A schoolteacher dies in a building fire. The fire is linked to a group of young radical environmentalists. McCoy tries to go after the man who influenced them.A schoolteacher dies in a building fire. The fire is linked to a group of young radical environmentalists. McCoy tries to go after the man who influenced them.A schoolteacher dies in a building fire. The fire is linked to a group of young radical environmentalists. McCoy tries to go after the man who influenced them.
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Michael Patterson
- Harry Frost
- (as Michael Lee Patterson)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on the case against the Earth Liberation Front, whilst the character of defence attorney Whitten, played by Tom Bower, appears to be based on and/or inspired by the controversial, radical left-wing lawyer William Kunstler.
- GoofsDianne Wiest's character, D.A. Lewin mispronounces "mete" as "met."
- Quotes
Kent Quigley: We're losing our wetlands, our wilderness! Every day, we are paving over nature!
Detective Lennie Briscoe: Aw, you think Manhattan's a wasteland? Wait 'til you see Riker's Island.
Featured review
Spark-less fire
"The Fire this Time" was one of those 'Law and Order' episodes that could have been much more. 'Law and Order' in its prime is my personal favourite of the 'Law and Order' franchise, that 'Special Victims Unit' has gone on for longer may indicate otherwise but that show has not been the same for a long time. Seasons 1-10 had a small group of disappointments but the best episodes in each season were absolutely brilliant. While the show became less consistent post-Season 10, each season did have truly fine episodes still.
Really do wish that "The Fire this Time" was one of those fine episodes. Unfortunately this was not to be, to me this was Season 12's first disappointment and one of the season's weakest. The subject showed a good deal of promise, despite having reservations about episodes that have people influencing others to do wrong, but the promise is not lived up to. After such an excellent previous episode, "The Fire this Time" should have been so much better.
Of course there are good things. The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. There are thoughtful and entertaining moments in the script, Nora's line about doing stupid things when 20 does sum up the situation very well, strikes a chord and is every bit as relevant today as it was back then (with people saying and doing terrible things when younger that has consequences later on).
Most of the acting is very good from the regulars (Jerry Orbach and Sam Waterston taking top honours), with one exception. Erin Gann has an obvious character but plays him to the hilt to unnerving effect, it is very chilling at how easily he can manipulate. The episode does start off very well indeed, gritty and entertaining with a very brutal death.
As said however, "The Fire this Time" could have been so much better. To me the second half was not anywhere as strong, which disappoints considering that with 'Law and Order' the legal portions tend to be superior to the investigating. In this case, the legal scenes were rather heavy-handed. Really admired this subject being taken on, but it could have done so with more tact and a lot more depth, the show did a lot more challenging topics (racism, abortion, mercy killings, disabilities, conflicts regarding the death penalty) and were in most cases a lot more balanced and tactful than here. Some of the McCoy's dialogue comes over as too much of a sermon where it is made too clear what side of the issue the writers are on.
Did think that "The Fire this Time" could have had a lot more tension in the second half, where the story loses momentum, thins out and gets lost amidst the preachiness. Did feel the portrayal of the accused/responsible over-generalised, it is indeed episodes like this that is the reason why this age demographic got and continues to get a bad rap and negatively stereotyped. And it is also episodes like this why environmentalists are not painted in a good light in the media sometimes. McCoy could have handled the case with more professionalism and sensitivity as well, sure a murder so brutal to a respected role in society can get to people but he didn't have to resort to insults and generalisations. This is actually one of the very few episodes of the show where it's the defense attorney that speaks the most sense. Elisabeth Rohm adds absolutely nothing to the show and doesn't look interested.
Overall, disappointing. 5/10.
Really do wish that "The Fire this Time" was one of those fine episodes. Unfortunately this was not to be, to me this was Season 12's first disappointment and one of the season's weakest. The subject showed a good deal of promise, despite having reservations about episodes that have people influencing others to do wrong, but the promise is not lived up to. After such an excellent previous episode, "The Fire this Time" should have been so much better.
Of course there are good things. The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. There are thoughtful and entertaining moments in the script, Nora's line about doing stupid things when 20 does sum up the situation very well, strikes a chord and is every bit as relevant today as it was back then (with people saying and doing terrible things when younger that has consequences later on).
Most of the acting is very good from the regulars (Jerry Orbach and Sam Waterston taking top honours), with one exception. Erin Gann has an obvious character but plays him to the hilt to unnerving effect, it is very chilling at how easily he can manipulate. The episode does start off very well indeed, gritty and entertaining with a very brutal death.
As said however, "The Fire this Time" could have been so much better. To me the second half was not anywhere as strong, which disappoints considering that with 'Law and Order' the legal portions tend to be superior to the investigating. In this case, the legal scenes were rather heavy-handed. Really admired this subject being taken on, but it could have done so with more tact and a lot more depth, the show did a lot more challenging topics (racism, abortion, mercy killings, disabilities, conflicts regarding the death penalty) and were in most cases a lot more balanced and tactful than here. Some of the McCoy's dialogue comes over as too much of a sermon where it is made too clear what side of the issue the writers are on.
Did think that "The Fire this Time" could have had a lot more tension in the second half, where the story loses momentum, thins out and gets lost amidst the preachiness. Did feel the portrayal of the accused/responsible over-generalised, it is indeed episodes like this that is the reason why this age demographic got and continues to get a bad rap and negatively stereotyped. And it is also episodes like this why environmentalists are not painted in a good light in the media sometimes. McCoy could have handled the case with more professionalism and sensitivity as well, sure a murder so brutal to a respected role in society can get to people but he didn't have to resort to insults and generalisations. This is actually one of the very few episodes of the show where it's the defense attorney that speaks the most sense. Elisabeth Rohm adds absolutely nothing to the show and doesn't look interested.
Overall, disappointing. 5/10.
helpful•70
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 23, 2022
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