Two Ladies & Their TVs

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Law & Order - 15.07 "Gov Love"

Best Mothership eppy I’ve seen in a long time. Wow. L&O should really stick to tackling difficult social issues instead of doing the “Ripped from the Headlines” deal that it had been doing.

Where to even begin? Memorable moments: when Arthur Branch said, “Looks like the cowpie has hit the fan,” that got a chuckle out of me. The most surprising part was the ER actually acted when she got pissed at Jack: “What, are you making social policy now?” It was still crappy but much better than usual. You could actually hear some emotion in her and see her facial expression change! Must be a Wednesday night trend for actresses to act with more emotion. But 1 instance isn’t enough to convince me she should stay on.

Lots of “law” in this eppy. Many twists and turns that I didn’t expect to see. Felt very bad for the couples whose marriages got annulled. The court was obviously conflicted, with 3 dissenting. To strictly construct the Constitution (as Scalia always does), or not? What a hard issue they had to tackle! Definitely didn’t see that Devon would withhold his testimony because of what Jack did – bet Jack never saw that coming, either.

The court room battles were very exciting, especially in the Court of Appeals. Jack arguing to shoot down gay marriage rights was…quite something. Although my politics stays where it has always been, I can see it from his POV, as well as the POV of the people who think individual states should choose their own stances on gay marriage (thus not be decided by so-called "activist judges" or mayors). He’s principled, isn’t he, that Jack, doing his job as it requires him (which is to convict people) regardless of politics. I’m not being sarcastic, either. A good lawyer is supposed to be able to put aside his personal convictions to argue for his client. For the defense, it'd be the individual or corporation; for the prosecution, it'd be the government and the people. Everyone wants to convict those who are clearly guilty, but not everyone wants gay marriages.

One of the hardest things for a prosecutor to grapple with, I'd imagine, is the fact that we do have three separate branches of the government, so Jack is right that it is not the judiciary's job to set social policy (though some courts have certainly tried, until further review). It's the legislature's job. Once we open the door to blurring the lines between the separate branches, then we start having the executive branch making policy too (which we know Shrub has done, ugh). Thus, as much as I applaud the courts that have forced the gay marriage issue into the spotlight, and as much as I think that marriage is a fundamental human right regardless of state lines, I'm conflicted on what should be done. It's such a delicate balance.

Dang, have I become a moderate watching this eppy?

Last thing – Devon was supposed to have graduated from Vassar, yet he didn’t know enough to ask for a lawyer? Tsk. That would’ve saved him and his partner so much trouble. Jack then wouldn't have to go to the last resort to convict a cold-blooded murderer.

8.5 out of 10.

Posted by: merserene at 09:51 | link | comments (5)
it s all drama

Comments:

#1  11 November 2004 - 18:13

 

You know what I liked best about this episode? Setting aside that I too didn't like seeing the couples' marriages annulled, I liked that we saw some of Jack's OOMPH! back; a factor that's been sorely missed these last few seasons (stupid writers). I wasn't surprised in the least that Jack set aside whatever personal feelings he had on the issue and went after the perp in the best way he knew how. That's the Jack of Old; no matter how much it might irk his coworkers (or us viewers), it's what he always did.

I have to say, I did wonder at first why Devon talked to the cops in the first place, because spousal privilege did enter my mind. I actually liked it that he finally refused to talk on the stand, although I was going, "Oh, shit-- Ivanek's going to get off!"

Didn't it seem a bit too hissy-fittish, the way Serena stormed off after Jack made his decision? Wow, I wish Branch would kick her butt to the curb. This season it's seemed she's always revving up for an argument, just waiting for a moment to prove them wrong. Sigh. merserene, I'm so tired of her.

Also, did it seem like there were more clues dropped that Jack and Serena are sleeping together? Seemed like there were... and I don't really need to think about that.

I felt a little bit bad about this 'ripped-from-the-headlines' plot, since the NJ governor just came out. The Mothership could find the good grace to wait more than a couple of months to copy material.

I didn't like it as much as you, but I still think it was a good one.

athenawj

#2  11 November 2004 - 18:45

 

I didn't realize that the NJ governor just came out; so the eppy is still semi "ripped from the headlines," but at least they delved into something deeper and tackled some tough issues, which is more than it has been doing.

Yeah, I liked it because of all the law issues, concepts, and cases they mentioned. If I don't like that sort of stuff, I shouldn't be here. :)

What clues did you see that hint at Jack and Serena sleeping together?! I've never and wouldn't think of entertaining that thought. Eeww.

ER makes such an unconvincing liberal that I'd rather have another AADA sharing Branch's politics than see her continue as the token liberal. How the heck did she break into show business?!

merserene

#3  11 November 2004 - 21:24

 

Heh, well, I think it's always lurking around, since Jack has his history of sleeping with his assistants, but there were a couple of hints last season, and last eppy, before Serena left Jack at the bar, then there was some comment about bosses sleeping with their employees... I know that last one's not on-spot, but I didn't tape it.

You're right about the unconvincing liberal-- the delivery is so flat, so unimpassioned (sp?). At least when Claire, Jamie or Angie Harmon (see, I hated her so much I forgot her name! ;)) fought with Jack, there were signs of *life*.

Who're we going to snark on when she's gone? ;) Let's throw a little party.

How're you liking Fontana? Oh, I forgot to mention that I was cracking up when he was trying to sell Van Buren and Greene on how the clothes made the suspect gay.

athenawj

#4  11 November 2004 - 22:25

 

That's one aspect of the Jack McCoy character that disappoints me a bit, the history of sleeping with his assistants. But he can't be *that* tasteless to sleep with a wooden puppet, can he? :P

I'm just gonna ignore that I heard anything about any hints of sleeping with Serena...what were we talking about again?

Fontana is actually growing on me. I really dispised the "I can leap to conclusions from obscure clues" trait they were putting on him at the beginning; thank goodness they've stopped trying to whack my head with it and just let Farina's acting portray him as a wise guy. That gay clothing scene was pretty amusing. :)

Whaddya think - I'm expecting Farina to have some sort of mob connection, or at least making money on the side (probably not quite legit) so he can afford them fancy silk shirts and $300 suits.

merserene

#5  11 November 2004 - 22:32

 

Oh, he's gotta be doing something on the side-- something thisside of shady. Or maybe he's like Greene, and likes to bet... but he's really good at it. Heh.

athenawj

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