Detective Mike Logan inserts himself into the murder investigation of a correctional officer that may have a connection to his girlfriend who's a nurse at the victim's prison.Detective Mike Logan inserts himself into the murder investigation of a correctional officer that may have a connection to his girlfriend who's a nurse at the victim's prison.Detective Mike Logan inserts himself into the murder investigation of a correctional officer that may have a connection to his girlfriend who's a nurse at the victim's prison.
- Billy Duval
- (as Michael Carlsen)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaChris makes his first appearance as Mike Logan since Exiled (1998) , and on a L&O franchise since season 5 finale "Pride" Law & Order (1990).
- GoofsDuring the scene where Eames and Goren are meeting Logan in the diner, a passerby outside looks in the window over his shoulder several times, then stops and stares inside for a moment - obviously observing the actors and the film crew.
- Quotes
Chocolate Jimmy: Kenna, yeah. I remember him. Sure.
Detective Alexandra Eames: You had a dust-up with him for wearing double clothes.
Chocolate Jimmy: He had me strip down to my kimono, so all the people in the galleries could see.
Chocolate Jimmy's Mom: You probably liked that.
Chocolate Jimmy: Shut up, Ma, they're talkin' to me!
Detective Robert Goren: Is your mom right, Jimmy? Or- or did you feel humiliated?
Chocolate Jimmy: I'm no Anna Nicole. I don't like bein' made a spectacle.
Detective Alexandra Eames: Then you'll be happy to know Guard Kenna was stabbed to death in his building two days ago.
Detective Robert Goren: Do you know anything about that, Jimmy?
Chocolate Jimmy's Mom: He doesn't know anything. He just sits around eating biscuits. "Get a hobby," I tell him.
Chocolate Jimmy: I know things, Ma!
Chocolate Jimmy's Mom: Ungrateful, biscuit-eating son of a bitch!
- ConnectionsReferences Law & Order: Pride (1995)
"Stress Position" is to me a wonderful episode, and no Logan's return is not the only reason. Everything works and it had themes that the franchise excelled so well at (the dark side of human nature, human rights and how evil those with a lot of power can get). Season 4 was a mostly very solid season, with a few disappointing episodes but no real misfires and the best episodes were absolutely superb, and "Stress Position" is easily in my view one of the best. Top 5 perhaps.
Production values are stylish and slick with a brighter and more refined look, while maintaining the show's grit. The music doesn't overbear and is not overused. The direction keeps things moving well while letting the drama breathe.
The script is thoughtful, never insults the intelligence and is remarkably tight for an episode that is dialogue-heavy (like all the episodes of 'Criminal Intent' and all the 'Law and Order' franchise). The dialogue between Goren and Logan has a suitable amount of hard-boiled edge and also humorous energy. It tackles a difficult and still current topic concerning international human rights and does this with enough tact to stop it from being too preachy or heavy.
Really loved the story here, very intelligently done and with some genuine tension. How it explores its themes of the dark side of human rights and what people would do for more power or to keep it intact is really quite scary, and one is shocked and scared that there are still people like that and doesn't want to believe it. The chemistry between Goren and Logan is beautifully balanced and contrasted and it was interesting to have a non-interrogation and Goren not using psychology to get the truth out of the perpetrator in the very suspenseful final scenes.
Both Vincent D'Onofrio and Chris Noth are truly excellent and Wayne Duvall plays a reprehensible character quite frighteningly.
Overall, superb episode and one of Season 4's best. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 8, 2020