December 27, 2003
4.5 Black Tie
This episode (4.5), while mostly conventional, is notable for about four things:
- The fabulous multi-story high-rise apartment in which the murder takes place. Probably the nicest crime scene in the history of the show.
- The appearance of early supermodel Beverly Johnson [screenshot] as a woman who I think slept with both the victim and his wife.
- The first appearance by the dignified and authoritative defense attorney Norman Rothenberg (Jeffrey DeMunn), who represents the exorbitantly wealthy widow of the victim. (DeMunn has appeared six times on L&O as Rothenberg, but plays a different character on SVU. Grr.)
- The defense attorney essentially shitcans the trial halfway through and concentrates all his energies on his appeal. He even allows his assistant to take over the trial midway through, which is not something I've seen on the show before.
The central legal matter of the episode is whether a syringe discovered by a private detective is admissible. Stone says yes, the defense says no. The matter is settled on appeal up at the state supreme court. These scenes they occasionally do at the Supreme Court are fun. I like the little stoplights on the lectern, and I like to watch how McCoy and Stone change their demeanor for the benefits of the justices. I always feel like they are a little out of their league when they go up there: the justices are so erudite and the defense attorneys are usually the best of the best, and poor Stone and McCoy show up in their rumpled suits and have arguments that never seem quite as well tailored as those of their opponents. I wonder what their record is in front of the Supreme Court. Someone (probably me) should be keeping score.
Here are some screenshots.
Posted by adm at December 27, 2003 02:30 AM