“Undercovered” (Season 12)
By Hank74
Lennie-10/10
Ed-9/10
Van Buren-7/10
Jack-10/10
Serena-9/10
Nora-9/10
Supporting Cast-7/10
Plot-7/10
Performance-7/10
Value-7/10
Total Grade-81/100
Notes:
We are now at the halfway point of season 12 and I must say for the most part
it hasn't been disappointing. But this episode tonight was not up to par
compared to most eps.
What I sense is a lack of more emotion and passion from the main characters and
the supporting cast throughout this ep. This was rather choppy and quite
honestly wasn't that memorable or inspiring. Rather it seemed everyone was in a
depressed mood for some reason. Granted the issue was a sensitive one involving
a child dying of leukemia and nothing much could be done to save her life. But
in this instance, I would have liked to seen more about this insuarance company
and their track record. How about having other patients testify for either the
people or the defense, depending on what they thought about their coverage. I would
have loved to see the mother testify, for that would have clearly turned up the
emotion and perhaps cause some of the jurors to cry right there.
It seems in addition to doctors being a target of whomever on the higher ladder
of L&O, insurance companies are also being targeted as well. Remember
"Turnstile Justice" and the last season's finale of SVU. The victim,
representing the insurance company, whom we saw in a video looked aloof and
clueless. You could probably see why Garcia killed him.
I know some of you don't like comparing this season's episodes to previous
ones. Let me point out I do so for the sole purpose of comparing the underlying
storyline or issue involved. In this case, "Deadbeat" is my choice
because of the boy in that ep was dying of cancer and needed a bone marrow
transplant but couldn't find any due to his father supposedly having a match.
In any case, "Deadbeat" was a far better episode because they
portrayed the human emotions of the main participants far better than this one.
From the anger of the mother and grandfather, to the humor of Jerry Stiller, to
the determination of Caroline the attorney. I could go on on this, but I think
you get my point. In the case of "Undercovered," it was sorely
lacking. It has flahses of it on and off, but not consistently. The
"Law" part was dreadful, the "Order" part slightly better.
The debates between Nora, Jack, and Serena are great and that's what saved this
ep from teetering on the "Doubles" league. We clealy know where each
of these three stand on moral issues. But I'd like to see some of these debates
on the "Law" side. What would Lennie and Van Buren, being parents and
one of them seeing one of their own die, have to say about the dying daughter?
Ever since the Greevey days, the "Law" side has had great debates,
from abortion to racism to the death penalty. I'd like to see more of it.
Finally, I want to ask this as a poll type question. Do you think the
references the characters make to Sept. 11, in passing, has become too much or
is it OK? I'm interested in you opinion.