An ambitious defense attorney tries to use a murder case as a referendum on the death penalty, but Jack is worried that her client may not be getting the best advice.An ambitious defense attorney tries to use a murder case as a referendum on the death penalty, but Jack is worried that her client may not be getting the best advice.An ambitious defense attorney tries to use a murder case as a referendum on the death penalty, but Jack is worried that her client may not be getting the best advice.
Photos
- DA Arthur Branch
- (as Fred Dalton Thompson)
- Pedro
- (as Augustin M. Rodriguez)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on several different cases/incidents:
- The 2006 West Nickel Mines School shooting.
- The 2000 Wendy's massacre. Five people were killed during a robbery at a New York City Wendy's. One of the killers was sentenced to death but New York State's highest court overturned the death penalty in New York in 2004, which commuted the killer's sentence to life in prison.
- The 2004 People v. John Taylor case and subsequent legislative efforts to reinstate the capital punishment law in New York.
- The 1986-1989 escape and killing spree of Allan Legere.
- GoofsThere is no elevated train at 50th Street and 10th Avenue.
- Quotes
Lt. Anita Van Buren: Lots of folks gonna remember this face.
Detective Nina Cassady: It doesn't place.
Detective Ed Green: He slaughtered five people in a burger joint in '97.
Detective Nina Cassady: The Midtown massacre? That I remember.
Detective Ed Green: I was working Narcotics around the corner at the time. I was one of the first to respond. I testified at his trial.
Lt. Anita Van Buren: They put him on death row.
Detective Ed Green: Three times over, but they changed the law before they got the needle in him. This is the bastard that's supposed to be dead.
My big impression on me in a good way reaction is pretty much the same now in a very strong contender for the best episode of Season 17. "Deadlock" is a wonderful and powerful episode, and while there were some great episodes in Season 17 there were not many that were pretty much flawless. Yet "Deadlock" is one of them, even the aspect that was a big issue throughout the season (Cassady, who was mostly not an interesting character) didn't bother me this time.
"Deadlock" has so many things that are good. The production values are suitably slick and gritty, with photography that is reliant on close ups that have an intimacy without being too claustrophobic. The music is didn't come over as too melodramatic or like it was emphasising the emotion too much. The direction is sympathetic while still giving momentum.
The writing is intelligent and although, like the show in general, there is a lot of talk (as always for the 'Law and Order' franchise) it doesn't feel like there is too much or too loose. The moral dilemmas of how to approach the case being sensitively but not in a sugar-coated way handled. There is a lot of tension, especially in the middle act with the heart-stopping scene in the school. The story is very absorbing throughout, especially in the early portions this time.
Can't fault the acting, with all the regulars on point (one of the few times where Milena Govich was not an issue) and Craig Walker is the personification of evil.
Summing up, wonderful. 10/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 5, 2022