User Reviews

Was hoping deep down that Season 5 would pick up and have another great episode, which it has not had since the absolutely outstanding "Rage". The previous three episodes were definitely worth watching but there was not much unique about them. Anybody that loves one of the 'Law and Order' franchise's most popular characters Lennie Briscoe, like me, will be excited to hear that he has more of a prominent role here than he did in any of the previous Season 5 episodes.

"Act of God" is not quite great, though it actually nearly is thanks to its great first half, and not quite a return to form or on the same level as the likes of "Rage" and "White Rabbit". It is better though than the previous two episodes and, despite not being a unique episode as such, was very enjoyable and interesting. "Act of God" certainly didn't waste Briscoe and actually made the most of his more prominent role in the story, including him being the one to get to the real truth.

Is "Act of God" quite perfect? No. It is agreed a case of the first half being better than the second half. Actually loved the first half while the second ran out of steam and on the whole became too conventional and too reliant on familiar plot tropes, apart from the interesting tricks the DA office play to prove the convicted innocent. Which made the tension dissipate a bit. While the motive was a surprise the perpetrator actually wasn't massively once the suspect list is narrowed down.

McCoy's conduct here is both unprofessional and jerk-ish, how Briscoe still stayed on good terms with him after being torn apart like that is quite a big mystery. Despite saying otherwise after, what was said actually did sound personal.

There is a huge amount to admire though about "Act of God". It is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. Nice use of locations too. The music doesn't get over-scored or overwrought, even in the more dramatic revelation moments. The direction doesn't try to do too much and is understated but never flat or unsure. The writing is intelligent and although, like the show in general, there is a lot of talk it doesn't feel long-winded. Briscoe's one liners and the scene where he is on the stand are especially well written.

Despite not being perfect, the story does engross and benefits hugely from a great and classic whodunnit-like first half complete with a hard hitting opening. Briscoe really shines here, especially when on the stand, as does the chemistry between the characters. Jerry Orbach and Steve Harris (as somebody you don't want to mess with) get the acting honours.

Overall, very well done. 8/10

This one starts out more promising than it ends. After being shown the murder scene - a demolition explosion at a building under construction that leaves a young boy dead - we're quickly whisked past a variety of suspects, from the building's owner to a two-faced community organizer played with arrogant aplomb by L&O alum Steve Harris, to a union guy, to the contractor himself. It feels like a classic whodunnit, with any one of these people being guilty of the crime.

But the episode's story eventually points to the crime being committed as part of a lovers' pact, and that's when, for me, it lost its intrigue.

I give it points for trying to mix things up in a few ways, though: the DA's office may have prosecuted the wrong guy about 3/4 of the way through, and now they need to use some interesting tricks to exonerate an innocent man and nail the real baddies; and Briscoe takes the stand, where McCoy tears into him pretty hard. ("It wasn't personal," he says later.)

Despite those wrinkles, I never felt that this one added up to more than the sum of its parts. It's solid but it's not that unique; there have been other episodes in previous seasons of L&O where the prosecutors similarly attempt to turn lovers against each other to secure a conviction.

Watch if you're interested in seeing the prosecutors get it wrong and then try to rectify their mistakes.

Not a particularly noteworthy episode, but another opportunity to see Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe. Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) rips him up on the stand, but Lenny gets the last laugh as he really solves the crime - for which Jack just convicted the wrong man.

Jill Hennessy as A.D.A. Claire Kincaid is always fun to watch. Eye candy to be sure, but what the heck.

Steven Hill is the D.A. Not my favorite. Just an old John McCain-type politician who probably parts his hair on the right side. I must remember to look.

Someone said this morning that the new movie Righteous Kill is just like an old Law & Order episode. Even one as bland as this one is worth watching, so maybe I'll go see it.

A building is demolished but has the prosection been pursuing the real perpetrator? Jerry Orbach zingers are searing in this episode of whodonit and the fears of overzealous prosecution.

Being a prosecutor is not a good job to be second guessing, But in this case Jerry Orbach and Chris Nith bring evidence that could convict either one of two suspects. Sam Waterston just might have picked the wrong one.

An almost renovated building is blown up and a 12 year old boy who really had no business being there in the middle of the night is killed, It boils down to the fact that this could have been over a love triangle. The contractor's wife was stepping out so it was either the husband or the paramour who did it.

Later on when Waterston's conduct was called into question this episodeis brought up among others. You'll have to see how the police and DA's offic erred. They can and do err.