Law & Order Season 22 Episode 2 Review: Battle Lines
After a strong season opener, Law & Order Season 22 Episode 2, “Battle Lines” falls into extremely predictable storytelling about a topic that has already seen its day in court.
Of course, with the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, it’s no surprise that Dick Wolf would explore an abortion case regarding transporting someone out of an abortion ban state into a pro-abortion state. It’s nothing new for these writers to rip from the headlines — in fact, the whole of the Law & Order universe is very famous for it.
Unfortunately, doing this doesn’t win the show any favors this time.
Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice
In a tale as old as time, the teen daughter of the Texas governor is killed by her own family because she dared to have an abortion. Honestly, it would have been better if the show hadn’t waded into these testy waters at all.
I’m not saying this because I don’t want to talk about abortion, I’m saying this because I think making a court case centered around abortion is not the conversation we should be having about it. There are shows that can handle this issue well and in a proper setting for a productive discussion, but Law & Order is not that show.
It’s even less interesting that the culprit of her death is her own brother. Honestly, the way this story started having a random mugger be her killer with a side dish of abortion would have been fine.
That way the case wouldn’t have been because of her abortion. Instead, this fact about Becca would’ve been just a footnote on her file.
From the moment we find out who Becca is, I knew it was either going to be her father or her brother. Strongly disappointed to find out I was right.
This also shows that the time between we first meet her family and her brother’s arrest is just uninspired red herrings and unnecessary drama.
Unnecessary and Incomplete Call Outs
The first part of the episode is somewhat strong because we get to see Shaw and Cosgrove working together as official partners. While Shaw is great it’s not lost on us that yet again Cosgrove has a Black partner.
This is made even more obvious when a white cop unnecessarily frisks a black man in the park and Shaw calls him out. Instead of the writers using this opportunity to paint fictional white cops in a better light — calling out the racism within their own — they choose to have the Black cop call it out.
Meanwhile, Cosgrove just stands there and observes and doesn’t give any sort of response until almost fifteen minutes later while they are chasing a suspect. The “apology” Cosgrove gives Shaw is typical white behavior and not a good look for Law & Order if they are hoping to change the landscape of how cops are perceived.
Putting a hot-headed white cop with a Black partner isn’t enough. The writers need to actively try to show Cosgrove in a light where he is working to correct his innate racist behaviors and micro-aggressions.
While these moments aren’t overly crucial to the case at hand they are crucial to the viewers watching the episode. Do better.
Stray Thoughts:
- I’m so glad Price gets petty in the courtroom. It’s nice when he gives people a taste of their own judgy medicine.
- That ending was definitely a shock. She just wanted to help and these people who say they value life so much seem really okay with taking it.
What did you think of this episode of Law & Order? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Law & Order airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.
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Mads Misasi
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.
11 comments
I was especially disappointed by the ending of the episode. The lawyer is shot by a Pro-Life radical- a radical ending. There is no discussion of both views and having the family member kill the young woman is drastic. Pro Life is bad. Pro Choice is accepting and caring. There is no debate on how there are solid, intelligent people on both sides of the issue.
I have enjoyed Law and Order for years for its intelligent and balanced handling of its situations. This episode upset me.
By the way, I was against the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs.Wade. Women will get abortions ,regardless of the decision.
I completely agree. I am willing to accept people’s beliefs on both sides of the abortion debate, but this show shouldn’t have even tried to cover it. Like I say in the review, it’s not an issue for a courtroom to decide which is “good” and which is “bad.” This story had a narrative that was completely one-sided and could have been better if it had been more of a discussion like you say. It’s a very disappointing story to be sure.
No pro-life rally has ever had a killing of a pro-choice individual. The ending was fabricated to ultimately promote hatred for pro-lifers.
That law and Order episode relying on continuous narration of every scene was annoying as hell and likely will cause me to stop watching it If this doesn’t change. it will turn off a lot of viewers.
Isn’t this more of a Muslim reaction. Called honor killing. I am tired of the one sided propaganda Wolfe keeps feeding the uneducated viewer. It is a shame that all the TV Shows have gone woke. Every show seems to have a trans, Gay, Lesbian, Mixed race couples. Who is driving this narrative is the question. Seems like some crazy political think tank..
Nailed it. You completely paint it accurately.
I changed channels when you started criticizing Texas…and I’m not even from Texas!!!! With every episode you become more political and liberal…it’s to the point that it’s totally ridiculous. And all I can say is, “Goodbye!”
I agree this one was predictable, don’t mind the issue. It is a big one and a predictable storyline doesn’t really push the convo forward.
I found it interesting capt. Dixon gets upset and pissy about a “politician trying to score points talking about NYC crime” ( she thinks it doesn’t exist?). Then the show has two broad daylight murders right there in NYC – central park and the courthouse steps. So, which is it propaganda and lies or is NYC crime out of control? Or is the show portraying the crime story from police pov, although I’m pretty sure NYC cops & detectives realize crime is a problem right now. Interesting take.
SAD
The ending was over the top and unnecessary
Texas Bad, New York good. Sure. The governor’s son is going to kill his sister. Absurd plot.
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