Law & Order (TV Series) Progeny (1995) User Reviews

A life for a life

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 3 December 2020]

Abortion is a very sensitive subject and still is one of the most controversial ones out there, with extreme opinions on both sides (more so than a lot of other controversial topics). Will always admire anything film and television related that explores it, regardless of how the execution fares. There are times where it is explored tactfully, movingly, intensely and insightfully, there are other times where it is handled heavy-handedly and with too much on one side. Which has been true for any subject tackled on 'Law and Order'.

"Progeny" is in the former category, in a near-return to form for Season 5. The original 'Law and Order' was no stranger to the subject of abortion, Season 1's "Life Choice", will agree with that being an excellent episode and a better and slightly more insightful one, explored it too and it was explored more than once throughout the whole 'Law and Order' franchise since. "Progeny" handles the subject just as effectively for similar reasons and while not quite a show high point it's one of the best episodes of Season 5 and one of the more powerful ones. Complete with one of the early seasons' standout guest stars and legal scenes in a different league to those of the rest of Season 5's episodes.

Like "Life Choice", maybe it could have gone into slightly more depth and done more with more fanatical elements of the subject. The closest it gets to doing that is Thomas Schall's character.

However, also like "Life Choice", "Progeny" handles the subject of abortion with both force and tact, and brings a good deal of insight into the subject in particularly in its moral dilemmas. To me it wasn't heavy handed and it was not obvious really whose side the writers are on. Evident in the scenes between McCoy and Seeley, absolutely agree about the trial scenes, some of the best of the season and of the early seasons, being incredibly executed and cinematic-worthy (even doing it better than a good deal of films set in the courtroom). The tension and emotion is edge of the seat in quality.

Couldn't have asked for better performances. Sam Waterston fares best of the regulars and while James Rebhorn and Schall are excellent the performance of the episode for me belonged to Edward Hermann, especially in the chemistry between him and Waterston. He was seldom more despicable (chillingly so) as a character that is a far cry from loveable Richard from 'Gilmore Girls', doing it without being hammy or making the character too obvious. The script is tight and intelligent, coming to life thrillingly in the trial scenes.

The episode is slickly photographed throughout, a perfect match for the gritty tone, and New York looks both striking and atmosphere-filled. The music is only used when necessary and when it is used it does stick in the mind and not done so ham-handedly. Both the main theme and opening voice over are memorable. It is directed with a confident and sympathetic edge.

Overall, terrific. 9/10

Advocacy and Action

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 31 January 2016]

An abortion provider doctor is shot in the back of the head while driving her car out of a parking garage. If not the killer himself the motive is clear when a 'wanted poster' from a right to life group is found at the scene. They may not want to know who, but they wanted the world to know why. Still S. Eptha Merkerssen wants to cover all the bases and has Jerry Orbach and Chris Noth explore alternatives.

But when they uncover the weapon at Thomas Schall's dwelling it seems pretty clear. In fact former priest Edward Herrmann who is Schall's spiritual adviser calls a press conference when Schall officially surrenders.

In a free society this is the eternal debate. Where does advocacy end and action begin? Sam Waterston charges Herrmann as well. His cross examination of Herrmann is devastating. Turns out that this freethinker is as up on his bible as the former priest.

There was a later episode with this same issue where it wasn't as successful with a perpetrator more hateful than Herrmann. But that's another story. This story is a fine one.

Awesome Episode with Some Truly Movie-Like Trial Scenes

[Better_TV · 9/10 · 15 May 2018]

It seems to be a theme with season 5: many of the episodes are riffing on or tackling subject matter from seasons 1-4. I'm not knocking that - there's only so many ways someone can get murdered, after all. Here, the hot topic is abortion and "pro-life" terrorists, a la season 1's excellent "Life Choice."

This one is filled with great performances. James Rebhorn, who I knew as Carrie Mathison's dad on "Homeland," is awesome as the defense attorney; he's one of those actors who just has a powerful screen presence, even before he opens his mouth to speak. Thomas Schall does a lot of great nonverbal work as a religious zealot with a history of violence, and Ted Kazanoff is also forceful as the trial judge.

