A.D.A. Cutter tries to prosecute an African American drug dealer who raped a 19 year old music student, but his opposing counsel is a high-priced attorney who is devoted to protecting the ci... Read allA.D.A. Cutter tries to prosecute an African American drug dealer who raped a 19 year old music student, but his opposing counsel is a high-priced attorney who is devoted to protecting the civil rights of accused minorities.A.D.A. Cutter tries to prosecute an African American drug dealer who raped a 19 year old music student, but his opposing counsel is a high-priced attorney who is devoted to protecting the civil rights of accused minorities.
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- Detective Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
- (as Ice T)
- Captain Donald 'Don' Cragen
- (credit only)
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSergeant John Munch greets guest star Andre Braugher telling him "I admire your second act". They had both appeared together before as detectives on Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), which is the series where Richard Belzer first played the character of John Munch.
- GoofsAt 12:45 mark, the location caption shows 137th and Broadway with the elevated subway visible at the beginning of this scene.. The subway actually runs underground at this intersection.
- Quotes
Sergeant John Munch: Counselor Ellis.
Bayard Ellis: Have we met?
Sergeant John Munch: Sergeant John Munch. I admire your second act.
Bayard Ellis: Um, I'm not sure I get the joke.
Sergeant John Munch: I'm not joking.
[Belzer as Munch and Braugher as Det. Frank Pembleton, a different character, co-starred on Homicide: Life on the Street]
For me, "True Believers" was a good solid episode that benefitted hugely from the main guest star in particular and also with how the moral dilemmas of the case, and there is a lot of that here, are presented. Part of me was at the same time rather frustrated by it though, with the ending and treatment of the victim not sitting right with me. Not one of the best episodes of Season 13 but a marked improvement over the previous episode "Missing Pieces".
What particularly elevates "True Believers" to a greater level is the wonderful performance of Andre Braugher, in the show's best guest turn since Jeremy Irons. It was so great that such a well written character was a on and off recurring character, he has such great authority and an intimidating tough presence that knows his stuff. Even if one is outraged by the conclusion, it is hard to disagree with Ellis' point of view here (especially in regard to the line up). Love his chemistry with Olivia, Mariska Hargitay also excelling. The regulars are all fine and the chemistry is without issue. It was interesting for the first time (at the top of my head) in a while to have the squad's unprofessional and shoddy detective work acknowledged and scrutinised in court.
Moreover, the legal portions are tense and extremely well written and acted (it was great to see Cutter again and Linus Roache is strong, although Cutter's prosecution arguments are usually much better than the one he presents here). Also in a way quite painful considering both the prosecution and defense points of view are understandable, not a common occurance in 'Special Victims Unit'. The script is concise and thought provoking. The production values are fine, have always liked the photography's intimacy and grit and the look of the show has come on a good deal over-time (and it was good to begin with). The music (wisely used sparingly this time) doesn't intrude and has a haunting quality, have not always remembered to say that the theme tune is easy to remember and holds up. Direction is solid.
However, "True Believers" doesn't quite live up to full potential. The sloppy and unrealistic detective work (as bad as some of the detective work in Seasons 10-12, especially with the line up) that was enough to get the case thrown out. Do have to agree with everybody that the ending is frustrating and truly unjust when whether the defendant is guilty or not is pretty obvious even when in court, it would have been less so if the evidence was less circumstantial and if Cutter's closing argument wasn't as weak as it was.
Did think too that the victim was treated far too judgementally and cruelly, she should not have been judged so negatively for performing not long after suffering a trauma when it is actually not that unrealistic and has been known to happen. There are musicians that have carried on working and performing within even hours of having a trauma, musicians with a "the show must go on", "I have no choice" or "music heals wounds" mentality, despite having a health scare (me), loving a loved one (Sir Colin Davis) or suffering an injury (Joyce DiDonato).
Overall, good but not great. 7/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jun 21, 2022