Red Ball

Season 16, Episode 1, Aired

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8.9
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A young girl is abducted in broad daylight, and the only link to the girl is an ex-convict who wants a deal before he's willing to talk.
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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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  • Watchable but not noteworthy...

    7.3
    "Good"
    By zaha, Jun 09, 2010
    Nothing about this episode really blew my mind.

    I liked the seeming standoff between Branch and McCoy - though it isn't as if anything came of that in the end. All's well that ends well, huh?

    Storyline was predictable.

    The actor who played the extortionistic 'perp' did a fine job. He really did the 'dead inside' completely amoral thing very well. Gold star.

    I missed Michael Imperioli. He did a really great job on the show - he seemed natural and comfortable in the role and his character was a good contrast to Farina's character. It felt really abrupt to just not have him there anymore.
    Though I like the diversity/balance having Green around brings.

    I hope they come out with better eps than this one this season. Could be that the Law & Order writers are just getting tired.moreless

  • Anyone who thinks the original Law & Order is getting olds didn't watch last night.

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By Dawnsdinosaurs, Jun 09, 2010
    This was another excellent episode. I was always a little indiffererent to Green but realized after this episode how much I missed him while he was gone. I think his replacement did an excellent job but it was good to see Fontana and Green on the case again. This was an above average story. I couldn't help wondering while watching it what was going on with McCoy. I half expected to find him leaving the series, getting fired for going behind Branch's back, but was very happy the way it worked out with Branch backing him up by talking to the judge. I can't help but wondering since there was some talk of the DA's re-election the comment made to McCoy at the end that he is a good prosecutor but wouldn't be a good District Attorney if he might throw his hat into the ring. I do like Fred Thompson's portrayal of the DA but think it would be very interesting to see McCoy in that role with a young eager prosecutor to deal with.moreless

  • Green and Fontana get emotional searching for a missing girl and McCoy and Branch butt heads.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By AmaXDear, Jan 23, 2009
    This was a nicely written episode. It started out as a carjacking-gone-bad and turned into a twisted, complicated kidnapping. After a little running around, the detectives find the guy who kidnapped a young girl, but Dwight refuses to reveal her location unless McCoy agrees to let him walk completely. Nobody believes that Jenny is still alive, so obviously McCoy is reluctant to do so. They become increasingly desperate, though--there is an excellent scene involving a fake body and Ed's tantrum--and McCoy tries to form some kind of deal.

    It becomes apparent that Jenny is with Dwight's girlfriend, but she's in the wind. They try to trace her through Dwight's lawyer, and eventually find her, dead, in a motel--without the girl. Branch refuses to let McCoy make a deal, even though everybody agrees that the situation is nearly hopeless. The man who killed Dwight's girlfriend is found, but Jenny is still missing. Finally McCoy decides to make a deal behind Branch's back, but Branch speaks to a judge and she overturns the deal after Dwight reveals that Jenny is in his mother's garage. The detectives find her locked in a trunk, alive.

    This was a very entertaining episode. There was a blend of Law and Order that made it impossible to stop watching even for a minute. There was plenty of emotional tension--between McCoy and Branch, Fontana and Van Buren, the detectives and pretty much everybody they met. The plot was also supported by several interesting undertones. All in all, I highly recommend watching.moreless

  • Branch v McCoy

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By tvfanz, Jan 22, 2006
    This is L&O at its finest. Great plot, great character development and it was good to have Green back.

    Loved the line (earlier season) when he told Fontana he was 'high maintenance.

    To deal or not to deal that was the question of this episode. It's about time we saw McCoy and Branch clash because they are poles apart politically. It never worked the way that they got rid of Serena because these two agreed and she was in 'left' field.

    Branch is smooth he not only saved Jack's hide he saved himself from some severe political damage. Not just a (not-so) pretty face.moreless

  • Greene and Fontana are tracking down a kidnapping. McCoy uses extreme measures to find the little girl

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Carolee99, Sep 22, 2005
    Welcome back Greene! I was impressed to see Greene running after a suspect. I would have thought there would be a period of adjstment for him. I know the real reason Jesse L. Martin took the time off. Thought there would be more mention of the shooting.

    What is up with Fontana's attitude? Usually Greene is the one with the passion. I didn't think the anger was necessary but I do understand while it was there. Also it was great to see the characters showing such passion.

    Charlie Graham gives good lawyers a bad name. Basically the only reason he is in the episode at all is to give it a twist. Really undecided if it was that important.

    Branch is always in a reelection campaign. It's getting really old. They need to find someone who is not so concerned with politics.

    I find it a little strange that SVU and LO would have a common thread like sex offenders with inheritances.

    The judge was mean but thank go she surprised me. At least she did what was right.

    What's going to happen to McCoy? Branch is the one that should be canned, he is by far getting tired.

    moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (2)

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    • At the end of the episode, Arthur remarks that while Jack is a good prosecutor, he'll never be a District Attorney. Ironically, when actor Fred Thompson leaves the show to run for the U.S. Presidency in season 18, Jack McCoy becomes the new District Attorney.

    • The term 'red ball' comes from the NBC series Homicide: Life on the Street. It was used to indicate a top-priority case, typically connected to the kind of media coverage it generated.

  • QUOTES (3)

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    • Jack McCoy: If you want to fire me, Arthur, go ahead. I'm not going to apologize for what I did. Arthur Branch: Well then, you just don't get it, Jack. You know, you're a great prosecutor, but you'll never be a district attorney.

    • Jimmy: I didn't do nothing! Ed Green: You run pretty fast for someone who didn't do nothing!

    • Officer: Thought you were riding a desk. Ed Green: I'm done with that.

  • NOTES (2)

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    • This is the first episode with Jesse L. Martin after his hiatus to film Rent.

    • This episode marks the beginning of S. Epatha Merkerson's thirteenth season as Lt. Anita Van Buren, making her the longest running character in the show's history. Jerry Orbach's Lennie Briscoe appeared for twelve years. The longest-running original castmember was Chris Noth as Mike Logan, from 1990 through 1995.

  • ALLUSIONS (1)

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    • Detective Joseph Fontana (Dennis Farina) says at one point, "I wish we could do this the old-fashioned way". This is a reference to pre-Miranda police practices where intimidation and physical abuse could be freely used in interrogations.

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