I think the Law and Order reboot is getting better, but the writing still leaves much to be desired. I also think that this episode could have had a more satisfactory ending if the reason why Shaw was harassed at the beginning of the episode turned out to be that his image had been shown on the controversial website along with other innocent "dangerous suspects". When the images from that website were shown during the trial, it was have been a nice plot twist to have Shaw's image, in his jacket and knit hat, mixed in with the others, especially right after his testimony had concluded. That would have provided a better explanation for the patrolmen's' actions, would have removed the blemish on Shaw's record, and would have tied the two threads in this episode together.
10 Reviews
Alternative explanation for the harassment of Detective Shaw
Seamus10728 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Reigniting that spark from the original
katiestauffer-0129224 February 2023
Despite what other reviewers that clearly watch every episode and then write negative reviews say, the episodes are attempting to be relevant and relatable to the current audience. This episode dealt with apps versus judgment, something older viewers who long for old episodes remade into new need to come to grips with.
While not a perfect episode it is better than the current SVU series which has become the Olivia Show, and is trying to regain the spark that made the show great.
The officers deal with personal issues that are reminiscent of the case they are working. This has been a corner stone in the show since the beginning.
While not a perfect episode it is better than the current SVU series which has become the Olivia Show, and is trying to regain the spark that made the show great.
The officers deal with personal issues that are reminiscent of the case they are working. This has been a corner stone in the show since the beginning.
Fear and Loathing - A Gripping Law & Order Episode Addressing Social Issues
alzeem-349531 April 2023
Fear and Loathing is a captivating and timely Law & Order episode that skillfully and sensitively delves into significant societal concerns such as racism, police brutality, and the influence of social media manipulation. The episode boasts exceptional performances from both main and guest cast members, particularly Jeffrey Donovan as Detective Cosgrove and Derek Cecil as the shooter.
The well-written script presents a realistic portrayal of the issues at hand. However, some viewers may find certain aspects of the plot predictable or somewhat inconsistent. Despite these minor drawbacks, Fear and Loathing maintains its engaging narrative, making it a must-watch episode for fans of the series and crime drama enthusiasts with an interest in contemporary social issues.
This episode of Law & Order serves as a thought-provoking exploration of crucial themes, providing a valuable viewing experience for those seeking to engage with a crime drama that carries a social conscience.
The well-written script presents a realistic portrayal of the issues at hand. However, some viewers may find certain aspects of the plot predictable or somewhat inconsistent. Despite these minor drawbacks, Fear and Loathing maintains its engaging narrative, making it a must-watch episode for fans of the series and crime drama enthusiasts with an interest in contemporary social issues.
This episode of Law & Order serves as a thought-provoking exploration of crucial themes, providing a valuable viewing experience for those seeking to engage with a crime drama that carries a social conscience.
Why do they let white racist cops win?
teachermom-8363824 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
In a world filled with racism couldn't we have one fairytale ending where the white racists get what they deserve? The people he works with didn't seem to provide much support either despite saying they had his back. I hate the idea that white cops seem to be the only cops that matter. If this had happened it Finn on SVU his whole squad would have raised hell. They would have gotten the media involved to demonstrate the kind of racism that the police department partakes in.
As for the case itself, it was a unique look at what greed paired with racism can do to people. I hope there will be vindication in the upcoming episodes of Law and Order!
As for the case itself, it was a unique look at what greed paired with racism can do to people. I hope there will be vindication in the upcoming episodes of Law and Order!
Fear and Loathing
bobcobb3012 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
"Fear and Loathing" was a mix for me and a showcase why Law and Order could be both good and bad. The good was an interesting case and an interesting away from that murder at hand situation as one detective felt he was discriminated against.
I am fine with this subject because it is topical and is constantly in the news. I don't know if we always need to see one side of it though as it is always cops are bad. Would love to see the importance of police recognized once too.
But I didn't hate it or find it as polarizing as a lot of other viewers may. Not one that has any amount of replay value though.
I am fine with this subject because it is topical and is constantly in the news. I don't know if we always need to see one side of it though as it is always cops are bad. Would love to see the importance of police recognized once too.
