Law & Order Review: Wicked Game (Season 21 Episode 6)

Somehow, Law & Order Season 21 Episode 6, “Wicked Game,” surprises us in the outcome stage, which is truly hard to do. It makes for an exciting episode, not too flashy or thrilling, but still keeps our attention.

With the focus on the investigation this time around, the viewers see more of what makes Bernard, Cosgrove, and Dixon tick. This choice makes for a nice change of pace and has us rooting for these guys to come out ahead.

Dixon Demands Retribution

Until now, Dixon has been the soft voice of reason in the background of every case. Manheim herself is a presence, but the character doesn’t have much to say or do beyond keeping Bernard and Cosgrove — mostly Cosgrove — in check. 

This is why “Wicked Game” is a pleasant surprise to all the viewers. We witness Dixon take over the investigation with a passion like we’ve never seen before.

Dixon: Bullies who prey on the weak, they need to pay. They need to go down.

It allows Manheim to really show off her skills and prove once and for all that she’s still got it after all these years. Manheim makes this episode what it is with her calm, collected, yet emotionally driven force. 

She wants us to know that this case means everything to Dixon and is not just a passing phase. Dixon has a passion for solving what is happening to these boys, and she proves it with one of the strongest lines of the whole episode.

Bernard and Cosgrove are also passionate about making sure the racist elite don’t get away with what is happening to young black men. However, their passion for the case is probably around a seven, while Dixon’s is at an 11. 

That never give up attitude drives the whole story and gets the audience just as ensconced about the prejudice and discrimination as the characters living through it.

Dixon’s bleeding heart not ending in the courtroom shows us that she will be a force as the season progresses — she will jump in to advocate for those who can’t. 

Swanson vs. Price

We always want to see the rich, white man with an endless influential reach get his just desserts.

However, as a society, we’ve become used to men like that, never seeing a consequence of merit for their actions.

Therefore, when Price goes up against the heavily revered Swanson, we expect things to only sway in favor of Swanson. Luckily, the writers have another thought in mind and allow us to go on a journey of intrigue as the trial progresses.

Between spooked witnesses, a couple of boys dead from an apparent drug overdose, and a witness willing to testify but has priors, things aren’t looking good for Price. However, the beauty of Price is his ability to give it his all, even when the odds are stacked against him.

When his only witness gets decimated on the stands, he and the audiences believe that it’s over; Swanson is going to win yet again. Then the jury comes back with a guilty verdict, and everyone is shocked — including Swanson.

It’s the kind of unrealistic outcome that shows need to give us every once in while to make for entertaining TV.

Sure, we know that logically a case as weak as Price’s wouldn’t be worth a grain of salt in the real world, but in this universe, it is. And that is maybe not so bad after all. 

Either way, Dancy’s Price continues to dominate the courtroom week after week. It keeps us ready for more because we know despite any other misgivings, Price will consistently deliver.  

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Law & Order airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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