Under God
By Hank 74
Lennie-10/10
Ed-10/10
Van Buren-8/10
Jack-10/10
Serena-10/10
Arthur-8/10
Supporting Cast-10/10
Plot-9/10
Performance-10/10
Value-10/10
Total-96/100
Notes:
This has to one of the better ones of season 13. It should
definitely make it to the top 5.
Beginning with Lennie. I was a little afraid he would lose
control given the memories of his daughter's death. However, he kept his
composure and acted very professionally in handling this situation. I also
commend Ed for understanding Lennie's situation, but for also maintaining the
fact that killing is wrong and the police should find the dealer's killer just
as intensely as they find any killer.
Lots of former L&O repeat offenders here. Peter
Freschette from "Reaper's Helper" and "Jeopardy," Bruce
MacVittie, most famous as the corrupt defense attorney in "Shadow,"
Dick Latessa as Bishop Durning again from "The Collar" last year and
of course, Denis O'Hare as Father Hogan. If you haven't done so, please check
my O'Hare poll and vote on which character was his best among the now four
choices. I don't know, and in any case I voted already before knowing he'd come
back.
Again we see religion front and center on trial. Lots of
comparisons with the likes of "Progeny," "Apocrypha" and
"Angel." Isn't it interesting that the judge, Judge Maggie Burke, who
presided over "Apocrypha" is the same one who presided over this one.
Finally, we get to see another Jack McCoy moment where you
want to remember long after this show is gone. A very emotional scene about one
of his buddies from the '60s dying in a VA hospital. The thing that confused me
was what was the sin that his buddy, Tommy was confessing. I was thinking it might
have to do with sexual abuse, similar to what happened to Logan in "Bad
Faith," but I'm not sure. But it was something having to do with Jack's
skepticism about the Catholic church.