User Reviews

Season two of Law and Order saw the first departure of one of the main characters. The series was originally set to film in Los Angeles, but when creator Dick Wolf won his fight to shoot it in New York, actor George Dzundza did not want to relocate his family there, and this led to Dzundza leaving the show. Thus Dzunda's character, Max Greevey, is murdered at the beginning of the first episode of the season, "Confession", an episode that deals much more with the main characters' personal lives than is typical. For example, this is the only episode in which we actually see Greevey's wife.

It also deals with the effect that the murder has on Greevey's partner, Mike Logan. This episode is the first appearance of Dr. Elizabeth Olivet, a clinical psychiatrist who performs consultation work for the 27th Police Precinct and District Attorney's office in Manhattan. In this case, she is working as a grief counselor and helping Logan deal with his partner's death. Her's is a recurring role that makes guest appearances until 1997. This episode is also the first appearance of Logan's new partner, Phil Cerrata, played by veteran actor Paul Sorvino.

Logan does track down the person responsible for Greevey's killing, even though he is not supposed to be on the case and the episode title has to do with the way Logan gets his "confession". Good acting by Chris Noth as Logan here, because in that alley, alone with the perp, gun drawn, you can tell he wants an excuse to extract much more than a confession.

The second season of Law And Order began with a cast change as we George Dzundza in silhouette shot down in the driveway of his home. That case becomes everyone's top priority including the assigned detective Paul Sorvino who takes Dzundza's place as Chris Noth's partner.

This ties into a case from the previous season of labor racketeering that Noth and Dzundza were on. In his younger days with the series Noth could be quite a hot head. When he arrests the perpetrator Vyto Ruginis he dances over the line and pushes the case and the confession into jeopardy.

The rest of the program divides into two parts. First is Detective Mike Logan trying to come to grips with his grief as prosecution consultant Carolyn McCormick counsels him.

The second is the struggle between Michael Moriarty and the defense attorney over the possibly coerced confession.

Noth gives one of his best performances from the series. It's also a textbook example about how police can err in judgment if they are too close to the situation in an investigation.

After the high standard set by the first season, it is understandable as to why anybody would expect much from Season 2. Speaking as somebody who did have high expectations when first getting into the show. The good news is, in my view, Season 2 is just as good with the same great things. It didn't always feel settled, not surprising with the major changes it had to undergo (a few in this episode alone), but anybody who has just gotten into the show and liked the first season should like the second too.

"Confession" starts Season 2 off and sees a good amount of change. A big one being that it was the first episode to not have killed off Max Greevey as a lead character, but it also saw the introductions of Logan's new partner Phil Carreta and Dr Elizabeth Olivet. To me, "Confession" was a great start for the season and one of its better episodes, with it being one of its most layered, most interesting and most moving and boasting some of Logan's best character writing.

Sure, not having Greevey takes some getting used to and the chemistry between Cerreta and Logan doesn't quite have the same edge and oomph than the one between Greevey and Logan.

But actually there is very little to fault "Confession" for in my view. It is a good looking episode, with a sharper and not quite as gritty (though that quality is far from lost) look that is just as slick. The music is well used and fits the tone very well, one of the show's most poignant music uses being "Going Home" being played on the bagpipes. Did feel my eyes welling up with tears and was struck with how well it added to the scene it features in.

The writing is tightly structured and thought-provoking, especially in the whole conflict surrounding the confession that is the source of a lot of the episode's tension. The story, from the heart-in-the-mouth beginning to the satisfying in outcome ending, is always compelling. While the conflict surrounding the confession, which sees people very much wanting a result but having to take into account how the confession was gotten, has tension and thoughtfully done, "Confession" to me was at its best in depicting Logan's struggles in dealing with grief and coming to terms with Greevey's murder. Quite hard-hitting and will likely resonate with many. The scenes between him and Olivet are handled sensitively.

When it comes to the performances, everybody does well with Paul Sorvino doing commendably filling in George Dzundza's shadow. The chemistry between him and Chris Noth is not quite there here but understandably so. Corolyn McCormick is a sympathetic presence as Olivet and Michael Moriarty brings out every ounce of juice that he can, Stone was always an interesting character and Moriarty brought a lot to him. "Confession" thoughts belongs to Noth, who agreed does give one of his best performances of the show with some intense and moving acting on display here.

In summation, great start to Season 2. 9/10