House Calls

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.

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?)

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.

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.