But I didn't hate it or find it as polarizing as a lot of other viewers may. Not one that has any amount of replay value though.
Surprisingly out-of-touch
rossdanbruen24 February 2023
Coming from a black man, I found this episode predictable, simplistic, and surprisingly out-of-touch with our modern media's approach to accountability. The show in the 90s (which I'm up to season 8 and currently watching for the first time) was comparatively much more aware of the political optics both for and against victims of various stripes. These optics motivate behavior in organizations, now more than ever before.
In the latest seasons, they seem to pretend that local and potentially national media wouldn't immediately side with Det. Shaw, even before any investigation had taken place. There were only two developments in the story that surprised me, but the rest was paint-by-numbers.
Still, I suppose this episode represents a sort of re-balancing from previous episodes in the season that explored more nuance that I feel better reflected our messy reality, while also making for a more compelling story.
In the latest seasons, they seem to pretend that local and potentially national media wouldn't immediately side with Det. Shaw, even before any investigation had taken place. There were only two developments in the story that surprised me, but the rest was paint-by-numbers.
Still, I suppose this episode represents a sort of re-balancing from previous episodes in the season that explored more nuance that I feel better reflected our messy reality, while also making for a more compelling story.
We Long For The Way It Was Before
lorinfink27 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
"Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear", when the original Law and Order episodes in the nineties and early two thousands were written with more accuracy, because they made good use of technical advisors. The 'Order' portion also highlighted much better acting.
If the producers read these reviews, please bring back the original writers. My wife and I have seen every single episode of the show since the beginning in 1990. When the show returned in early 2022, we had high hopes for the continuation of the quality of L & O's 20 year run. We have done nothing but criticize every episode for a lot of 'holes' in each of them.
For example, in the latest episode entitled "Fear and Loathing", The ADA was just awful. When the Judge over ruled on his objection, he acted as if he just lost the case. Another example:when the defense attorney during her cross of Detective Shaw, brought up his situation with IAB. What the heck did that have to do with this trial? We're still scratching our heads on that scene. The weak ADA did not object. Why not? And wouldn't that have been an internal matter, not admissible in court, and certainly resolved well before the trial phase of any manslaughter case?
And in the 'Law' portion, why didn't Detective Shaw keep the bottle of booze as evidence of a bribe to get him to drop his complaint against the two cops trying to arrest him at the beginning of the show. Poor judgement along with poor writing.
All of this is one reason the ratings are down. The show might just lose two more viewers if it doesn't get better.
If the producers read these reviews, please bring back the original writers. My wife and I have seen every single episode of the show since the beginning in 1990. When the show returned in early 2022, we had high hopes for the continuation of the quality of L & O's 20 year run. We have done nothing but criticize every episode for a lot of 'holes' in each of them.
For example, in the latest episode entitled "Fear and Loathing", The ADA was just awful. When the Judge over ruled on his objection, he acted as if he just lost the case. Another example:when the defense attorney during her cross of Detective Shaw, brought up his situation with IAB. What the heck did that have to do with this trial? We're still scratching our heads on that scene. The weak ADA did not object. Why not? And wouldn't that have been an internal matter, not admissible in court, and certainly resolved well before the trial phase of any manslaughter case?
And in the 'Law' portion, why didn't Detective Shaw keep the bottle of booze as evidence of a bribe to get him to drop his complaint against the two cops trying to arrest him at the beginning of the show. Poor judgement along with poor writing.
All of this is one reason the ratings are down. The show might just lose two more viewers if it doesn't get better.
About as Good as Last Week's -- But Without the Punch
bkkaz24 February 2023
Okay, put aside the standard Law and Order notion that racism only happens to one group in this country. That gets tiresome considering the actual scope of the issue in reality, which the franchise stubbornly refuses to believe. But putting aside the show's fetish for such things, this episode trips up for another reason common to Law and Order, especially these days. It doesn't go all in.
