User Reviews

In a factory in charge of recycling papers from all the dumpsters in the Big Apple, a young driver in his first day of work dropped off his truck a dead body, shot dead by a bullet to the head. The victim was a well-known female rockstar, still active: her brand-new single was about to come out after five years. She got in and out of a rehab and the night in question she paid a visit to a bandmate, looking for some dope. She received a lot of hatred mail by fans, because public hold her responsible for her boyfriend (a renowned rockstar as well) death, occurred some time before and considered as suicide by the authority. Detectives were initially in a bind and a former detective, now a private eye and successful writer, help them finding evidences he had, even if he broke the law to take them. A drummer, fallen apart for being cutting off from the band five years before, is the prime suspect, but McCoy is not so sure...

We see in this episode an argument between Briscoe (always ready to protect fellow cops) and McCoy ("So arrest me"). The private detective (Tony Lo Bianco) have learnt the main rule in show business: "any publicity is good publicity".

"True Crime" left a generally positive impression on me on first watch, while not blowing me away. Benefitting primarily from the main guest turn and the climax, but hurt a little by that there is too much familiar ground and not enough surprises which made the story feel too predictable and ordinary. My general opinion of Season 13 was generally positive while not being blown away which is not too bad a position to be in, beginning exceptionally strongly.

On recent re-watch, my feelings are pretty much the same, well almost. There is a lot to like about "True Crime", with the standout things on first watch being the main reasons to view it (as well as 'Law and Order' completest sake). At the same time, it did feel like something was missing and that more could have been done with the premise perhaps. Also think that it is a bit of a let down after two such outstanding previous episodes. There is also an aspect that was consistently a problem even when first getting into the show that fared even worse re-watching all the episodes over-time.

As said, a lot is great. The photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way. The script is thought-provoking and doesn't ramble. Briscoe always delights with his one liners, as does the gritty exchanges between him and Green. McCoy's ways of getting to the truth are intriguing and have tension.

Enough of the story compels, especially later on. It's not overly simple while being easy enough to follow. The legal portion does intrigue. Most of the regulars are excellent, Sam Waterston is full of ruthless authority and his tactics in getting to the truth continue to be ingenius. Tony Lo Bianco is a strong presence and the argument between Briscoe and McCoy is well staged and written, can see both Briscoe's and McCoy's points of views.

However, it isn't perfect. It doesn't have enough surprises and could have done with more tension as well as attacked its subject with more edge and grit perhaps. Did think that it does try to cram too much in towards the end, not uncommon with 'Law and Order'.

Southerlyn still leaves me completely cold and adds very little here, Elisabeth Rohm is still robotic.

Overall, solid episode if not mind-blowing. 7/10.

User reviewer Daytom nailed it: A ghastly script error at the end of this episode alleging fireballer Bob Gibson, as said by Fred Thompson, made the Baseball Hall of Fame by throwing spitballs. Of course, it was actually Gaylord Perry.

I'm depressed a bit that nobody in the entire show's cast or crew recognized this before it aired, proving for the umpteenth time that writers and actors should never touch the sports world unless they really know their material since sports fans will explode at the first hint of inaccuracy or inauthenticity.

All you need to do is watch the execrable Wesley Snipes/Robert DeNiro movie "The Fan for proof. Or Tony Perkins, playing baseball like a CampFire Girl, trying to be All-Star MLB outfielder and hitter Jimmy Piersall in "Fear Strikes Out". Or meatball-tossing "pitcher" Michael Moriarty and elfin catcher Robert DeNiro in the maudlin "Bang the Drum Slowly".

Directors can learn a lot about casting a sports movie from the hockey film "Miracle", which employed college hockey players, teaching them how to act in brief scenes, rather than trying to teach snowflake actors how to skate and play believable hockey. It worked!

A famous rock music figure takes a header from her building and no one is qite sure until the program is over it's a murder.

The case might be solved earlier for Jerry Orbach and Jesse Martin but for former cop Tony LoBianco who is a would be Joseph Wambaugh. He's writing a book on the history of the band the victim was associated with particularly the death of one of the founders.

Most of the show concerns Sam Waterston and Elisabeth Rohm trying to get material from LoBianco. They do it by hook and crook.

After that it all falls into place.

At the end of this episode, Fred Thompson says that Bob Gibson went to the HOF by throwing spitballs. I assume the writers were not baseball fans. Gibson was known for his fastball, slider and competitive spirit. Gaylord Perry, who pitched at approximately the same time, was purported to use a spitball and he is in the HOF.