What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 14 "Burn Card" (C+)

I wouldn't really consider this a fitting goodbye for Jesse L. Martin's Detective Green. I've only been following his character for the past fourteen episodes, but he's been on the show for nine years. I would have loved to see him go out in a blaze of glory, saving some kid or even his partner. Instead, he has to exit the show on uncertain charges and a general blemish to his record. I can hardly see how Anthony Anderson will become his partner, but I suppose that might work well. The problem is that both Anderson and Sisto play dynamic, eccentric characters. In an onscreen partnership, it's usually better to have one more dynamic character and a straight man, which was provided by Luppo and Green most recently on this show. I'm not sure how well this will all work out, but I think I'll at least finish out the season.

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 13 "Angelgrove" (C+)

They really to do love to be on top of their politically/religiously-charged topics on this show. Sean Astin is hardly my idea of a religious fanatic, but it proves to be a slightly interesting case. This episode got me to wondering how they decide what the verdict is in each case. I wonder if that is a paying job, if maybe they would let me decide who gets off and who goes to jail on the show? Probably not. I would do it for free, of course. It all just seems so arbitrary, especially because episodes usually end a second or two after the verdict is declared.

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 12 “Submission” (C)

Finally, the episode actually titled “Submission”! Epguides.com has listed the past five or so episodes as having this title, but this is the one where it actually makes sense. This is a case where “Law & Order” uses its cast too much: if anyone has a big role in the episode, it should be Jesse L. Martin or newbie Jeremy Sisto. “Law” comes before “order” for a reason: this is primarily a crime show and not one about lawyers (you may disagree with me on this, so feel free to state your argument). That said, Linus Roache, Alana de la Garza, and Sam Waterston are hardly the people to get truly excited about if you want to have juicy, treacherous material. And Lara Flynn Boyle, you can do better than this.

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 11 “Betrayal” (C+)

It is somewhat of a nice change to see a client representing herself, but the outcome is blatant and obvious from the beginning: she will try to get her daughter to be on her side, but her past will come back to haunt her. A slightly redeeming moment in the end with the revelation that there was in fact no other woman, that the tapes were really about her. But rushing out of the courtroom to look at an Internet map – a bit too falsely dramatic for this show, I would say.

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 10 "Tango" (C)

I hope everyone now agrees with me about the despicable character that is Mike Cutter. He gets jealous because Connie throws him out of an interview and gets back at her by objectifying her deliberately so that a juror will fall for her. Jesse L. Martin's Eddie Green is getting swapped out; can Linus Roache go with him? This show could use some new blood to invigorate it. S. Epatha Merkerson and Sam Waterston, who have both been on the show now for over ten years, may want to think about handing in their badges. I only started watching this season, but it really feels like they have been around too long. And I certainly do not think that Anthony Anderson coming in is the way to go. How about someone else from "The Shield"? The show is airing its final season and I would love to see one of the characters transfer over from the Barn in California to New York for some "Law & Order". I am certain that would never happen, but I would settle for an actor (Walton Goggins, perhaps? Or even Catherine Dent?)

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 9 "Executioner" (C+)

I was thrilled when I saw both Michael Rooker and James Rebhorn in the guest cast credits. Both arre fine actors who have often small but crucial and terrific roles in a number of films and television over the years (Rooker most recently on FX's spectacular "Thief"; Rebhorn most famously in "Meet the Parents" and "Independence Day"). Neither is given fantastic material here, but the plot is intriguing. If only the pace could be sped up just a bit. I had planned to stop watching this show once the writers' strike ended, but there is just nothing on Wednesday nights, and my three shows that used to be on have either been postponed to fall ("Pushing Daisies", "Dirty Sexy Money") or have been rumored for cancellation ("Bionic Woman"). With a number of shows returning to Tuesday nights ("Jericho", "The Riches", this new "Quarterlife"), I may have to let those spill over onto Wednesday night and cancel out this tired legal drama.

In "Law & Order" news, Jesse L. Martin is planning to leave the show really soon. Before the season ends, I believe. TVGuide.com says Anthony Anderson may be replacing him. I like Anderson, but he is much more effetive in roles like Antwon Mitchell on "The Shield" where he is an evil villain rather than the New Orleans cop in the presumed-dead "K-Ville". If you are a budding actor and want a starring role on a major drama, try out for "Law & Order": they cycle their casts like no other.

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 8 "Illegal" (C)

I understand the theory behind the setup of this episode, but why would McCoy turn to some random assistant D.A. we have never met before for this case rather than turning to Cutter? I was of course glad that Linus Roache did not show up until well into the episode, but I sort of wish he had been the one fired. The effort this show constantly makes to remain political is often taxing and does not pay off as dramatically as it should (or used to, back when I only watched the "Law & Order" series in infrequent spurts). Weird to see Luppo and Cutter trying to bond very awkwardly. Now that the strike is over, it may be time to stop watching this show, but then again, this is an easy show that does not require too much mental commitment or concentration.

