Criminal Law

Two women sharing the same name, Sylvia Rossi, were shot dead early in the morning (one in her bodega and the other one in her hometown). Later on, another girl was killed in a garage by the same gun. Some witnesses saw a man with mechanic-like cap calling from phone boots before every murders: detectives managed to track down the truck he drove, finding a list of people who deserved to be killed, including McCoy. The prosecutor recognized all the situation is connected to an inmate (Daniel Hugh Kelly) convicted nine years before for killing his wife. Fontana and Green found a married couple from the list dead as well at home, another two witnesses. Using an alias, it's not easy for police to locate him; finally they catch the guy, a lowlife very close to the convicted man....

This episode seemed at first a remake of "Terminator" in which Schwarzenegger killed every women named Sarah Connor: nothing so far from the truth. McCoy has never been so close to his own death.

A bunch of seemingly unconnected people including 3 with the same name are assassinated and the connection isn't made clear until the perpetrator abandons his vehicle and his list is found. Last on the list is ADA Jack McCoy.

With a police detail now with him, Sam Waterston has to argue a motion for the retrial of Daniel Hugh Kelly. 9 years earlier Kelly shot up his wife's office and killed her and several co-workers. Now he's arguing for a retrial and might get one as the witnesses keep getting dead.

Kelly is one diabolical villain and Sam Waterston is almost helpless as Dennis Farina and Jesse Martin race against time to fine the one doing the shooting.

One of the best episodes with a shocking conclusion.

'Law and Order' was a great show in its prime and there has always been a preference for the earlier seasons over the more commonly aired late-Briscoe and post-Briscoe episodes. Not only love the show for its compelling cases and terrific writing and acting in the Briscoe and pre-Briscoe years. But also its admirable tackling of difficult subjects and themes (the 'Law and Order' franchise at its best was very good at that), their cases often based upon real-life ones and the moral dilemmas raised.

"Criminal Law" does all of that absolutely brilliantly in a truly brilliant episode. That is easily among the best episodes of Season 16 and even of the later years. It is indeed one of those episodes that is a lot more complex and moving than it seems and sounds at first and is particularly advantaged by the performance of the main guest star. One that left a big impression when first getting into 'Law and Order' via this period, and who still leaves a big impression in a good way.

Production values are fine, have always liked the photography's intimacy and grit and the look of the show has come on a good deal over-time (and it was good to begin with). The music doesn't intrude and has a haunting quality, have not always remembered to say that the theme tune is easy to remember and holds up.

Script is full of tension, intelligence and tautness. Many of the lines given to Daniel Hugh Kelly are truly chilling and the character interactions between the characters are some of the best and most riveting in a while. The story is neither too easy or hard to follow and especially shines in the truly scary legal ethics, that are intriguing and hard hitting. While the first half is very intriguing and absorbs, the second half is even better when things become more complex and urgent.

While all the regulars are excellent, especially Sam Waterston, Kelly (chillingly sinister as a truly amoral character) gets the acting honours here.

In conclusion, brilliant. 10/10.