User Reviews

Have always found a lot to like about all three of the three best known and popular 'Law and Order' shows (the original 'Law and Order', 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent', the others are more variable). Although 'Special Victims Unit', great in the earlier seasons but less consistent in the latter ones, has topped the original as the longest-running of the franchise in terms of seasons, my personal favourite is the original, if more the Briscoe years and before.

Am always very nervous whenever this premise is tackled. The franchise has always varied when it brings religion into any argument for any topic, especially in regard to homosexuality (which it has always had a bigoted attitude towards) and sexual abuse. The original on the whole has handled religion quite well, 'Special Victims Unit' is wildly variable (especially in the latter seasons). "Church's" subject is heavy and very controversial, and the execution here pulls no punches but is a lot more intricate than it sounds.

"Church's" first quarter is somewhat ordinary and routine and also has Milena Govich's blandness and the lack of spark in her chemistry with Jesse L Martin working against it too.

So much is very good and even great. The production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden and the script is tight and always intriguing, have always been left thinking hard for a while after as it is a subject worth pondering on.

While the story doesn't start off exceptionally, it is riveting and really thought provoking without being heavy handed in the second half. Other than Govich, the acting is very well done. Anson Mount is truly chilling as a reprehensible character and doesn't come over as too over the top or cartoonish.

In conclusion, very good. 8/10.

This particular Law and Order episode involves the story of a bible beating fundamentalist preacher who actually goes out of his way to offer 'cures' for homosexuality at the same time while leading a secret life as a gay man. The obvious inspiration for this was the Ted Haggard scandal out in Colorado.

Anson Mount as the closeted gay reverend is accused of killing a young actor Dan Leonard who he had been dating and who was sick of both the hypocrisy of the reverend and the guilt trip that he had been taken on by the reverend. This is the best part of this particular episode, the horrible and stifling effects of the closet. I've been there and I know what it's like to have beliefs instilled in you that your body denies.

Mount is married to Julie Benz who is like the perfect pastor's wife and supports him in any and every way in running the church. When we talk church we are talking about a multimillion dollar business and Julie is the queen bee in this particular hive.

In the end though Mount surprisingly shows himself to be a man of some character. What he does and how it impacts on Sam Waterston's case is something for you to see.

This is one of the better Law and Order episodes of recent years. Hopefully one day people like the reverend that Anson Mount plays will diminish as gay folks exit the closet with dignity and pride.

A guy confronted a reverend (Anson Mount) in his local "new promise church" about his position towards homosexuality. The same night he was found dead in his hometown in what seemed at first suicide; however Green realized it couldn't be because the victim was left handed and the gun was placed in his right hand. The murdered guy was gay and a wannabe actor who recently brought a suit against his movie producer. But he had a job on the side as male escort easy to find on the web. Hatred e-mail between him and the reverend led the detectives to the minister: he was gay as well, dating young boys in the past. After his arrest, he renounced bail to spend time with cellmates and saved their souls. Lawyers found proofs the reverend had a credible alibi: unfortunately he committed suicide in prison at the same time. Why did he do that?

Men like him are really piece of work: his secretary was right, she needed her job only to make a living but she didn't approve their religious behavior. Anyway the married couple in charge of the congregation had a lot of dirt behind their appaerance.