A female Navy pilot kills an officer over their affair. However, McCoy suspects that the Navy may be impeding the D.A. office's investigation because she is a valuable asset and a positive f... Read allA female Navy pilot kills an officer over their affair. However, McCoy suspects that the Navy may be impeding the D.A. office's investigation because she is a valuable asset and a positive female role model.A female Navy pilot kills an officer over their affair. However, McCoy suspects that the Navy may be impeding the D.A. office's investigation because she is a valuable asset and a positive female role model.
- Commander Billings
- (as Daniel Von Bargen)
- Comm. Halibert
- (as William Howard Parry)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on the 1997 sex scandal involving the U.S. Air Force and Lt. Kelly Flinn. On May 20, 1997, following an adulterous affair with a civilian soccer coach at Minot Air Force Base who was married to a female enlisted subordinate in her chain of command, Flinn was charged by the military with conduct unbecoming an officer, disobeying a lawful order (in writing, to stay away from the married man), making a false official statement in which she lied under oath to Air Force investigators, falsely telling them she had ended the affair, and fraternization (for an additional affair that she had with an enlisted man). Flinn's case, due in part to her high visibility in Air Force recruitment advertisements, drew national attention, eventually creating a media circus. The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Ronald Fogleman, testified at a congressional hearing that, "In the end, this is not an issue of adultery. This is an issue about an officer, entrusted to fly nuclear weapons, who lied." The media, however, largely treated the case as though Flinn were being tried by the military for the crime of adultery, and castigated the Air Force for allegedly firing her on moral grounds; a New York Times editorial on the case emphasized the adultery, rather than the actual military charges with which she was charged, and blamed the military's "antiquated adultery rules and their consistency in administering them, as well as their management training." Following the media outcry, Flinn was allowed to resign from the Air Force by Secretary of the Air Force Sheila Widnall with a general discharge instead of facing a court-martial. She later wrote a book recounting her experiences, entitled Proud to Be: My Life, The Air Force, The Controversy.
- GoofsDespite what the Navy attorneys said, military personnel do in fact have the right to remain silent, consult an attorney, and not incriminate themselves. It is known as Article 31 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Military personnel who are detained (only commissioned officers can make arrests) by security personnel are required to have their Article 31 rights read to them, just like civilians do with the Miranda warning.
- Quotes
Service Manager: [discussing suspect's car] She told me somebody smashed the window when it was parked someplace.
Detective Lennie Briscoe: She didn't get any more specific?
Service Manager: You want the truth, I stopped listening, I was picturing how she'd look in leather.
Detective Lennie Briscoe: You come to any conclusions?
- ConnectionsReferences The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Robert Stroud of the US Navy in NYC on leave is found shot in the head and at first it's thought to be the work of a violent mugger at large. However when the suspects gun doesn't match, Det. Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) & Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) turn their attention to an affair with his superior officer Lt. Blair (Kate Walsh). From there it's lie after lie and McCoy (Sam Waterston) finds himself battling the JAG office who's not going to help him tear down their poster girl for females in the military.
This episode is one of those rare joys for me with everything it has going on. A "ripped from the headlines" tale that retains many of the factual pieces in play minus actual murder. Suspect who can't tell the truth to save their life. Government forces getting it the way for their own selfish needs. A difference in viewpoints between McCoy & ADA Ross (Carey Lowell) for a female figure who's meant to be looked up to and a source of pride. One of those beautiful moments when the prosecution whips out evidence that leaves the testifying murderer with egg on their face in the courtroom.
'Navy Blues' settles down with a suspect early which means juicy details as the story unravels. Killers always make excuses in real life as in L&O. Here's it's the tried and true act of playing the victim, being a woman. It might not be anything new, but the mountain of lies, military element makes things a lot more fun. Plus you get one of those highly satisfying conclusions leaving you with a small piece to think about as the guilty parties keep to their story or try to save face.
- refinedsugar
- Apr 17, 2024