And then there's Edward Herrmann (probably most famous for his work on "Gilmore Girls") as a defrocked priest-turned anti-abortion activist. He goes head-to-head with Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy in some absolutely awesome, emotion-packed scenes; both actors are really giving it their all here. Some of the trial scenes feel like a movie - they're that good!

Look out for ADA Claire Kincaid (Jill Hennessy) actually doing some cross-examination in this one; rarely is she ever shown standing up and speaking during trial (the last occurrence I can recall is a brief scene in episode 3 of this season, "Blue Bamboo"). And everyone's favorite smart aleck forensic examiner Elizabeth Rodgers (Leslie Hendrix) takes the stand for a tense face off with Rebhorn; his wily rhetorical strategies are no match for her intellect!

This is the first episode of season 5 that felt, to me, like Sam Waterston was really coming into his own and staking his claim on the L&O series with the Jack McCoy character - kind of a "I'm here, and I'm here to stay" vibe.

I liked this one a lot.

Fantastic cross by McCoy!

[jujuju123 · 10/10 · 15 July 2022]

His cross examination in this episode is definitely one of the best. I enjoy how he closely follows the trickery of the defendant's argument, set traps, and catch them red-handed with their own loop holes. This works best with self-righteous defendants.

Murder by Paradox.

[rmax304823 · 7/10 · 23 February 2011]

This is a rather more engaging episode in a fine series. It's interesting not because it's particularly well structured or performed but because the issue with which it deals still resonates.

A young woman doctor is shot in the head and killed at her parking lot. Brisco and Logan determine that she provided abortion services and was under constant threat. The killing is traced to a rabid pro-life demonstrator and his guru, a former priest. ("Former" because "Law and Order" will only go so far in challenging its audiences.) The mentor, Edward Herrmann, leads a group of committed demonstrators, supplies them with pamphlets and other ideological materials, and urges them to action. The murderer himself is toast, but Herrmann decides to defend himself and have his day in court.

It leads to some interesting exchanges between McCoy and Herrmann. Both sides present their arguments persuasively and the episode ends with Herrmann, a conscientious objector during the Vietnam Warm, slumping in the witness chair, realizing that if murder of the unborn is wrong, then murder is in itself an immoral act. It's paradoxical to commit murder to prevent murder. It's difficult to believe that an ideologue like Herrmann would be convinced by such logic.

However, what's particularly interesting is that four years after this episode aired, an abortion provider, Dr. Tiller, in Wichita, Kansas, was shot in the head and killed while attending a church service. Subsequent doctors who have tried to provide similar services in that part of Kansas have been harassed in countless ways, some similar to those used against the victim in this episode, and others that go far beyond the fictional.

For instance, if Hermann and his group demonstrated outside the clinic and called the fictional doctor at home with threats and obscenities, the female doctor now trying to set up practice in Wichita in place of Dr. Tiller is followed by agents of a pro-life group. The names of her out-of-town clients are unavailable but elected city officials have compared her list of visiting patients with out-of-town occupants of nearby motels. It allows the pro-life members to determine the names and addresses of some of those she counsels, and to threaten them wherever they live. Local patients have been followed to their homes. Realtors who consider renting clinic space have been harassed. In summary, if the fictional abortion provider in this episode was harassed, her real-life counterparts (and her patients) have had their lives made almost unbearable by threats and obscenities.

It's unlikely that these committed pro-life activists would be disillusioned by a chain of reasoning described by McCoy. The quartet that bombed an abortion clinic on Christmas in 1984 called the act "a birthday gift to Jesus." Committed ideologues of any type, not just pro-lifers, are likely to be impervious to reason because the axioms of morality trump logic every time.

Judge's comment on bail

[spodso · 6/10 · 31 January 2016]

I'm watching this episode this morning on TNT for the (I don't know how many)time(s). When the defendant was in court regarding a plea and bail as usual the ADA called remand and the defense lawyer said he should be free on his own recognizance. I'm not sure exactly what the judge said because I wasn't recording it but what I heard was that on behalf of all the unborn future doctors and lawyers she agreed to remand. I'm not sure how this makes sense to her; the Judge. I'm somewhat ambivalent on the abortion political issue but it seems to me that the doctor was "killing" possible future doctors and lawyers. One of my sons can probably get it on Netflix or somewhere for me to see/hear again.