A woman detonates a bomb in a parking garage, and prosecutors suspect she was acting under orders of a charismatic cult leader.A woman detonates a bomb in a parking garage, and prosecutors suspect she was acting under orders of a charismatic cult leader.A woman detonates a bomb in a parking garage, and prosecutors suspect she was acting under orders of a charismatic cult leader.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
Photos
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
The subject matter sounded incredibly creepy, though cult (or similar)-related stories can potentially fall into the traps of being too over the top and bizarre. When done right though, these kind of stories do send chills up the spine. The 'Law and Order' franchise were often extremely good at exploring a wide range of heavy and difficult subjects and pulling no punches when doing so. The early seasons of the original 'Law and Order' and the early ones of 'Special Victims Unit' were especially good at this.
"Apocrypha" has one of Season 4's most difficult to pull off and most controversial subjects perhaps, with it being one where the execution as said above can go either way. It mostly handles it very well, leaning thankfully towards being creepy and thought-provoking more than it it being over-the-top and bizarre. "Apocrypha" is not one of the best episodes of 'Law and Order's' Season 4 or of the show, but neither are disgraced in any way.
Personally did find that the police investigation was not as interesting as the legal scenes, it was when the legal stuff kicked in where the episode became incredibly compelling, picked up the pace and really made me think. Whereas the investigative elements were well acted and does a lot right but in comparison that side of the story is slightly routine. Briscoe and his chemistry with Logan aren't without issue, but they shone a lot more in other episodes before and since.
Some of the dialogue is a touch on the heavy-handed side.
Most of it however is very tight and provokes a lot of thought, never less than engaging. Which has always been great for this show and for the franchise where all the episodes are dialogue heavy (especially in the legal scenes). The story is a bit on the routine side to begin with but picks up significantly not long after, the subject is handled with edge but also without falling into camp and also handled tactfully. A good deal of interesting questions are raised and an admirable effort is made in not taking sides, the moral dilemmas of the case and the characters are very insightfully written. The case is never too obvious, even including an unexpected twist at the end, and doesn't get too complicated.
Furthermore, the characters are interesting. Stone has always been a juicy character and Kincaid and Van Buren have settled remarkably well for so early on in their tenure. Hendricks is a real creep but without being too caricaturish. The production values are slick and the camera work is suitably intimate without feeling too rushed. The music is only used when needed and doesn't overbear when it is. The climactic confrontation between Stone and the defendant is reason alone to see "Apocrypha". As ever, the episode is very well acted. Especially Michael Moriarty and Sam Robards.
In summary, very good episode. 8/10
"Apocrypha" has one of Season 4's most difficult to pull off and most controversial subjects perhaps, with it being one where the execution as said above can go either way. It mostly handles it very well, leaning thankfully towards being creepy and thought-provoking more than it it being over-the-top and bizarre. "Apocrypha" is not one of the best episodes of 'Law and Order's' Season 4 or of the show, but neither are disgraced in any way.
Personally did find that the police investigation was not as interesting as the legal scenes, it was when the legal stuff kicked in where the episode became incredibly compelling, picked up the pace and really made me think. Whereas the investigative elements were well acted and does a lot right but in comparison that side of the story is slightly routine. Briscoe and his chemistry with Logan aren't without issue, but they shone a lot more in other episodes before and since.
Some of the dialogue is a touch on the heavy-handed side.
Most of it however is very tight and provokes a lot of thought, never less than engaging. Which has always been great for this show and for the franchise where all the episodes are dialogue heavy (especially in the legal scenes). The story is a bit on the routine side to begin with but picks up significantly not long after, the subject is handled with edge but also without falling into camp and also handled tactfully. A good deal of interesting questions are raised and an admirable effort is made in not taking sides, the moral dilemmas of the case and the characters are very insightfully written. The case is never too obvious, even including an unexpected twist at the end, and doesn't get too complicated.
Furthermore, the characters are interesting. Stone has always been a juicy character and Kincaid and Van Buren have settled remarkably well for so early on in their tenure. Hendricks is a real creep but without being too caricaturish. The production values are slick and the camera work is suitably intimate without feeling too rushed. The music is only used when needed and doesn't overbear when it is. The climactic confrontation between Stone and the defendant is reason alone to see "Apocrypha". As ever, the episode is very well acted. Especially Michael Moriarty and Sam Robards.
In summary, very good episode. 8/10
Sam Robards is Daniel Hendricks, leader of a small church (or is it a cult?) who stands accused of leading a young woman to detonate a fertilizer bomb in a parking garage, where she also died. Law & Order episodes that feature deliciously evil villains tend to be some of my favorites, and this one is no exception. Dr. Olivet is brought in to help determine whether Hendricks is insane or not, another interesting wrinkle to the episode.
