A woman detonates a bomb in a parking garage, and prosecutors suspect she was acting under orders of a charismatic cult leader.A woman detonates a bomb in a parking garage, and prosecutors suspect she was acting under orders of a charismatic cult leader.A woman detonates a bomb in a parking garage, and prosecutors suspect she was acting under orders of a charismatic cult leader.
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- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on the following incidents:
- The 1960's Charles Manson case. Manson, a charismatic cult leader, was believed to have brainwashed many of his followers into committing horrible atrocities, the most memorable (to most) being the brutal slaying of pregnant actress Sharon Tate in her home.
- Jim Jones and the 1978 Jonestown mass-murder suicide. Jones was a preacher and faith healer turned cult leader who conspired with his inner circle to direct a mass murder-suicide of his followers in his jungle commune at the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, better known by its informal name "Jonestown", a remote settlement established by the Peoples Temple, in Guayana Esequiba, a disputed territory in northwestern Guyana claimed by Venezuela. On November 18, 1978, a total of 918 people died at the settlement, at the nearby airstrip in Port Kaituma, and at a Temple-run building in Georgetown, Guyana's capital city.
- The Timothy Stoen case. Stoen was an attorney best known for his central role as a member of the Peoples Temple, and as an opponent of the group during a multi-year custody battle over his six-year-old son, John. Stoen's battle led to an investigation of the Peoples Temple's settlement at Jonestown, Guyana, which became internationally notorious in 1978 after 918 people-including Stoen's son-died in the settlement and on a nearby airstrip. Stoen continues to work as a deputy district attorney in Mendocino County, California, where he is assigned to the District Attorney's Fort Bragg office.
- The David Koresh case. Koresh was a cult leader who played a central role in the Waco siege of 1993. As the head of the Branch Davidians sect, Koresh claimed to be its final prophet.
- The 1993 Branch Davidian siege near Waco Texas. The Waco siege was the siege of a compound which belonged to the religious sect Branch Davidians. It was carried out by American federal and Texas state law enforcement, as well as by the U.S. military, between February 28 and April 19, 1993.
- The 1993 World Trade Center bombing. On February 26, 1993--eight years before the tragic events of 9/11--a car bomb detonated in the parking garage of the South Tower. The explosion killed six people plus an unborn child. Thousands of people were also treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries.
- GoofsThe quote of "200 years ago" as when "we came here on boats to get away from that sort of thing" (persecution by Europe's established churches) should've been "over 300 years ago" as when we came on the Mayflower.
- Quotes
A.D.A. Claire Kincaid: I've never had a problem with religion and choice.
Adam Schiff: Oh no? Let me guess, agnostic?
[Claire nods]
Adam Schiff: Give it 40 years.
Featured review
Hidden meanings
The subject matter sounded incredibly creepy, though cult (or similar)-related stories can potentially fall into the traps of being too over the top and bizarre. When done right though, these kind of stories do send chills up the spine. The 'Law and Order' franchise were often extremely good at exploring a wide range of heavy and difficult subjects and pulling no punches when doing so. The early seasons of the original 'Law and Order' and the early ones of 'Special Victims Unit' were especially good at this.
"Apocrypha" has one of Season 4's most difficult to pull off and most controversial subjects perhaps, with it being one where the execution as said above can go either way. It mostly handles it very well, leaning thankfully towards being creepy and thought-provoking more than it it being over-the-top and bizarre. "Apocrypha" is not one of the best episodes of 'Law and Order's' Season 4 or of the show, but neither are disgraced in any way.
Personally did find that the police investigation was not as interesting as the legal scenes, it was when the legal stuff kicked in where the episode became incredibly compelling, picked up the pace and really made me think. Whereas the investigative elements were well acted and does a lot right but in comparison that side of the story is slightly routine. Briscoe and his chemistry with Logan aren't without issue, but they shone a lot more in other episodes before and since.
Some of the dialogue is a touch on the heavy-handed side.
Most of it however is very tight and provokes a lot of thought, never less than engaging. Which has always been great for this show and for the franchise where all the episodes are dialogue heavy (especially in the legal scenes). The story is a bit on the routine side to begin with but picks up significantly not long after, the subject is handled with edge but also without falling into camp and also handled tactfully. A good deal of interesting questions are raised and an admirable effort is made in not taking sides, the moral dilemmas of the case and the characters are very insightfully written. The case is never too obvious, even including an unexpected twist at the end, and doesn't get too complicated.
Furthermore, the characters are interesting. Stone has always been a juicy character and Kincaid and Van Buren have settled remarkably well for so early on in their tenure. Hendricks is a real creep but without being too caricaturish. The production values are slick and the camera work is suitably intimate without feeling too rushed. The music is only used when needed and doesn't overbear when it is. The climactic confrontation between Stone and the defendant is reason alone to see "Apocrypha". As ever, the episode is very well acted. Especially Michael Moriarty and Sam Robards.
In summary, very good episode. 8/10
"Apocrypha" has one of Season 4's most difficult to pull off and most controversial subjects perhaps, with it being one where the execution as said above can go either way. It mostly handles it very well, leaning thankfully towards being creepy and thought-provoking more than it it being over-the-top and bizarre. "Apocrypha" is not one of the best episodes of 'Law and Order's' Season 4 or of the show, but neither are disgraced in any way.
Personally did find that the police investigation was not as interesting as the legal scenes, it was when the legal stuff kicked in where the episode became incredibly compelling, picked up the pace and really made me think. Whereas the investigative elements were well acted and does a lot right but in comparison that side of the story is slightly routine. Briscoe and his chemistry with Logan aren't without issue, but they shone a lot more in other episodes before and since.
Some of the dialogue is a touch on the heavy-handed side.
Most of it however is very tight and provokes a lot of thought, never less than engaging. Which has always been great for this show and for the franchise where all the episodes are dialogue heavy (especially in the legal scenes). The story is a bit on the routine side to begin with but picks up significantly not long after, the subject is handled with edge but also without falling into camp and also handled tactfully. A good deal of interesting questions are raised and an admirable effort is made in not taking sides, the moral dilemmas of the case and the characters are very insightfully written. The case is never too obvious, even including an unexpected twist at the end, and doesn't get too complicated.
Furthermore, the characters are interesting. Stone has always been a juicy character and Kincaid and Van Buren have settled remarkably well for so early on in their tenure. Hendricks is a real creep but without being too caricaturish. The production values are slick and the camera work is suitably intimate without feeling too rushed. The music is only used when needed and doesn't overbear when it is. The climactic confrontation between Stone and the defendant is reason alone to see "Apocrypha". As ever, the episode is very well acted. Especially Michael Moriarty and Sam Robards.
In summary, very good episode. 8/10
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 9, 2020
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