User Reviews

I enjoyed this one, despite it being kind of a run-of-the-mill L&O episode. It's got a nice, uppity antagonist in fertility doctor Jordan Gilbert, played by David Margulies, and there's some cool legal wrangling on the part of ADA Claire Kincaid (Jill Hennessy) when she employs a "Chinese wall" tactic in order to get around a limited subpoena.

And that's only one hurdle in this case; there are several that the district attorney's office need to overcome, including a victimized couple whose refusal to provide testimony hides a dark secret, and the fact that Dr. Gilbert's actions are tough to convict under New York law. (At least in the context of this show!) There's even some stuff involving the DA's pursuit of the case into family court, a so-crazy-it-just-might-work legal option that could only ever make sense on a TV show.

The problem is that the main twist can be seen coming a mile away; it's just dressed up with all the legal jargon.

Still, it's great fun, and Dr. Gilbert may prove to be one of the most elusive nemeses yet on this show.

While not an original concept for the 'Law and Order' franchise, the concept did sound interesting and while there are subjects that are more hard-hitting and relevant today the one here is hardly out of date. All the previous Season 5 episodes ranged from just above average to superb and of the original 'Law and Order', 'Special Victims Unit' (which has grown on me overtime though it's not been the same for a while) and 'Criminal Intent' (a great show in its early seasons) the original is actually my personal favourite, especially the earlier seasons.

"Seed" is not one of the best episodes of Season 5 and far from being one of the best of the show overall. It is interesting and engaging, with a lot of good things and the subject at least is not wasted, if rather predictable and not always making as much sense as it ought to have done. Although it doesn't waste the subject or story at all, far from it, there was a better and more surprising episode in there somewhere in "Seed" that wasn't quite there.

There are a lot of good things here in "Seed". As usual for 'Law and Order' and its spin offs, the production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden, while never being particularly inspired.

The writing has enough moments where it provokes thought and is intriguing. The moral dilemmas of the situation, the limited subpoena stuff with Kincaid and the layered take on human nature being particularly striking. The story does have moments of tension and the conflict is believable enough in the latter stages. The ending is a unique one and a first for the show. The subject is not an easy one to pull off, but it is not near as sleazy as it could have been. One really does effectively get the creeps watching it, but there is enough tact to stop it from falling into smut. The perpetrator is wonderfully elusive, very creepy the more you find out about them and fascinating, and the acting all round is great. David Margulies is quite unsettling.

More could have been done with the story however, which interested and engaged enough but doesn't have enough distinction and the legal case is very flimsy when it comes to the evidence. There are not many surprises or originality here, other than the very end, with not much new done with familiar territory. It could have done with a little more urgency on occasion, so it is slightly bland on occasion.

Do agree sadly that the final twist can be seen coming from some way off, although it's actually plausible at least.

Overall, another not great but worth watching episode. 7/10