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Law & Order
S13.E21
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IMDbPro

House Calls

  • Episode aired May 7, 2003
  • TV-14
  • 43m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
316
YOUR RATING
Lisa Bostnar and Misha Kuznetsov in Law & Order (1990)
CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

Did a shady doctor irresponsibly prescribe pain-killing drugs to one of his patients, which resulted in her death?Did a shady doctor irresponsibly prescribe pain-killing drugs to one of his patients, which resulted in her death?Did a shady doctor irresponsibly prescribe pain-killing drugs to one of his patients, which resulted in her death?

  • Director
    • Jace Alexander
  • Writers
    • Dick Wolf
    • Janis Diamond
  • Stars
    • Jerry Orbach
    • Jesse L. Martin
    • S. Epatha Merkerson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    316
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jace Alexander
    • Writers
      • Dick Wolf
      • Janis Diamond
    • Stars
      • Jerry Orbach
      • Jesse L. Martin
      • S. Epatha Merkerson
    • 6User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast35

    Edit
    Jerry Orbach
    Jerry Orbach
    • Detective Lennie Briscoe
    Jesse L. Martin
    Jesse L. Martin
    • Detective Ed Green
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    • Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
    Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston
    • Executive ADA Jack McCoy
    Elisabeth Röhm
    Elisabeth Röhm
    • ADA Serena Southerlyn
    Fred Thompson
    Fred Thompson
    • DA Arthur Branch
    • (as Fred Dalton Thompson)
    Alexis Dziena
    Alexis Dziena
    • Lena Parkova
    Michael Boatman
    Michael Boatman
    • Defense Attorney Dave Seaver
    Jonathan Hogan
    • Dr. Ellis Heinz
    Leslie Hendrix
    Leslie Hendrix
    • ME Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers
    Doug Stender
    • Judge Joseph Flint
    Iris Little Thomas
    Iris Little Thomas
    • Trial Judge Barbara Lusky
    Misha Kuznetsov
    • Sergei Parkova
    Lisa Bostnar
    Lisa Bostnar
    • Yolanda Parkova
    Louis Vanaria
    Louis Vanaria
    • Anthony Matteo
    Terry Layman
    • Dr. Howard Alston
    Rosalie Tenseth
    Rosalie Tenseth
    • Dr. Deana Abrams
    Jeffrey Ware
    • Randall Amsterdam
    • Director
      • Jace Alexander
    • Writers
      • Dick Wolf
      • Janis Diamond
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews6

    7.6316
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    10

    Featured reviews

    7bkoganbing

    Dr. Feel Good

    A young teen with a bright career ahead of her as a fashion model dies of cardiac arrest at a department store fitting room. We're not even sure this is a homicide, but Jerry Orbach and Jesse Martin investigate and the trail leads to a Dr. Feel Good type played by Jonathan Hogan. He's got an all purpose cure all for what ails you, a little narcotic pain medication.

    The problem is that the victim was taking asthma medication at the same time and the issue for trial is recklessness on the doctor's part, if there was and how much.

    Alexis Dziena plays the younger sister of the victim and the only English speaker in her Russian household. That in itself is the key to what happens at trial.

    And believe me what happens catches everyone off balance.

    Both Dziena and Hogan give fine performances here and the surprise ending is original.
    9Mrpalli77

    I don't look like one of those compassionate, sweet doctors you see on television.

    Two sales clerks in an outfit store watched on CCTV a charming shoplifter stealing some dress. They followed her in the fitting room where she died of heart attack. Detectives found a syringe in her purse, the one used to inject painkillers. She was a wannabe model but she wasn't fluent in English (due to her Russian origin) as well as her family, except her younger sister (Alexis Dziena) who attends the local school. She had broken ribs and detectives thought at first she could have been abused by a boyfriend or someone inside the family. Anyway, in order to pursue her modeling career, she needed medicine for easing her pain (she suffered from a sever headache) at the point she became addicted to that. A doctor who advertise his activity in fliers without any clinic was actually her pusher. She even suffered from asthma and the painkiller is a killing mix together with asthma pills: did the "doctor" really know about that?

    In this episode we see several poor immigrants situations (even a poor porter who need money for his son tuition). What happen at trial is not very clear (regarding the behavior of the prime witness on the stand: is she lying?)
    8spodso

    Sometimes even Lawyers are Doctors

    This is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons. It's one of many where L&O gets things wrong for most of the episode. But my favorite scene, and one of the best ever, was when the Doctor was on the stand talking about how and why the victim died and the defendant's lawyer said something about the medical prognosis and the witness asked something like "and what medical school did you graduate from" and the defendant's lawyer responded with "Harvard, and I'm asking the questions here". Absolutely one of the best scenes ever! And after the sister's testimony I'm surprised it even went to the jury. Too many times Jack and company go for the jugular for wrong reasons. And personally I miss Jamie Ross.
    9TheLittleSongbird

    Prescription for death

    Decided a while back (three years ago) to review all the episodes of the original 'Law and Order', 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent', being someone who really likes all three shows in their prime/early years. Really loved a lot of the early seasons episodes of all three shows, while also finding all three less consistent later on (with the original not feeling the same post-Briscoe and even began to lose consistency in Season 11 and all the seasons after).

    We are nearing the end of Season 13 and here is one of the season's best episodes "House Calls", the first of four outstanding episodes in a row. No other season of 'Law and Order', not even better and more consistent seasons, had such consistently high quality for that long a period when nearing the end of the seasons. The subject is not an innovative subject but it is a sensitive and tough subject that is always worth raising awareness of and handled uncompromisingly and tactfully here in "House Calls".

    It is agreed that the behaviour of the prime witness at trial was on the vague side.

    However, the production values are slick and are simple without being simplistic. The music is haunting and not too over-emphasised when used. The direction is sympathetic while having momentum and personality. The script is tight and thoughtful, raising some interesting points about the complications that come with prosecuting and the complex moral dilemmas of the subject. Really liked the medical school exchange.

    The story is very compelling and never obvious or confusing. It is also very tragic in a way that's moving and pull no punches, without resorting to preaching. The conclusion is a big surprise, a contender for the most surprising conclusion of the season. The regulars are on point (have seldom been impressed by Elisabeth Rohm as Southerlyn but she isn't enough to drag things down this time). Jerry Orbach, Jesse L Martin and Sam Waterston don't disappoint. Jonathan Hogan gives a strong guest turn.

    Overall, excellent. 9/10.

    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
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    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Misha Kuznetsov (Sergei Parkov) also played the role of Andropov in episode 15.9, All in the Family (2004).
    • Goofs
      Lena and her mother speak Russian with strong American accents, and their English is more cartoon "Boris and Natasha"-speak than a natural Russian accent.
    • Quotes

      Andee Mae Kahn: At least she knew a few words of English.

      Detective Ed Green: Which ones?

      Andee Mae Kahn: I pretty... give me...

    • Connections
      References Veronika Voss (1982)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 7, 2003 (United States)
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
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    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Wolf Films
      • Universal Network Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 43m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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