The first half is actually and surprisingly gripping. In the Derping and Lurching segment, we get two problems. One, an innocent physician simply asking for directions while holding a cell phone is beaten to death by a doofus who - it seems - automatically thinks a certain race is criminal by definition. Therefore, he believes he has the right to be fearful for his life and use deadly force. We hear this dumb excuse all the time, so that's well within the boundaries of reality.
The other issue is Lurch faces his own situation with two cops, and when he refuses an order from them, finds himself on the hot seat. Sort of.
The episode is real in the way minorities often face immediate suspicion and apprehension from their co-workers and bosses if they're of the usual race and question the status quo. The problem, of course, is this is not limited to only one racial group. But it sets up a story that is, if not overdone in the Law and Order franchise, engaging because we hear about it in the real world, too.
But then the second half punts. You see, it turns out there's a twist that now very much undermines everything the episode set up with the guy who murders the physician. It's like saying, "Hey, we brought the problem up, but we're not going to make our target market feel uncomfortable by going the distance. Gotcha!" It also lets the Garden Gnome off from having to own up to his racism. This is the second or third episode where they've hinted the guy refuses to accept that he might have prejudices, but we've gotten no further than merely the suggestion. Again, it's going through the motions, not actually putting anything of real weight on the line dramatically. It's a cop out. The frenetic Gnome - like that awful Barba on SVU - never acts like an actual lawyer. You know, thoughtful and intellectual. Instead, he's constantly scene chewing, arms akimbo and face flush with bile. I notice that in order to let him do his routine, they're now minimizing AOC, who is obviously the better character of the two.
This is another episode that feels a bit more meaty than the others in the reboot. Good. At this pace, by the third or fourth year, the show may feel as whole as the original again. But there's still the spartan production. Remember in the old days where Adam Schiff might be in his office, sleeves rolled up, his leftover lunch sitting on the desk while he fields a troubling phone call. The ADAs have to wait at the door, and he rubs his tired eyes and says, "Now what?" And in the middle of the uneasy conversation, Schiff's secretary interrupts to give more bad news?
Yeah, none of that anymore. Now Sam Waterson sits on a couch or stands in a hall, looking like he just stopped by, bats some expository dialogue with the Gnome, and that's that. The halls are empty. The phones don't ring.
The court room sequence is perfunctory - but with THE MELODRATIC MUSIC and HEAD SHAKES. The scenes are confrontational but lacking in drama or suspense, despite THE MELODRAMATIC MUSIC. The scheme that finally gets revealed is actually remarkably, um, similar to an episode of the old British TV show, The Professionals. One star off because the ending lacks the, um, impact of last week's.
The first half is actually and surprisingly gripping. In the Derping and Lurching segment, we get two problems. One, an innocent physician simply asking for directions while holding a cell phone is beaten to death by a doofus who - it seems - automatically thinks a certain race is criminal by definition. Therefore, he believes he has the right to be fearful for his life and use deadly force. We hear this dumb excuse all the time, so that's well within the boundaries of reality.
The other issue is Lurch faces his own situation with two cops, and when he refuses an order from them, finds himself on the hot seat. Sort of.
The episode is real in the way minorities often face immediate suspicion and apprehension from their co-workers and bosses if they're of the usual race and question the status quo. The problem, of course, is this is not limited to only one racial group. But it sets up a story that is, if not overdone in the Law and Order franchise, engaging because we hear about it in the real world, too.
But then the second half punts. You see, it turns out there's a twist that now very much undermines everything the episode set up with the guy who murders the physician. It's like saying, "Hey, we brought the problem up, but we're not going to make our target market feel uncomfortable by going the distance. Gotcha!" It also lets the Garden Gnome off from having to own up to his racism. This is the second or third episode where they've hinted the guy refuses to accept that he might have prejudices, but we've gotten no further than merely the suggestion. Again, it's going through the motions, not actually putting anything of real weight on the line dramatically. It's a cop out. The frenetic Gnome - like that awful Barba on SVU - never acts like an actual lawyer. You know, thoughtful and intellectual. Instead, he's constantly scene chewing, arms akimbo and face flush with bile. I notice that in order to let him do his routine, they're now minimizing AOC, who is obviously the better character of the two.
