any way I can get a copy of this episode to have as a special memento? Needless to say, this episode deserves a 10 for its acting, content, and ability to connect to African Americans and an urban community like Newark. Hats off Guys!moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
0 2
Very good episode!!!!

9.3

"Superb"

By clabrazil, Mar 06, 2007 Report Abuse

One of the best so far in this season!!!!! I loved the way the detectives handled the case, it was just brilliant!!!! Oh my God, how can a person do something like that?? Kill the baby, even if accidentaly, and then just replace with another one so no one will notice.... that is just sick!!!! But great storyline, anyways...
And Connie Rubirosa was fierce!!!! She was just sickened by the whole thing and did not give up looking for the truth!!! She did'nt let the fact that the suspect was a rich celebrity intimidate her, and that is how it is supposed to be, too bad this only happens in TV...moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
0 0
A celebrity is shot in the face while holding his newly-adopted son, but thats just the start of this interesting episode.

8.5

"Great"

By LAW-ORDER, Jan 13, 2007 Report Abuse

When I saw the preview for this Law & Order episode, I immediately thought, "Oh no, not ANOTHER ripped-from-the-headlines." But even though this episode had hints of Brangelina and Madonna, it was very good and had many breathtaking twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. A controversial adoption, a celebrity murdered, and all of the Law&Order-ness that everyone loves to see. I like how we got to learn more about Connie Rubirosa (the new ADA), and she did a nice job helping long-time EADA Jack McCoy prosecuting a murderer. While it wasn't the best episode I've ever seen, it was one of the better ones this season!moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
0 1
Slow, slow, slow beginning.

6.5

"Fair"

By bluejayfusion, Jan 13, 2007 Report Abuse

Anyone who looks up recent "Law & Order" episodes will see that I love reviewing them and my critiques are generally positive... but boy, the first half of this episode seemed to drag. It wasn't Martin or Merkerson's fault. And as much as I'd like to write a whole paragraph about how ridiculous Det. Cassady looked chasing the suspect- It wasn't so much her. The current writers have to realize that for more than 10 years, the detectives have routinely pursued the "infidelity theory" and the "angry protester did it theory" before finding the real culprit just in time for the "ORDER" part of the show to kick in. That being said, do something different, guys! The second half of the episode was terrific especially the humorous scene of Jack and "Connie" getting buzzed in his office after the case. Without Lennie Briscoe and his well-placed wisecracks, those kind of scenes need something else to give them punch.moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Write a Review

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

Trivia
ADD TRIVIA
- When they were teenagers who needed extra money, Jack McCoy delivered newspapers and Connie Rubirosa baby-sat several children. Edit
Notes
ADD NOTES
- Special billing was given to Billy Burke (Special Guest Star) and Jennifer Beals (Special Guest Star) in this episode. Edit
Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- Connie Rubirosa: Did you ever work as a babysitter?
  
  Jack McCoy: I delivered papers.
  
  Connie: I had 8 regulars from infants to adolescents. Paid for my first car. Rule number one, if you do not watch them like a hawk, something from the floor will end up in their mouth. (holds up a plastic bag of pills)
  Edit
- Jack McCoy: Some people are wired wrong. Ugliest part of our work. Connie Rubirosa: It's babies. Babies as fashion . . . Edit
- Ed Green: Did you try to take the baby and something went wrong? Marlon Cooper: Whoever did this, I'm sure he's remorseful. And I hope he's got a good head start on you. Edit
Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS
- This episode appears to be ripped from the headlines of the recent scandal involving pop singer Madonna. In 2006, Madonna adopted a baby boy from Malawi, which put her in the center of the international eye when it began being reported that not all the rules were followed, and the child's birth father claimed to have not understood what he was signing. Edit