Agony

Such an intense episode. Probably one of the best in the Law and order series , super intense, it's like a game of chess, the battle between the perp and Abbie who is ever relentless in the pursuit of justice , phew I was left speechless by the end of the episode. Interesting episode which didn't go to court at all this time , all on the negotiating table between the attorneys , the perps. Alot of emotions in this episode. Very intriguing , very dark. Best episode in season 9 so far.

The serial killer angle is revealed in the first 5 minutes after the cold open. The two halves are less discrete than usual, and there's an engaging villain. Plenty of twists and turns.

When Sam Waterston had Jill Hennessy and Carey Lowell as his second chairs he was the strong hard one and Hennessy and Lowell were always the more liberal. But when Angie Harmon goes to work for the New York County District Attorney, let's say they never had a stronger advocate for strict enforcement including the death penalty if applicable.

Which is what is warranted here as the case is a nasty stabbing of a woman with major sadistic overtones and the stabbing homicide of a mailman. The police arrest a salesman Christopher Patrick Mullen who travels on the job and there are a lot of open cases in the places he frequents.

Harmon and Sam Waterston hir a major speed bump in geeting Mullen prosecuted. But the final confrontation with Mullen who is one scary dude is one of Angie Harmon's best series moments.

If you're a fan of Angie Harmon don't miss this episode.

'Agony' is one of those episodes with a list of suspects, lies & elements - divorce, S&M, drugs, cold cases, jealously, multiple jurisdictions, plea deals - by the boatload. It quickly narrows into a picture of a serial killer on the loose. If you're like me it's the second half where you'll find the story comes awfully close to not making sense, losing you. The thing not in question is it let's ADA Carmichael (Angie Harmon) really sink her teeth into feeling personally involved.

Det. Briscoe (Orbach) & Curtis (Bratt) on the scene of a mailman murder discover a second victim Catherine 'Kitty' Lansing (Christina Haag) barely hanging onto life. The primary suspect her separated husband is ruled out. They arrest Bergstrom (Chris Mullen) with a prior incident of almost killing a lady (charges were dropped) and it appears they have a serial killer in custody. After Kitty recovers and leaves the hospital though, she gets a threatening note which couldn't have come from him and points to it being someone closer than a stranger.

There's clues sprinkled along the way - sort of stuff easily missed - that yes when put together lead back to the guilty parties. Some of it rings true while one piece feels like it should have been looked into sooner. It's the serial killer subplot that stumbles. You have to accept that he's willing to plea to crimes in NYC not involved in to avoid possibility of extradition, death penalty. However up until this point everything has shown he's meticulous for details, doesn't leave evidence behind so why this concerns him so much feels lightweight.

'Agony' gets by on twists, nods to McCoy's (Waterston) bending of the rules in the past and Harmon. Her body language almost rivals some of the juicy dialog she's given and a palpable level of disgust. Of course she's the first ADA fiercely in support of the death penalty as well. It's an episode that comes down to legal bluffs, emotions and a killer that so hates women that he can't bear to see Abbie have any power or control over him.

Abbie Carmichael made a very strong first impression when she was first introduced, and throughout her stint on 'Law and Order' she continued to be very interesting in personality, her approach to cases and her views. Of all of McCoy's assistants, she has always been my personal favourite (Southerlyn was the only one who never did it for me). "Agony" has always been one of her meatiest episodes, in terms of character writing and from a dramatic standpoint.

Season 9 at its best was outstanding and its first half was certainly of a solid standard. One of the best episodes of the season (and an earlier seasons high-point) is "Agony", a character and dramatic showcase for Carmichael and where she really comes into her own. It is one of her best episodes and is worth it for Angie Harmon, a very memorable guest turn and the ending primarily. Though everything about "Agony" works absolutely wonderfully.

Photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has nice and at its best (such as towards and at the end) thrilling tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way.

On the writing front, "Agony" couldn't be better. The script is scary in its intensity later on and always probes thought. The final confrontation especially is brilliantly written and one of the season's best scenes in terms of writing and the character interaction. What also stands out is the whole debating on the issues raised here, where one sees what stance the characters take on them. For instance we know that McCoy is pro-death penalty, while it is established early on that another assistant of his disagrees and in a way where one can understand both sides.

The story is suspenseful and has plenty to keep one guessing, nothing is obvious and one is suitably challenged while not being confused by what's going on. All the conflict surrounding building a case on limited evidence and the quest to find more (a familiar trope but expertly and intriguingly done) keeps one on the edge of the seat. The final confrontation stands out though.

Carmichael comes into her own here as said and "Agony" has one of the scariest perpetrators in a while, where it is easy to root for them to be convicted and get an at least a life without parole sentence. Angie Harmon is particularly good of the regular principals and Christopher Patrick Mullen also plays his part perfectly.

In conclusion, brilliant. 10/10.