The prosecutor's office ultimately must prove that the victim, as well as others from the church, were brainwashed and did not have freedom of choice despite the fact that the church's doors were always open. "Religion and choice," Schiff muses. "Strange bedfellows for two thousands years."
The confrontation between devout Catholic EADA Ben Stone and obsessed fundamentalist Hendricks towards the end of the episode is worth the wait. Stay till the end credits, because this one has a third act twist even after the verdict is delivered.
The prosecutor's office ultimately must prove that the victim, as well as others from the church, were brainwashed and did not have freedom of choice despite the fact that the church's doors were always open. "Religion and choice," Schiff muses. "Strange bedfellows for two thousands years."
The confrontation between devout Catholic EADA Ben Stone and obsessed fundamentalist Hendricks towards the end of the episode is worth the wait. Stay till the end credits, because this one has a third act twist even after the verdict is delivered.
A bomb goes off in a parking garage and the woman who was planting the bomb
gets blown up herself. Jerry Orbach and Chris Noth determine that she was a
member of an extreme fundamentalist Christian church.
Church or as some would put it a cult? A question that philosophy classes debate endlessly today. So do the courts.
Michael Moriarty and Jill Hennessy are all for charging cult leader Sam Robards as providing the marching orders. Did the late bomber have any real choice in the thrall of a charismatic leader?
It's a knotty issue revolving around freedom of religion and her free will to leave the cult. Robards is quite the good choice for this role.
This is an episode that will have you thinking.
Church or as some would put it a cult? A question that philosophy classes debate endlessly today. So do the courts.
Michael Moriarty and Jill Hennessy are all for charging cult leader Sam Robards as providing the marching orders. Did the late bomber have any real choice in the thrall of a charismatic leader?
It's a knotty issue revolving around freedom of religion and her free will to leave the cult. Robards is quite the good choice for this role.
This is an episode that will have you thinking.
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on the following cases/incidents:
- The 1960's Charles Manson case. Manson was the cult leader of the "Manson Family," a group responsible for a series of brutal murders in 1969, including actress Sharon Tate. Manson orchestrated the killings to incite a race war he called "Helter Skelter." He was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, despite not personally committing the acts, and sentenced to life in prison. Manson became a symbol of evil and cult violence until his death in 2017.
- Jim Jones and the 1978 Jonestown mass-murder suicide.Jones was the leader of the Peoples Temple cult, which relocated to Jonestown, Guyana, in the 1970s. In 1978, after a U.S. congressman investigated the settlement, Jones orchestrated a mass murder-suicide where over 900 followers died by drinking poisoned punch. The tragedy remains one of the largest mass deaths in modern history and a grim example of cult extremism.
- The 1977 Timothy Stoen case. Stoen was a key figure in the Peoples Temple and the Jonestown tragedy. Originally the Temple's legal advisor, he later turned against Jim Jones and sought custody of his son from the cult. His legal battles and allegations helped trigger the investigation that ultimately led to the mass murder-suicide at Jonestown in 1978.
- The 1993 Branch Davidian siege near Waco Texas. The siege of Waco began after a failed ATF raid on the religious compound over weapons violations. A 51-day standoff ensued between the FBI and the Branch Davidians, led by David Koresh. The siege ended in a deadly fire that killed Koresh and over 70 members, raising controversy over the government's tactics and handling of the situation.
- The David Koresh case. Koresh was the leader of the Branch Davidians, a religious sect based in Waco, Texas. In 1993, a 51-day FBI siege followed a failed ATF raid on their compound, sparked by allegations of illegal weapons stockpiling and child abuse. The standoff ended in a deadly fire that killed Koresh and over 70 followers, including many children, sparking widespread controversy over law enforcement's handling of the incident.
- The 1993 World Trade Center bombing. On February 26, 1993 a terrorist tried to attack the World Trade Centre with a truck bomb which detonated in the underground parking garage of the North Tower, killing six people and injuring over a thousand. The attack aimed to topple the towers and cause massive destruction. The main perpetrators were linked to Islamist extremist groups, leading to increased U.S. focus on terrorism prevention.
- GoofsThe quote of "200 years ago" as when "we came here on boats to get away from that sort of thing" (persecution by Europe's established churches) should've been "over 300 years ago" as when we came on the Mayflower.
- Quotes
A.D.A. Claire Kincaid: I've never had a problem with religion and choice.
Adam Schiff: Oh no? Let me guess, agnostic?
[Claire nods]
Adam Schiff: Give it 40 years.
Details
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content