This is another episode that feels a bit more meaty than the others in the reboot. Good. At this pace, by the third or fourth year, the show may feel as whole as the original again. But there's still the spartan production. Remember in the old days where Adam Schiff might be in his office, sleeves rolled up, his leftover lunch sitting on the desk while he fields a troubling phone call. The ADAs have to wait at the door, and he rubs his tired eyes and says, "Now what?" And in the middle of the uneasy conversation, Schiff's secretary interrupts to give more bad news?
Yeah, none of that anymore. Now Sam Waterson sits on a couch or stands in a hall, looking like he just stopped by, bats some expository dialogue with the Gnome, and that's that. The halls are empty. The phones don't ring.
The court room sequence is perfunctory - but with THE MELODRATIC MUSIC and HEAD SHAKES. The scenes are confrontational but lacking in drama or suspense, despite THE MELODRAMATIC MUSIC. The scheme that finally gets revealed is actually remarkably, um, similar to an episode of the old British TV show, The Professionals. One star off because the ending lacks the, um, impact of last week's.
Case Of the Week Kind of Takes a Backseat
shelbythuylinh28 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A doctor that was only trying to ask for directions and how in return, the person that is the suspect that kills the doctor over in the being threatened. Only to figure out that the doctor just had a I-Phone on it to type in the directions.
The arrogant suspect says that he was threatened or felt and how in the trying to claim on that over in the self defense. But that it is no excuse for murder in the law's eyes on it. Case this episode takes a backseat to the new detective Shaw.
Who with two racist white cops seeing he has the same jacket and in the same built gets harassed as Frank comes in to rescue him.
But when the case against the two officers backfires and IAB is accusing Shaw, really it is not fair at all. It seems the two white officers filed a report as revenge against Shaw's report saying the detective resisted arrest and assault the cops for "doing their jobs".
Had Frank not intervene, it could had ended very much a different but tragic story. Still Shaw gets suspended a week without pay and that really was not right at all. Shaw should really hire an attorney and get to the bottom and investigate other incidents involving the two racist cops.
Think that the audience has not heard the last of Shaw's case. It could be only the beginning.
The arrogant suspect says that he was threatened or felt and how in the trying to claim on that over in the self defense. But that it is no excuse for murder in the law's eyes on it. Case this episode takes a backseat to the new detective Shaw.
Who with two racist white cops seeing he has the same jacket and in the same built gets harassed as Frank comes in to rescue him.
But when the case against the two officers backfires and IAB is accusing Shaw, really it is not fair at all. It seems the two white officers filed a report as revenge against Shaw's report saying the detective resisted arrest and assault the cops for "doing their jobs".
Had Frank not intervene, it could had ended very much a different but tragic story. Still Shaw gets suspended a week without pay and that really was not right at all. Shaw should really hire an attorney and get to the bottom and investigate other incidents involving the two racist cops.
Think that the audience has not heard the last of Shaw's case. It could be only the beginning.
Race trumps rules
dshell1026 August 2023
It doesn't matter what race that cop is, he still needs to follow the rules and get down and can show his badge.
He knows how dangerous it is, especially when people claim they are a cop all the time. He knows the proper ways to do things.
The cop even tried to make peace, but the cop's pride got in the way, his race got in the way, he admits he broke the rules because he didn't want to get on his knees. Pride was why he violated the rules.
He's not above the law. His race is not an excuse not to break the rules.
I feel bad for those taught to feel they are inferior because of their race. I feel bad for those taught they are hated because of their race. Still, someone with experience needs to be understanding of the situation and follow the rules.
He knows how dangerous it is, especially when people claim they are a cop all the time. He knows the proper ways to do things.
The cop even tried to make peace, but the cop's pride got in the way, his race got in the way, he admits he broke the rules because he didn't want to get on his knees. Pride was why he violated the rules.
He's not above the law. His race is not an excuse not to break the rules.
I feel bad for those taught to feel they are inferior because of their race. I feel bad for those taught they are hated because of their race. Still, someone with experience needs to be understanding of the situation and follow the rules.
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