Issues of justice, vigilantism are a powder keg that often get lost in waves of emotions. Add an innocent young child slain into the mix and things become less logical. These elements could have been a slam-dunk for 'Bitter Fruit', but it doesn't stop there. This season premiere of 'Law & Order' adds an additional stop in the last third to make things even more juicier. I think it's up for debate if they needed to go with this final twist and if it dilutes the goodness that came before it, but the episode as a whole is still above average.
A 12 year old girl is found murdered, dumped in a vacant lot and the picture becomes clear she was kidnapped. Briscoe (Orbach) & Curtis (Bratt) trace the crime to a glass company employing ex-felon Nick Capetti (John Ventimiglia) and more evidence cements his obvious guilt. As McCoy (Waterston) & Kincaid (Hennessy) move with an open & shut case, the girls mother Karen (Ellen Greene) opens fire in court killing Nick. Given the circumstances she's given a slap on the wrist until it's clear she had more involvement that just being a grieving divorced parent overcome with vengeance.
'Bitter Fruit' was already strong with the initial themes in play. However the twist highlights a real issue with warped parents doing selfishly things without care. I can't lie and say the measure of justice felt sufficient at the end, but that moment of gunplay was one of the most shocking turns I've ever seen in an episode of L&O. Plus knowing actual people like the mother here brings it a sense of reality.
A 12 year old girl is found murdered, dumped in a vacant lot and the picture becomes clear she was kidnapped. Briscoe (Orbach) & Curtis (Bratt) trace the crime to a glass company employing ex-felon Nick Capetti (John Ventimiglia) and more evidence cements his obvious guilt. As McCoy (Waterston) & Kincaid (Hennessy) move with an open & shut case, the girls mother Karen (Ellen Greene) opens fire in court killing Nick. Given the circumstances she's given a slap on the wrist until it's clear she had more involvement that just being a grieving divorced parent overcome with vengeance.
'Bitter Fruit' was already strong with the initial themes in play. However the twist highlights a real issue with warped parents doing selfishly things without care. I can't lie and say the measure of justice felt sufficient at the end, but that moment of gunplay was one of the most shocking turns I've ever seen in an episode of L&O. Plus knowing actual people like the mother here brings it a sense of reality.