'Rage' is a top tier episode from the entire run of TV's Law & Order not because it's a murder case full of scandalous twists 'n turns, a boatload of suspects but because it's intelligent. Dealing with the issue of racism is apt to bring divided opinions, controversy if mishandled. Never once does this tale treat the subject as one note, sensational or approach offensive. It's level headed, calm and rational as opposed to emotional rhetoric brought on by the guilty who has more than a little streak of narcissism going on.
Wall Street exec Wallace Holbrook is found murdered in his upscale residence though the scene had been staged to look like a suicide. A look into his employees, a lot of talk about Bud Greer (Courtney B. Vance) particularly his success finds him as the only one with a criminal record. When he's caught in a lie by Det. Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) & Logan (Chris Noth) and more evidence comes to light, he launches a "black rage" defense in court for killing his mentor. Which also happens to be spearheaded by counsel Jerome Bryant (Wendell Pierce) who's made his name in racial policy making circles.
Another one of their tales "ripped from the headlines", but with much of the details, circumstances changed. The one thing that hasn't left the room is good 'ol common sense. Using race, a person's own misguided views as an excuse for killing someone is seen for the baloney is it. With much of the credit for this episode having to go to guest star Vance who has a knack for doing these calm & collected sorts who bubble just beneath the surface. Pierce portrays the type of legal, social soapbox figure that is all too real where one questions who most benefits most from his mixed messages, viewpoint.
It never gets juicy in either portions of the L&O formula as both the street hunt for a suspect and the courtroom proceedings are pretty subdued. However this element benefits 'Rage' deeply by not dressing up the situation, people involved into some dime store gravitas. You get light sparring between Schiff (Steven Hill) & Kincaid (Jill Hennessy) that's a nice touch as the former is visibly uncomfortable with the issues in play. Plus there isn't a sole character in the main cast who likes Greer and McCoy (Sam Waterston) gets to verbally sum up why in plain English.