A story that relies on possible repercussion from war. Specifically in this case the Iraqi war and events occuring around the torture of inmates in Abu Grab prison. So as you one would expect, this is an episode focus heavily on events around the Iraq war and would have touched a raw nerve when it was first shown. However, as mentioned in the NOTES section, the plot is far from perfect and thus the screenplay didnt work too fluidly, giving an overall sense that the plot was cobbled together to fit the events, rather than being written to stand on its own to feet. Despite this, the story is easy to follow and provide a platform for the real star of this episode, the new blood - Fontana.
RIP Jerry Orbach, aka Lennie Briscoe. You shall be missed.
Being always dubious of change, I must admit Faria is a class replacement. A favourite actor of mine, who I can remember from Miami Vice days. He fits in immediately like a well-worn glove. For me this is what this story is really about, introducing the wiley wise-guy-esque type character. In a number of key scenes it is Fontana who makes the breakthrough to the next lead, that keeps this plot moving forwards. The way in which he interprets a scene or clue or the way he manipulates a situation really adds to his reputation. Definitely made me feel at ease with the character. That was after a pretty frictional introduction between him and Green, where we immediately get a sense that these two cops don't have much in common and could have spelt trouble.
However, because of the obvious issues with the plot, the story only provides a decent return on the drama stakes. Perhaps this was because it was being shown for the 1st time on UK TV, years after the associated events. Maybe though because the relevence of this and the attempted connection to the articles of the Geneva Convention just werent followed through in enough detail. Which brings me to my next final point about the drama. This lacked the intensity, even for an average L&O show. The introduction of possible alternate suspects was very low, almost railroading the story towards the Muslim candidate. It did incidents that provoked strong emotional response to the plight of normal Iraqi's and the consequences of getting things very wrong. The conflicts, what there was of them, were cast between new partners Fontana and Green, the Iraqi woman and both, the war and the judicial process. To be fair, the script was littered with some conflict by it never reaches an intense level. Yet overall, the episode preached more than entertained.
For me this was really only one to watch for Farina's witty dialogue and to get to know his new character, which takes my score up to an eight.moreless
EDIT
Episode Summary
An Iraqi immigrant who murders a former military policewoman in retaliation for torturing her brother at Abu Ghraib prison claims that she is covered as an enemy combatant under the terms of the Geneva Convention.
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Elisabeth Rohm
A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn
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S. Epatha Merkerson
Lt. Anita Van Buren
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Sam Waterston
Exec. A.D.A. Jack McCoy
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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Trivia
ADD TRIVIA- This is one of the only episodes in which the district attorney (Arthur Branch) appears in court. Edit
- Nadira Harrington is an observant Muslim who wears a hijab (head scarf). Women wear the hijab to be modest in front of men who are not related to them. She should have been wearing the hijab when Green and Fontana came to the house. Edit
- An American soldier in this episode referred to Daniel Pearl as an example of how dangerous Iraqi insurgents were. Daniel Pearl was killed a few years before the Iraq war. This happened in Pakistan and Al Qaeda was alleged to be responsible, so it really had nothing to do with Iraqi insurgents. Edit
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Notes
ADD NOTES- Jack McCoy refers to the case as, "Like the Yankees and the Red Sox; it's inevitable that the Red Sox won't be there when it counts." This obviously refers to the way the Boston Red Sox often did well in the beginning of the season, only to fail miserably at the end. This episode aired on September 22, 2004. Not even a month later, the Red Sox came back from an 0-3 record to beat the Yankees and went on to win the World Series. Edit
- Many of the scenes were filmed in downtown Brooklyn, including the scene where they said they were at a gas station in Queens. In actuality they were at the Mobil Station on Atlantic Avenue. Edit
- Dennis Farina's first contract appearance as Joe Fontana. Edit
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Quotes
ADD QUOTES- Joe Fontana: (to Nadira Harrington) ... and what's a nice Muslim woman doing with pig's blood? Edit
- Bernie Adler (to Jack McCoy): You get to try my client, but now I get to try the war. Edit
- Nadira Harrington: You invade our country, but you don't give us safety? You protect our oil fields, but people are dying in the streets? Edit
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Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS- Nadira Harrington: I am a mujahedeen. A soldier of Islam. Arraignment Judge: And I'm Thurgood Marshall. Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) was the first African-American judge to serve on the Supreme Court. He was appointed in 1967. Edit
- This episode appears to be ripped from the headlines of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq. Edit
- The scene during the trial in which the military man is testifying about torture ("You want security, but you don't want to know what it takes to get it!") seems very similar to Jack Nicholson's famous "You can't handle the truth!" scene from the 1992 movie A Few Good Men. Edit
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