One of the best episodes ever. There is absolutely nothing that could be reproached. A Chinese restaurant owner is ambushed and savagely beaten to death by a bunch of teenagers just because they didn't have how to pay him, so they decided to take the meal for free, but then the oldest of them said they can't let him go, as he saw their faces. It wasn't true, the victim lost his life nonetheless, his skull being crushed just to stop him from moaning.
This episode has many moments which make it stand out: first, Jack McCoy is present in the precinct during the interrogation of the main suspect, he makes the decision to arrest him and the others, second it is him who is the first to suggest a death sentence to the surprise of D.A. Nora Lewin and despite his personal beliefs. She then summons the senior A.D.A.s to discuss the penalty, I dare to say, such a meeting has never been showed before. And third, once decision taken, Nora Lewin makes the press statement on the steps of the Supreme Court. While the trial is mentioned only in allusions, we watch the sentencing part, the defendant's mother begging for the life of her son, who fails to persuade anyone how much sorry he is. The death penalty verdict is a very strong and a moving moment. My hat off to the acting of the homeless man, the perpetrator, his mother and all D.A.'s office. This was one of many things that made this episode get the highest ranking from me.moreless
Episode Summary
EDIT
The beating death of a restaurant owner leads Briscoe and Green to thrill-seeking teenagers; McCoy and Lewin are forced to decide how young is too young for the death penalty.
-
GUEST STAR
Murphy GuyerLeslie Stanton
-
GUEST STAR
Alex FeldmanMitch Regan
-
GUEST STAR
Molly ReganMrs. Regan
-
Jerry Orbach
Det. Lennie Briscoe
-
S. Epatha Merkerson
Lt. Anita Van Buren
-
Sam Waterston
Exec. A.D.A. Jack McCoy
-
Angie Harmon
A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael
-
Jesse L. Martin
Det. Ed Green
-
Dianne Wiest
D.A. Nora Lewin
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
See All-
TRIVIA (1)
ADD TRIVIA-
This is one of the only a handful of episodes in which the district attorney (Nora Lewin) appears in court.
-
-
QUOTES (4)
ADD QUOTES-
(Lewin addressing the press regarding her decision on the death penalty.) Nora Lewin: My decision today continues this office's decision of objectively applying the laws of this state to the cases it's charged with prosecuting in this great city. Ours is an island but we are not untouched by the national debate or its dictates concerning the death penalty. That being said, my decision goes against my personal feelings, but as District Attorney, I took an oath to uphold the law which includes applying the death penalty fairly with due process of law. To do otherwise would be to substitute my own judgement for the judgement of those the people elected to make such decisions. Accordingly, I am forced to conclude that notice to the court of our intention to seek the death penalty in the case of the People versus Mitch Reagan is appropriate.
-
(After Mitch Regan says the killing was an accident) Jack McCoy: Charge him with murder. A person doesn't lose the back of his skull unless the killer intends him to.
-
(Talking about Mr. Ngai) Lennie Briscoe: Guy works fifteen hours a day, ends up in a puddle in the rain. Ed Green: He left his mark though. Three kids and a business that supports two families.
-
Nora Lewin: What should be the standard to take the life of a teenager? Abbie Carmichael: Where I come from, it's where the crime committed is so vicious, so cruel, he forfeits the right to get any older. Nora Lewin: Where I come from a person can't forfeit that right. We can only take it from him.
-
-
NOTES (0)
ADD NOTES- ADD NOTES from this episode.
-
ALLUSIONS (1)
ADD ALLUSIONS-
The episode title is a reference to the 1971 song by The Who, Baba O'Riley.
-
-
Law & Order Season 13 Episode 5: The Ring
01/24/121
-
Briscoe or Fontana
01/05/122
-
Law & Order Season 17 Episode 20 is Captive: Part One
07/06/113
-
Your preferred ADA team
06/05/1112
-
Connie's New Job
04/19/114
-
Rubber Room
S 20 : Ep 23
Aired 5/24/10 (44:00)
-
Love Eternal
S 20 : Ep 22
Aired 5/17/10 (44:00)
-
Immortal
S 20 : Ep 21
Aired 5/17/10 (44:00)
-
The Taxman Cometh
S 20 : Ep 20
Aired 5/10/10 (43:00)
Related Shows
-
-
-
-
-
tv
Boston Legal
Season 11 Episodes
See AllEp 24
Deep Vote
Ep 23
Judge Dread
Ep 22
School Daze
Ep 21
Brother's Keeper
Ep 20
All My Children
Ep 19
Whiplash
Ep 18
White Lie
Ep 17
Ego
Ep 16
Bronx Cheer
Ep 15
Swept Away - A Very Specia...
Ep 14
A Losing Season
Ep 13
Phobia
Ep 12
Teenage Wasteland
Ep 11
Sunday in the Park with Jorge
Ep 10
Whose Monkey is it Anyway?
Ep 9
Hubris
Ep 8
Thin Ice
Ep 7
Amends
Ep 6
Burn Baby Burn
Ep 5
Return
Ep 4
Standoff
Ep 3
Dissonance
Ep 2
Turnstile Justice
Ep 1
Endurance
-
Angelwomyn EDITOR
User Score: 2989
-
khaki_dojo TRUSTED
User Score: 3985
-
layle1 TRUSTED
User Score: 1599
-
tvfa
User Score: 701
-
robinepowell
User Score: 312
-
DanDud88
User Score: 256
-
lakeside44
User Score: 211
-
GusF
User Score: 154
-
dhomp
User Score: 152
-
neomichel
User Score: 129
More
Less
