Yeah, this new Law and Order is as stilted as SVU, which once again, seems to be contributing discarded scripts. Here we get yet another sex crimes angle (seemingly a Title IX style issue at fictional Hudson University). What is it with the writers that they see no distinction anymore among the various Law and Order shows?
There's the usual strangely unnatural and yet nauseatingly melodramatic acting at the same time, with the director lingering a couple beats longer than necessary for the glaringly obvious point to be made. And don't forget THE DRAMATIC MUSIC because the show won't. Apparently, the assumption is audience IQ has dropped considerably in the past 10 years because all of the Law and Order shows now do this.
I used to think Derp Donovan was completely bland -- well, except for that kooky but fancy triangle of hair on the back of his derpy head -- but his partner, Lurch, is about as bad He lurches around in a too-small suit, grumbling homilies while pretending to be smart. Look, at least Derp can admit he's neither bright nor charismatic, but Lurch doesn't even have the good sense to say, "You rang." He bellows everything with the same, flat, doomsaying voice that sounds like a villainous rock pulverizer reading its manifesto aloud. Now, it's true that Camryn Manhands' ponytail has a kind of Cousin It thing going on, but it's just not real until we get a "You rang" from Lurch.
Meanwhile, the Garden Gnome and AOC -- who now appear to work in a nearly deserted NYC prosecutor's office -- once more use less legal prowess than Nancy Drewing their way through a case. And get this -- they're up against a law professor at what the episode touts is the most prestigious law school in the country. Yet, he seems completely without legal prowess except to tell his wife to ask for a lawyer when she's arrested. I mean, I get the superficiality when the writing is so superficial, but come on. Why was it even necessary to make the guy a law professor when he could have been a professor of dance for all it matters in this episode?
Once again they comb Sam Waterston's hair. That's nice. He got some sleep, too, apparently. His appearances in each episode amount to a few words, either standing or sitting. Long gone are the thoughtful of musings of Adam Schiff or Arthur Branch. Still, it's more than Ice T does on the other show.