movielib

I agree on all counts. And maybe Elisabeth is finally getting it. And maybe the days of her makeup being horrible are over.

I thought Fred Thompson showed more personality in one episode than Dianne Wiest did in two years. He's going to be as good as Steven Hill.

Red Dog

Elizabeth actually did look attractive last night. Must be new hair and makeup people.

Feneant

It was a pretty good episode, but the muslim wannabe kid started getting on my nerves near the end. Funny how his own lawyer didn't agree with anything he said.

movieking

I really didn't like this episode at all. It seems like in almost all of these cop type shows you just know that when a minor character is introduced in the first third, they are going to come back. I had a strong feeling that the girl was going to play a big factor in it. It was a very simplified explanation to resolve the show - being humiliated by a girl turned him into a murderer. Was this really the right storyline to bring the Islam factor into?

lisadoris

I thought it was an interesting episode. The girl at the end threw me for awhile, I couldn't figure out what on earth she would have said on the stand that would have been any worse than the defendant's own testimony.

I agree it probably wasn't the best storyline to bring Islam into and because of that I'm not sure if the audience was really listening to anything the kid was saying. Hopefully people did understand the difference between the rhetoric the kid was spewing and Islam (thankfully the writers did make that distinction.

Overall the acting was good though I must admit politics has really aged Thompson - but I think politics has that effect on everyone. I anticipate many arguments between him and Jack in the coming episodes.

HistoryProf

I thought this was a brilliant episode, easily better than any from last year....Rohm improved immensely and was quite strong. And I just loved the story line and how they humanized the root of one person's descent into fanatacism. So often we wonder how someone can get to that point, and I was very impressed with the way they showed how individuals can corrupt the most innocent things - in this case a religion. The lesson goes for Skindheads or any other ultra-fanatics who take the bad experiences of their life and corrupt them into blind righteousness.....well done folks!!!

And Fred Thompson is a very welcome addition....there's gonna be some clashes in that office this year for sure....

good show old chap....good show

Shemp

I was surprised to see Olivet (the psychiatrist) back on the show. If I remember correctly, the last time we saw her she had stopped working for the state and was testifying on behalf of a defendant. A little girl who intentionally killed a little boy, I think.

Did I miss J.K. Simmons exit and/or her re-entry to the show?

I liked Fred Thompson as well. I also liked Sam Waterston's line when he was asked about Thompson's politics. It went something like, "He's a nice guy." Hopefully we'll see some heated debates between the two.

BT

Another hearty for Senator Thompson. I think I might actually start watching L&O again.

-BT

TheEdge21

I was also a little confused about the ending. I mean I know that the killings had to do with the girl, but I couldn't figure out in what content.

I also like Fred Thompson as the new DA. He brings that sort of hard nose, no nonsense attitude (well at least it feels like that)

As for J.K Simmons, Im thinking they will use different doctors for different cases. Maybe that asain guy from SVU will show up as well

Numanoid

I think it was implied that Muslim boy

I'm glad to see Serena finally getting some respect here. I've always liked her and have been bewildered at the negative response she's gotten by fans.

Jobronie

The news channels are repeatedly reporting that in court today, Lindh was crying the whole time as he apologized and begged the judge for mercy.......

Kudama

Every now and then I watch Law & Order on repeats and saw the one where

My question (since these repeats aren’t in order) is “did she die?” Did any of the characters in later episodes mention that she was crippled, quit and moved or what?

None of the episode guides that I could find give even a hint of what her character’s fate ultimately was.

(Killer episode!)

movieking

I have only begun watching L&O in the last couple of months, and have been catching up in reruns. The episode that you are talking about is going to air tomorrow. However, I have read about it before, and she was killed in the accident. The next season started with Carey Lowell is her position I believe. Can't wait to see it!

lisadoris

I'm going to spoil future episodes here

That's my fav L&O episode and I never see it on. Guess I missed it once again.

Deftones

Yes, that was a season finale. It was kind of weird b/c that episode they just followed everyone around for a day rather than showing a case they were working on. She dies and the next season Carey Lowell became the new ADA.

Red Dog

Yes. I strongly suggest watching the Season 8 episode Under the Influence which sheds further light on Claire's death in Aftershock. It is a great episode as well - one of my top-5 favorites of the franchise.

lisadoris - yeah - Causa Mortis is a great episode - that was the Season 7 premiere about a carjacking/murder.

Llama

I'm surprised that you all liked "Aftershock" so much. For me, Law and Order has always been plot-driven. Everyone reacts to the case at hand in different ways. But this episode was character-driven, and I thought hard to watch. It felt like any other TV show - it was getting away from what makes L&O special and different.

IMHO, the secret of the show's longevity through a complete cast turnover is the emphasis on the story and the strong writing rather than character study and development.

Red Dog

Aftershock is not in my top-10 (Law & Order is my favorite drama of all time BTW) but I think it was an excellent episode. I did not have a problem with Dick Wolf getting away from doing a story-driven episode one time and one time only. I think most of the actors on Law & Order have been great and it was great to see them do a little more than what they normally do.

The other great thing is that it settles the eternal question: are Jack and Claire doing it?

Kudama

Didn’t they kind of allude to that in the one where one of Jack’s former assistants failed to divulge a critical document and later she ended up getting convicted for it? Claire was questioning her about her “extra-professional” involvement with Jack and she says something like, “You know what it’s like, right? You are sleeping with him, aren’t you?”

Then Claire looks flustered. (I’m pretty sure that was Claire, it's been awhile since I saw that one.)

Thanks for clearing this up youse guys! That was one of my (probably top 3) episodes that I’ve seen. I loved the structure change.

I totally wish I could take you up on your episode recommendations, but (since they’re not rentable) I am subject to the whims of programming or whether or not I have to get to sleep if I’m working.

It’s nice to know TV can have really good scripts and acting and production values and not be tied to resolution necessary conclusions. (My new soap is NYPD Blue. That’s what I get for having been unemployed for way too long.)

bboisvert

It's a bit much, but there's a decent web site dedicated to that very topic:

http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Studio/9418/

Shemp

For you 'Alias' fans, Jennifer Garner plays the college co-ed that Benjamin Bratt's character hangs out with all day.

Red Dog

I've seen that before. Great website.

movieking

I just watched this very episode. Jennifer Garner pre eyebrow plucking, apparently.

I always thought that they might have been having an affair, but nothing really jumped out to me. After seeing that webpage, I guess that they were.

Red Dog

When I watched them first-run on NBC back in the mid-90s, I remember seeing about 5 or 6 straight episodes where they are having dinner together and I am thinking that these 2 people eat too many dinners together to be just friends or co-workers.

What sealed for me was this exchange in the episode Atonement:

Red Dog

Is 'hanging out' what it's called now.