Law & Order Season 22 Episode 4 Review: Benefit of the Doubt

For a show that has been on the air for decades, it takes a lot to truly surprise the viewers. Law & Order Season 22 Episode 4, “Benefit of the Doubt,” manages to do just that — but not in a positive way.

There are certain lines that you hope the main characters will never cross on a show with legal ramifications. Unfortunately, it seems as though the writers have decided that line doesn’t matter anymore.

Sure, in the end, Cosgrove shows remorse toward his friend for how things went down, but if Law & Order really wishes to redeem the image of cops Cosgrove shouldn’t have let it happen in the first place. Also, if he really feels bad that remorse should be public and centered on getting real justice for the victims.

Cops At Their Worst

This whole episode is one bad decision made by cops after another. I didn’t think when the episode started that I would be rooting for the defense instead of the cops’ case. 

First, Cosgrove allows the cop, Jerry, who investigated a prior connected case to accompany them to interrogate the suspect. From the moment this guy shows up it’s clear that he is gunning for a conviction as a sort of justice for his case that didn’t get solved.

What really sucks is that they do find evidence to nail this suspect to the wall, but Jerry’s actions get everything thrown out. Cosgrove could have stood up right then and stood by Shaw who was against Jerry searching the car in the first place.

Instead, Cosgrove sees his friend and decides to believe what he “claims to see” which leads to an unlawful search and seizure motion from the suspect’s lawyer. 

While this really sucks for the DA, Cosgrove and Shaw go back to the crime scene hoping to find something that will help the case. Once again they let Jerry come along — which it’s clear Shaw is against but feels he has no room to speak on since he is new.

A Decision Not Worth Fighting For

Jerry is everything that is wrong with the police force hidden behind a charming smile and a determined attitude. He doesn’t raise any red flags so people trust him.

From the start, viewers can see where Law & Order is taking his storyline. The really unfortunate part of it is the show has a great opportunity to make cops in this universe better and they don’t take it.

Cosgrove knows Jerry plants evidence and yet he sits on it and lets Price try the case as if the evidence is valid. This is what really angers me. 

Should the suspect be convicted? Absolutely.

Should it be because of false evidence? Never.

It really enrages me that this horrible murderer managed to get convicted due to planted evidence and that Cosgrove never publicly called Jerry out. Yes, in the end, he banishes Jerry from his home, but that is not nearly enough to make up for a man going to prison on evidence that wasn’t real.

Did the man kill all those women? Most definitely, but he still deserves a fair and just trial. Which, in his case is not any of those things. The ends do not justify the means in this case.

This is not the messaging Law & Order should be putting out about cops in today’s climate.

Stray Thoughts

• Corey Cott slays as the charming Niles in this case. 
• Camryn Manheim ALWAYS knows how to make an entrance — kill it!

 

What did you think of this episode of Law & Order? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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