LAW & ORDER:

THE FIRST YEAR

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: cases dealing with sexual crimes, language, violence

Rated:

The pilot was shot and promoted to three different studios, the first two of which immediately turned it down. The first year entertained more pull-outs of advertising than any show in the network's history. It was this controversy, this panache, the tight writing and memorable cases, that made Law & Order one of the most successful crime dramas ever to air.

When a young woman unexpectedly dies in the emergency room, the police unearth a succession of near-incidents revolving around the managing physician. Sgt. Max Greevey (George Dzundza) and Mike Logan (Chris Noth) are unorthodox in their approach but never fail to unearth the truth. Lured into an investigation revolving around reckless endangerment, coworkers unwilling to turn over one of their own, and charges of drunken conduct by the leading doctor, the cops hand the shaky case over to Assistant District Attorneys Ben Stone (Michael Moriarty) and Paul Robinette (Richard Brooks). Not all the cases are this cut and dried. The shooting in the subway. The apparent suicide. The bombing of an abortion clinic. The black girl whose assault prompts a racially-charged investigation. Mass murderers, arsonists with a vengeance, murderers from every walk of life and every brand of motivation, these are the guys the police hunt down and turn over to the prosecution. The office of Adam Schiff (Steven Hill) is known for its take-no-prisoners approach to justice. Plea bargains are driven hard, prosecutors are known for their harsh tactics, and there's always an election to win.

There are fewer actual homicides in the first season than battery cases, abused children, rape victims, and other sensitive issues like abortion rights, racism in the courtroom, and homosexual affairs. The show was filmed in the late eighties and sometimes feels dated, but the issues in question have not changed, leaving a moral resonance just as valid today as sixteen years ago. I started watching reruns of Law & Order last summer and became immediately familiarized with characters of later seasons. McCoy, Briscoe, Van Buren, Carmichael. These names have become synonymous with the program, but the first season was long before McCoy brought his unorthodox tactics into the courtroom. 

I anticipated a certain amount of bias due to my favorite characters not being present when I first started watching the early seasons, but much to my surprise, they are fantastic. Stone has neither McCoy's passion or personality. He plays it much more by the book and his softer side is more apparent, but his character is likable enough that he grows on you in a very short amount of time. Greevey may not have the sarcasm of Jerry Orbach, but he has personality and quirks, and his chemistry with Chris Noth is fantastic. You can believe these two have worked together a long time and like one another as friends, despite their conflicting politics. One interesting thing to note about this and the next two consecutive seasons is that it featured an all-male leading cast. Most people wouldn't notice unless they were consciously aware of it, but that was one of the stipulations of the fourth season: either they add leading ladies or the show would be canceled. The audience doesn't miss a female presence; on the contrary, it's exciting to see these actors interact with one another.

Most of the cases have gruesome details but the actual crime is never witnessed. The aftermath is seen -- bloody victims, people who have been shot, drug busts. Language becomes an occasional issue with general profanities, mild abuse of deity, and racial slurs. Around half of the cases deal with sexual crimes in some form: "Subterranean Homeboy Blues" argues a woman shooting two men in the subway was justified because she felt sexually harassed; "The Reaper's Helper" involves assisted suicide in a homosexual environment (the victim had aids); "By Hooker, By Crook" reveals the intricacies of a prostitution ring; "Indifference" speculates the eight-year-old victim was sexually abused by a parent; "Prisoner of Love" finds a man dead in the midst of S&M games; "Out of the Half-Light" questions whether or not a black girl was raped by white cops; and "The Violence of Summer" revolves around a rape case. The details are never explicit, but rape and prostitution are discussed. Logan makes references to his numerous one-night stands.

Greevey is a family man with a strong Catholic faith. Logan is an embittered ex-Catholic with liberal views. The church is never abused but is questioned, usually in reference to the fallibility of its members. The first four or so cases seem to struggle but then the season hits its stride and becomes solid. There is nothing so horrific that I would caution anyone over thirteen from viewing it. The show raises numerous relevant issues and bring awareness to the justice system and its intricacies. It may not have raised the bar for a few seasons yet, but nevertheless, maintains a good sense of Law & Order.