After witnessing an inmate's execution, McCoy, Kincaid, Briscoe, and Curtis react in different and extreme ways.After witnessing an inmate's execution, McCoy, Kincaid, Briscoe, and Curtis react in different and extreme ways.After witnessing an inmate's execution, McCoy, Kincaid, Briscoe, and Curtis react in different and extreme ways.
Photos
Jennifer Estlin
- Cathy Briscoe
- (as Jennifer Bill)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaEvery episode of Law & Order opens with the investigation of a crime, usually a murder. This is the only episode that does not open with a crime or feature a criminal investigation and prosecution. This episode opens with four of the main characters witnessing the lethal injection of a prisoner--a convicted murderer--and it revolves around the characters' reactions to the execution.
- GoofsThough this was arguably one of the most powerful entries in the series, the entire premise is fictitious. No one has been executed by the state of New York since 1963.
- Quotes
Mike: What is it with you guys? First darts, now pool.
Detective Lennie Briscoe: Never mess with a civil servant, my friend.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Law & Order: Sideshow (1999)
Featured review
Getting away from reality
As an indictment, or at least a reflection, of capital punishment this episode doesn't wash.
The idea of angst-ridden cops and boozed-up prosecuting attorney's wallowing in soul-searching bouts of self-recrimination over their involvement in an execution is just about the most laughable thing one could imagine.
Despite the series's perspective L & O is very liberal in much of its subject matter once it gets away from the meat and potatoes style material that makes up much its content. This episode is a case in point where the writers imposed their standards or viewpoints on characters who, in the real world, wouldn't have cared less about the imposition of a sentence many in the law enforcement community whole-heartedly agree with.
I happen to be opposed to capital punishment, but I have family and friends working in the law enforcement community who constantly deal with all the worst elements of society and see a side of life that most of us thankfully don't have to become involved with. They can hardly be blamed under the circumstances for developing very cynical and hard-line views, particularly given the violence they're so often required to deal with. Ask most cops to render a view on capital punishment and the vast majority would nod their approval without a second's thought. I'd hazard a guess and say most attorney's working for a DA's office would feel the same way as well.
The idea of angst-ridden cops and boozed-up prosecuting attorney's wallowing in soul-searching bouts of self-recrimination over their involvement in an execution is just about the most laughable thing one could imagine.
Despite the series's perspective L & O is very liberal in much of its subject matter once it gets away from the meat and potatoes style material that makes up much its content. This episode is a case in point where the writers imposed their standards or viewpoints on characters who, in the real world, wouldn't have cared less about the imposition of a sentence many in the law enforcement community whole-heartedly agree with.
I happen to be opposed to capital punishment, but I have family and friends working in the law enforcement community who constantly deal with all the worst elements of society and see a side of life that most of us thankfully don't have to become involved with. They can hardly be blamed under the circumstances for developing very cynical and hard-line views, particularly given the violence they're so often required to deal with. Ask most cops to render a view on capital punishment and the vast majority would nod their approval without a second's thought. I'd hazard a guess and say most attorney's working for a DA's office would feel the same way as well.
helpful•2561
- tim-wilde-1
- May 7, 2008
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