There are some central issues presented in On the Ledge, which is the first episode post the departure of Jack (Sam Waterston). Interestingly, and perhaps it's Law and Order's no nonsense style when it comes to new characters, I don't think there was any mention of Jack in this, although Nolan Price (British actor Hugh Dancy) is the Acting District Attorney, so no doubt he would have enjoyed the temporary trappings of office, a pay raise, larger office, increased pension, maybe a private ensuite. Anyway, there's a lot to ponder in this episode, which is controversial, but it's controversial for a reason.
5 Reviews
This episode left a bad taste in my mouth as a black viewer.
rossdanbruen1 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
We've seen a similar defense strategy used in a 90s episode of this series, and it's certainly a topical one for the show to revive in discussions today. That is, racial trauma from repeated microaggressions and profiling being similar to PTSD, and thus a mitigating factor for those ultimately rare times when people who are black victimize someone who isn't.
This episode left a bad taste in my mouth as a black viewer when Det. Shaw suggested he had some sort of duty to people with his complexion that potentially overrode his duty not only to the public, but even the truth, due to his sympathy for the defendant.
This was especially concerning to me following the premiere of SVU which saw another black culprit target a white victim, only to have excuses made to the audience for their crime that we would never be expected to consider an acceptable motivation for anyone else, even for someone who experiences each of them. (Being stopped by police for no reason, having someone avoid sitting next to you on the metro, a teacher that doesn't believe in you, an employer who told you your hair was unprofessional, etc.)
This episode touched on the disproportionately higher rates of medical mortality for black women represented through pregnant mothers as it compounds with (presumably non-black) doctors who may not take their concerns seriously. The doctor should be liable for malpractice, regardless of whether race can be shown to be a factor in his or her judgement.
This episode left a bad taste in my mouth as a black viewer when Det. Shaw suggested he had some sort of duty to people with his complexion that potentially overrode his duty not only to the public, but even the truth, due to his sympathy for the defendant.
This was especially concerning to me following the premiere of SVU which saw another black culprit target a white victim, only to have excuses made to the audience for their crime that we would never be expected to consider an acceptable motivation for anyone else, even for someone who experiences each of them. (Being stopped by police for no reason, having someone avoid sitting next to you on the metro, a teacher that doesn't believe in you, an employer who told you your hair was unprofessional, etc.)
This episode touched on the disproportionately higher rates of medical mortality for black women represented through pregnant mothers as it compounds with (presumably non-black) doctors who may not take their concerns seriously. The doctor should be liable for malpractice, regardless of whether race can be shown to be a factor in his or her judgement.
Blah, blah, blah, no one is accountable for anything
morkoff4 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The usial weak and hypocritical writing still continues this seasons. Is there anything that is not excused by 'insanity' these last seasons?!?
No one is accountable for their actions, there is always the usual mental defect that excuses someone's actions. But here is the thing, if you DO have mental defect that makes you danger to the society it is your responsibility to get treatment and measures to not be a threat to others. It does not give you excuse to go into a public place with plenty of people, with a loaded gun, and shoot someone. You may feel for someone for going through hell, but this doesn't mean he can put others through hell.
No one is accountable for their actions, there is always the usual mental defect that excuses someone's actions. But here is the thing, if you DO have mental defect that makes you danger to the society it is your responsibility to get treatment and measures to not be a threat to others. It does not give you excuse to go into a public place with plenty of people, with a loaded gun, and shoot someone. You may feel for someone for going through hell, but this doesn't mean he can put others through hell.
Oh, How Low This Once Great Show Has Sunk
Ka111111 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Law and Order used to be one of NBC's premier TV shows, back when network TV in general was in decline but still pretty good. The writing was among the best on television, with interesting characters and compelling stories. It was a procedural, meaning the approach was meant to be realistic, so the characters talked and behaved like real people.
That's no more.
This episode is a perfect example. With it's oversimplified, dumbed down script -- the speeches about how minorities face trauma from racism could have just been copied out of a Wikipedia article -- but not even remotely coherent anymore.
Case in point: After shooting up a hospital, a man is placed under arrest. He is not informed of his rights, as he should have been immediately. So he blurts out "An eye for an eye." This later becomes critical to putting him in jail for snapping after decades of racism culminating in the physician and his medical team ignoring the man's wife's symptom, leading to her death and the death of their unborn child.
Now, even the worst public defender would know to have anything the man said thrown out because he was not informed of his rights before speaking. Does anyone in this episode consider it? No.
Instead, we get Nolan Price -- who clearly has been repeatedly presented as having no sympathy for minorities when it comes to race -- pontificating this or that, so that the minority detective has to carry the moral weight of the episode and decide whether or not to lie on the stand about what he heard.
This is all Keystone Cops level melodrama. The sad this is this have been the level of writing on the reboot from the start. Just a terrible iteration of a once great show, with a limp cast and poor writing and direction. It's the second season and shows no signs of getting better.
How sad that is.
That's no more.
This episode is a perfect example. With it's oversimplified, dumbed down script -- the speeches about how minorities face trauma from racism could have just been copied out of a Wikipedia article -- but not even remotely coherent anymore.
Case in point: After shooting up a hospital, a man is placed under arrest. He is not informed of his rights, as he should have been immediately. So he blurts out "An eye for an eye." This later becomes critical to putting him in jail for snapping after decades of racism culminating in the physician and his medical team ignoring the man's wife's symptom, leading to her death and the death of their unborn child.
Now, even the worst public defender would know to have anything the man said thrown out because he was not informed of his rights before speaking. Does anyone in this episode consider it? No.
Instead, we get Nolan Price -- who clearly has been repeatedly presented as having no sympathy for minorities when it comes to race -- pontificating this or that, so that the minority detective has to carry the moral weight of the episode and decide whether or not to lie on the stand about what he heard.
This is all Keystone Cops level melodrama. The sad this is this have been the level of writing on the reboot from the start. Just a terrible iteration of a once great show, with a limp cast and poor writing and direction. It's the second season and shows no signs of getting better.
How sad that is.
On the Ledge
bobcobb30119 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
If we view this episode through the lense of just being an action movie or an action show it is fine. It was not really Law and Order though. Not many trial scenes that made sense, and a lot of political mumbo jumbo. You do not get the right to kill the doctor who worked with your wife no matter what.
But we don't have to agree with their political take, and I did not, for the record, to enjoy the episode. I enjoyed it because it was an intriguing case and we got some vintage Law and Order chases. Asking this show to not be political is not in the cards, but at least they made the episode fun.
But we don't have to agree with their political take, and I did not, for the record, to enjoy the episode. I enjoyed it because it was an intriguing case and we got some vintage Law and Order chases. Asking this show to not be political is not in the cards, but at least they made the episode fun.
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