Jack asks Abbie to try a case involving a young mother accused of starving her baby to death.Jack asks Abbie to try a case involving a young mother accused of starving her baby to death.Jack asks Abbie to try a case involving a young mother accused of starving her baby to death.
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- TriviaThis episode aired just a few months before New York State enacted the Abandoned Infant Protection Act. Its intent was to save the lives of unwanted newborns. Under the law, parent(s) could leave unwanted newborns five days of age or younger at a hospital or a police, fire, or rescue station. The child then becomes a ward of the state, and the parent(s) are automatically declared unfit and lose all legal guardianship. Under the first version of this law, a parent could potentially face criminal charges for child abandonment, especially if the child was harmed or otherwise mistreated, such as being malnourished or dehydrated. In August 2010, the law was amended to allow unwanted infants who were 30 days old or younger to be left at a "safe haven" location, which by that time had expanded to include churches, 24-hour mini-marts, and even some Walmart stores. The law was also amended to incentivize parent(s) to plan a baby's abandonment at a safe haven so that the infant would be unharmed. The new amendment states that any parent(s) who delivers their infant to a safe haven as prescribed by law cannot be held criminally liable if the child is safe, healthy, and unharmed at the time of its being left at a safe haven. The new amendments also allowed parent(s) the option of remaining anonymous when leaving a child at a safe haven location.
- GoofsIn this case, the husband assists and (apparently) testifies against his own wife. This is inadmissible as evidence for the prosecution. This is true as of the date of this (at the time) present day broadcast. It is also clearly a legal mistake.
- Quotes
[last lines]
A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael: Judge Steinman gave Amy Beltran one and a half to four and a half years in prison.
D.A. Adam Schiff: With one year for Jimmy Beltran, that's less three years between the both of them. Talk about a throwaway child.
A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael: [Adam leaves] I'm not happy about this.
Jack McCoy: You tried the case you had.
A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael: But I chose the case.
Jack McCoy: Tomorrow is another day, Abbie.
Featured review
Reasonable doubt
Anybody who has read any of my other reviews for for example individual episodes of the 'Law and Order' shows, am slowly working my way through writing reviews for all the episodes of 'Law and Order, 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent' with a long way to go, will know already how much admiration there is from me for anything that tackles difficult and controversial themes and issues. "Mother's Milk" is no exception and is going to hit home for those with newborn children particularly.
Like the previous episode "Collision", "Mother's Milk" has a lot to like and that it tried to tackle this topic is admirable. It however is not a great episode of the season, in a season that had many of them, or 'Law and Order' as a show at its best, and like that episode (though not quite as jarringly) the topic could have been handled with more complexity and tact. There was a great episode somewhere in "Mother's Milk", but it ended up just being good.
Beginning with the flaws, "Mother's Milk" is a little heavy handed and again makes it too clear what side of the topic the writers are on, especially when speaking of breast-feeding in such a negative light (which also has not aged particularly well with attitudes having changed). The defense argument too is on the judgemental side.
Did think that the early portions were nothing out of the ordinary and the conclusion felt rushed and under-explored which made it come over as not realistic.
"Mother's Milk" however has a lot that is good. The production values are typically slick with the right amount of grit, nothing is too fancy or too gimmicky. Nor is anything too static, drab or garish. The music is not too constant or emotionally manipulative, meanig not over-emphasising the emotion to make one think that's how we should be feeling. The direction is accommodating but also has pulse.
While not subtle, the writing is intelligent and taut, leaving one deep in thought. The case is an interesting one and really draws one in in the second half, it is also one that leaves one feel both angry and sad afterwards. The moral dilemmas that come with it are handled well, with the last lines resonating. The acting is very strong, Angie Harmon in particular.
Overall, pretty good but not great. 7/10.
Like the previous episode "Collision", "Mother's Milk" has a lot to like and that it tried to tackle this topic is admirable. It however is not a great episode of the season, in a season that had many of them, or 'Law and Order' as a show at its best, and like that episode (though not quite as jarringly) the topic could have been handled with more complexity and tact. There was a great episode somewhere in "Mother's Milk", but it ended up just being good.
Beginning with the flaws, "Mother's Milk" is a little heavy handed and again makes it too clear what side of the topic the writers are on, especially when speaking of breast-feeding in such a negative light (which also has not aged particularly well with attitudes having changed). The defense argument too is on the judgemental side.
Did think that the early portions were nothing out of the ordinary and the conclusion felt rushed and under-explored which made it come over as not realistic.
"Mother's Milk" however has a lot that is good. The production values are typically slick with the right amount of grit, nothing is too fancy or too gimmicky. Nor is anything too static, drab or garish. The music is not too constant or emotionally manipulative, meanig not over-emphasising the emotion to make one think that's how we should be feeling. The direction is accommodating but also has pulse.
While not subtle, the writing is intelligent and taut, leaving one deep in thought. The case is an interesting one and really draws one in in the second half, it is also one that leaves one feel both angry and sad afterwards. The moral dilemmas that come with it are handled well, with the last lines resonating. The acting is very strong, Angie Harmon in particular.
Overall, pretty good but not great. 7/10.
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 11, 2021
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