With the introduction of the character of Jack McCoy in the fifth season, ratings for the Law & Order series skyrocketed. Considered one of its finest years on the air, the twenty two episodes tackled the touchy and the controversial with its own blend of cynicism, morality, and humor.

Since the retirement of Ben Stone from the District Attorney's office, Claire Kincaid (Jill Hennessey) has been reassigned to the Executive Assistant's office. Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) is known for being tough inside the courtroom, has something of a reputation when it comes to romancing his female assistants, and is fearless when it comes to bending, twisting, and even breaking the rules in order to bring criminals in off the street. The instant dynamic between them is full of repressed chemistry, as they fight out a pecking order and attempt to bring callous murderers to justice. Adam Schiff (Steven Hill) gives McCoy something of a free hand when it comes to prosecuting criminals, but even he has been known to pull punches when it has anything to do with politics. It remains for the local police force, headed up by Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson), to make a strong case. Her two finest detectives are wisecracking Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and hot-tempered Mike Logan (Chris Noth).

When a nurse faints in an operating room attempting to save a woman's life, the tabloids are quick to dub her the "Fume Lady." The hospital calls it a bad accident. And the police call it murder. Believing the woman's husband may have had something to do with her death, Lennie and Logan discover a case against a prominent snake oil saleswoman who pushes her alternative health lifestyle as a reasonable cure for cancer. Despite the fact that the health board cannot touch her, McCoy is determined to make a case against her. Going up against some of the most prominent lawyers in the city, he and his comrades struggle for justice amidst a biased judicial system, encountering unorthodox criminals, liberal judges, and shoddy cases along the way. And by the end of the day, the audience is left with something to contemplate.

One of the things the show is best known for is its controversial subject matter, and this season is chock full of it. From the opening case and its deep exploration of the humiliation of breast cancer to "Precious," in which McCay attempts to force unorthodox and even shocking limitations on a plea bargain, each episode will leave you quarreling points of view, judicial law, and personal opinions. Many consider the fifth season to have the finest cast in the history of the show, and it's true that each of the actors lends a personal twist to their characters. McCoy has become the driving force and strength of the program ever since, and it also marked the final year for Logan, as he makes a decision in the last episode that will change his career forever. Many of my favorite episodes rank among the cases handed over to the audience. "Competence" pits McCoy and Van Buren against one another as he is forced to prosecute her before the grand jury after an accidental shooting. "House Council" forces McCoy to turn against one of his oldest friends, and "Rage" turns racism on its head.

There are a number of cases that involve sexual scandals in some form, and these crimes are discussed in-depth. "Blue Bamboo" unearths an underground sex-trade in Japan, and forces a woman (Laura Linney) to remember her sexual abuse at the hands of a violent blackmailer. In "Family Values," a case for statutory rape is made against a man who was sleeping with his underage daughter. In an effort to turn the man's mistress against him and break his alibi, the girl is forced to recount in detail the first time they had sex. "Virtue" unearths a sexual predator known for blackmailing his secretaries into intimate relationships, and on occasion, rape. (It should also be noted that this episode was loosely based on a Clinton scandal.) "Performance" unearths a group of college boys who are out to bed as many girls as possible, with violence if necessary. That is the hardest of all the episodes to watch, since it contains audio and brief video from an amateur porn video showing a girl screaming, handcuffed to a bed. "Bad Faith" also reveals a former priest was known for molesting alter boys.

Faith comes into the stories once in awhile, most notably in "Progeny" when a pastor is accused of being behind the shooting of an abortion doctor. Christians may or may not be offended by the depiction of pro-life groups, but in reality it is fair to all involved. Abortion is debated from different sides, and there's a nice nod to those who support all live, not just that of an embryo. McCoy, however, is forced to argue New York law which states that an embryo is not yet a baby, and Claire states numerous times that she is in support of women's right to choose. However, in a thoughtful twist, "Bad Faith" explores pedophilia in the Catholic church and states that the church is not responsible, but the blame lies with the individual. A handful of these cases may be more than sensitive viewers can handle, but the moral justification involved in the rest of the season, as well as some of the most memorable moments in the show, make for a fantastic glimpse into the justice system.