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 7 "Quit Claim" (C)

I had hoped that Alana de la Garza's unusual appearance in the first fifteen minutes of this episode meant that Linus Roache would not be in this hour, but alas I was incorrect. And did both Garza and Sam Waterston use the same expression, about getting off the train? The detective work here seems quite sloppy. These guys go undercover at a moment's notice but leave their star criminal with a completely unknown woman/possible accomplice. Their reasoning for trusting people seems more to follow the logic of Peter Petrelli from "Heroes" - trust any old person with your life for no reason, then just flip and choose a new person to trust for no reason. Also not good - using "You don't know Jack" in the preview for next week. Lame.

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 6 "Political Animal" (C+)

An interesting idea to have this ridiculously oily politician slash campaign contributor represent himself; I just wish that the whole episode had been as inventive. And this guy is not Victor Vargas - he was the title character in the terrific 2003 film "Raising Victor Vargas". I would probably recommend watching that instead of watching this show. What is with McCoy being propositioned to run for some official position? Here I was thinking that character development was not an aspect of this show. My bad, I guess.

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 5 "Betrayal" (B-)

How ridiculously dramatic all these episodes are. I did find the idea of the two parents being ultimately convicted and them both receiving the same sentence quite intriguing, though I wish that the central characters could be as dynamic and often powerful as the main plotline slash crime that launches each show. I have seen the fine work done by Vincent D'Onofrio on "Criminal Intent" and Mariska Hargitay on "Special Victims Unit" and I just wish Jesse L. Martin and Jeremy Sisto would perk up a bit every once in a while. And I really cannot stand Linus Roache.

Side note: I mentioned in one of my classes that I had watched this show the night before and was met with a great deal of laughter. Does no one watch "Law & Order" anymore. This is my first year, but has everyone else moved on?

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 4 "Bottomless" (C+)

"A white guy and a black guy - and it's not us!" Where do they come up with this stuff? Not the way I expected these cops to bond, joking while mocking their suspects and exchanging feelings of affections for widowers they both find they attractive. Do chains like Duane Reade and Walmart have this same kind of internal security where people follow around their employees when they are suspected of having an affair? That is some crazy stuff. Great performance in that last scene by Ron Canada, though. He sure showed them. Let me tell you, if I was ever in a legal bind, the first person I would not call is Mike Cutter. I have not seen that man produce one shard of evidence that has not been immediately thrown out of court. Sure, D.A. McCoy is trying to let him test the waters on his own, but the guy is flopping around on land!

What I'm Watching: Law & Order

Law & Order: Season 18, Episode 3 "Misbegotten" (C+)

I am just not that into this show. Maybe I should not be forcing it on myself since I am really only watching it because of the strike and the fact that little else is on. But the undynamic duo of Jesse L. Martin and Jeremy Sisto followed by the just-as-undynamic duo of Linus Roache and Alana De La Garza (whose bright-light characteristic from last week is now gone) and supplemented with a bit of grouchiness by Sam Waterston and S. Epatha Merkerson does not make me want to watch this show. While I understand that it is a procedural, and I really do not watch procedurals ("NCIS" is a slight exception, though the characters there really drive the show moreso than any other such series I have seen), there is nothing there to attract me. The plot this week was fairly predictable but I still did not quite get who commited what crime. Far-fetched does not necessarily mean good.

What I'm Watching: Law & Order (Season Premiere)

Law & Order: Season 18, Episodes 1 &2 "Called Home" & "Darkness" (B-)

It is hard to believe, but I had never actually watched a full episode of the original "Law & Order" series before this. I had seen a couple "Criminal Intent" installments, some with Vincent D'Onofrio, and another when I heard that Annabella Sciorra was joining the cast (what a disappointment that turned out to be). Additionally, I watched the past two Emmy-submitted episodes of "SVU" for Mariska Hargitay. But the original eluded me. What better time to start than when the strike is keeping basically every other show off the air?

The two episodes both had their merits, and I was half-invested in each of the cases. I could use a bit more dynamism from the central cast members. The addition of Jeremy Sisto to the cast is pretty much unexplained and he is one of the blandest characters I have seen in a while, in stark contrast to his vivid portrayal of the often psychotic Billy on "Six Feet Under". Jesse L. Martin and S. Epatha Merkerson seem jaded and generally uninterested. Sam Waterston grumbles like an old man while constantly chastising the hotheaded executive assistant D.A. played by Linus Roache. Roache is by far the least appealing character on the show, constantly glued to his cell phone and just generally obnoxious. The only one I find remotely interesting or alive is Alana De La Garza as the assistant D.A. The show's procedural nature hardly helps matters. In any other season, this show would be quick to be dropped off my list. But after a quick look, I realize that there is absolutely no television I will be watching on Wednesday nights any time in January so this looks like my default Wednesday night show for the next few weeks, if it holds my interest.